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It Would Appear That Martin O'Neill And Roy Keane Are Here To Stay

Arthur James O'Dea
By Arthur James O'Dea
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If you still enjoy Roy Keane's tetchy, reluctant approach to pre-match press conferences you are in luck.

While the Cork man already made news during the week with his take on the physical dangers of football and alternative sports you can try instead, Ireland boss Martin O'Neill was speaking today.

Although nothing like a guarantee would be made at this particular point in the qualifying campaign, it would appear that O'Neill - and Keane, presumably - are here to stay.

Questioned on his future with the Irish national team, O'Neill believes 'there is a willingness on both sides' to continue this relationship:

I've spoken to John [Delaney] not so long ago and he would like me to continue.

With many fans becoming increasingly disillusioned after Ireland's disappointing conclusion to a qualifying campaign that started so promisingly, O'Neill remains adamant that the 2018 World Cup in Russia is not yet beyond his team.

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Citing Ireland's qualification for EURO 2016 as further evidence of his continued suitability for the job, the upcoming fixtures against Moldova and Wales are unlikely to shape the fate of this managerial duo:

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 We did qualify for the Euros and we are still in the mix for this one.

I suppose one out of one isn't so bad!

Reluctant to discuss the situation in great detail, O'Neill did nonetheless touch on some encouraging factors that sound as if they may have arisen during his discussions with Delaney:

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We have qualified for one competition and I think season tickets have gone from 4,000 to 16,000 so I think there is some evidence we are doing okay.

A promising development certainly, but a detail that is not usually the purview of a football manager.

With Ireland's prospects of qualifying for the World Cup next summer now heavily dependent upon external factors - as well as our own performances - EURO 2020 is seemingly on O'Neill's mind also:

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I must admit with the Euros and the possibility of qualification and some games being in Dublin, there are exciting times ahead.

There are also some young players coming through, players in their mid-20s who will take on the mantle of senior players.

I think there is much to look forward to.

Having taken 10 points from their opening 4 games in this qualifying campaign, Ireland have only managed to take 3 from the remaining quartet of games.

With the combined standing of both O'Neill and Keane, and the lack of an obvious replacement, the retention of both will likely fall upon this rather miserable reasoning.

See Also: 5 Ireland U21 Players That Could Make The Jump In The Next Qualification Campaign

 

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