Not keen on WAGs

I don't know there is a group like America's National Organization for Women in the United Kingdom, but if there is, I feel certain that Roy Keane won't be invited to speak at their next conference.

The Sunderland manager and former Manchester United star ripped into some "soft" players who let their wives or girlfriends dictate where they play based on the shopping. Keane, it seems, was venting his frustration over several players who turned down his pursuit over the summer transfer window. He criticized players for being willing to go to lesser London clubs -- he didn't name them, but excluded Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham ("perhaps") from this -- instead of working for Keane on Wearside. He also raked unnamed "star" players for participating in photo shoots because of their partners.

I have not been to the Northeast of England, so I cannot say whether it is an attractive place to live. I have been to London three times, however, and I know it's an unbelievable city. It must be all the more attractive to footballers who are making the kind of money that opens up an immense world of possibilities in a city like London. Moreover, many factors go into where a player chooses to sign on. All other things being more or less equal, why not sign with a London-area club if it makes your wife happy? Despite his harsh comments, Keane, deep down, must know that a player will perform better with a happy home life. Besides the sexism inherent in his comments, there's also an element of "back in my day, everything was better"-style old fogeyism. I am the same age as Keane (36). We're far too young to start being nostalgic for the old days, Roy.