Post by Taxigirl on Apr 14, 2004 10:23:35 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/republic_of_ireland/3623649.stm
Exclusive by Mandeep Sanghera
Dean Kiely has given a lukewarm welcome to Roy Keane's return to return to international football.
Kiely was part of the Republic of Ireland squad Keane walked out on after a row with then boss Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup.
"It was a bit of a surprise," the Charlton keeper told BBC Sport.
"When Roy made his decision at the World Cup that it seemed to me and everybody else it was final, 100% and there was no going back."
Manchester United midfielder Keane's durability because of a hip operation has been called into question.
And Kiely added: "Only Roy knows if it is the right decision.
"I think it's been well-documented he's needed a rest this year and Sir Alex Ferguson has given him time to recuperate and get back in terms of fitness.
"If all that's true then this is a very surprising decision. If all that's a fabrication then its not all that surprising to see him playing international football under a team that is not run by Mick McCarthy."
Keane's exit after his confrontation with McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup overshadowed the Republic of Ireland's campaign.
Kiely recalled: "Whether Roy comes back and plays for Ireland now, I think the sorry situation was that Ireland lost a world-class player to play in a world-class tournament.
"At the end of the day if you talk about winners and losers - the losers were the squad of players that were preparing to play in the biggest tournament on the planet.
"In that respect, it was a little hollow and in quite bad taste afterwards to see all the parties giving exclusive stories and their side and basically making lots of money in the process."
He added: "I'm not saying there are rights and wrongs in it but what I am saying is that we lost a world class player in preparation for a World Cup tournament so did that hinder our chances - the answer to that is yes.
"People make their own decisions and, although it is a team sport, it is a group of individuals and Roy as an individual made a decision which he thought was right.
"Here we are now along the line and he has totally back-tracked his decision which again leaves me to believe it was all maybe a bit hollow and there were other things and political motivations behind it."
Kiely added: "Pleased or not pleased it does not make a scrap of difference to me in the slightest.
"I didn't really have a relationship with Roy. Its well-documented that he's a world class player and he really is. He did bring an element of aloofness, separation and is detached a little bit from the squad.
"But I don't think that's his fault. His perception is such that he's the top of the tree and basically that's just the way it is."
But Kiely is confident Keane's return will not detract from the Ireland squad.
"The Ireland squad is ultra professional which means they turn up when selected, give 100% in training and all their efforts and focus to get a result, hence they beat the Czech Republic a couple of weeks back.
"Regardless of personnel or whose selected - whether its your mate or someone you haven't got a lot of time for - it doesn't matter.
"The job doesn't change. They'll turn up and do their job and give their all and that won't change."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/republic_of_ireland/3623725.stm
Exclusive by Mandeep Sanghera
Dean Kiely has given a lukewarm welcome to Roy Keane's return to return to international football.
Kiely was part of the Republic of Ireland squad Keane walked out on after a row with then boss Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup.
"It was a bit of a surprise," the Charlton keeper told BBC Sport.
"When Roy made his decision at the World Cup that it seemed to me and everybody else it was final, 100% and there was no going back."
Manchester United midfielder Keane's durability because of a hip operation has been called into question.
And Kiely added: "Only Roy knows if it is the right decision.
"I think it's been well-documented he's needed a rest this year and Sir Alex Ferguson has given him time to recuperate and get back in terms of fitness.
"If all that's true then this is a very surprising decision. If all that's a fabrication then its not all that surprising to see him playing international football under a team that is not run by Mick McCarthy."
Keane's exit after his confrontation with McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup overshadowed the Republic of Ireland's campaign.
Kiely recalled: "Whether Roy comes back and plays for Ireland now, I think the sorry situation was that Ireland lost a world-class player to play in a world-class tournament.
"At the end of the day if you talk about winners and losers - the losers were the squad of players that were preparing to play in the biggest tournament on the planet.
"In that respect, it was a little hollow and in quite bad taste afterwards to see all the parties giving exclusive stories and their side and basically making lots of money in the process."
He added: "I'm not saying there are rights and wrongs in it but what I am saying is that we lost a world class player in preparation for a World Cup tournament so did that hinder our chances - the answer to that is yes.
"People make their own decisions and, although it is a team sport, it is a group of individuals and Roy as an individual made a decision which he thought was right.
"Here we are now along the line and he has totally back-tracked his decision which again leaves me to believe it was all maybe a bit hollow and there were other things and political motivations behind it."
Kiely added: "Pleased or not pleased it does not make a scrap of difference to me in the slightest.
"I didn't really have a relationship with Roy. Its well-documented that he's a world class player and he really is. He did bring an element of aloofness, separation and is detached a little bit from the squad.
"But I don't think that's his fault. His perception is such that he's the top of the tree and basically that's just the way it is."
But Kiely is confident Keane's return will not detract from the Ireland squad.
"The Ireland squad is ultra professional which means they turn up when selected, give 100% in training and all their efforts and focus to get a result, hence they beat the Czech Republic a couple of weeks back.
"Regardless of personnel or whose selected - whether its your mate or someone you haven't got a lot of time for - it doesn't matter.
"The job doesn't change. They'll turn up and do their job and give their all and that won't change."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/republic_of_ireland/3623725.stm