ROY’S RETURN.. I’M KEANE AS MUSTARD
Meyler: Roy still has so much to offer the game and I’d love to see him back. This idea he is out of touch with modern day football is a false narrative
BY PAUL LENNON
ROY KEANE should put his television punditry on hold and return to the dugout because he’s still got much to offer football.
That’s the opinion of David Meyler who worked with Keane during the latter’s five year stint as Martin O’neill’s assistant when the Derry man took charge of Ireland to November, 2018.
In recent months, Keane was very close to agreeing to return to manage Sunderland with only a late dispute over financial terms proving to be the undoing of a potential deal.
Earlier this month, Hibs were linked to the 50 year old although it’s believed that there was minimal contact between the two parties.
The former Ireland and Manchester United skipper – whose last post as a boss in his own right was at Ipswich Town from May, 2009 to January, 2011 – has also issued conflicting thoughts on once more taking the reins at a club. But his fellow Corkonian is in no doubt that Keane could make a hugely positive impact should he again opt to manage in the future.
“Personally, I’d love to see Roy back involved in management but it’s not up to me, it’s up to him,” said Meyler (right) who was speaking at yesterday’s SPAR/FAI Primary School 5s National Finals in The Aviva. “I think he’s so much to offer. People are fascinated listening to him, when he gives an insight about what he feels about a particular game.
“I think he’s so much to offer that I’d like to see him back,” added Meyler who dismisses suggestions that Keane is out of touch with the modern game.
“It’s very easy to say people are out of touch with the modern game. I don’t think the game has changed a lot in 20 years. Of course, there’s different styles of play, certainly if you look at the impact someone like Pep Guardiola has had on the Premier League.
“But how many teams in the world play like Manchester City. There’s not a lot.
“You have a different dynamic in the dressing-room from when I started where it’s not all effin’, grabbing hold of young lads. That has changed.
“But to say he’s not in touch with the modern game is a false narrative.
“I only retired a few years ago and he was involved with Martin as his assistant with Ireland. He’s well aware of what modern changing rooms are. It probably slowly started to change six or seven years ago, I felt as a player.”