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Keane launches broadside at former Ireland team-mates

Former Republic of Ireland captain and now Sunderland manager Roy Keane launched a second broadside at his former teammates on Wednesday just days ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier with Wales.

Only a week ago Keane criticized how two of his Irish players at Sunderland -- veteran striker David Connolly and midfielder Liam Miller -- had not been selected for the squad by coach Steve Staunton.

However, on Wednesday it was the turn of senior members of the side to be criticized by Keane -- some of whom would have been members of the squad that he so infamously walked out on at the 2002 World Cup finals over a disagreement with then coach Mick McCarthy.

"Once you keep playing them on the reputation they've built up through the media or because they do lots of interviews, then it's wrong," Keane said. "There's a fine line between loyalty and stupidity."

Keane claimed that it was virtually pointless trying to inspire the senior players to perform well for their country.

"Come Saturday against Wales the senior players -- four or five of them -- have to step up to the plate. But they've been asked before," Keane said.

"That's why I don't get bogged down by saying we've got world-class players with Ireland," he said. "You look at some of our lads at the bigger clubs ... none of these players at this moment in time are setting the world alight at their respective clubs."

"The FAI, the football, can learn a lot from the rugby lads [who won their third Triple Crown Six Nations title in four years last campaign], even the cricket lads [who stunned former world champions Pakistan by beating them last weekend in the World Cup]," he said.
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