Keane's not interested in simply staying up - he wants Sunderland to make their mark

13 April 2012

There are several words and phrases which are just not worth uttering in the company of Roy Keane: Haaland, World Cup Finals, David Elleray, Saipan, untidy exit and failure all come to mind. Now, it seems, survival can be added to the list.

It is a mark of Sunderland's return to the Premier League that there are strangers invading Wearside once again. As the club prepares for the televised lunchtime visit of Tottenham today, the press office has once again been inundated with requests for access.

Streetfighter: Roy Keane is not happy with 17th place

Motty has been on the phone, Sky Sports have sent the big hitters and captain Dean Whitehead was being interviewed by Danish television outside the club training base, the Academy of Light, while dozens wearing the new red and white shirt gathered to watch Keane prepare his squad for kick-off.

But the stranger in our midst who lobbed the Sunderland manager an apparently innocuous question about 'survival being the target' was met with a frighteningly icy stare and a cold, calculated response. 'I hope that's the last time you use that word,' he said. Subject closed.

Keane, who celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday, later claimed he was not angry at the question. 'You have not seen me angry,' he said. 'I just don't like the word. Certain words get attached to certain clubs and I don't want that attached to Sunderland. It is up to me that it is not used and only results will get rid of it. That's fine with me.'

But it is an insight into the inspiration Keane will use in his dressing room. Many Sunderland supporters would happily take 17th place in May. Relegation has long been an accepted part of the Mackem initiation ceremony but the last two were humiliating. Keane is looking to change all that. 'I want our players to create something for the club so they make their mark and they're remembered,' he said.

'I am very comfortable as Sunder-land manager and I want to make my mark. I will never get away from my past which is a good thing because people have a lot of memories. I am proud to have played for some top teams, with top players and top managers.

'It is my job now to establish myself as a manager with Sunderland. I want to create something here and bring trophies.

'But you can't run before you can walk or get ahead of yourself. We have to build and stabilise the club in the Premier League.'

Keane did not hide the influence of Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough during his first season when he took Sunderland from bottom of the Championship to the title. 'I never get fed up being asked about Brian Clough,' he said. 'And hopefully I never will.

'What he did with Forest gives all of us great hope. You talk about the Readings and Wigans, but go back to Clough and what he did at Forest.

Full backing: Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn

'Everyone thinks it will be the big four who always grab the headlines because they have got massive squads and financial backing. Lots of teams are beaten before they play the big four.

'I've been there as a player. I have been fortunate, but let me tell you there is nothing for my players to be fearful of.'

Expectations on Wearside are high, even if some of the new signings have raised eyebrows and failed to raise the pessimism levels just yet. Niall Quinn and his Drumaville backers have spent £ 27million and the fans have responded to Quinn's rallying call.

Season tickets are at their highest since Peter Reid guided the club to two seventh-place finishes. Every corporate box is sold for all 19 home League fixtures and the Irish airlines are providing bigger jets by the weekend.

The biggest investment is in goalkeeper Craig Gordon who, like it or not, has the unenviable label of £9m Scottish goalkeeper. But he is working for a manager who has created an aura of self-belief in the squad he has shaped with just five he inherited-Today, only Whitehead survives from the side which lost to Charlton on the opening day two years ago.

Keane certainly has belief in a goalkeeper he has pursued throughout the summer. He put Gordon on his managerial radar when playing for Celtic.

The desire to sign a reliable No 1 was born early in the summer when Keane was channel hopping at home, until he came to an ESPN Classic repeat of Nottingham Forest, circa 1978.

'Brian Clough spoke about how many points he reckoned Shilton was worth to him. But Clough was ahead of everyone at that stage.

'As a player I probably under-estimated the goalkeepers but any team that has been successful over the years has always had a top keeper.

'Peter Schmeichel had that presence. He wasn't technically the best in the world but in terms of presence and stopping the ball go in the back of the net, he had it.

'Craig Gordon has ability and a presence about him.'

Last week it was Juventus's Claudio Ranieri who took the firm Keane handshake. Today is Martin Jol's turn and Keane faces fascinating combat with old friends like Ferguson in the months ahead.

He said: 'I am looking forward to the challenge. I found Championship managers could not have been more helpful but I think it will be more controlled in the Premiership.

'It doesn't matter if you are pals. Some don't seem to be pals at all, others seem to be in awe of other managers - one springs to mind - but obviously there will be mutual respect.'

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