"We have to win because, when you lose too much, it's the end of the world for me also." Louis van Gaal
Showing posts with label ManUtd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ManUtd. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Monday, 13 June 2016
Why are Clubs so Keane on Roy
Roy Keane is box office. No doubt about it.
But as a TV pundit where his clear views and willingness to voice strong opinions contrast sharply with some of his more bland PC studio colleagues. Making him a big draw for ITV Sport’s Champions League fixtures during the winter months. Promising much too for this month’s World Cup in Brazil. Until. Well, until he changed his mind.
His commercial value alongside Martin O’Neill in the backroom of the Republic of Ireland, was viewed as a marketing coup. However in classic Keane mode the recent headlines have been more of a PR headache as the Republic’s Assistant manager has been consistently linked with other vacant managerial positions. Ranging from Celtic to the most recent Aston Villa. The type of headlines though that were giving his current gaffer some annoyance during the trip to the USA.
"I think that he has enjoyed it here immensely - that obviously plays a part in his thinking," added the Republic boss.
"In the future, he will have loads of offers, as he has had in the past and in the immediate past," O'Neill said.
"Things like this here will crop up again, with a wee bit of luck. I'm not saying Celtic will, but that type of job will.
"Everything now at this minute is on the backburner in terms of all speculation, all that type of stuff. I don't really want to continue on with this until we come back from the United States."
In opting out of his ITV commitments ahead of a World Cup is bound to bring some reminiscence of a previous walk out. Albeit in less dramatic fashion than the infamy of Saipan, where in 2002 as a Manchester United player – at the peak of his game – left the Irish squad. Undoubtedly would also have proved that vital cog to a team that made it to the World Cup quarterfinals without him. Particularly, if he delivered performances similar to Lansdowne Road on September 1, 2001 against Louis van Gaal’s Holland.
Although it is easy to see Keane’s value as a player, it is a manager that the value seems over stated. After all promotion was secured at Sunderland in his first season, then survival in year two, with year three more tumultuous. All ending in his resignation before Christmas 2008.
His next move to Ipswich Town in April 2009 was in a two year deal that saw him sacked within seventeen months. Leaving the ream no better than when he arrived and with his nemesis Mick McCarthy following in his footsteps to work miracles. In November, amidst much fanfare, Keane became part of the Football Associations Dream Team with Martin O’Neill as replacement for the departed Giovanni Trapattoni.
Then over the six month mark O’Neill’s deputy is being linked with other offers. Lending weight to Sir Alex Ferguson’s comment when pressed by the media about Keane’s potential pedigree.
"Young managers come along and people say this one will be England manager or boss of this club, but two years later they're not there. It's not an easy environment to come into, I wouldn't forecast anything.”
So why were Celtic FC anxious to hire the Cork man? Or now supposedly Aston Villa. Or indeed a number of other clubs who seemingly have enquired about his services. The answer. He puts bums on seats it seems.
In Glasgow the void left after the departure of the highly regarded Neil Lennon will be hard to fill and with season tickets on sale, a Champions League qualifier due. Keane would have been a commercial catch. But he also would have been under pressure straightaway. Given Lennon has left a legacy to be fulfilled at the club - that exceeded Martin O'Neill's tenure - is one that an ambitious manager might be tempted. But for the long haul.
Many others would be fearful of taking on the task as recent seasons have seen Celtic set benchmarks that will be unbeatable in the short term. Having punched well beyond their weight outside the Scottish Premier League.
Yet with little track record beyond Sunderland, and no CV that points to building strong squads, or a coaching pedigree second to none. Or some radical new formations, it seems that box office is exclusively where Keane adds value.
Regardless last week the FAI released a short statement confirming Keane would be staying put.
"The Football Association of Ireland [today June 2] confirmed that Roy Keane will travel with the Republic of Ireland squad to the US after he decided not to pursue the informal talks that took place with Celtic any further."
Having been first touted at Old Trafford as a possible replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane seemed on the fast track until that interview in 2005. A critical interview that caused much reaction within the club. Then at Keane’s suggestion, the players gathered to watch the interview.
Afterwards, Keane stood up and rounded on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Saar and assistant manager Carlos Quieroz - as Ferguson recalls in his book:
“Roy asked the players whether they had anything to say about what they had just seen. Edwin van der Sar said yes. He told Roy was out of line criticising his teammates. So Roy attacked Edwin. Who did he think he was, what did Edwin know about Manchester United? Van Nistelrooy, to his credit, piped up to support Van der Sar, so Roy rounded on Ruud. Then he started on Carlos. But he saved the best for me.”
“‘You brought your private life into the club with your argument with Magnier,” Fergsuon wrote.
“At that point, players started walking out. What I noticed about Roy that day as I was arguing with him was that his eyes started to narrow, almost to wee black beads. It was frightening to watch. I never understood his obsession with the Rock of Gibraltar affair.
“After Roy had left, Carlos saw I was quite upset. ‘He needs to go, Carlos,’ I said. ‘One hundred per cent,’ he said. ‘Get rid of him.’”
In one interview Ferguson summarised Keane as follows: “The hardest part of Roy’s body is his tongue… It was frightening to watch. And I’m from Glasgow.”
Clearly Keane is box office on TV. The problem is everyone is chasing him for his dug out work.
But so far there is little sign that is of equal quality.
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Saturday, 16 April 2016
Schweinsteiger Fitness Fight for EURO
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| Schweinsteiger - Getty Images |
Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to play for Manchester United again this season, but Louis van Gaal believes the Germany captain could yet make Euro 2016.
Injury has restricted the World Cup winner to just 31 appearances since he swapped Bayern Munich for Old Trafford.
The last of those came in the derby win at Manchester City before an international break when Schweinsteiger suffered a knee ligament tear during training with Germany before the friendly with England.
That blow came after he had recently returned from a two-month knee injury, with this current complaint set to rule the midfielder out for the rest of United’s season if not perhaps this summer’s European Championship in France.
“I don’t think Schweinsteiger shall play this season – I think, next season, he is prepared,” Van Gaal said.
“Maybe he is prepared for the European Championship, I cannot predict. It is possible, but then that is also in our favour because then he is fit for the new competition.”
Tuesday, 29 March 2016
Sports Quotes - John Giles
"Pele wasn't as gifted as George Best and I would definitely put George above Johan Cruyff because he had more heart,"
Johnny Giles
Manchester United, Leeds United, Republic of Ireland
Sunday, 24 January 2016
Mourinho United Letter Absurd - Mendes
Super agent Jorge Mendes has described claims the former Chelsea boss has written to Manchester United in a bid to become their next manager as "absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd".
A report in the Independent on Sunday claimed Mourinho sent a six-page missive outlining why he would be the right man to replace Louis van Gaal as and when he leaves Old Trafford.
Pressure mounted on Van Gaal after United's 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, which left them five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.
United are yet to respond to the story, but Jorge Mendes was unequivocal in his denial in a statement on Sunday morning.
He wrote on www.gestifute.com: "It does not occur to anyone that a coach like Jose Mourinho can write letters to clubs offering their services.
"It is absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd."
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge in December after overseeing a disastrous defence of Chelsea's Premier League title.
According to the report, Mourinho sets out how he would be prepared to change his style of management to suit the values at Old Trafford and what changes he would make to the squad.
Following his departure from Chelsea, Blues coach Steve Holland predicted Mourinho would want to soon be back involved in the game at the highest level.
"He's a guy who needs and wants football," said Holland. "There will be clubs and big clubs who will want him.
"And he is not in my opinion the sort of guy who is going to spend six, seven, eight months sitting at home doing nothing in particular."
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Klopp in Lewandowski Real Chase - Beckenbauer
Honorary Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer stated in a column for German news agency DPA that Robert Lewandowski could soon join Real Madrid. "Lewandowski was already mentioned as a possible Real Madrid target", said the 'Kaiser'."
Thomas Müller, on the other hand, has already made it clear that he's staying at Bayern, which has made the fans love him even more", he added.
Beckenbauer is predicting a very active transfer market in what remains of January, given Premier League clubs' ever-growing financial muscle and the fact that Real Madrid and Atlético's transfer bans mean they will in theory be unable to make moves in the next two transfer windows because of irregularities linked to signing young players.
Meabwhile, Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, is also hoping he can convince Lewandowski to reject any approach from Real Madrid and get the former Borussia Dortmund striker to join him at Anfield.
Following months of speculation over the 27-year-old's the Bayern Munich president confirmed that Manchester United and Chelsea are also understood to be monitoring the situation.
Lewandowski has managed to score 23 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions this season and Klopp is deperate for Lewandowski to join him on Merseyside. However, with Champions League football looking increasingly unlikely next season the deal would represent a massive coup should Klopp and the club manage to pull it off.
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
Pep Apologises for Confusion
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| Getty Images |
Pep Guardiola has apologised if his public statements that he would like to move to the Premier League next season have put pressure on any managers in England’s top flight.
The Bayern Munich manager announced he would be leaving the German club at the end of the season in December and confirmed that, for his next job, he would like to manage a club in England. This has led to speculation that Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in the Spanish coach.
The two Manchester clubs have permanent managers in situ, leading some to suggest it would have been better if Guardiola had kept his plans to himself.
Speaking in Doha, where Bayern are on a training camp, Guardiola took the chance to apologise.
“I am sorry,” he said. “Normally, in my career as a trainer, as a player, I respect a lot my colleagues, so I am sorry. It wasn’t my intention.”
Guardiola was then pressed on which club he would like to end up at next season, but he refused to be drawn, telling reporters his only focus for the remainder of this season was on Bayern’s chase for domestic and European honours.
Thursday, 31 December 2015
Neville Dimisses Fast Track Talk
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| Getty Images |
Gary Neville has dismissed the notion he has taken on the role of Valencia head coach in order to fast-track a move into the top job with either Manchester United or England.
Neville, 40, was a surprise appointment as Valencia manager earlier this month on a short-term deal, and has already been mentioned as a candidate to replace the under-pressure Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, or to succeed Roy Hodgson, who Neville works with as an assistant.
But Neville said his commitment is to Valencia, and he is not treating the job as a stepping stone.
“Me being the England manager in six months or me being the Manchester United manager in six months - I can assure you it’s not going to happen,” Neville said in the Telegraph.
“And it shouldn’t happen. Simple as that. I am removing any doubt that anybody should be thinking in that way. You see these things and it’s nonsense. Honestly, nonsense. I am happy here doing what I am doing. I am happy working under Roy. I have not been back to Manchester United for years. I am happy where I am.
“The idea that I have taken this job so I can pounce on one of those other two jobs - it’s absolutely not true. You can rest assured of that. It’s not going to happen in terms of people offering it to me and it’s not going to happen in terms of me taking it. I want to be absolutely clear on that.”
Neville, who stepped away from media commitments to move to Spain, also revealed he would have turned down the Valencia job had Hodgson not been on board.
“Roy was probably the second or third person I called because I wanted to speak to him about it,” he said. “He could have stopped it. In the sense of when I say stopped it if he had said, ’Look Gary, I’m uncomfortable with you going there. It would harm your role with England and you have to choose either-or’. Then I would have stayed with England.
“Because that was something I wanted to see out. Sky and The Telegraph were big commitments but England was another level. It’s my country. It’s a team I’ve been working with for four years. We have a tournament in the summer.
“I love working with Roy. I love the job. For me not to do that would have been a real ’no, I can’t miss that’. But Roy was so supportive.”
Neville has seen Valencia win one of their four matches since he took charge. They face Villarreal on Thursday and Real Madrid three days later.
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