Keane questions Given approach
Tuesday, 27 March 2007 10:04Roy Keane believes Republic of Ireland captain Shay Given has played too many games for his country.
The Newcastle United goalkeeper will tomorrow night equal Pat Bonner's 80-cap record for Ireland, in the Euro 2008 qualifying match at Croke Park.
But Sunderland manager Keane claims other goalkeepers should have started friendly internationals, claiming Given has picked up caps to get 'a pat on the back'.
Keane said: 'I think players have agendas - certain players come over all the time no matter what.
'Maybe they want to get 50 or 100 caps and a pat on the back for it.
'I think Shay's one of those ones - he wants to get 200 caps.'
Given, 30, had a spell on loan at Sunderland 11 years ago, before joining their north-east rivals for £1.5million from Blackburn the following year.
And Keane continued in The Sun: 'Shay seems to have played every game - even friendlies.
'You have other keepers, who travel all the time. Then, when they do play, they're taken off.
'I've always thought, when it comes to the lads who travel all the time, "give them a game".
'Qualifiers you have to win - but with friendly matches, give the lads who travel a game and don't be changing them at half-time, give them a full game.'
Prior to Saturday's 1-0 Euro 2008 qualfying defeat of Wales in Dublin, Keane accused those in the current Republic line-up of under-performing and also claimed there was a bias against Cork-based players.
