"Had he just shut up, stated his opinion without exploding, then he would play a ful part in the World Cup. "
Yeah, but if McCarthy hadn't stood him in front of the entire team to explain himself then it might have all ended differently. As Eamonn Dunphy has said "It was a fight McCarthy didn't have to pick..." and Kevin Mitchell asks "how did he expect the most volatile force in football to react to a dressing-down in front of the players for what was, essentially, a correct assessment of the problems that have dogged Irish football for years"...
Keane is a nutter when he loses his rag, but McCarthy should have known this which is what leads me to believe that McCarthy got exactly the reaction he expected and wanted.
As a result of this whole HooHaa, McCarthy is now in a win-win situation: If Ireland get put out in the groups it is all Keane's fault. However, if they qualify and get to the 2nd round or quarters, McCarthy is a hero and they didn't need Keane anyway...
Here are Keane's comments as published in the Mail on Sunday:
http://www.ireland.com/sports/soccer/worldcup2002/news/0526/ire2.htm
He clearly says that McCarthy criticised Keane's commitment to Ireland in front of the whole squad. Now I know what my reaction to this would be if this was done to me and it would have been pretty similar to Keane's...
... A lot of people are also lending weight to the fact that the players are behind McCarthy, but can these players take any other stance?? Are they willing to risk their World Cup dream by riaking a run in with McCarthy?? - I think not.
- Its is noticable that many ex-professionals including Paul McGrath, Kevin Sheedy, Dennis Irwin, Ray Houghton and even Tony Adams are coming out on Keane's side...