Keane Unhappy at Lack of Multi-Ball
Monday, 26th Oct 2009 08:45

Boss Roy Keane has hit out at Plymouth for not employing the multi-ball system during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Home Park. The Town manager was unhappy at the lengthy delays each time the ball went out of play.

Keane said: “Every time the ball went out it was taking ages to come back in. That's not a spectacle. If I had paid to watch the game today, I would be disappointed, so that needs to be looked at.

"When the ball goes out and takes 35-40 seconds to come back into play, that's what happens in a Sunday morning match.

"You have two pub teams playing and someone hits it wide and it takes ages for someone to chase it down the hill, and you are getting that at this level."

Keane says he wasn’t expecting Jon Walters to be ready to start on Saturday after spraining an ankle on Tuesday: “Jon surprised even me!

“He trained with us and came down with us, and had some more treatment in the morning. Sometimes players just get into the mindset that they will play.

“Twenty-four hours is a long time in football, if you have an ankle injury. I know that from my playing days.”

Meanwhile, striker Jon Stead says he is embarrassed with the club’s current position: “To be honest, it's embarrassing to be at the bottom of the table for so long.

“It's embarrassing for the players and it's embarrassing for the whole staff. We're playing well, and we're giving it everything that we can. But why are we down there? We're all asking that.”

Stead says he wants to remain with the Blue despite interest from next week’s opponents Derby County: “There's been a lot of speculation around. However, I know that there are two strikers’ places up for grabs here, not just one, because no one has been scoring that many goals.

“That's why I want to stay and fight for my place in the team. No striker has nailed it down yet.”

Elsewhere, midfielder Carlos Edwards says he is proud to have been named one of the ambassadors for England’s bid to stage the World Cup in 2008: "It's an honour and a privilege to be selected on the list of ambassadors for the England 2018 bid.

"I have played the majority of my years as a professional player in England and I have enjoyed it immensely. The game has a lot to offer here and as a player it's been a real pleasure playing in the best leagues in the world here in England.

“I think all of England would be jumping and cheering if the World Cup comes here."

Photo: Action Images

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trulyblue added 08:53 - Oct 26 At least the balls coming back into play was consistant on Saturday.... Nothing has been mentioned of the system adopted by Town last Tuesday when the ball was returned immediately in the first half, yet in the second half it was quite obvious that the ball boys had been told to fall asleep.... Lol !!!
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BlueBoots added 09:03 - Oct 26 All together now... "Plymouth... Have only got one ball The other... was stolen by Fitz Hall"
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essexblue added 09:03 - Oct 26 trulyblue dont think they were asleep to be honest. I'm sure none of our ball boys had a ball with them second half last week so it was back to using one ball which can be very slow. Not sure of the reason but convinced at one point the watford manager was complaining about two balls on the pitch so guess they withdrew the multi balls in the second half
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trulyblue added 09:15 - Oct 26

Essex blue... It certainly seemed at the time as if there had been 'intructions' to slow the game down in the second half, which I guess is why the ball boys didn't come out with an extra ball each after the break. Don't get me wrong I'm not discouraging it, we need all the help we can get at the moment... It's just a pity that the referee didn't shorten that stoppage time by 30 seconds !!!

paristractor added 09:45 - Oct 26 QPR looking good..............
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elburro3 added 09:45 - Oct 26 Plymouth had every right to adopt the system they wanted to. We had multi-ball first half and then one ball second half against Watford as previously mentioned. Keane needs to stop thinking hes a god that can moan about anything and actually help to install some pride back into our club, by, perhaps, dare I say it... Winning a match.
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tazdac added 10:03 - Oct 26 A few seasons ago at west ham when they scored the trainer went round with a bag collecting the rest of the balls to slow the game!!
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essexblue added 10:13 - Oct 26 Tazdac. remember it well - play off semi final at upton park. thought it an absolute disgrace at the time but gamemanship is part and parcel of things these days and unfortunately I say we need to do everything we can to help the team at present.
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Lightningboy added 10:45 - Oct 26 Let's face it, "any half decent manager can finish mid-table in this division"...oops,who said that on the eve of this season??? You're proving your own point fantastically Roy..say no more.
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FormerlyCGS added 10:53 - Oct 26 KEANE OUT NOW
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bluelad7 added 13:09 - Oct 26 ROY KEANE FOREVER!
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Plymouthtractorboy added 13:10 - Oct 26 I am unhappy with the lack of foot-ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:15 - Oct 26

It was the ref who stopped the multi-ball system at half-time against Watford. On one occasion Watford took a throw on about 30 yards from where the ball went off, is that the ball-boys fault, the linesman, the ref or simply Watford cheating?

I supported Sheepshanks and Jim who were very anti- the multi-ball system mainly becasue of trouble with ball boys at Upton Park and Bramall Lane.

I 'think' the Premiership is still only 'single ball' while the Champions League is certainly multi-ball, on reflection if used fairly (ie no involment of Pardew or COLIN) then it does speed-up the game and is the best route.

Topps added 13:58 - Oct 26

For those muppets who seem to use this forum just to moan about Keane (and lets face it, if it wasn't Keane it would be someone else) my suggestion would be to quit now and become a Norwich fan as they deserve you more.

Honestly, I am fed up with the negativity on here. Yes, everyone deserves an opinion and its fair to say that noone is happy about our current predicament, BUT moaning and bitching about it won't help anyone. Can I suggest you put your energies to better use by getting behind the blues on matchday. Portman Road has been too quiet this season (for obvious reasons) but there are signs of improvement and we need to get behind the team AND the manager if we want things to change.