Keane Set to Ring Changes for Barnsley Clash
Friday, 19th Mar 2010 11:48

Boss Roy Keane looks set to ring the changes when the Blues face Barnsley at Portman Road on Saturday having been less than impressed with the performance during the 2-1 defeat at Watford on Tuesday. The Town manager felt youngsters Shane O’Connor and Connor Wickham were his side’s best performers at Vicarage Road.

Keane says a reshuffle is very much on the cards: “I learned a great deal from the other night and there’s a good chance I’ll be changing the team on Saturday.”

The Blues boss says his team failed to match the Hornets’ desire from the start: “Watford were hungrier than us the other night. We had two or three players who felt they could just put the shirt on and perform.

“The two players who did the best were Shane O’Connor and Connor Wickham, two boys who have made four starts between them and they’re leading the way, which tells you a lot about the group of players we have.

“I’ve been defending my team all year, but the other night the way two or three of them started the game made you think we were 10 points clear at the top of the table.

“We’d one or two the other night without the hunger and it came across in their performances. Obviously I’m not going to mention names, but they know who they are.”

While Owen Garvan was replaced after 22 minutes, Keane says he could have made even earlier substitutions: “I wouldn’t say Owen Garvan was unlucky, although he was unlucky in the sense that there could have been another two or three coming off with him, but I can only make three substitutions.

“I should have made the three substitutions after 10 minutes and if we picked up an injury, so what?

”We’ve got talented players and Garvs should have started the game better. When he kicked the ball out of play after three seconds, I was thinking ‘how have you prepared for the game?’.”

Earlier in the season after the defeat at West Brom, Keane said some of his players were unlikely to play for the club again, a statement he later admitted regretting making.

Despite Garvan’s early substitution and his anger at some of his players’ attitudes, Keane says all his squad are still in with a chance of selection: “There’s always an opportunity, but there are players who are running out of opportunities, particularly as we’re coming towards the end of the season when decisions have to be made on certain players.

“It’s not about letting me down, ultimately they’re letting themselves down because they’re talented players. I watch them every day in training. It’s not as if we’re working with amateurs or a pub team. They’re good players and we’ve seen that on a lot of occasions but not enough.”

Keane says some of his players continue to consistently make the same errors: “We all make mistakes and young Shane made a mistake the other night, but it was an honest mistake and as long as he learns from it that’s what life in football’s all about.

“But there are certain players who are making the same mistakes week in, week out. They’re the ones who’ll take you nowhere fast and I’m aware of that and we’ll sort it out.”

The Town manager concedes that he may have made an error himself when he changed his the side which had won the previous two matches for the Watford game: “We talked about trying to keep a winning team. I appreciate it when people say we probably should have kept a winning back four, I made that change and that was probably wrong.”

Keane is unhappy that some of his team only perform at home and that has led to the inconsistency which has contributed to Town’s struggles: “The biggest thing holding us back all season has been the inconsistency of the team. The first back to back victories came last week, which says it all really and it’s a bad reflection on the players, myself and the staff.

“It was probably too much to ask the group of players we have to win three games in a row, so we’re aware of that. We know where we’re at. If we start a game like we did the other night, we’re heading for trouble.”

As for Saturday’s match, the Blues boss says he’ll look to make changes: “There’s a good chance of that, but if we win on Saturday there’s a chance I mightn’t change the team for Tuesday, however, we’ve got a tough game on Saturday, there’s no getting away from it.

"Barnsley have done well and they have been scoring goals. They have picked up some good results against the top teams, particularly at home and we know it will be a very tough game.

"They have a striker in form [Daniel Bogdanovic] and that has been the difference between us being a half decent side and not this season.”

Keane expects a somewhat better display than at Watford: “We’re at home and the players will probably be ready for the home games. It’s the away games we have the problem with.”

The Town manager is unlikely to drop keeper Brian Murphy but David Wright will probably return for Liam Rosenior at right-back. Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley are likely to continue at the centre of the defence, although Tommy Smith may be in with a chance of inclusion, with Shane O’Connor on the left, having been one of the players who most impressed his manager at Watford, despite his error on the second goal.

Arran Lee-Barrett is likely to continue keeping Richard Wright off the bench, despite the former England keeper having been fit for some weeks now, Keane having said no one shone in a poor reserves performance on Wednesday.

In midfield, David Norris is likely to return, probably for Owen Garvan with Jack Colback — who Keane says he expects to be playing in the Premier League regularly with Sunderland next season - and Grant Leadbitter probably keeping their places.

Skipper Jon Walters will be OK to play despite having a scar on his leg from John Eustace’s wild challenge during Tuesday’s game. Alan Quinn is an injury doubt with a groin problem picked up in the reserves but was unlikely to be involved against the side which wanted to sign him in the summer in any case.

Up front, David Healy could come into the starting line-up having impressed when coming off the bench at Watford, while Daryl Murphy will probably get the nod ahead of Connor Wickham alongside the Northern Irishman.

Barnsley are currently 12th in the league, five points and five places above the Blues, with an away record of won six, drawn two and lost nine.

Tykes manager and former Canary Mark Robins says that his side are generally making progress: "We've got to maintain the form that we've shown over the last couple of weeks, the Newcastle game aside.

"I'm delighted with the way the season is going. The players have still got a lot to play for. There are 10 games left to go and a lot left yet for these players to aim for."

Robins agrees with Roy Keane that the Blues are better at home than they are away: "Ipswich are a different proposition at Portman Road and I went to watch their match against Cardiff City last week when they played very well.

"They have only lost two matches there all season and do not concede many goals. They have had a lot of draws but are not a bad side and they have some very good players.

"We need to be focused and ready for them. We cannot afford to have our minds on anything else apart from Ipswich. My players are professional and we want to finish the season properly. I want us to go out and see what we can achieve."

Barnsley will be without winger Adam Hammill, who has a hamstring strain, while defenders Carl Dickinson (knee) and Rob Kozluk (knee) will both again be missing but Darren Moore is back having been away on compassionate leave.

Historically, Town have done well against the Tykes, winning 18 games between the sides (17 in the league), drawing four (four) and losing 12 (10).

At Oakwell earlier in the season, former Town loanee Jon Macken’s last minute goal gave Barnsley a 2-1 victory. The Tykes had gone ahead in the first half through Iain Hume, who later smashed a penalty against the bar, Liam Rosenior equalising for the Blues just before the break.

Last season, two goals from Jon Stead gave the Blues a 2-1 victory at Oakwell, Daniel Bogdanovic pulling one back for the home side.

At Portman Road, Stead was again on target, along with Owen Garvan and Ivan Campo, as the Tykes were defeated 3-0 on a nightmare evening for then-keeper Heinz Muller. Barnsley striker Reuben Noble-Lazarus became the youngest-ever Football League player during that game at the age of 15 years and 45 days.

The most famous meeting between the sides came in May 2000 at Wembley when the Blues won the play-off final 4-2 to reach the Premier League. Richard Wright is the only player in either squad to have played that day.

Jon Macken is the only former Town player currently with Barnsley, while Anderson De Silva played alongside Pablo Couñago at Malaga.

Blues midfielder Colin Healy, currently on loan with Falkirk, spent 2006/07 at Oakwell but made only two starts and eight sub appearances during an injury-hit spell.

Jon Walters was at Barnsley for three months in 2003/04 when a Bolton player, making 10 starts and two sub appearances but failing to score.

Saturday’s referee is Neil Swarbrick from Lancashire, who has shown 81 yellows and five red cards in 29 games so far this season. Swarbrick’s last Town match was the 3-2 derby victory over Norwich in Jim Magilton’s final game in charge as manager at the end of last season.

Squad from: B Murphy, Lee-Barrett, R Wright, D Wright, Rosenior, O’Connor, Delaney, McAuley, Smith, Norris, Leadbitter, Garvan, Colback, Peters, Walters, Edwards, Martin, D Murphy, D Healy, Couñago, Wickham.

Photo: Action Images

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kirbs added 17:42 - Mar 19 wern't slaging them off just said their muppets mate, Just because the anti-keaners have been right all along tht this season would be a disaster you can't face it, bet you won't be their on saturday.
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AJblue added 17:48 - Mar 19

Go on then i will bite!
Been going for more years than you've probably had pubes.
Not been the most successful season,but disaster, no.
If you want a disaster speak to Pompey fans and Chester fans, that kinds of put your childish little squabbles into perspective doesn't it?
And yes i will be THERE not their on Saturday, and if you are gonna have a go, at least try to spell correctly, and if by calling someone a "muppet", mate, that you dont think you're slagging off fellow Town supporters, then you are more stupid then i previously thought.

VemundBrekkeSkard added 18:25 - Mar 19

Roy Keane himself is actually very willing to admit he makes mistakes (hence why his programme notes are always such an interesting read). In fact, he's probably a hell of a lot more critical of himself than a lot of pro-Keane fans on this site are.

If he's willing to admit it himself, why does everyone else who points out his mistakes instantly have to be called a norwich fan or told to "go look up what support means" (a phrase that I firmly believe should be banned outright on this message board, along with the 'clever' use of 'supporters' in 'inverted commas')?

Of course, in the ideal world of the fingers-in-ears brigade, the only people who would be allowed to attend games would be those who have never said anything negative about the manager ever. And the club would ideally be run as a sort of nightmarish Orwelian distopia in which the thought police read our minds for any negativity and systematically eliminate anyone who has an independant thought because they're obviously not REAL fans.

Actually, I think attending games and cheering on your team even when you disagree with how it's being run probably makes you even MORE of a fan than if you just blindly accept every decision they ever make.

So... Yeah... COYB. Will be there cheering them on as usual (as I know full well what 'support' means, thank you very much). And I look forward to a win and the return of the "playoffs here we come!" and "where are the moaners NOW?!" mentality.

blu_dru added 18:28 - Mar 19 This season is no disaster, i look forward to many years under the mighty Keane, and yes Kirbs i have a season ticket so i have been to most of the games
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kentblue added 19:00 - Mar 19

Agree with Kirbs's comments re Keane and what he has done to our club . Keane has been a DISASTER in every way ! He says there will be changes again _ no surprise there then . The man has had a year to sort out a settled and confident team to success. What have we got ? -an unsettled team STILL due to the hot-tempered , volatile manager ! I find it hard to believe that there are people who find Keane's management something to be proud of ! I feel sorry for the players who have to put up with not knowing if they are in/out of the team on a weekly basis and who are ranted at regularly ! NOT a basis upon which to build up a strong and successful team.

CheshireBluey added 19:03 - Mar 19

This man Keane is a disaster. If Jim Magilton or Joe Royle had this squad available we would be top six. He berates his players for their attitude but most of them are his signings. Seems to be a repeat of his problems at Sunderland but why does that not surprise me ?
If only the 'anti Jim' brigade had been a bit more knowledgeable and a little less voiciferous. Certainly Mr Keane will take us out of the Championship, but not in the way intended.
Please Mr Evans give Mr Keane the same shabby treatment you gave Jim Magilton, he certainly is more deserving of it, and then I might consider renewing my season ticket.

bluetoba added 19:41 - Mar 19

Are the anti Keane mob on here serious?...Saying that he's bringing the the club to it's knees.You all talk as if it's a conspiracy of some kind..Madness.
Is it worth repeating that he got the job done before in The Championship and where's the evidence of him being a bully?
Whenever I see RK on SKY 405 he's a pretty mellow, likeable chap.
Maybe a sterner attitude is what the players need and RK should be sacked coz he's not giving them enough of a roasting.

grumpyoldman added 20:06 - Mar 19

How many years had Jim before given the bullet, how many bloody excuses did we have to put up with, how may complaints about playing his pals, not giving youth a chance.
Jim was an average player, one excellent game, a few good ones, but not ever legendary. As a manager he was cheap when we needed cheap, when he was given money what did he do waste it on crap like Thatcher & Lisbie.
If Royle was so good why did the board get rid and replace him with Jim, was he much cop, not really just an average manager whose only achievement was to get Oldham up to the top flight on a plastic pitch, and led Man City around the wilderness.
Opinions backed by facts.
I have been a supporter for more years than I care to remember, I do not look at our managers or players through blue coloured glasses, when they aren't good enough I say so, but as with all our managers give them time to bring their ideas to the club, give the team your full support whoever plays in the team whether it is your favourite or not, they are our team, for some reason we chose them, they are ours forever.
COYB

jas0999 added 20:27 - Mar 19 The people who continue moaning (failing I note to post a comment after a decent performance) - do you actually support ITFC? It's becoming boring now. After watching the game on Tuesday it is very clear that Roy is absolutely right to 'ring the changes'. If I hear one more comment about Garvan I will scream - he was rightly taken off on Tuesday. End off.
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jamesy_itfc_keano added 21:05 - Mar 19 The man will get it right !!! Give him time A win tomorrow then another home game after that .. potentially 6 points. Then the 'keane hates' will be dissapear untill the next defeat. Support the team through thick and thin !! COYB
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Mark added 21:55 - Mar 19

Royle came to the end of his time, probably tired with the years of no transfer funds to the point where he could not even bring in a player on loan at one point despite the player's club offering to pay the wages! Royle did an excellent job for us, bringing in the likes of Kelvin Davis, Jason De Vos, Shefki Kuqi and Alan Lee for next to nothing. Despite massive financial constraints, Royle kept us afloat and we remained one of the better sides in the Championship despite administration.

I agree that Magilton's reign was a disappointment after a promising start, although he never lead us to a relegation battle to be fair.

jesus added 22:35 - Mar 19 LOVE that picture of Keane. Like Rorschach without his mask.
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leadbitter6 added 23:38 - Mar 19

why dont allu keane haters F off 2 the scum website? that seems 2 be the best place 4 u at the moment. where will changing our manager get us now? put us back another 2-3 years while a new manager gets the players he wants in? keane is still geting rid of the crap magilton bought, far enough some of keanes buys have not been great, example priskin and martin, but they are young enough and have enough talent to be good players for this club. we expect players to come in and perform wonders from the beggining and it doesnt happen all the time. but it'll come...

roytheboy added 00:26 - Mar 20

I am looking forward to Saturday's game and believe, (win or lose) hopefully win ! that there will be a much greater effort shown by the team, in particular certain players who have clearly under performed recently, if I am correct, then it will be largely and mainly due to the 90 minutes in the dressing room following the Watford game and should be credited to the Manager, who clearly is trying to get the team playing with the same passion that enabled him to become such a great player and Captain for such a massive club, for such a long time, Roy Keane should be given maximum support from true ITFC supporters, we all want the same thing ultimately but cruel comments on this site will help nobody, he will continue to get my total support and respect, for his committment, his honesty and his passion for our club, please let's not try to force him out, he has not had enough time to produce the goods yet, I can still hear in my head, the unpleasant calls for the sackings of Jim; Joe and George, remember too how Mr Cobbold kept his faith in Sir Bobby, thank God that he did ! enough said ?

bennyblue added 05:57 - Mar 20

lets see we have played 37 of 46 games plus 2 or 3 at the end of last season the whole of the off season and roy still hasnt deciced on a first 11..the bloke is hopeless and the sooner we get a proper manager in the sooner we will get out of the current mess.. lets face it roys useless and should be developing his poor managerial skills on 3rd or 4th division side untill hes safe to let loose on a club of our size.. other wise he will turn a premier or premier challenging club into a 3rd or even 4th division club.SACK HIM QUICK THE EVIDENCE PROVES HE IS NO GOOD

legoman added 07:51 - Mar 20 I prefer a squad system to keep players fresh. A settled team and all that is boring. The players need to be good enough to play as a squad, if they are not he will build a better core that is more capable. Patience people.
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BYRNE_16 added 09:14 - Mar 20 Some people really need to shut up, and put there energy in supporting the team on the terrace.
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greyhound33 added 09:24 - Mar 20

Stick by our Manager - Keane is a good football man , he knows enough about the game to get this right !! Lets all get behind him and the players today.

Long are the days where we could call on class like this !!

1. Jon Hallsworth
2. Phil Whelan
3. Gus Uhlenbeek
4. Georges Santos
5. Dean McDonald
6.Jamie Clapham
7.Matt Richards
8.Simon Milton
9. Mich Davray
10. Sam Parkin
11.Dean Bowditch

PimsNumber1 added 09:34 - Mar 20

liverpool are run with a squad and they are poor because of it when you look at the talent at the fat waiter`s disposal .

I would like Keane to stay on . I like his tough no nonsense approach to players but he needs 11 who will work for him 100% . The ones from sunderland almost certainly fit the bill as he knows them , but any purchases or staff left over from jim may not fit the bill as they were inherited or signed after an hours chat. I can now see why he wants players he knows because there is too much player power nowerdays eg magilton, and scolari, johnson . If they want to pick up their wages and dont like the manager they have a contract cushion and players dont get fired ( unless they do something like King or Barton)

He needs to try and keep the sunderland l players including Jack and build from there but its so tricky to recruit "the right players with the right phlosophy/psych attitude etc . Thats why Im concerned the players again wont turn up today and that will heap more pressure on keane . what can he do if even just 2 or 3 cant be asked ? This league is so tight it makes all the difference

TractorRoyNo1 added 09:44 - Mar 20 I guess that's you call ironic? if this is what state education offers, it's time for a change. Supporters - support, Fans are fickle you seem to be in the latter group. kirbs added 17:31 - Mar 19 the people who still want keane here are muppets who are not REAL town fans. A real town fan dosen't slag off felow supporters.
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