Roy Keane Manchester United
Sunderland’s recent promotion to the Premier League has been a topic of discussion, especially in light of their performance in last season’s Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry City. During a panel discussion on The Overlap, Roy Keane and Jill Scott expressed their belief that Sunderland were fortunate to progress at Coventry’s expense.
Jill Scott said: “Do you think it’s good that they didn’t go up last season and have another season?”
Roy Keane responded: “Well, they should have gone up last year, shouldn’t they? But I’m always reluctant to say that it wasn’t right for them to go up last year. But I think a couple of years ago, and I think they were in the playoffs the year before Luton beat them, maybe two years ago and weren’t quite ready.”
Keane added: “And you know what, he’s done well as well. Obviously, after the big playoff last year, the defeat, where they should have gone up, they were the best team in that play-off game, definitely.”
The discussion also touched on Frank Lampard’s managerial journey, with Gary Neville and Ian Wright weighing in on Coventry’s rise and Lampard’s growth as a manager.
Wright said: “What’s good about the way he’s gone through is that everything he’s learned… what he’s probably learned with all the negativity that’s happened, what he’s had to learn, how to deal with people. Like you say, Roy, it’s probably perfect now, Coventry.”
Keane acknowledged Sunderland’s resilience in the semi-final, which eventually led them to Wembley, where they secured promotion against Sheffield United.
Keane continued: “Obviously, credit to Sunderland hanging in there. And then you think, it might take them a few months to get over it.”
The conversation shifted to the challenges faced by high-profile managers, with Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright discussing the scrutiny they endure.
Carragher said: “I always think, using Frank as an example… there’s a lot of really good stuff there in his short managerial career so far. But because you two are the same, such big names, there are so many eyes on you as a manager.”
Wright said: “But then people say, yeah, if you go the other way, and go to a lower… he said, well, he hasn’t got the players to implement his football. So, he can’t do it at that level… You can’t win.”
Keane concluded the discussion by highlighting the unfair expectations placed on managers who were once top-level players.
Keane said: “If you have a setback, it takes time to recover, I think, if you’ve had a decent career.”
The insights from Keane and Scott provide a nuanced perspective on Sunderland’s journey and the broader challenges within football management.
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