Journal Entry 1 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Saw it in a bookshop and picked it up. Have been told on many, many occasions I must read this. We'll see if my opinion changes any. 

Journal Entry 2 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Tuesday, April 05, 2005

This will probably be the longest journal entry I will ever make on a book, and I will probably edit it a number of times. But it is something I have felt very passionate about for a long time, so one paragraph won't cover it.

I have always admired Roy Keane as a footballer and for his professionalism. I have never liked him as a person. He has always come across as quite arrogant, quite ignorant and with a sneer in answer to most things, and not just in footballing matters, where he is entitled to arrogance. I was not on Keane's side in Saipan, and have been involved in many many debates (reluctant to call them arguments) over the years.

I was determined to approach this book with an open mind. And I have to say at the start during the Notts Forest/early Man U years I found myself warming to him. Also I began to understand the arrogance of his personality, particularly when he spoke of the Cork mentality. He definitely slept, dreamt and ate football (as is only right) but displayed a likeable human side. I found the hard playing/hard drinking Roy Keane very likeable.

When he reinvented himself after his injury while he seems to have become the "total footballer" but he also seems to have lost in himself a lot of the compassion, tolerance and forgiveness - human qualities that are always a plus.

On Saipan (all hypothetical, but however) I still believe if he had stayed he would unsettled the team. While we would have had an exquisite footballer, we would have lost the team spirit that carried us as far as we went. Circumstances were never going to be changed at that time. Yes it changed afterwards as a result of what has happened. But I don't believe we could have won what admittedly was a very poor World Cup if he have stayed, particularly because he was Roy Keane.He was dissatisfied with the situation from the time he arrived at Dublin Airport and his attitude was never going to change, he would have become more and more dissatisfied and alienated the players. While one man can inspire a squad, he can unsettle them just as easily. And it is shown time and time again throughout the book, when Roy is upset, injured or out of sorts, this manifests itself in a misdemeanour usually on the pitch or against an individual. Who was at fault - without a doubt the FAI.

This is only my opinion. Yes I have definitely seen another side of Roy Keane I wasn't too aware of. The loving family man, both extended and immediate, the lengths he will go to for friends and family. The loyalty (not fully seen in the Ireland set up). The honesty which I can only admire, because it is brutally honest.
The things I didn't like, was his justification for things blatantly wrong, such as his tackle on Haaland. His fight with Shearer. Saipan. He allows no justification in others for their actions, but gives it for himself.

All in all, I am glad I read the book, I actually dislike his co-author more than him, but I did like the writing style and found it very readable.

This is as close to impartiality and honesty (ala Keane)as I get. 

Journal Entry 3 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Starting a bookring with this one - participants so far - shout if you want in
HoserLauren
Tyvmdear

back to me 

Journal Entry 4 by Gizmopuddy at on Sunday, April 10, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/11/2005 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to HoserLauren as the first member of the bookring 

Journal Entry 5 by HoserLauren from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, April 14, 2005

Keane-o made his way to me today!
This one's going very next on the to be read list since its a bookring.
I'm looking forwards to it! 

Journal Entry 6 by HoserLauren from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Friday, April 29, 2005

This book took a little trip with me to DC, and made for some lite reading on my flights.

While I had no problems with the book itself (even though I found myself skipping a bit of Keane's "younger years"), I can't say I'm too impressed with the man behind the book, Keane.

I understood that he was an extremely loyal person before I read this book, and this was confirmed through some of the passages in this book. His determination to get back into the game after injuries was also (somewhat) inspiring.

However (and this is a big however), I have a problem with Keane and his half-assed attempts to justify the attacks or "rows" he makes both on and off the pitch. He sits there and says "I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't do this" yet EVERY time he gets into the fight that he says he shouldn't. For someone that talks so much about professionalism, he sure doesn't act professional when it comes to his temper. Is there any justification for the rough takle on Haaland, or strangling Shearer? It is *impossible* to justify that.. yet Keane just seems to think.. oh, that's who I am, deal with it.

I agree with gizmopuddy in the fact that Keane gives justification for his horrible actions, yet doesn't allow justification for anyone else.

There really wasn't enough on the World Cup conflict (two chapters) for me to comment on it other than what I have said above. Sure the team was badly managed and things needed to change, but there are about a billion more civilized ways to go about making those changes than what Keane did. Keane talked to McCarthy once (or so it seemed), and then basically gave up. If his temper was better in check, none of these things would have happened.

I already have tyvmdear's address so I'll send this out to her tomorrow hopefully. 

Journal Entry 7 by tyvmdear from Thompson, Manitoba Canada on Friday, May 06, 2005

Received today.
Will pass to my daughter to read.
Thanks for letting her take part in this bookring.
 

Journal Entry 8 by tyvmdear from Thompson, Manitoba Canada on Friday, September 30, 2005

thank you for letting me have the book longer the replacement book is coming soon. i really loved this book keane is such an amazing player but you never hear his side of the story on sports channels but im glad i know now but honestly i loved this book :) THANK YOU

Nov 21/05
Now on its way back home. Sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 9 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Monday, January 16, 2006

Arrived today, thank you so much for replacing it, it is very much appreciated. So glad you enjoyed it.

p.s. The mail from Canada to Ireland is a nightmare, ask Hoserlauren :)