Town manager Roy Keane says some of those criticising his tactics in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Coventry know nothing about football. The Blues boss was disappointed with the lack of support given to his players, particularly the younger members of his side, during the weekend defeat.

Keane feels a lot of the criticism of his tactical approach of employing only one central striker has come from those who know little about the game: “I’ve no problem with people’s opinions, but a lot of people do not have a clue what they’re talking about in terms of football.

“I think a lot of people, particularly in this area and our supporters, are probably set in their ways. Instead of worrying about tactics and systems and moaning and groaning, I’d say get behind the players, particularly the younger boys.

“Not many of teams in the Championship are playing with two or three players from last year’s youth team. Get behind them and don’t get bogged down by tactics and systems, that’s up to me to sort out.”

Keane believes that there are fans throughout the country who don’t know what they’re on about: “A lot of supporters out there, not just at this club, don’t know too much about the game. They come and pay their money, they come in and they watch, but they get brainwashed by the ‘experts’ out there.

“They’ll all have their favourite players that they think should be playing or they think we should be playing with two strikers, whatever it might be, which is no problem. But the players we’ve been putting out every week have been doing a good job.”

Keane sees no problem with the formation he used against the Sky Blues with Jason Scotland as the lone striker: “The system’s OK, but you’ve heard the saying ‘tactics and systems don’t win you games, players do’. For some reason this weekend it’s come to the forefront about systems and midfielders or whatever.

“I think it’s worked OK for us, but having said that it doesn’t mean we’re set in our ways and we’re not prepared to change or that me and my staff don’t discuss what might be the best way to approach a game, and also that if we get it wrong we don’t discuss why we’re getting it wrong.”

The Town manager is unconcerned if fans take their frustrations out on him, as long as they back the players: “I don’t mind them having a go at me, that doesn’t matter.

“Get behind the bloody team. Moan and groan at the manager all you want. Don’t worry about tactics or systems, that’s my job. If I don’t get it right, I’ve got six months left of my contract and I’ll be gone anyway.”

The Irishman, who admits that like any manager he’s made mistakes, says fans have been quick to laud the achievements of other teams this season but have been harsh on their own side, despite the promising start: “We’re praising every other club in the top six, but with ourselves everyone seems to be saying it’s doom and gloom, even though we’ve managed to get through three rounds of the cup as well.

“There’s no doom and gloom coming from the players and the staff. Sometimes it comes from outside the club. Our supporters and the media will not really play a part in us getting promoted, that will come down to the players, the staff and myself.

“What we have to worry about is what we’re in control of. Football’s all about opinions, and as you know I’m quite happy to give mine.

“We can all see when the team is playing badly,” Keane continued, “but sometimes you’ve got to read the situation [and get behind the players] when it’s not quite happening. Maybe they were doing that earlier in the season and maybe it’s just me having my little tantrum today. Let’s get it out there and move on.”

Keane will be hoping that fans - clued up or otherwise - will be getting behind his team at Watford this evening as they look to get back to winning ways against the Hornets.

Photo: Action Images

These_arent_the_days added 10:22 - Oct 19 It seems to me that the only ITFC fans who don't know what they're on about are those that support Keane and his appalling tactics , bad buys , his total dislike of ballplayers & his contradictory comments.
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WeWereZombies added 10:33 - Oct 19 I think Keane needs to understand that Ipswich is quite a depressed town at the moment, not much construction going on, a few redundancies around already and plenty more to come. Playing one up front at home does not give enough shots on goal to get the crowd animated and making a noise, does not give enough encouragement to help supporters forget the worry about whether they will have a job next week or not. Bobby Robson was wise enough to criticize the support during the boom times. Still, before we push to get RK out we should remember that Gordon Strachan is back on the job market.

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grumpyoldman added 10:35 - Oct 19 When reading Keane's comments about the support I totally agreed with his sentiments, especially about the moaning about players from some followers of the town. Supporters, support their team, not constantly moan about a particular player, but seeing only good in their particular favourite, Counago for instance! Somebody made the comment about the fantastic atmosphere at the Leeds game, yes but that was only generated by the Leeds fans, the only time our support was heard when we scored, "You only sing when you're winning" was the Leeds chant, how true. With all the comments agreeing with Keane about the lack of support, how come the average supporters rating on the match report is 6.78, surely it should be 2.78, self praise is no recommendation! Finally Crowman, if you use a quote, can you state the whole quote, Keane said "I've I don't get it right, I've only got six months on my contract and I'll be gone anyway" not as you quoted, "I've only got six months left on my contract and I'll be gone anyway", are you a politician who tries to spin quotes so they say what you want them to?

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DoobDude added 10:38 - Oct 19 Well said Keane, the only honest manager in the country. Knows he will get stick for this ... doesn't care.
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naa added 10:38 - Oct 19 I think this is rubbish. We haven't been booing the players, and certainly not the youngsters. The atmosphere has been quiet, but then the football has been unexciting - you don't get something for nothing. What we have been doing is criticising RKs tactics. He's basically saying we can't comment on his tactics as that's his job. Is he saying we can't criticise him? I know how has a big ego but really? My only complaints this season have been with him, I have no problem with the players old or young. I feel they're all being hampered by the stiflingly dull style and tactics put in place by their manager.

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Bluetone added 10:39 - Oct 19 I've got six months left of my contract and I'll be gone anyway.” Out of context I know but I can dream can't I?
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noitan added 10:53 - Oct 19 Too true Mr Keane. Lots of fans actually enjoy moaning though and messageboards will be a lot busier when team has lost.
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noitan added 10:56 - Oct 19 Too true Mr Keane. Lots of fans actually enjoy moaning though and messageboards will be a lot busier when team has lost.
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DrJeckyll added 11:06 - Oct 19 if we get promoted it will be in spite of the media and the home support, they certainly wont help us. I'm surprised it has taken Roy this long to come out and criticise our 'support'. As well as sir Bob's scathing comment about our support, Sir Alf had something to say on the subject as well. I find myself more aggravated by by own 'supporters' than the away fans. Some clubs are almost guaranteed to win most of their home games because of their fantastic support through thick and thin. Man U, Chelsea, Barcelona all play 4-3-3, but obviously their managers aren't as talented at this management game as some of our know-it-all supporters.

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brogansnose added 11:12 - Oct 19 Yes Keane is right about his views on some of our supporters and traditionally we have always been less voiciferous than some other fans, however, it must be said that our away support is excellent. I have not personally seen any major condemnation or stick for the younger members of the team who to me have aquitted themselves very well. Its also worth bearing in mind that many other fans would have hounded Keane out for that abysmal last season but we stood by him and the club. I can clearly recall the home games with Watford and Derby when the crowd were practically willing the ball into the net and then stood there at the end of the Watford match and showed the players their appreciation even though we had cruelly conceded very late on. Generally speaking the noise level rises at PR when the standard of the football or the commitment and application of the players gets the crowd going. Yes the crowd have a part to play in getting behind the team but its a struggle sometimes to stand there like a clown singing when you get 45 minutes of continually hoofing the ball to the opposition, inept set pieces and half the players afraid to recieve the ball and not know what to do with it when they have got it. Although Keane is right about modern 'supporters' who all consider themselves to be a manager or pundit, the fact is that we are not the best or the worst supporters as booing, although i didnt hear any Saturday, now seems endemic at so many grounds. I do believe that the budgies booed at their first home defeat this season, Man U Saturday, Middlesboro, the list goes on each week. I like Keanes refreshing honesty and i can see him wanting to protect his players, even though he sort of slammed McCualey in public for the penelty that should not have been,but i do feel that should not have rounded on the supporters. Or did the comments hit a nerve?

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naa added 11:14 - Oct 19 DyJekyll, do you really consider our formation a 4-3-3? Have you actually watched us play? The two wide men are usually on the half-way line when Scotland has the ball pumped to him. That's not a 4-3-3 I assure you.
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naa added 11:18 - Oct 19 brogansnose: excellent post. Very considered and I agree with a lot of it. Fans tend to get sucked into a game. Very few grounds are bouncing and noisy when there's a turgid game being played out in front of them. RK wants noise at the ground, can I suggest he plays more exciting football. He's has it in his power to improve the atmosphere too. Second half on Saturday when the players were actually trying and he was playing 2 up front the atmosphere did pick up. what town fans are bad at is lifting the team when they're playing poorly. But we certainly aren't alone in that.

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whymarksmyhero added 11:37 - Oct 19 I don't actually think that our support is bad enough to warrant those comments from Keane. Admittedly, we're not as vociferous as we once were, but considering our recent failings, I think Town have a support to be thankful for. To learn before the game that we're playing one up front at home again doesn't exactly get the juices flowing does it ?! Oh, and why can't we EVER take a decent corner ???! Annoys the hell out of me !

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devontractorboy added 11:43 - Oct 19 What a totally disrespectful arrogant man Keane is, always knows best even when his teams fail to produce, knows all about how to advise Wayne Rooney & has the nerve on national TV to have a go at one of Britains most succesful managers ever. Why not do what Wenger did yesterday, side step the issue with humour & concentrate on getting YOUR team & players right first. Yes all fans can be fickle, but I seem to recall a good deal of noise from the Tractorboys fans when we were playing attractive attacking football, maybe thats the answer Mr Keane, we pay good money to watch Ipswich & if we ain't happy we are entitled to show it!!

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Bluearmy added 11:47 - Oct 19 devon i like keane because he speak's his mind alot of manager's are afraid to actually do this to be honest with you. IMO if we did not have people like keane who spoke his mind the game would be a boring place imo. Finally i more or less agree with what keane has said and i never got why people are against manager's in general who speak there mind.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:48 - Oct 19 wasn't is Sir Bobby who called Town fans ZOMBIES! I loved the atmosphere v Leeds, if we want that everyweek then the lads from the North Stand should buy season tickets in the South Stand, becasue the police are NEVER going to move the away fans. personally i PAY to be entertained; at a concert, at the theatre, even at the cinema I clap only if it is good - afterwards - it is up to the players to give 100% as they did in the 2nd half on Saturday.

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Muhren added 11:49 - Oct 19 Well said Mr. Keane.
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whymark4lazio0 added 11:49 - Oct 19 RK has got most things right. He has cleared out the bad apples and brought in enthusiastic, energetic team players. I'm very confident that we will finish in top 6 at least. As for tactics, I totally agree with 4-1-4-1- home and away. If its good enough for Spain and Chelsea its good enough for us. Far from being negative it should be seen as the perfect platform to play total football. Is the fact that it has been less successful for us at home something to do with the poor atmosphere at PR? Do the players feel the crowd's impatience and resort to the long ball too quickly? So what is the role of the supporter? The clue is in the name! At all games we should show patience, cheer the team on and especially encourage the younger players. But supporters are also customers and pay exorbitant prices to follow their team. They have a right to ask questions and criticise. As long as this is done in a constructive manner and NOT at matches then RK should welcome comments and the opportunity to involve the fans. Generally he is a good communicator. If the fans are tactically naive (and many of us are) he should see questions and criticisms as a chance to explain his ideas and vision and improve the fans knowledge. Otherwise how else will we begin to approach his level of wisdom?

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PeteTheTractor added 12:01 - Oct 19 Cant wait for the 6 months Keano you mug, good bye indeed, we need a manager who respects our club and fans. It was Keane that told us he would get us promoated in 2 years, and its keane that has failed in that promise! Get Curbs in quick!
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whymarksmyhero added 12:08 - Oct 19 Whymark4lazio0- The reason it doesn't work - as a previous poster has already pointed out- is that none of our midfield get forward quickly enough to support Scotland ! He's often left alone with his back to goal, 40 yards out, with both centre half's snapping at his heels, when he receives the ball. Invariably he loses the ball,(not always his own fault, being out-numbered), it it ends up back in our half, and we are yet again on the back foot, rather than bearing down on their goal ! This is repeated time and again, and there perhaps, you have one of the reasons that the crowd becomes somewhat unresponsive. Just my own observations, and am fully behind both Keane and the team.

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whoppit added 12:13 - Oct 19 Yeah, Keane clues us in to his real feelings about our club. He could not give a crap about us and is only in it for the money. He has done NOTHING at our club. NOTHING. So when some fans get on his back, he comes out with this rubbish. Then he defends a 4-5-1 formation so expect to see that at Watford and I am half expecting us to lose too. Why wait 6 months Keane, just pi$$ off now !!!!!

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whoppit added 12:15 - Oct 19 "I've got six months left of my contract and I'll be gone anyway.” I am curious how these Keano lovers think of that quote by their idol !!!!
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Uttlesford_ITFC added 12:27 - Oct 19 "or they think we should be playing with two strikers" - yet you complain about the lak of goals mate, don't piss and moan when everyone says "I told you so." The football is dire as well mind.
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nobrain added 12:35 - Oct 19 "If I don't get it right, I've got six months left of my contract and I'll be gone anyway.” "I've got six months left of my contract and I'll be gone anyway.” There is a difference.
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Pessimistic added 12:35 - Oct 19 Nice to read so many of you agree with Keane and myself. The home support is embarrassing given the reasonable numbers that still attend. Listening on Radio Suffold, I thought I had tuned into a game Crown green bowling. There is more atmosphere at a low-key golf tournament or in a public library come to that!
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