Irish media verdict on Keane-Arter row / What a mess

Irish media verdict on Keane-Arter row

Tuesday 4th September 2018

While Wales have seen the preparations for their Nations League campaign dominated by events over in Denmark this week, Ireland have had a storm of their own ahead of the trip to Welsh capital on Thursday.

Much of the controversy has surrounded the alleged row between midfielder Harry Arter and coach Roy Keane.

Arter, currently on loan at Cardiff City, reportedly made himself unavailable for his country due to a falling out with the former Manchester United star.

It’s not gone down too well with some sections of the Irish media, with Kevin Palmer of the Irish Independent claiming that Keane needs to take more responsibility for nurturing the country’s stars rather than pushing them away.

Apologies may not be in Keane’s make-up and for that reason, Arter will not go looking for one, but dialogue and respect from one of the great players of his generation is the least all of the current Ireland squad can expect from a legend now employed to build careers rather than destroy them.


Suggestions that Arter had a variety of reasons to step away from the Ireland squad just 13 caps into his international career can be dismissed as the Cardiff midfielder would have been available to play at his home stadium in a green shirt on Thursday night were it not for Keane’s verbal dismantling of him in full view of his team-mates.

With Eamon Dunphy among the high-profile names calling for Keane to be removed from the Ireland set-up for the second time in his colourful career, the sad reality must be that a great opportunity is being missed here by a figure whose legendary status could be so inspirational to the increasingly depleted squad of players O’Neill is working with.

Jeff Hendrick now stands alone as the last remaining Premier League performer O’Neill can select from in his midfield for the game in Wales, with the talent crisis gripping our national team emphasising the need for Keane to use his influence as a force for good in the squad rather than allowing his frustrations to drive players away.


Keane’s man-management skills have been questioned time and again in his faltering coaching career, yet the comments from Arter at the top of this article confirm that he is not using his position as one of the greats of the game in the right manner.
The end result means that one of the great winners of Irish sport joins Arter as a loser in a soap opera that could so easily have been avoided.


What a mess.

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Keane=great player but is a right tosspot for man management.

Keane=great player but is a right tosspot for man management.

Agreed on both accounts

Keane=great player but is a right tosspot for man management.

Agreed on both accounts

His heavy-handed approach won't work with many players these days so he is flawed in Management and coaching, but I like him as a pundit, he says it as it is!!!

I had to pick up a reprint ticket at Huddersfield away , I was directed to the Huddersfield ticket office by a Cardiff city steward, next to my que was the cooperate ticket office, where many fans Huddersfield and two Cardiff fans including myself recognising had witnessed Roy Keene who was picking up his coperate ticket, I guessed he was there to look at Harry Arter that day. Incidentally the way he spoke to the ticket lady assistant was appalling, she was clearly upset by his behaviour, ,one of the Cardiff fans had a right go at him because of his arrogant rude manner, Even the Huddersfield stewards were disgusted by his behaviour.
and other Huddersfield fans too.
He seemed to think he was better than the ordinary person, above everyone,in my opinion he acted like a childish arsehole. How can he as a coach motivate any player with his manner, and that sort of behaviour.

When he got Sunderland up it was more to do with the players there than his managerial skills.As previous posts say great player but not up to coaching standards!

Their loss, our gain

Totally agree with all of the above, especially with their loss our gain

Further to add, Keane tries to do it the "old school way". The best in the business @ that is.....as we all know......Mr Warnock

I like Keane as a pundit and loved him as a player but Id hate to be under his management/coaching

Needs to drop the "hard man" image! Loved him as a player,but boy oh boy,he is an arrogant arsehole since he stopped playing,wont do him any good in management game.needs to spend some time with Neil,to teach the prick how to man manage players!

Needs to drop the "hard man" image! Loved him as a player,but boy oh boy,he is an arrogant arsehole since he stopped playing,wont do him any good in management game.needs to spend some time with Neil,to teach the prick how to man manage players!

Loved his face through tonight's performance wouldn't want to be in the Irish dressing room tonight

The guy is a dinosaur, a thug of a player devoid of skill, using fear to get results, thank god those aspects of the game are gone, well done Bale and co for enlightening him