Roy Keane. I don’t have background knowledge to know many of the Premier League players both past and present. I’m always amazed at the divided nature of opinion when certain players show up on our radar. Most of my thoughts regarding professional athletes has been formed by ice hockey and American style football.

My favourite players are the ones who combine extraordinary talent with a level of grit or aggression or perhaps a controlled violence to their game. Ones who shrug off minor injuries and have a take no prisoner attitude. A player who finished an ice hockey playoff game with a broken leg and the winning goal comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bp8oDW_Gl0

Start at 3;30 in the video for the end of game interview.

A player who puts the fear of God into his opponents and his own teammates in the locker room. Whether he is vocal or lets his actions do the talking that player is most likely respected by opponent, teammate, coaches, and media. Some of these athletes let their on ice/field demeanour spill out into the public and that’s a black eye for the sport.

There is a fine line between aggressive play and causing bodily harm and for some they step over that line. It takes years to erase that instant. The action on the video below is still going through the court system 10 years later. This instant finished Moore’s career and severely damaged Bertuzzi’s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFW62Hqz-OY

Start at 6:30 and listen to the announcers. You can see the incident about 30 seconds later.

The greatest player to put on skates, Gordie Howe was given the phrase “a Gordie Howe hat trick” one goal, one assist, and one fight. This man played at the top level into his 50’s–over 30 years and was given the utmost respect for his play and character right up to the end of his career and beyond.

Now back to Roy Keane. He should have been a hockey player. Talented, smart, and to a large degree ruthless. He let his emotions get away with him at times but we all do that. The only difference is he did it on a national stage. Competition in any sport and at any level brings out the best and the worst in people. The idea is to win. The higher up the chain you go the more important a win becomes. Sportsmanship more than likely takes a back seat.

The difference between football and ice hockey is plain to see. Retribution in ice hockey for any perceived infraction is dealt with on the ice quite quickly by the players. Penalties and fines are meted out after the fact. A primitive way of policing but it works. All the players know where they stand and are good friends off the ice. In football, infractions are dealt with by the referee. No outlet for the players for perceived wrongs are allowed. (Those are the rules for football). You see plenty of infractions that the referee misses and players are incensed by the omission. Grudges are kept and cheap shots and tactics are used all in the hope they are missed by the referees. It can ruin a game.

Keane managed to work most of his career on the right side of the law but it was obvious to all that he was one not to be messed with. He played hard and wasn’t opposed to stray over the line in full view. He was regarded by all as a criminal of sorts except by the fans of the team he played for. Like a lot of hockey players I’ve watched and despised for their actions I would have welcomed them to “my” team for the edge they bring to the play of the team.

Now, we might have Keane as a coach. Perhaps a scrap on the sideline is in Villa’s future. Yeah you’ve guessed it hockey coaches get into it as well as the players. Having him at Villa is a better place for us than on the sidelines for West Brom for instance. Regardless of what you think, his competitiveness and take no prisoner attitude plus his obvious talent that was on the field and in the locker room is what every team needs.

Yes, I would welcome him to the fold but I would also be concerned about any action that might ensue due to his character and the tight rules that govern football.

I remember a phrase, Rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen and football is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans.

Comments 138

  1. Hello Ian,
    Keane certainly divides opinion, personally i can’t stand the thug. Neither Lambert nor Keane have a coaching background and i think that is what the club needs as opposed to a failure and a crim. Keane actually signed 39 players for Slumberland to get them to 21st position, a crap judge of a player too, just like Lambert. Lets be honest though, you could have a management team of Simeone, van Gaal and Ancelotti but with that gormless gobshite Lerner as owner you’d still be buggered, the idiot is pathetic.

  2. Ian i concur with Steamer on this, Keane is a thug, had we been bringing him in at his peak as a player, then i may have looked the other way.

    But as a coach, a man manager, a role model to our players, he is neither deserving of, or qualified to fulfil that role. He was always as you rightly point out ready to meter out his own kind of justice on and off the pitch and he is definitely no respecter of authority.

    Should he come i will lose any remaining respect i have for the powers that be at VP, this can only end one way….disastrously!

    UTV

  3. Ian,

    I cannot see many on here who believe that this is a positive move although I do not like Keane I try not to let it cloud my judgement, but I feel that the last two additions to VP are a massive step backwards, I think Senderos is a very poor player free or not I just have not rated the bloke and I knew we were shopping at Poundland but to wait until they had a sale on takes the biscuit.

    Again I struggle to see what Keane can bring to the table, a poor manager when he had the chance and a reputation that sticks in your throat, he has been a bully for a lot of his career and to be fair its something we could well do without at VP, it will be interesting to see how the players feel with him coming on board.

    We again look like a club in complete disarray a rudderless ship heading for another season in the depths of the premier league with the chances of relegation becoming more certain the longer Lambert stays in charge, we may get some players back from injury but not where we desperately need them – in midfield, unless Hoolahan is going to be the answer to all our problems.

    UTV

  4. Steamer – Roderick – I’m afraid you’re both chatting too much guff to ignore.

    I’m happy for you to come to the opinion that he’s a thug on the basis of several altercations with referees “the stare”, “vein in forehead” etc coupled with how he wrote about some challenges he went into when he was incandescent with anger. I won’t say that he’s not a thug – however – to say he’s just a thug and not deserving to be a role model or not qualified to be a coach is just rubbish. Ignorant, thoughtless, reactionary rubbish.

    Find someone credible from Man Utd who says he’s a bad influence or not qualified. To a man – they ALL say he was the driving force, he held the dressing room, he fought club incompetence for players. Many say he’s the most determined player they ever played with – and that’s Man Utd – where players know how to put a shift in.

    He took Sunderland from the bottom of the Championship to promotion. After that he didn’t do well with Sunderland or Ipswich. Are you both saying that the only assistant manager (assistant manager mind), you’d accept is someone who has been a successful manager all his career?

    If so – guys – I can only say I strongly feel that you have spectacularly high levels of expectations, bordering on the daft.

    You’re also writing as if you know him and what he’s like – as if you wholly accept the media caricature without any thought of your own.

    Every day on this site I read a number of people – Steamer, you’re one of them – who berate Lambert’s blandness in his post-match press on ‘the lads were fantastic’, ‘we’ll go again’ – here’s Keane who’ll tell them straight and you’re calling him a thug and implying he’s a bully. Personally – I’d love for some straight talk from Keane to the players. He doesn’t bully – he calls it straight and people want to impress him. I’ve seen it with Ireland in the space of a few games.

    Everyone entitled to an opinion etc etc but the Chicken little screeching gets a little depressing every now and again.

    On Senderos – when I heard about it first – I thought this was an unspectacular signing. Another sick note of a centre half. I’ve come to live with it. It should mean we don’t need Ciaran Clarke at centre half next season. For that alone – he’s worth it. He’ll play 15 games, he cost nothing, the wages are tolerable and he’s better than Baker.

    Sorry boys – rant over.

  5. Tony,
    The thing is that if your a totally talentless player who’s only in the team because the manager signed him and not on merit and is having nightmares ( basically the entire team ) then the last thing you need is a semi lunatic screaming that your a pile of shite. Its only conceivable at VP now because everything about the club spells disaster, nothing about AVFC is Premier standard bar VP and BH, we’re hopeless, the turd that you can’t flush away. Relegation is 100% certain unless the ownership changes hands, you have to live in Birmingham to realise the sense of hopelessness that surrounds the club, i reckon 7,000 season tickets will be sold, top bat and thats only due to habit, i certainly don’t know anyone who’s bought one and most of the fans i know have been going for 45-50 years.

  6. HI Ian

    excellent article and a good comparison. I am with Tony H on here. We always want to slate people without any real cause. We would have welcomed keane at any time in his career at VP, with his determination and leadership.

    We gained a great player in Paul Mcgrath from Utd, and he became one of OUR legends after serving them, as did Schmeikel for a time, and I see no reason to think that Roy keane will not add something to Villa and especially to the development of of a CAN DO attitude by the team…..I do not see them tiring after 60 minutes and throwing games away. He will give the steel that Lambert is missing.

    The time to judge him will be when we reach Xmas time and where Villa are by then. I gave Lambert the benefit of doubt, and will allow Keane the same, and I often love his commenting when he tells it how it is when the other pundits are waffling on.

  7. Re Keano

    Although i am more positve about Keane than most it seems, i agree with steamer that what we need most is someone who is a proper football coach with a vision and plan ie Martinez, rodgers. I hope when we get the takeover done this will happen. Until then i am ok with Keane getting the number 2 role, i have a feeling he may be just what we need. The bullying stuff is a bit OTT to be fair. from the documentry with viera he seems ok!!

  8. I may be falling into a trap as an Irish man defending another Irish man but I believe there is merit in appointing Keane. With a few exceptions, the majority of the team played below par in most games but showed glimpses of what could be achieved in terms of results against some of the bigger sides.

    I do honestly believe that if the result of Keane’s appointment is that players understand what pride in playing for your colours is all about and inheriting a ‘never say die’ attitude that so exemplified what Man Utd has been about prior to Moyes then I’ll be a happy man.

    I do also believe this is not enough in itself and I agree that a tactician within the backroom team is essential, however I think the ego of Lambert would preclude him admitting his tactical nous is lacking and we’ll continue with 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 for next season, giving away possession and inviting attack.

    Having watched Keane walk out on his country during a World Cup, you’d expect that I wouldn’t want him near my team but his departure was around standards, standards that the FAI could afford but were too busy wasting money. It’s these standards that need to be instilled in the Villa squad and as players they will no doubt respect what he achieved within the game or at least fear for their lives.

    I won’t ignore the unsavoury element to Keane’s time as a player but this was driven by a winning mentality that went over the top and that Ferguson didn’t wish to control as it drove the entire team and this does relate to his time as a player, not now. I wish we had a team of winners that other clubs hated because right now, all I hear from other fans is AVFC are ok, and we’re only ok because we are a threat to no one. I’d love to be hated because it would mean we were winning.

    Bring on the hate, Keano 🙂

  9. Lads and Lassies,

    Lets all be honest none of us are dripping with optimism, we have had all the stuffing kicked out of us since Lerner put up the for sale signs, we had hopes there was someone lined up to buy us and then it all went very quiet, the coaches got the sack replaced by Keane, all this talk about players coming to join us and then Senderos slopes through the door.

    We are in a sorry state and nothing on the horizon to inspire the fans, who in their right mind would spend their money buying a season ticket, you know what they say about fools and their money, apologies to any on here who have already bought them but I cannot see you getting any value for your dosh.

    UTV

  10. If anything can illustrate Villa as a club run by people with no idea, how about appointing an assistant manager with a certain reputation for how he handles people, just after you’ve dismissed two key members of the back room staff for……. how they handled people (allegedly).

  11. Pete, not only are they clueless they’re also damaging the club because they actually think that because they have a degree in Law ( Lerner ) and one for being a total twat ( Chubby ) that they know all about footy, i’ve got garden gnomes that know more than those two about footy. I think it was JL who mentioned that when Stride left, Lerners pet monkey at the time stated, “We don’t need anyone to tell us how to run a football club,” obviously they did and the only consolation for our fans is that Lerner will lose millions,and all because he gave it the billy big bollox. Paul Anka.

  12. Well fingers crossed Steamer someone will put us out of our misery and buy us.

    Obviously biest but i really thought there would be a big cue of people wanting to buy our famous club.

  13. In the meanwhile Keane replaces culverhouse, senderous replaces the chuckle brothers. Tekkers, kozac, nzog, bent back in team. Grealish and hoolahan to play too? Plus we have a better kit.

    baby steps…..

  14. Hello guys/gals. Thanks for posting. I guess it’s no secret as to what kind of player I like. A little like the Wild West I suppose. My Mom told me to stick up for myself and I had plenty of trips to the school office for punishment. It carried over into the games I played.
    I think any player or manager that comes to the teams that I watch should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. This goes for Sendros as well as Keane. A leopard doesn’t change his spots but lets see if those spots are what Villa need for next season.

  15. Andrew,
    Not bad is it ? dunno what the quality’s like, the last shirt i bought had Barson on the back. Does the new kit have a yellow stripe on the back ?

  16. Ian Rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen and football is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

    Yes, I have heard that phrase before, but only a rugger supporter could have said it!!

    Stan Matthew, Tom Finney, Pele, Bobby Moore, Gerry Hitchens, Peter Mac, Brian Little, Dennis Mortimer (and thousands more) – hooligans???

    🙂 🙂 🙂

  17. Hi John,
    I guess what it means is there are no exceptions to retaliation in football. Stiff upper lip and all that. Turn the other cheek when a well placed elbow would do the trick. IMO Not that you should. 🙂

  18. Ian, that phrase originated yonks ago and at a time when gentlemanly behaviour was the norm rather than the exception in (association) football while football of all kinds was always meant to be physical.

    Personally I have always looked at the phrase as meaningless; someone at some time just trying to be clever.

  19. I’ve just Google’d it and it’s been suggested that this is the full quote:

    Cricket is a game for gentlemen played by gentlemen,
    Football is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans,
    Rugby Union is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen,
    And Rugby League is a game for hooligans played by hooligans.

    And everyone seems to be agreed that it’s a very old statement and probably originated in the class-conscious pre-WW1 period.

  20. That quote reminded me of an interview on tv a few years ago when they interviewed this huge former England lock forward ( Prop forward in real rugby ) and he mentioned a game versus New Zealand and he went into the scrum opposite the legend Sean Fitzpatrick, he thought he’d whack him one to slow him down a bit, he said ” i gave him my best shot and he just looked me in the eye and smiled, i thought oh, oh, big mistake,” brilliant.

  21. Steamer – I’m with you to a point that things are far from ideal and actually pretty amateur in many areas of the club – and have been since we allowed O’Neil to go mental on buying players he didn’t use.

    Every player Lambert brought IS NOT 100pc shite. Ok – Luna, Bennett, Tonev, Bowry and Sylla are pretty shite and unretrievable but they all cost £6m odd. All the rest of his signings have shown the potential to be decent premier league quality. Many of them have shown it on too few occasions.

    Benteke, Westwood, Lowton, Bacuna, Kozac, Vlaar and Okore could be very good if they were consistent and properly directed. Add a well coached Delph, Weimann, Guzan and Gabby and that’s the bones of not a bad side.

    Now all this may sound a little naively positive. It shouldn’t. I’m just saying that the world hasn’t ended.

    Keane COULD make some of our weaknesses in midfield go away. He COULD make some of the weaknesses go away – there’s no proof he is a shouting lunatic. Ask the Man Utd players who say Keane made them better. Ask the Irish midfield who recently started passing the ball and having possession again after several years of ball hoof.

    He could. Give him a chance before pulling the whole temple down on the heads of all of us.

  22. Ian
    why dont you throw them a teddy bear picnic , they might get to like you ,))))

    Steamer
    lm telling wizza ,,,,,,,,,,,,,and chembo hood now comes under solihull !!as long as they keep you lot the other side of the dual carriageway lm happy , but some seem to be slipping through ..methinks its time to move , did have an episode , bed for six hours out cold mate ,

  23. When will i awake from this fucking nightmare joe cole for fucks sake he was finished years ago who is running our club billy fucking smart i fucking give up.

    AVFC RIP

  24. Lads i am glad we are having a laugh about taking players who are not good enough for west ham and fulham i bet frem is having a fucking heart attack out in turkey poor kid.

    AVFC RIP

  25. John Terry and Frank Lampard next on the list????

    Was amazed to read about Joe Cole, but hey maybe it is to replace Luna, Bennett and Bertrand for the new season, and he will also be happy to fall in with Roy Keane.

  26. Great article, Ian.

    Almost to a man we’ve complained about a lack of steel at Villa. We look to get some in, and now we’re worried about having it.

    I’m with you on hockey and football. And as you say, while there’s much stricter officiating in American football (ie, no fighting), there are plenty of cheap shots to even out the cheap shots. They’re all men’s games, and they should be played by men with an edge.

    Now of course that’s not to say I don’t like gentlemen. I do. You won’t know Joe Sakic, but he’s a Colorado Avalanche legend for a reason. Silky smooth, deadly scorer, as clutch player as you could ask for, and nothing but a gentlemen, the kind of guy nobody even cheap shots because they respect him so much. But every team needs one or two of those players you love to hate playing against.

    The difference between Culverhouse et al is that they never were Premier League talismans for a big club.

    I love my hockey, and I can tell you, every side has a thug…and you absolutely love him, because he’s the guy that will call out anyone on the other team, go toe to toe, knock him to the ice and keep punching til the refs step in. And he’s the guy that gives all the skill players the feeling that someone’s got their backs. I used to think it was shameful. I now understand how integral it is to the game. And I’m in awe that one major professional sport has allowed it to continue.

    Hell, Patrick Roy, the legendary goalkeeper who is now the Avalanche coach, went ape-shit in his first game in charge over a cheap shot on the Av’s brilliant rookie, 18-year-old Nathan McKinnon. Tried to knock down the plexiglass separating his bench from the opponent’s to get at the opposing coach. The club went from worst to first in one season.

    Now, I have no idea whether Keane is a good idea. Obviously he’s a very divisive figure and I understand why. But I guarantee there’s a huge difference in being told how to get out there and win by a Roy Keane rather than an Ian Culverhouse. And don’t tell me the United players weren’t scared of SAF, too.

  27. Of course you, Ian, will know Super Joe…He’s even in the clip.

    I’d forgotten about that incident, and indeed a perfect example of going too far.

  28. Speaking of steel and getting physical. Has Dorian Yates, the legendary body builder, ever been asked to present any seminars at VP. He know’s a lot about aims and challenges etc. He wasn’t Mr. Olympia six times for nothing. He’s a Brummie. Maybe, the fact, he admitted to taking HGH might exclude him, but they all take it.

  29. Joe Cole oh my god and to think some Villa fans were sticking their noses up at Hoolihan he is bloody Pele compared to limp a lot Joe. Be careful what you wish for….

    Colombia 33/1 for the world had to have a each way flutter on them same with France 25/1.

  30. Ha ha John. 😉

    You’re right Steamer. Nay bad for Ireland. We might make it back to the dreamland of top 30 in the rankings!

  31. Joe Cole

    W-e-l-l this would surely be on a par with the signing of Peter Broadbent in 1966?

    I’d say as purely a stop-gap there’s nowt much wrong with it. But it does make the urgency for the club takeover rather more pronounced.

  32. “Dad do you want me to put your name down for this new old peoples home in Aston??”
    not bad for a 14 year old is it !! she’s gonna ring them to see if they allow pets so steamer can come with his dog ,
    mind you by christmas the villa old stars should have some more bodies ………………

    poor Frem , if your reading this , get on that beach and get a couple of women , dont forget what me and Tc told you , forget the shite for a while , and dont forget the 3 Ws ………….

    Ian, I watched a programe last night Americans and Canadians kill 40,000 bears FOR Sport ,

    Jenny xxxxx
    morning gorgeous x

  33. John,

    Stopgap we are giving him a two year contract, Senderos, Cole, Hoolahan and Holt to follow even teams in the championship would turn their nose up at that lot, Lamberts got no clue whatsoever, love to see what Keane will do when Cole starts backing out of tackles if he is ever fit enough to play.

    What are all the younger players going to think when they see these lot taking the shirts, if I was them I would be looking to move away from VP as soon as, we are going to be an even bigger joke next season.

    AVFC RIP.

  34. SWV

    Perhaps – but that doesn’t mean he’s being brought in as a first-choice player (unless he shows he’s got it in him). The signing could be interpreted as giving Villa a more mature and experienced edge to help in the dressing room and in their attitude on the pitch.

  35. Cole’s imminent means no Hoolahan I’d imagine,

    Cole has managed 13 premier league starts in the last two seasons a ridiculous transfer , the club must have no scouts what so ever or else someone is playing Football Manager 2008 down at Villa Park.

  36. Joe Cole another real man in the dressing room to replace Holt 🙂

    Why let our kid Albri go only to bring in Cole — other fans can’t stop laughing at villa

  37. Steamer ,
    No to keane but yes to seedorf ??? Have you completely lost it ?

    I understand the Keane aversion because it reminds me of my hatred of the martin johnson public persona but i do appreciate that he was the main reason for the success of the english rugby team at the time . He did’nt make a great national manager but that does’nt mean he has’nt alot to offer rugby still. Its a personal thing and theres no point in trying to convince keane-haters , its a futile exercise.
    Its funny steamer , but i cant remember one single arrival at villa park that you have been positive about . You may be right about Keane but as gibbo says , better have him in our set up rather than the teams who will be our relegation rivals next season.

    Darren ,
    keane did’nt ‘walk out on his country’ , he was sent home by a manager who could’nt control him anymore and whose ambition did’nt match his .

    As for joe Cole …………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

    Gibbo ,
    Good article , you canadian lads love a good dust up , dont ye?

  38. There were three big factors as to why we were so poor last season. 1) Quality of players. 2) Lack of experience and leadership on the pitch 3) Lack of creativity when playing at home.

    The first problem is something Lambert can’t really address with the financial restraints.

    He has already addressed the second problem by bringing in Senderos, Cole and Keane (we think).

    The Cole signing, coupled with the return of N’Zogbia addresses the third problem.

    Considering the financial restraints, I’m very happy with those 3.

  39. Ian, what are the bears doing in your yard, I thought they frequented the woods – still I bet you can recognise a Steamer when you see one.

    The transfer market operations are a joke – there’s people out here in Thailand wearing paper bags over their heads when they go for a pizza in a Villa shirt. Shades of Southgate after Euro ’96.

    I’m having lunch with the Villa Programme Editor on 8th July, so I hope it’s not a doom and gloom holiday for either of us (he goes to Spain next day).

  40. Morning guys ( Lunch time in Turkey )

    A pool fan on the beach told me we had signed Cole. Course didn’t believe him so had to check it out.

    Obviously no take over is close, chances are Vlaar and Delph are off

    We have Given back who should be given another chance in goal after Guzan last season. Zoggy, Bent, Okore and a grealish could make a name for them selfs if the twat gives them a chance

    Zoggy——cole——-Grealish

    ————-Bent—-

    Obviously won’t ever happen with Lambert, to attacking and creative. Certainly wouldn’t have trouble breaking teams down at VP but for Lambert it’s all about KEA, Gabby and Wiemann. Terrible footballers but good work ethic and that’s all our manager cares about

    Anyway, god help us. Would have stayed away if the guy didn’t tell me Cole had sighed 🙂 Will do as well unless someone else tells me we have signed another player

    Take care

  41. Great article Ian – Roy Keane is certainly going to produce lots of debate if he gets the job.

    Far be it for me to excuse RK’s violent outbursts as clearly he was in the wrong. But RK fascinates me as I have said before and I can’t help admiring his steely determination, pride and fighting spirit. I am not ignoring his vicious outbursts or excusing them.

    When he was 14 y ears old he was told he was too small to make it professionally but he didn’t give up and took on manual work prior to being accepted professionally. Basically , he did it the hard way . Clough punched him in the face and knocked him to the floor for conceding a goal – RK has said he understood why and that he deserved it. Can you imagine many players accepting that. I am not saying that is the way to behave but it shows that RK was prepared to live by the sword and die by the sword.

    On the Haland tackle – it was vile and unforgiveable. But it wasn’t just revenge for Halaand’s tackle 12 months previously which had taken RK out, but more the fact that RK had accused Keane of faking his injuries. That is what hurt RK more . He emerges as a man with traditional and deep seated values ie pride, honour, resilience and the desire to win. You don’t see that much in today’s game but channelled in the right way these are what make the difference.

    I have seen other fan boards accusing him of being a bully. From what I have seen and read he isn’t. You could tell a lot from the Keane v Vierra interview, which I watched three times to examine his body language. He was honest and direct . What you see is what you get with RK. He could take people being honest with him (explains the CLough punch) and he wasn’t too proud to admit that it was fear that kept him on his relentless pursuit of winning against all odds. You could tell that the thing he disliked Vierra for the most was picking on Gary Neville – he couldn’t let this go “Why pick on Gary Neville, he was young and small”. The look of disgust on his face when Vierra tried to excuse himself said it all. Keane hated bullies – maybe because he was victim of it himself when he was younger.

    That said, RK’s entry into football was very different to most of today’s footballers. The class of 92 were emerging when he was finishing his career and he showed his contempt for their desire for fame and wealth calling them “the Rolex generation”. The footballers of today have different values and have been molly coddled in comparison. The AV academy graduates aren’t called the Baby Bentleys for nothing. Can you imagine RK being happy with them posting photos on instagram after the last game celebrating when we finished on 38 points. From his punditry on the international games he has repeatedly said “the supporters deserve better”.

    RK’s managerial problems have been put down to him not understanding why everyone isn’t like him: why players don’t have the same pride in the badge, resilience and winning mentality. In Sunderland and Ipswich we are told that his strict discipline didn’t go down well with the players and that they cheered when he went. If RK has learned from these failures then it could work provided his technical coaching ability is as great as his passion.

    I can also see RK being respected by the players. Trinity makes a good point that there is a world of difference between IC telling you to do something and RK telling you. THey will admire RK for what he has achieved in football. The big concern is whether they will be frightened of him. I am hoping against hope that he has learned that the brutal and direct approach does not work for everyone, if indeed it works for anyone. Reports from the Ireland camp are good , and if RK was not connecting with the players, would MON not have warned his good pal PL about this?

    It is a baffling appointment. I don’t think he has been hired to rattle cages – as that is what IC was doing and it failed miserably. I think he has been hired to inspire and to sort out the midfield and to bring some passion into VP. Will it work ? Well it has to be an improvement on the past assistant. That said – it is a hell of a risk and we need some top drawer technical and tactical coaches as well. But I for one am excited at seeing RK come to VP – it may get rid of the lack lustre and stale energy that we have had to put up with last season . WIth AV being up for sale it is going to be even more challenging to get players up for the fight with this air of uncertainty and instability. Let us hope that inspite of this RK can instil some of the pride and passion that he had and most of all the desire to win fearlessly.

  42. We need experience. We need a player with a football brain. We know we have no proper money until takeover.

    Joe Cole signing ok with me.

    Lambert is having to turn into our very own del boy.

  43. Steamers and CHesterfield – sorry I can’t make this trip . It is a Wednesday night did you know !? But will be up for others !! 🙂

    Hi St 75 xxxxxxxxxxx

  44. RK was a great captain – and this is what we need at VP. Hopefully he will teach our captain – whoever it might be – the need to organise and motivate on the pitch as well as off.

  45. Jenny
    Fantastic research and analysis of Keane , most of his doubters know nothing of Keane’s history. To understand Keane you must know his history and in my opinion understand the Irish mentality something even Sigmund Freud said was impossible.

  46. Morning Lifers

    ROY KEANE?Yes please,standards have fallen,he would raise them IMO.Ian,good observations,Villa are far to “nice”let`s bring on a bit of grit and bile.I respect RK,no,it`s not the same as liking him.He would command respect I think.
    The signings aren`t the best but I understand why,the 2 year deals tell it`s own story.I am optimistic ,,because as each day passes RL and PL are a day closer the exit door.Good times ahead,soonish.

    As for the FIFA corrupt bandwagon…………….well alcohol was banned here in 2003 inside stadiums,becuase of fatalities in fights.Yet alcohol is allowed for the WC,.FIFA insisted and the government passsed legislation to allow it.Hey,Budweiser are a major sponsor,and take a wild guess as to the only beer on sale inside the stadiums?Work that one out for yourselves,you ain`t daft.
    The stadium in Manaus will host 4 games,there is no club there to use it after the WC,.It will just rot and decay after July 13th.This is the tip of the iceberg and the whole circus stinks.Rant over enjoy the WC,I find it sickening.

  47. Jen,
    Haaland didn’t tackle Keane, Keane came in with an horrific two footed assault but AIH saw it coming and got out of the way, Keane hurt himself, not AIH, if he hates bullies why did he turn into one himself, scaring old ladies in their own homes, beating up young girls, enough incidents to know that he’s a lowlife, any member of the public would have done bird but being a member of that ‘elite’ called footballers, he got away with it every time, like Cantona.
    Prox,
    Yes i’ve disliked virtually every manager and player bought to VP during Lerners destruction of the club, most of the players have been crap, ALL of the managers were crap. Lambert is a compulsive liar of the highest order, anyone who believes a single word that he utters is a twat, he’s totally talentless but taking £25K per week for tearing apart 140 years of football history, he’s scum. This club is beyond shambles its a total disgrace and IMO anyone who donates £££, watches them or buys souvenirs is supporting the regime that is destroying AVFC, i won’t be.

  48. “Cole has managed 13 premier league starts in the last two seasons a ridiculous transfer ”

    Can someone explain how he manages to pass a medical, are Aston Villa a registered charity, we are giving money to the likes of Luna, Sylla, Bowery, Steer, Cole, Senderos and many others just to train at BH, we are a joke and it is not even funny anymore.

    We do not need squad players we need players who can go straight in and improve the team from last season, so far I see no indication of these types being able to improve the side.

    AVFC RIP.

  49. Steamer – yes you’re right – he didn’t tackle Keane – and Keane hurt himself – it was Haaland leaning over him accusing him of faking injury – albeit self inflicted . There’s no excuse for what Keane did I agree . Haaland had got him before the incident where Keane hurt himself in the revenge attack . He poured beer over a female hockey player . Again, inexcusable . I don’t know of any old ladies – bit that doesn’t mean there aren’t any . I’m not excusing him – I’m offering a possible explanation from what I’ve read and seen of him

    He said that AFs biggest character flaw was “disloyalty “. ( the irony is there given his public condemnation of his team which escapes him). I would echo Liam’s point that his failings and strengths arise from the “family (team) loyalty , honour values that were possibly kicked into him when he was young . He was called a pikey as an insult . But if you look at travellers strong sense of loyalty, fearlessness and family you can see similar in RK. I’m not saying he was one either and not am using traveller in a derogatory way ,
    RK made sacrifices – he would do anything to be the best and win (too much sometimes). He couldn’t understand why his players wouldn’t do the same / hence the arguments over his training discipline .

  50. B62B,

    I will not be watching the World Cup as I find international football has boring has watching Grand Designs ( a program about people building their own houses), I find your insight into what is happening in Brasil very interesting and really goes to show how corrupt Blatter and his henchmen are please see Qatar 2022 for further details, the people in Brasil are revolting in a good way, how they can spend hundreds of millions on football stadia when so many are still living in poverty and the schools and hospitals are falling down is nothing more than obscene, so to watch it and give these people more money to pocket would make me and others very hypocritical, and it helps that England have been shit for as long as I can remember.

    AVFC RIP.

  51. Well it is a done deal but one bit of good news Bowery has signed for Rotherham on a permanent deal, one cripple in one useless bugger out, I suppose you could call that progress my apologies to Coco the clown who is running our circus.

    AVFC RIP.

  52. Jen

    So refreshing to read your comments and have someone with logical thoughts, which i agree with, and endorse. RK will I am sure bring a lot more to the table than many on here think, at the same time his role with MON will give him the opportunity of learning all he needs to know from a manager, who like him or not has been the most successful in our recent history, and I am sure that all fans on here would give anything to be back in where we were then.

    I also think that the balance that Lambert is getting now on the cheap, will augur well for our early campaign.

  53. SWV “Cole has managed 13 premier league starts in the last two seasons a ridiculous transfer ”

    Sorry, mate, but can I point out that he seems to have made 31 appearances since Jan. 2013 at West Ham, which suggests 18 times coming on as sub – which is mainly what I think Villa will use him for. I could be wrong here!!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cole

  54. ‘pouring beer over a female hockey player,again inexcusable”
    jenny ,
    Two points
    1. I seem to recall this act was in retaliation to having a drink thrown over him.
    2. If you changed one word in that sentence (female to male) then it presumably would’nt be inexcusable . I have no doubt that you have seen many women misbehaving in pubs in your lifetime and they should’nt be given a free pass because of their gender . If anyone threw their drink at me ,i would respond in exact reciprocity , regardless of their gender or age. Having said this I have never had to do this because i avoid this kind of nonsense and these kind of people .
    Dont forget your friend Mr Collymore , punched and kicked Ulrika johnsson around a french hotel bar in front of a crowd of people and though i despise the attention seeking antics of Ms johnson , there is no-one deserves that treatment from their ‘partner’ . This to me is the clearest sign of a coward and you cant take that shit back.

  55. I don`t see why RK should not be allowed to move on from his past antics.He is ,as been put by Prox far better than I ,a complex character.Like all of us he has said and done stuff of which he probably isn`t too proud.However I find it difficult to use these indiscrections as a stick with which to beat him.He hasn`t crossed certain lines,he is not a rapist,or a sex offender.I am qiute neutral toward him.I don`t have to like him,but I do respect his achievements in the game.He wasn`t a great manager,according to the stats,but I believe he has a lot to offer to our club.I`m sure he has changed and desrves our support if he becomes our Asst.Manager.As someone who is not religious,I must say ,can we not forgive?
    Oh well my Oprah moment is over.

  56. B62B,

    I think we got a couple of scratch cards ,a 2nd hand garden slide set and a brand new front wheel bearing for a 2009 VW Golf , for Bowery.

  57. Hi John, and how many assists since Jan 13? Why not just free up a locker and tracksuit for the Bombsquad, prove me wrong PL but this doesn’t look much better than S Ireland? Senderos adds experience and depth at centre back to challenge Vlaar and Okore and I never liked Baker and Clark together so I’ll take that signing but Joe Cole, surely we’re not that desperate yet!?!?!?!? UTV

  58. Hello B62B, it’s an undisclosed fee but I read somewhere that Bowery is their record signing. Just goes to prove that there’s always someone worse off.

  59. Bears and Irishmen, now there’s a mix Villa could use. Not my back yard but it could easily be. We took in our bird feeders as bears just love a loose granola bar. Are you sure about 40,000 meeting their maker every year?

    I watched a documentary of sorts on the stadium at Manaus. No one there is too enthused. And Brazil built 13 stadiums around the country? Madness. At the end of the show they were suggesting that the stadium be a holding pen for convicts on their way to more palatial digs. And Steamer, I’m not suggesting that Ireland leave old Roy there.

    Thanks for the kind words guys and if you are interested the fourth game of the NHL playoff finals is coming up in New York with the LA Kings vs the NY Rangers. LA lead the series 3-0 with two sudden death overtime wins. This has been hockey at its finest. Wiziwig carries the game. Have a look.

  60. Ronnie

    I am ok with the Cole signing,he isn`t what he was 6 years ago,obviously,but has loads of natural talent and can beat a man,and won`t lump the ball forward.He has the confidence to keep the ball.We needed experience and now we are getting it fans are unhappy.These -Senederos and JC-are all we can hope for as Lerner is off soon and wants to get by without spending.Senderos and Cole,are not ideal but whilst we are in limbo I understand the logic in getting them.
    Holt,Bowery,Fonz and Albrighton out-about £75k per week there ?Roughly,covers Senderos and Cole`s wages I would have thought.Not great signings but they won`t matter when the new regime steps in IMO.We just need to stay up to be sold,forget progress that is on hold,well some could say progress has been on hold for 15 years ha,ha.

  61. What the hell is wrong with a 2009 VW? I’ve been driving this brand for 47 years in one shape or another. Got both my kids hooked on German cars. A new wheel bearing is to be coveted. Bowery should be proud of the swap.

    Beer baths are embarrassing at the best of times. 🙂 With an eye for frugality Budweiser would be a good choice as it’s not worth drinking.

  62. If you take away all the rose tinted vision , is Albrighton THAT much of a loss? Is he not just a lower rate steve froggat ? Alot of players are falling into the wage trap now when they reach a certain age and i think there will be bargains to be had this summer because of so many contracts expiring . Maybe villa are being economical while teams like QPR are all ” fur coat but no knickers” . (that is’nt a bear fetish thing Gibbo , calm down)

  63. I am reserving judgement (if indeed I bother to judge )on how cole, senders and keane do, success is all that matters as non of them are mass murderers that I know of. we all give our tax to and pay for goods from companies and regimes that have no scruples when it comes to killing people so nobodies blameless just thoughtless and Naive.

    I will be watching the world cup as I like grand designs, It makes me laugh to see how useless a lot of people are, especially self important presenters , also it teaches you that with enough polish you can make any turd look spectacular

  64. Prox – male or female – no difference in my book either .
    As for “my friend Collymore” as you call him – I’m hardly going to advocate that violence against women is to be admired or tolerated so I don’t understand your point : other than inspite of moving on from our different views about SC , you feel the need to return to them .

  65. Ian

    🙂 “You don’t know shit from Shinola,” fabulous .
    did you manage to catch the charity football match we had over here on the weekend? englands celebs and old crock footballers such as dave seaman vs the rest of the world celebrates mainly jocks and Irish and last seasons Dutch national side. you would of loved it just like ice hockey, people were kicking lumps out of each other, Edgar Davids was kicked 6 times on one run, it was like the seventies 🙂

  66. B62B,

    According to reports he is Rotherhams record signing previous record fee was £160k, so we probably took a hit on the £500k to £750k Chesterfield conned us out of, he will be sadly missed on the bench and it also gives Lambert the job of replacing his goals, so watch out for a crafty bid to get Emile Heskey back at VP, although I should not joke about these things.

    AVFC RIP.

  67. Jenny ,
    I was using the SC case merely as contrast . One of the negatives against RK for some people is that he poured a drink over a womans head in a nightclub , i was’nt there but keanes side of the story is that he was retaliating in kind. Now , to me , this is scraping the barrell looking for excuses to be negative when the mans career speaks for itself. The contrast i was trying to point out is that some were advocating SC as a spokesperson for the fans when his ‘career ‘ also speaks for itself , particularly at villa . I was attempting to point out the outrageous double-standard being applied .

    Appologies for the ‘friend’ reference , reading back , that was a bit naughty and to be honest i was going for witty over sarcastic but i obviously made a ‘haaland ‘ of it . It does sound a ‘tad’ bitchy so again , soz.!

  68. I’m hoping Lambert is keeping his powder dry for a couple of loanee’s with some experience and their own teeth still. I am also hoping grealish and co will be used properly and not just warming benches. old joe might be able to bring grealish on if naff all else

  69. Ronnie,

    As a free transfer he comes as a bargain to my mind as he has aged but real talent. Used sparingly I say he will be OK – just like Peter Broadbent. Remember Peter’s contributions in the FA Cup all those 45 years ago?

  70. right it looks like Wycombe away then for the friendly , had a good laff last time , was decent cider , so will look into that ,, my mate will be running a coach , he starts from halesowen , will let you know ,

    when stan came back from the incident with uuuullllrika ka ka ………he stayed at my nieces husbands flat in manchester ( old school mate and best mate ) will tell you the stories at wycombe ,

    steamer
    put my name on my lottery ticket now and text me the code number , not saying l dont trust you but its the memory thing , just in case l win ,

    jenny xxxx

  71. I see Hereford expelled from the Conference over non payments of debts.I wish I could take sanctions against you lot for the £20 of mine I haven`t had back yet.

  72. Hang on the £20 being mentioned are what you gits had off me after l told you all about my brain haemorage and you all took advantage of my short memory , l remember the barmaid asking me if ld won the lottery as she saw me handing them notes out to you lot , l was a bit confused and she showed me the cctv , you swines . she done me a copy , lm going to have a word with Josh when he gets back about you arses

  73. Cole is obviously more stupid than he sounds, top 10 !!!! The OS are making it look like he’s a current international.
    Does anyone think that Bowery will struggle to fit in with Rotherhams superior football ideals rather than chasing the hoof ?

  74. steamer

    I think Cole is getting senile he obviously doesn’t know who we are.

    as we came top of the yellow card league last season do you think the inclusion of Keane will be to push us on to better things in the red card league?

  75. What do you want him to say? Thank god I got another 2 years pay? I’ll look good in Villa silks? Beer baths–my favourite! Could have been the blues. 🙂

  76. Is it desperation or has Lerners stupidity finally worn down any semblance of standards amongst Villans, no club should be abused the way the three amigos have abused AVFC. I’m all boggled out.

    John,
    Even when Doc gave Broadbent a free he was a far better player than Cole EVER was.

    As i said earlier, nothing will change for Grealish and Gardner.

  77. Steamer Even when Doc gave Broadbent a free he was a far better player than Cole EVER was.

    We can’t measure that mate – the football world has changed enormously. Even Broadbent said that towards the end of his playing days the new systems were not enabling him to play in the open style he was used to.

    Well, Cole has been brought up in “the new systems” and systems that have evolved beyond those.

    In my opinion, we can’t really compare these two except in the context that in both cases they came to Villa late on in their careers, and that their position on the field is similar (though not the same).

    I’ve seen Cole do dome pretty clever things. He’s not a long term proposition, but as a stop-gap he’ll do i.m.o. and will probably not start every match.

  78. Hi Ian yes been following the hockey as well, some of the best stuff the sport as seen.
    Just checked out the new away kit and it’s very impressive. Next time I’m in Jolly Ol’ which will most likely be this Winter I expect to catch a match and buy that kit, really like it! iNot interested in Part-Time managers whatsoever, quit the Ireland gig and I’d like to see what you can offer us Roy but don’t do a half arsed juggling job we deserve better. Any news on the sale? that’s the bigger question! UTV

  79. After the way Ireland got walloped this morning to Ronaldo and the Nando boys 🙂 Roy Keane will think Villa are akin to Barcelona, we were 3-1 down went close to getting a second next minute we are 4-1 down what does MON do… put’s on 4 strikers on the pitch at one stage we had no full backs or wingers sheer madness ( remind you of anyone ), ended up losing 5-1 should of been 6-1 Nani had a thunderbolt ruled out for offside. Ireland’s largest away defeat since Brazil 1982.

    The point of us playing these meaningless friendly’s was to improve our FIFA ranking right now we are 70th after today we should fall to about 75th and the world cup qualification draw is in 12 months time which means we will enter the qualification campaign as 4th seeds truly dark days for Irish football.

  80. Ian
    Thankfully l dont drink and drive , but what a brilliant deterent , put that picture on billboards , it would soon stop !!! lol . mind you l think l’d give him a good run for his money lol xxxxx some of you would have got the picture !

  81. MoN will be a COMPLETE DISASTER at International level..

    I have always said that.. the man is still living in the 80’s.. he did nothing in Europe with Villa.. and international football needs a certain nous.. you can’t have your new versions of Guppy Elliot and co..

  82. Prox 🙂 It’s cool . The irony is I’ve been sticking up for RK you mad fool !!! 🙂 Maybe “inexcusable ” was the wrong word on my part to use – I couldn’t give a damn who he throws pints over tbh / but it was more of a response to Steamers “attacking young girls ” or whatever he wrote .

    Liam ” throwing four strikers on ” reminds me of the fateful Bradford game at VP when PL put five strikers on at the end and seeing Them all look at each other thinking what ?????!

  83. We are treading water at VP and we are buying to stay up on a budget . Not so long ago the press said we were after Hernandez and Holtby , even flirted with the idea of Barry . Can’t see it happening . We have two problems / it’s going to be difficult attracting ambitious players in our current state and RL isn’t going to spend . The new owner will want to build his own team and won’t want a load of long contract , high wage earners at the club. This way the books look better. Just wait for the loans to come in now . Let’s hope we can get some promising youngsters to help put the older legs we are buying !

  84. Glad to hear we’re cool jen , maybe i was having my own little RK moment , living up to Steamers stereotype of us micks and attacking the wrong target . And while we’re on the subject mr Gibson , your little comment about bears and irishmen did’nt go un-noticed yesterday , i’m moving you up towards the top of my list. And thanks for the image of you trying to remove lingerie from a bear , that shit is probably going cost me money to delete from my psyche!

  85. Gibbo,
    Phil lynott famously asked at a concert “any out there with a bit of irish in them ,(crowd cheers) , any girls out there like a bit more irish in them?”

    We’re just downright charmin bastards, aint we ?

  86. Prox,
    No stereotyping from me, how can you stereotype a nation that produces such diverse talents as Wilde, Joyce and McGrath, oh and Keane, happy, arf arf.

  87. Wilde & Joyce eh , the old reliables ! Wilde was one of you lot in spirit , anglo-irish at best , locally he would be known as a west brit. And Joyce hmm , a virtually unreadable apparent genius who went blind due to syphillis , ah yes . You want true irish diversity , try Shane McGowan and Jedward .

  88. Prox – definately a Haland tackle on me afteR I’d given the brilliant defence speech for Mr K four posts previously 🙂

    Is it happy hour on here or have you all finally lost the plot . McGrath was born in Ireland – well he was last time I read his autobiography .

    Now I never knew Phil Lynott was a brummie.

  89. Jen,
    Brums had its fair share of muso’s, Ozzie, Jeff Lynn ( who went to my school ), Steve & Muff Winwood and of course S75 who can sing ‘She’ while attempting to strangle himself. Your neck of the woods produced Jim Capaldi & Dave Mason from Traffic.

  90. Prox my fav Irishperson-apart from my dear mother RIP- ,is Ernest Shacleton,the polar explorer.I read “Endurance” twice,and the man had testicular fortitude by the bucketful.Just thought I would share that unimportant opinion with y`all.

  91. ELO UB40- Duran Duran -Ocean Colour Scene – The Beat – The Streets the list goes one , some ground breaking stuff from the 2nd city

    Agree with a lot of the comments re were we are and can go as a club rght now –seems clear enough we are all about staying up and i don’t expect it to be pretty

    Love the Irish , our lenny henry calls Ireland the cold jamaica – i am off to Cork end of the month – lord help my liver

  92. B62B ,
    I must get a book to you sometime about Pat Crean , one of the few survivors from Scotts ill fated voyage . A kerry man that was truly made of iron and would put the rest of us to shame . Survived against ridiculous odds and saved the life of most of his comrades. Finally came home from sea , married, settled down , and died from f***k**g appendicitis!

    Runtingz
    Dont forget the wonderstuff!

  93. Tony Iomi lived round the corner from my nan in Yaddley Wood according to my cousin . My friend stood next to Robert Plant in the hair dressers last year and another friend is going out with one of Judas Priest . How’s that for names dropping brummie heroes 🙂

  94. Well maybe not heroes – not a fan of heavy metal – famous people .

    Will be great if they let RK do the post match interviews . Cameras were waiting outside his hotel last week and as reported he just stared down the camera for 30 seconds – gave his death stare for another 30 seconds and then just said one word “wha!!” And walked off . The dug out will be more entertaining than the football to he sure 🙂

  95. My Fav Irish man . McGrath is 2nd ,
    his name was Mr Wright and that was all l ever called him , l was about 4/5 at the time and my dad had met him in the Mermaid Pub and yes he way a navvy ,l could only guess he would have been in his late 40s , he had no where to live and we lived in a massive shop (which was never used as a shop)in bordesley park road , it had about 10 bedrooms and Mr Wright lodged in one of them , it must have been around 8-30pm and he had one of them parrafin heaters in his room , he also had a frying pan and l would smell him cooking Bacon , l used to knock on his door and he would always invite me in and make me a bacon buttie , and tell me stories about the little green men in his garden back in ireland , he had a great story telling voice , and it would seem many a time he carried me to bed , l can see him now , tweed jacket, grey trousers ,cap and a real friendly face , him and my uncle convinced me if l planted cornflakes l could grow my own , the gits got me weeing on it every day and every night they put a bigger twig in the ground ,and saturdays l would see him in my dads caff in cox street west Balsal heath , my dad opened one of the 1st restaurants in Walford Road Sparkhill , l remember the Lord mayor being there on the opening night , l also remember going the greenway pub with them and sitting on the horse trough outside with a bottle of coke and a bag of crisps around 62 , Carl Chinn has asked me to write all this down and he’d help me if needed , you know about 10 years ago a couple of the steamers could’nt believe it when l told them l had asian blood in me , id known them over 30 years ! l had to get my mom to tell them , lol
    l do get a kick out of it when some idiots claim lm racist , and l admit l laughed at the irish jokes in the late 60s 70s and thats why l laugh at jokes about anything , sometimes you know when a joke is being told a racist way , so if l take the piss dont take it personally , and l can take it ,

    and its true about the irish seeming to be as relaxed as jamaicans , l got both in my family and when in Dublin l just fell into the way ,

    so Mr Wright God bless wherever you are

  96. Christ on a bike I have just sat there and read a story I must have heard about 50 times but thank god he did not start on the Dublin story, blimey really you have got Asian blood in you, I never knew that although it must be hardly traceable having been diluted by alcohol all these years.

    UTV

Leave a Reply