Roy Keane tries to avoid war these days, he really does.
During the Euros, he was said to have been unhappy at how his words about the Irish players in general were packaged specifically around James McCarthy to make it out as if the assistant manager was having a go - when, in reality, he was smart and careful and obviously made a conscious effort to not be... Roy Keane, if you will.
On Tuesday, he faced the press out at Ireland's training camp in Abbotstown and he described Everton as a brilliant club. This is in the middle of another feud between the Premier League outfit's and the Irish national team's respective managers so Roy Keane came out and he flattered the Toffees.
He flattered them in the middle of having a pop at them of course.
James McCarthy is injured for Ireland's trip to Austria and his injury - after playing for Ireland during the last break - has upset club manager Ronald Koeman. Ronald Koeman being upset has upset international manager Martin O'Neill.
Roy Keane isn't that bothered.
https://twitter.com/dionfanning/status/795964460791951360
Of course, he continued. He always does.
The Cork man blasted Everton's own care for their own players and alluded to the fact that getting them over to Dublin is sometimes a problem.
"They shouldn’t be so quick to stop Irish players coming to play for Ireland," he said.
"[Darron Gibson] misses a hell of a lot of games for Everton… so maybe they need to look at their own training schedule."
And he continued. He always does.
https://twitter.com/dionfanning/status/795965407064719361
"We’ve had a problem with Roberto Martinez previously – I always felt the Everton players were going to turn up on crutches or crawling in the hotel door," Keane quipped.
But it's okay, because they're a brilliant club.
https://twitter.com/dionfanning/status/795965670479581184
"Why do we need a good relationship with Everton?" he asked. "They're lucky to have the Irish lads they've got there.
"Traditionally, Everton have always had brilliant Irish players, doing well for the football club. They shouldn't be so quick stopping Irish players coming to play for Ireland. I've experienced that myself."
This will obviously be the very last we hear of this...
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