An open letter to Roy Keane

Dear Roy,

I'd like to take you to task on your recent criticism of the Irish national team in the Sun so here goes.

Perhaps the margin of defeat against Spain was lamentable, yet what cannot be denied is the lack of quality, which you highlight yourself at the beginning of your piece. I think this was more to blame than either effort or the coach which seems to be your main bone of contention.

When I look back on the Irish team of the late 80s, early 90s and perhaps even in 2002, there was a lot more quality on offer than I realised at the time. Bonner, Given, Irwin, Kelly, Staunton, Lawrenson, McGrath, you yourself Roy, Houghton, Aldridge, Robbie Keane, O'Leary, Kevin Sheedy (who I wasn't going to include then recalled that sweet left foot which was most evident against England at italia 90), Moran, Whelan, Beglin and many more. These players should be reaching the knockout stages of major tournaments. St Ledger, Long and Cox should not.

Secondly, your dig at Keith Andrews for saying that Ireland will play for pride in their last game is harsh. What is he supposed to say with a microphone shoved in his face following the thrashing by Spain (they're not the first or the last to receive such a beating from arguably the best international side of all time).

Nevertheless, you are always a great read/listen which cannot always be said of some of your peers. Chris Waddle, Alan Shearer, Mark Bright and Robbie Savage spring to mind. The latter who's opinion is solely based on his friendship, or lack of, with the individual he's analysing (ie Roberto Mancini, Mark Hughes).

This criticism could never be aimed in your direction so keep the forthright opinions coming. A football world without these comments would be a very dull one indeed.

Yours sincerely,

John Silk

To read Roy Keane's article in full go to http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/euro2012/4377157/Euro-2012-Roy-Keane-says-Republic-of-Ireland-should-dump-em-all.html

John Terry does it again

Just when I thought John Terry couldn't be any more ridiculous the story of last week emerged. No, I don't mean his stupid dismissal in the Camp Nou that nearly cost his team so dearly but the proposal that, should Chelsea be successful in the final against Bayer, he should be allowed to lift the trophy.

How arrogant. How stupid. If Bayern need any extra motivation in front of their home crowd they should pin up on the wall a report of how Chelsea are discussing who they would like to lift the trophy.

If nothing else, their marketing/communications team, yet again, have dropped a clanger that is only rivalled by their decision to elect Peter Kenyon to lead up the team up the steps in Moscow in their only other Champions League appearance. The decision to elect a former employee of Manchester United, let alone a supposed devoted fan of the Red Devils, to take Chelsea to collect their medals following a penalty shoot out defeat was made more embarrassing by his opposite number: Sir Bobby Charlton. Old Trafford legend and Munich air crash disaster survivor on the 50th anniversary of the aforementioned tragedy against charlatan and soon to be dismissed employee. No contest.

For Peter Kenyon, read John Terry. I don't recall there being such a debate about Roy Keane's enforced absence from the 1999 final. The Irishman would have dismissed it out of hand straight away, and rightly so. He has even admitted some embarrassment  at receiving a medal, never mind lifting the trophy. In addition, his contribution in getting United to that final was in stark contrast to Terry's. The Chelsea centre back was deservedly sent off for a moment's stupidity whilst Keane was on the receiving end of a rather unfortunate yellow card, his second of the competition, ruling him out of the showpiece event. Keane then dragged his team into the final with one of the most selfless performances seen from a United player, scoring the goal that got his team back into the game to boot.

If John Terry has an ounce of dignity left in him, he will refuse the option to lift the trophy and hand over the task to stand in captain Frank Lampard. The fact that he has yet to put out a statement to say so suggests he is at least deliberating the possibility. I guess it is too much to expect of a guy that drives over people's feet in car parks, uses disabled car parking spaces at Tesco's and undermines managers at every available opportunity (even stabbing Jose Mourinho in the back).