O’Neill now wants break from Roy rumour mill
Before flying out from Dublin to New York yesterday, O’Neill suggested he would have no more to say about the Villa link until after Ireland’s second game in the States, against Portugal in New Jersey next Wednesday. And he betrayed a certain amount of exasperation that, when it comes to the media interest in Keane, just as soon as one line of inquiry is closed off, another opens.
“I don’t know what you really expect of me here,” he said after a morning training session in Gannon Park. “I answered the questions about Celtic and something else crops up again. I think you think I’m a soothsayer, that I can just predict the future. I wish I could predict the future, I might be in better shape than I am. Everything now at this minute is on the back burner in terms of speculation, all that sort of stuff. I don’t really want to continue on about this until we get back from the United States.”
Having initially described the constant speculation as “tiresome”, he then softened his stance a little and added: “Honestly, it isn’t really a problem. I said there a few days ago when you asked me about this sort of thing, that it will happen again. There is no doubt about that and I’ll deal with it accordingly at that time or Roy will deal with it.”
If Keane does opt to join Paul Lambert at Villa Park, it would not prevent him from continuing in his role with Ireland so, regardless of any developments in Birmingham, the key point for O’Neill is that, with the Celtic issue put to bed, he can now feel much more confident about having his assistant at his side for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Summing up his feelings about the Corkman’s decision not to leave his Irish post, O’Neill said: “Naturally, I’m absolutely delighted. Not necessarily from a personal viewpoint, although I’ve got to know him much better in recent times, but really in terms of the impact he’s made with the players, with the backroom staff, with everyone here. And I actually think with the general public.
“So from all those viewpoints I think it’s really good news.
“I think he enjoys it, I’ve said that before. I wasn’t exactly sure what might happen with him and Celtic. I was always hoping that he might stay with us but was never sure. But I’m delighted that it happened.”
While stressing he didn’t want to put too much emphasis on the impact of one game, O’Neill conceded Ireland’s uplifting performance against Italy at Craven Cottage on Saturday could have featured in Keane’s thoughts as he deliberated on the Celtic option.
“It was a great night, I must admit, and I’m sure because it’s so recent it may well have had something to do with it,” he said. “As I said to you before, he has enjoyed it here immensely. That obviously plays a part in his thinking. I’m quite sure there were quite a number of factors but that was pretty important too at this minute. He is enjoying it. He’s just got started and hopefully that might continue.”
Reaction to the retention of the assistant manager from Irish players bound for America emphasised the talismanic influence of Keane within the camp.
“It’s fantastic,” said Derby County’s Richard Keogh. “He’s great with everyone, all the squad really respects him. When he speaks, you listen. He tells you what can help your game and you really listen to it. It makes you feel great when someone like that is willing to take time to improve your game. The guys are really happy and it’s great for the country.”
Agreeing wholeheartedly, midfielder Paul Green offered an example of Keane’s one-to-one tuition.
“Roy staying on is brilliant for us,” he enthused. “All the experience that he brings to the camp is great. When I played over in Poland he took me to one side and just said, ‘don’t get in front of the ball, stay behind it and enjoy the game’.
“Roy hasn’t really raised his voice with us, he’s been fantastic, he has shown his wisdom and has spoken to the midfielders.”
Meanwhile, FAI chief executive John Delaney — who has described the Aston Villa link as “rumours and hearsay” — maintains he wasn’t surprised Keane continued with his Irish job.
“Roy is very loyal and has a huge degree of loyalty to Martin O’Neill,” he said. “They have a great relationship. He has shown a great work commitment to us so I wasn’t surprised he decided to stick with us.”
But the last word — uttered perhaps as much in hope as expectation — went to O’Neill. “We might just get on with things now,” he said.
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