KEANE BARB WILL PUT PRESSURE ON HIS SUCCESSOR
AS the new Republic of Ireland assistant manager, Keith Andrews knows what the first question will be when he is finally cleared for media duty. And he can thank Roy Keane, a former Irish No 2, for the heads up. Keane’s ‘bullsh**ter’ barb at Andrews in a Sunday newspaper interview was one of those rakers down the shin when the ball was gone. There was no need for it, nothing to be gained, but Keano, like the scorpion cadging a lift from the frog, can’t help himself when it comes to delivering the cruel sting. Just ask David De Gea or Harry Maguire. As he chalked up the lengths in the swimming pool in his leafy Cheshire home while in lockdown, a need to release steam would have festered within Keano, who missed football more than most. Chummy Zoom quizzes wouldn’t have been his thing. It’s been more than two months since Andrews’ promotion as No 2 with Ireland alongside Stephen Kenny. Lots of time to churn up and down the pool and think of the fellah in the position he used to hold under Martin O’Neill. Time to think of what he’s heard and seen of Andrews, a fellow Sky Sports pundit, whose brief is the Championship. Keane didn’t have to go anywhere near the Irish management set-up in his interview, but he went gunning for Andrews. And the charge will stick because it came from Keane, a legendary figure in Irish sport, and a serial winner at the highest level. The CV of fellow midfielder Andrews is pale by comparison, topped by 35 international caps, Ireland’s Player of the Year in 2012, and a few lower division trinkets. Being tarred a bullsh**ter by Keane will put an extra focus on Andrews, in what he says and does as Irish assistant manager. And that may be no bad thing. I don’t claim to know Andrews that well but he squeezed as much as he could from his Irish involvement, which came late in his career; gave all he had in the trenches, and spoke with candour before and after games. Will he make a good No 2 to Kenny? Time will tell. Avoiding bustups with players and treating them with respect, rather than as verbal punch bags, would be a start. Perhaps Keano can give him some pointers.