The Old Good Cop, Bad Cop Routine.

Will Roy Keane play bad cop to Martin O'Neill's good?

Can the classic policeman's ploy work for Ireland?

The last time we saw Martin O'Neill he was standing in the dugout at Sunderland, a bundle of nervous energy and enthusiasm for football. Fired over a fear that his team were sliding rapidly to the destitution of the Championship, a hell from which no one ever escapes (this seems to be the view club owners take in any-case). Then Paulo Di Canio took charge and made the usual noises of the team being unfit, unprofessional, unsuited for purpose. He screamed and shouted till the players revolted.

We should take Di Canio's claims about the team he inherited with a pinch of salt. All new managers taking charge at the latter end of the season say the same thing and up the intensity of training, etcetera, etcetera. But Martin O'Neill reminds me so much of a lovable Uncle, with his strange cadence, soothing accent and soft features, that for some reason I buy into the the idea that the players under him can get a bit too comfortable. I can imagine his team-talks and tactical meetings are like story time where the players gather round and listen in delight, maybe with a drop of whiskey, while Uncle Martin's dulcet tones flow over them and sooth their souls.

Obviously these fanciful thoughts of mine maybe take the point to far. O'Neill's record deserves respect and he has had fantastic success at Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa. He is clearly a very intelligent man and knows football inside out. Yet it does look like Sunderland just stopped trying for him. This maybe Sunderland's problem, they refused to play for Di Canio and also seemed to stop playing for Bruce and Keane. Maybe the players at Sunderland have an ingrained attitude problem. But maybe modern players will always take advantage of a man like O'Neill.

It is a common feeling that Martin O'Neill is a manager that cajoles and encourages his players to build their confidence and belief. This seems perfect for international management when there is only a short amount of time to build morale and spirit; something which has always been present in his previous squads. What was missing, certainly at Sunderland, was the ability to motivate players who had gotten too comfortable.  O'Neill needed an enforcer to give the players a good scare. He won't make that mistake again.

Enter Roy Keane, a man who's attributes as a leader are clear to see throughout his career. My biggest memory of Keane is him chasing Patrick Viera down the tunnel shouting 'pick on some one your own size!' before an Arsenal v Man Utd match and inspiring United to victory. But their is more to Keane than being a great ex-footballer. Sir Alex Ferguson describes him as an "intimidating and ferocious" individual who even frightened him. Is this the sort of hard man enforcer O'Neill needs? A man who "has the most savage tongue you can imagine," that can "debilitate the most confident person in the world in seconds"?

Well Martin thinks so or he wouldn't want to work alongside him. Keane is clearly ferocious and passionate and could be the perfect counter balance to O'Neill. You either do things how O'Neill wants them done, play for him and Ireland with all your strength and ability, or he'll leave you alone in a room with Roy Keane. It conjures a scene from LA Confidential where Guy Pearce's good cop leaves the suspect alone in a room with Russel Crowe's bruiser bad cop. Needless to say bad things happen to the perp.

I am being unfair to Keane, he clearly loves football and wants to be involved in the sport that has shaped his life. He has shown himself to be an articulate and insightful man during his punditry role and isn't a brainless bruising thug. However, watching him on ITV, his body language and facial expressions show exactly what he thinks and he doesn't seem to be able to hide his feelings. You wouldn't hire him to work alongside you without knowing this about him and wanting to use it to your advantage. 

So the Ireland squad has a choice. Play for good cop O'Neill or face bad cop Keane. I know which I'd rather do. It will be fascinating to see how it develops.