Town manager Roy Keane is giving his players Christmas Day off ahead of the busy programme of festive fixtures which see them play four games in nine days. The Blues boss says he trusts his players not to overindulge ahead of Boxing Day’s home game against Watford.

Keane said: “We’re doing nothing with the players on Christmas Day, they’re having a day off. We’re training in the next few days, but we gave them last Christmas Day off as well.

“You can’t babysit these boys, they’re at home. It won’t be about keeping off the drink, it’ll be what they’re eating, particularly late into the evening and getting a decent night’s sleep.

“You’ve just got to trust the players and hopefully they’ll appreciate being at home with their families, particularly the lads who have got younger kids.

“We shouldn’t forget what Christmas is all about, it’s supposed to be enjoyed and celebrated and the players will do that. They’ll train today [Thursday] and Friday, they won’t be slacking off on that side of it and we’ll go through all the work we can do for the Watford game."

Keane says a nutritionist makes regular visits to Playford Road to advise the squad regarding their diet and was in on Thursday: “There’s somebody in there today chatting with the players. We remind about looking after the players all the time themselves not just at Christmas.

“Christmas dinner’s fine, you’re having that about two or three o’clock. What we don’t want them having is turkey sandwiches late into the evening.

“I wouldn’t begrudge them their Christmas dinner, it’s more about how many selection boxes they might possibly eat! The dinner’s fine, it’s what you have afterwards. “Did I ever eat something or drink something I shouldn’t have? Maybe so, I don’t remember. My memory’s going!”

Photo: Action Images

textbackup added 08:55 - Dec 24 i do like keane...... he may not be everyones cuppa tea but i like him!
0

muhrensleftfoot added 08:57 - Dec 24 I do like his press conferences, pity he can't sort out his management skills & tactics. Perhaps we can get Curbishley in, but keep RK as ITFC press officer!
0

racinglegend added 08:58 - Dec 24 I think Mr Keane has got a lot to learn about management, but ya never know he may get it right one day!!
0

MaySixth added 09:06 - Dec 24 Get on the turkey lads.
0

bobble added 09:50 - Dec 24 this bloke comes out with the most boring uninteresting statements and there they all are lapping up every last bloody comma and fullstop as if some worldy wise guru has spoken.who cares what this useless idiot utters about bloody xmas turkey we are trying to get into the div 1 and hes not helping the cause ..sack him the followers can follow his wonderful insights on twitter or whatever cause thats where twits belong on twitter

0

legoman added 10:13 - Dec 24 Did you kill John Lennon Bobble?
0

Karlosfandangal added 10:39 - Dec 24 Keane is great, just love it. Roy you need to read Stanley Mathews book, as after training the team would go for a fry up and a few pints and half time they would have a Woodbine, how times have changed Bobble go support Norwich please
0

DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 10:40 - Dec 24 He is destroying the sandwich industry..... Firstly Prawn Sandwiches & now Turkey. Focus on the football Mr Keane that's your real Bread & Butter!!
0

bobble added 10:47 - Dec 24 a couple more twits for roys twit account........
0

bluelady added 10:54 - Dec 24 Guys ignore bubble clearly an eggo who gets off on the attention!! I think this is a good gesture by keane and it may just work!!! Mentally the guys will feel they have to give hundred percent boxing day or feel the rath of keane for not eating properly Christmas day!!!!
0

DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 11:01 - Dec 24 He is destroying the sandwich industry..... Firstly Prawn Sandwiches & now Turkey. Focus on the football Mr Keane that's your real Bread & Butter!! Merry Christmas to my fellow Town sufferers: Mr Carter, Mr Suckling, Mr Foreman & Mr Parlett.
0

hellotosh1967 added 12:17 - Dec 24 bobble you know nothing about football so why dont you just button up and leave the man to do his job because one things for sure he will turn this club around in time rome wasnt built in a day come on keano prove all these doubters wrong
0

violablu added 14:08 - Dec 24 Players can enjoy their Christmas nuts without the manager kicking them very hard!
0

petermorris added 15:01 - Dec 24 turkey sandwiches... selection boxes.... what is this twaddle?
0

h32 added 22:16 - Dec 24 hellotosh1967 - don't know what it was but we'll all have some of it ...........
0

h32 added 22:26 - Dec 24 bobble - just shows how pathetic the whole scenario at the club has become - a once proud club, for ALL the right reasons. And to think this is following on from great people like Sir Alf, and Sir Bobby. Shameful - nothing short of Shameful. I agree with your comments.
0

bobble added 06:01 - Dec 25 circle the wagons h32 theres only a few of us left.the rest seem quite happy to let keane take us down while posting bull about how refreshingly honest and insightful he is and what a great standup comic he is . shame we hired him to get us up because he would have made a great village idiot or clown mascot. fact is he was hired to get us up and he taking us down what is so wonderful about that please folks am i missing some important wisdoms here are keanes post match excuses more important to the team than points ?..... sack him and anyone who supports him

0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls