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

Footnotes from Ukraine

Tasty: when in Kiev...

Whilst Ukraine have been a welcoming host (I even received two bags of crisps on the street for free yesterday in Kiev, any country that bears gifts as nice as this gets my vote) there is one thing sorely lacking when compared to previous tournaments: the lack of variety of travelling support in each host city. 

In Tokyo, stood at central station, the place was buzzing with supporters from all over the world. From Ireland to Argentina, from Germany to Cameroon, it was a fantastic place to be as the hub of the World Cup with 16 nations based in Japan, many of which playing in the country’s capital at some stage during the tournament.

In Poland and Ukraine, though, this is not the case. The size of the two host nations, aligned with varying transport issues (there’s no bullet train here) there is not the same international feel. Sweden, for example, are based solely in Kiev, whilst Spain remain in Gdansk, for the time being at least.

I understand the logistics, I just miss the lack of an international feel when the cities are dominated by just one or two nation's fans.

A dog: this funny thing has no business being here, aside from the fact he is a cute dog, which is enough in itself

Anyway, moan over and I am returning to my crisps as my trip takes another dramatic twist (there have been more twists and turns than a twisty-turny thing so far). I have decided to become a culture vulture, taking in a monastery and some of the amazing views on offer near Kiev’s famous arc. 

Irish pub: at O'Brien's with fellow Norfolk boy (also in red) who goes simply by the name of Calvin

It is not long, however, before I revert to type to visit the Irish bar to watch football before drinking myself silly whilst singing to Oasis songs in a downstairs bar called Dockers which gets a seal of approval in terms of ambience, but a seal of disapproval on the ever increasing price of drinks throughout the evening.

Now for the long train journey to Donetsk from Kiev which will pass by much more quickly as it will be dominated by some much needed sleep.

 
Don't look back in anger: Oasis being sung at the Dockers bar in Kiev

Onwards and upwards

Well Friday night almost encapsulated everything about being an England fan, except if it had, the ending would have been far more miserable.

It could have been very different, however. As the storm clouds came over the Olympic Stadium in Kiev shortly before kick off, the fear was that we were going to suffer from the same deluge that had recently hit Donetsk, forcing the match between Ukraine and France to be abandoned, albeit for just one hour.

Roy Hodgson and the English support had more than the weather on their mind mid-way through the second half as Olof Mellberg scored a brace to put the Swedes into an improbable lead. But then Theo Walcott sprang from the bench to rescue the Three Lions and condemn Sweden to elimination as we now look optimistically towards playing Ukraine on Tuesday.

‘You're going home with the Irish’ was sang in the direction of the 20,000 Swedish supporters, outnumbering their English counterparts by almost three to one. This was not a feeling we are used to. Normally it is us who are the dominant force within the stadium. Even in Portugal in 2004, in their own stadium, we had more fans than our opponents. But here it was a sea of yellow and blue. That's the trouble: even the Ukrainians within the crowd seemed to be on the side of our opponents.

A fan's eye view: nervous times for the England faithful

It all used to be so different. Not since the cost of these trips became so extortionate that only the affluent Scandinavians can travel in their droves. And even they are restricted to a budgeted style camping arrangement.

Though there is the argument that the England team are so short in quality these days that I even brought my boots in the hope of a late call up, this could only partially explain the lack of numbers.

There is a feeling among the team’s support that we are more than happy to be here and a little resentful towards some sectors of the British media regarding the over-hyped violent nature of the host nations. This has not been in evidence whilst we have been here and long may it continue. ‘We’re not going home, we’re not going home, we’re not going, we’re not going, we’re not going home’… not til Tuesday at least.

Euro surprise

Yesterday was my first visit to the fan zone in Kiev and I wasn't disappointed. The camaraderie between the English and the Swedish supporters was excellent and I anticipate that relationship staying the same for tonight's game. It was certainly embellished by the Swedish band on show singing some Oasis classics. What ever happened to Abba?

What followed did come as a slight surprise as a middle aged woman came to me offering sex. When I declined she then said it was for money, perhaps expecting me to change my mind. I did not and I suggested she should head towards the Swedish contingent offering her services as they have more money than the English. She took heed of my advice and headed in their direction.

One disappointing footnote has to be aimed in the direction of the Official England Supporters bar where they are trying to exploit fans by charging relatively extortionate prices, three times that of just about anywhere else in the city, including the fan zone which it neighbours.

Mixed fortunes

Support: The fans in full voice against France

Taking an elongated route through Istanbul, I thought I would not meet so many England fans en route to the Ukraine. How wrong I was.

They packed out the sports bar at the airport, as they watched Ireland get beaten by Croatia.

The flight was, to put it positively, boisterous. To put it negatively, though, some of the fans’ abuse of the flight attendants was shameful.

England fans tend to reach both extremes. Having photos taken with the police as they exchange pleasantries and gifts brings a smile to the face. Seeing fans shout sexual and racial abuse towards anyone who gets in their way undoes all the good work of the majority. 

After all the build up surrounding racial prejudice in the Ukraine, it came as a surprise to hear the first chants of this nature coming from an English contingent on the flight over from Istanbul.

Anyway, on the day of the game things were much calmer throughout the industrial town of Donetsk as most of the support decided to chill out in the shade provided by the huge tents in and around the fan zone.

The rest congregated at the Golden Lion pub where they mixed well with the French supporters who had braved the conditions to enter into the zone where they knew the England fans would hang out. ‘Where were you in World War II’ chants were shouted across the bar whilst the French riposte of ‘Ooh ah, Cantona’ bemused this observer.

As the crowd left the English pub the first sign of trouble reared its ugly head as half a dozen Russian fans (The Russian border is just 100 kilometres away), wearing CCCP t-shirts, charged through where the England fans were walking and attacked an equally small group of supporters, proceeding to kick and punch some whilst they struggled on the ground. The incident was over in a matter of minutes and no one, thankfully, appeared seriously injured but there was the disturbing sight of policemen stood watching as the events unfolded.

The stadium was conveniently located just fifteen minutes on foot from the town centre and once inside the Donbass arena the English contingent soon found their voice. It was great to hear their support of the new England manager with frequent chants of ‘Roy Hodgson’s barmy army’ but the chalk and cheese element returned with other songs about ten German bombers and ‘We’re going home in a coffin’, in reference to Sol Campbell’s comments.

The game passed by fairly peacefully. Of course there was a delirious response to England’s goal, before realism returned when Samir Nasri equalised for the French.

And this in itself paraphrased everything you need to know about English football fans. Delirium followed by realism. Optimism followed by pessimism. Good humoured followed by poor taste. Welcome to Euro 2012.