Looks like Keane has jumped!

[Evil Genius]

£35 million could have bought you 3 decent £12m pound players.

The problem was, however, that three "decent £12m pound players" could never have been enough to transform the Sunderland team which was good enough to get promotion, into one good enough even merely to survive in the Premier League, never mind thrive.

Remember, too, that even if he could afford the transfer fees and wages for Premier League quality players, he still had to persuade them to move to the SoL. And such players are bound to think twice before committing themselves e.g. to a 3 year contract with a newly-promoted club i.e. one which has still got to be amongst the favourites to go straight back down.

Therefore Keane's strategy seems to have been to buy as many "bargain basement" players as he could, in the hope that he would uncover enough "Kenwyne Jones" amongst them to keep them up for a season or two. Then, once they were reasonably established, the massive extra income which the Prem generates could be deployed to buy better players, to take the club to the next level.

Now it may well be that Keane bought too many players who ought never to have been considered Premier League quality. Moreover, it may be that he failed to get the best out of those who could have been good enough. But even a seasoned manager would have struggled on Sunderland's budget, when you compare it with that spent by other struggling clubs like West Ham or Newcastle, even Tottenham.

[T Fearon]

Er Keane was sent home from Saipan technically, but if you called your boss a w*nker and didn't apologise would you expect him to retain your services?.

[full back]

Er Keane was sent home from Saipan technically

Thats all I wanted to hear, thanks Tony

[Tyrone Dreamer]

No different to Saipan really, the going got tough and Keano f**ked off. All these new Sunderland "supporters" will be supporting Wolves next year.

I suppose I should ignore you revisionism the same way you ignore that night in Turin or all those times he won Leagues, Cups etc with United not to mention dragging a mediocre Ireland team to the World Cup.

I think its really sad the way people are willing to revel in this. The whole thing is over years ago. McCarthy and Keane have made up about it FFS.

As R&GSniper says - at least wait for more info to come out.

And if he wasn't good enough it takes a bigger man to admit it than pour scorn on it from behind the safety of an internet pseudonym.

Not sure if he dragged Ireland to the world cup. In 2002 in the crucial world cup qualifier 2nd leg v Iran he didnt travel due to injury. Was fit to play a league game for Utd a few days later though.

[Declan]

In 2002 in the crucial world cup qualifier 2nd leg v Iran he didnt travel due to injury.

As agreed with Mick and Ferguson after the first leg

[Evil Genius]

Er Keane was sent home from Saipan technically, but if you called your boss a w*nker and didn't apologise would you expect him to retain your services?.

Imagine someone turning his back on his country, eh? 

[tyroneboi]

No different to Saipan really, the going got tough and Keano f**ked off. All these new Sunderland "supporters" will be supporting Wolves next year.

I suppose I should ignore you revisionism the same way you ignore that night in Turin or all those times he won Leagues, Cups etc with United not to mention dragging a mediocre Ireland team to the World Cup.

I think its really sad the way people are willing to revel in this. The whole thing is over years ago. McCarthy and Keane have made up about it FFS.

As R&GSniper says - at least wait for more info to come out.

And if he wasn't good enough it takes a bigger man to admit it than pour scorn on it from behind the safety of an internet pseudonym.

Not sure if he dragged Ireland to the world cup. In 2002 in the crucial world cup qualifier 2nd leg v Iran he didnt travel due to injury. Was fit to play a league game for Utd a few days later though.

He didnt drag Ireland to the World Cup?? Did you not catch any of the world cup qualifiers for 2002?

[RedandGreenSniper]

No different to Saipan really, the going got tough and Keano f**ked off. All these new Sunderland "supporters" will be supporting Wolves next year.

I suppose I should ignore you revisionism the same way you ignore that night in Turin or all those times he won Leagues, Cups etc with United not to mention dragging a mediocre Ireland team to the World Cup.

I think its really sad the way people are willing to revel in this. The whole thing is over years ago. McCarthy and Keane have made up about it FFS.

As R&GSniper says - at least wait for more info to come out.

And if he wasn't good enough it takes a bigger man to admit it than pour scorn on it from behind the safety of an internet pseudonym.

Not sure if he dragged Ireland to the world cup. In 2002 in the crucial world cup qualifier 2nd leg v Iran he didnt travel due to injury. Was fit to play a league game for Utd a few days later though.

Ok who set the tone after the draw against Holland saying the draw wasn't good enough. Who was man of the match in the two Portugal games and the home Holland game? Who carried the team to victory against Cyprus when they would have been doomed to failure without him? I can't recall a more influential player over a series of soccer games than Keane's for Ireland's qualification for 2002 World Cup. Simple as . . .

[turk]

ahh not this Saipan shite again!!

[screenexile]

Keane leaves Sunderland...

[Tyrone Dreamer]

No matter what he did in the earlier games he wasnt there for the crucial final qualifying game away in Iran. Doesnt say much for his pride in the Ireland journey that he didnt bother making the trip for such an important game but could play for Utd a few days later.

[Rossie11]

I can't recall a more influential player over a series of soccer games than Keane's for Ireland's qualification for 2002 World Cup.

Maradona 86 pales into insignificance of Keano V Cyprus FFS

[screenexile]

I can't recall a more influential player over a series of soccer games than Keane's for Ireland's qualification for 2002 World Cup.

Maradona 86 pales into insignificance of Keano V Cyprus FFS

Yeah or David Healy in the Euro qualifiers!!!

[Bud Wiser]

I hope Sunderland end up playing Accrington Stanley for a set of Duleek Pottery and then see the look on the faces of Charlie Chawke and Louis Fitzgerald and all the big business men that launched millions of money into this club and the country on its knees.  They were on the news d'other nite complaining about the downturn in the pub game and it does my head in that RTE and every paper seem to think that no matter when Pubs have to be discussed it is the two boys who must be contacted.

There wouldn't be a downturn in the pub trade if the owners of superpubs the size of airports had not toddled around the country a few years ago buying up all the lisences of the little village pubs where we used to watch the ould GAA club games played back on the Video Tape. 

Maybe Keane will come back and Manage the Cork Hurlers now, although his last foray into the dressingroom before they played the Cats didn't have any effect.

I have no time for any of that shower at all, at all at all !

[RedandGreenSniper]

I can't recall a more influential player over a series of soccer games than Keane's for Ireland's qualification for 2002 World Cup.

Maradona 86 pales into insignificance of Keano V Cyprus FFS

Yeah? Well I was four then so I'll have to take your word for it old man 

No matter what he did in the earlier games he wasnt there for the crucial final qualifying game away in Iran. Doesnt say much for his pride in the Ireland journey that he didnt bother making the trip for such an important game but could play for Utd a few days later.

As another poster said, it was agreed in advance between McCarthy and Ferguson. Keane was plagued with injuries at the time and probably shouldn't have been playing for club or country