.
Republic of Ireland host Wales on March 24th in what will mark the half way point in our qualification pursuit for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. A win in the Aviva Stadium would almost guarantee a top two finish in group D. Speaking with Newstalk last night Roy Keane gave his thoughts on the preparations for the upcoming game against our neighbours.
“There’s no point ranting and raving next Monday or Tuesday. It’s about balance and giving the right information. We’ve got to make sure we are in the right zone on Friday, and that’s where Martin’s experience comes into it. The players will know a lot about Wales already anyway.”
Keane seems to be enjoying his current role with the Irish national team as there is less focus on the business side of things compared to club football, when asked if he became fed up of club management Keane replied:
“I’d never say I lost my love for the game but you can get frustrated with what’s going on around the outside of the game with chief executives, agents etc. The beauty with the Irish job is that I can hone in on the matches and the players on the pitch and not get bogged down by off-the-field stuff.”
After three and a half years working alongside Martin O’Neill, he has developed his skills on the training ground and will adopt a more active coaching strategy should he get involved in club management again:
“When you’re a manager you’re getting pulled left, right and centre and you’ve got staff around you to share the load so if I go back into club management I’m pretty sure I will be a bit more hands-on on the training pitch,” he said.
“It’s 50-50 for me. I still like the idea of being a manager and calling the shots but the beauty of international football is that I’m getting a taste of being on the training pitch and then also having a big input with Martin in terms of selection and the final XI – I’m getting the best of both worlds.”
In terms of his direct coaching impact, Keane draws from past experience as a player “I tend to look towards the midfielders if we have the 11 v 11 because I’d like to think I have that extra bit of information to give them, just like Steve Guppy would talk a lot to the wide players and Seamus (McDonagh) would focus on the goalkeepers. Steve Walford does a lot defensively, while Martin would have an overview.”
So far, Ireland sit top of the table after the all important away win in Austria. With an unbeaten record and wining the last three we are in good shape. “We’ve got a bit of momentum but there’s obviously added pressure because when you get a little bit of success, people automatically think that we just turn up and you’re going to win football matches,”
And finally when asked about Gareth Bale; “We’ll be ready for him,” said Keane.
Ireland’s 2018 World Cup Qualification campaign
By Ciarán Cunningham, 16th March 2017
