Clinton Morrison on the next Coventry manager, international breaks and playing with Roy Keane
Will Jackson 
Popular pundit Clinton Morrison has joined up with the Freebets.com team this season to discuss the biggest games and talking points each week in the EFL.
The former Crystal Palace, Birmingham and Republic of Ireland striker will be giving his views and predictions on the pick of the matches each week, as well going over some of the hot topics in the football world.
This week he discusses Coventry's decision to sack long-standing manager and crowd favourite Mark Robins, the regular international breaks disrupting the season, player welfare and his experiences of playing in a Republic of Ireland side alongside the likes of Roy Keane and Robbie Keane.
Here's a full transcript of everything discussed this week, while you can also read further about the Coventry manager's job.
Take advantage of Clinton's predictions using the best football betting offers from our top football betting sites.
Coventry's decision to sack Mark Robins
Q: Coventry, sacking Mark Robins last week. You’ve said before that you know him well - what did you make of that decision?
I know they’ve started the season slowly, but when they got into the play-off final, they started the season slow, and they've always done that.
I think if he hadn't lost the Derby game, that would he would have won three on the bounce, and they would have climbed into the top half of the table.
That's how close the Championship is this season. There's not going to be anyone who just runs away with it.
So for me, and I'm speaking to a lot of Coventry fans, it's probably the worst decision I've seen in football for a very, very long time, but he'll get another job, so it'll be Coventry’s loss, some other team’s gain because he's a fantastic manager.
The job he's done there at Coventry City has been fantastic.
I just don't get it. I actually don't get it, I'd love to know why he's lost his job, because it's a strange one.
I think everyone's flabbergasted of why he's lost his job, but do I think it's the right decision? No, do I think you'll get another job 100%, so we have to move on, don't we?
Q: The fans aren’t happy, can you see why?
A: The fans are probably frustrated because they've seen what Mark Robins has done for that football club. The fans they were frustrated at results, but then when he got back-to-back wins you thought, ‘this could be the start of their season’.
I looked on a lot of the forums and I couldn't see one fan (agree with the decision). There are about 5,000/6,000 comments, not one fan that was happy with that decision of Mark Robins going so obviously, the owner wants to go down a different route, and you just don't know what happens behind the scenes.
We don't know what's happening, but just like everyone else, we hear what's happening. And for me personally, I think for every Coventry City fan, it wasn't the right decision.
He's probably made the decision now, because he gives himself a couple of weeks with the international break to try and find a suitable manager. But I just think it's a crazy decision.
They then go to Sunderland, and it's probably the same group of players, and they go and get a good 2-2 draw. So you just stick with Mark Robins, because you'll find it hard to find someone as good as him, especially in this Championship division.
Q: Is it a case of, be careful what you wish for for the owners?
A: I always say, be careful - and that's not the fans, because the fans weren't wishing for that - it's the other people.
Be careful what you wish for. because you try and get rid of someone who's a top manager, and then you bring in someone who maybe struggles, and, you know, they spent a lot of money, so the players that were brought in are Mark Robins’ signings, so the new manager has to work with that, and if the results don't go right straight away, I don't think the fans will be patient, but they'll give the new manager time.
For sure the fans will give him time, but they won't be happy if results don't start clicking immediately.
Q: With that next manager in mind. Is there anybody that you'd like to see you get the job?
A: I've seen a few (people linked with the job). I know Frank Lampard, I think it'd be a good appointment, and I think it'd be a good opportunity for him to get back into management.
So I do think Frank Lampard, Lee Carsley - he was mentioned but I don't know if Lee would want to take a manager's role at a club, I think more than likely, Lee would probably like to stick with the under 21s, because he's done a fantastic job there – would be great appointments.
Another one who I think is a brilliant footballer, and is out of work at the moment, is Robbie Keane.
Why not Robbie Keane? I think he was fantastic at Coventry as a player, the fans worshipped him. Maccabi Tel Aviv where he was, they won the title twice and got to the last 16 in Europa League. So why not give someone like that an opportunity?
They're the three names I think that are in the running, and I think all three would be good for that football club. They're the three I'd probably be looking at, if I was the Coventry City hierarchy to say, why not one of those three to go in?
I know Frank Lampard was a favourite, and if he gets it, I wish Frank all the best, and I hope he's successful with it, but I look at someone like maybe a Robbie Keane as well. It'd be fantastic. And Lee Carsey, so all three of them? Yeah, I'd say all three would be a worthy choice for me.
Q: Coming after Mark Robins, it’s not going to be an easy job to take, is it?
A: That’s not going to be an easy job, because when you've got a manager who's worshipped and adored by the fans, it's the most difficult job to go and take. So that's why I feel you bring someone in who will get a bit of time that will get the fans excited, and probably all three of those names would get the fans excited.
In particular, probably Robbie Keane, as I said, he was a top player for them there, who they loved massively. The next manager has to come in, has to be the right fit, because you can't bring a manager in and then after three or four months get rid, because then the fans will start blaming the hierarchy, so they've, they've made the call, and yeah, we're not happy with it, but you have to accept it. And now you move on.
You get behind the team, because it's still the football club that you supported from a young age. And you back whatever managers in charge. And all those three managers that I mentioned, I always think three of them will go in and do well.
International breaks and commitment of players
Q: We have another international break now, which is frustrating for fans. Are there too many in your eyes?
A: It’s three in a row, it's far too much for me. Listen, I love the Premier League and watching the EFL and so I love all the games. So when you ain't got it, it's a boring weekend in my life. So I do think there's too much.
When I was an international player, I did love going away for internationals, but the three in a row, I think are too much. Think that's why you see a lot of - I'm not saying everyone's pulling out - a lot of niggles at the moment, but with the load of games that they've got in that short period of time, you have to protect the players.
So I get it. And when you've been called up in a national I always wanted to go. So I'd always go, even if I was nursing an injury. I'd go on international duty, because I think the best thing is to represent your country. But there is a lot of games in a short period of time.
Q: Do you have any criticism of players who pull out of squads through injury?
A: No but I get why people can be critical of them. But Declan Rice went off injured and Declan Rice never misses any international. Saka never misses any international, and hardly misses any football, so that must be an injury. You can see Cole Palmer was a slight doubt for the Arsenal game and Levi Colwill, and then there was four others who have got injuries as well. Jack Grealish was already injured so he wasn't even involved in the Man City squad anyway.
These are players that have not been playing football and if you haven't been playing for the last three or four weeks, then I don't expect you to go and be called up for the England squad. The reason they've pulled out is because they genuinely have an injury, so they have to protect themselves. It's a long season, and there is a lot of games of football, I can guarantee you, the eight players that pulled out love representing their country.
When you're retired a long time, you do look at the caps that you've had and the amount of goals you score. So these players will have that in the back of their mind. But at the moment, they're not 100% fit to go away on international duty. So you can't knock them for pulling out
Remember, you had the Euros in the summer. A lot of players came back late. You can see with the injuries. And listen, his was an unfortunate injury, but you look at someone like a Rodri, he was already saying before he picked up that injury. There's so much football going on, and you didn't have enough time to have a rest.
You’ve got all your Premier League games, you've got your Carabao Cup games, you've got your Champions League games. So look how much football they are playing. I'm not making excuses for the players because I actually think as a footballer, I loved playing so many games, but they have got a lot of games.
And these international I get the first two ones. But why did they have to have one in November? Why couldn't they make it in January after Christmas so everyone could get up to speed and stuff?
No one's going to pull out of internationals (if they can help it). If everyone's fit, they're going to go away and they're going to want to play for their country. But at the end of the day, if players are not fit to play for their club before the international break, why?
Then other clubs are going to think, well, you can't go away there and join up when you're not fit enough to play for us on the Saturday. So it's a difficult one, because some players will probably want to go, and some managers of the clubs will not want their players to go because they're trying to protect their club.
They're happy for their players to go on international duty, but they're thinking long-term. We've got a long season. We've had a lot of games, so it's kind of a difficult one. I blame the fixture pile-up. I don't think there should be that many international games before Christmas. I don't think we should have three international breaks before Christmas. So that's what I blame.
England v Republic of Ireland
Q: It's nice to have a tasty game like England v Republic of Ireland to look forward to though…
A Let me tell you something. They're the games you look forward to. Even on one leg, I'd be looking forward to playing in that game. That's for sure.
I think that will be a hell of a game. I know the Irish players will be way up for it to play at Wembley. I'm actually going. So it should be a good game to go and watch and stuff. So, yeah, it's a game that you really look forward to. There's a big there's a rivalry there, and you want to win, and you want to do it for your country, and you want to do it for your fans.
It's a game you look forward to and you're saying, ‘Oh, yep, Wembley, you're ready for it’. So all these players they play in the English Premier League as well and in the Championship. So, you know, it would be good to go back to their clubs and have bragging rights that they beat England. They'll be looking forward to that.
Q: Do you give Ireland much of a chance?
Let’s be honest, England are fantastic. Even with the eight withdrawals that they've got some of the top players. They've still got enough quality. England should be beating Ireland. They're way ahead of them at the moment, but I do give Ireland a good opportunity. I do think recently the results have started picking up with the new manager working alongside his coaching staff, John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy. They're slowly but surely turning and what the good thing is, is having players that are in-form going away on international duty.
If you’re someone like a Sammie Szmodics, he’s just scored a good overhead kick against Tottenham. He'll be going into that camp full of confidence, but you have to make England favourites, it’s common sense. If I'm going to sit here and lie to you and say, ‘Oh, I make Ireland favorites’, I'd be lying to you.
I think Ireland have an opportunity, but England should dominate and should win the football match, but it'd be a great result if Ireland do go and win it, but it's going to be tough, because England have quality all over the pitch.
Q: A prediction for Sunday?
A: I'll go 1-1. I could be wrong, and I think I will be wrong, but I'm gonna stick my neck out and say, 1-1. I'm hoping for 1-1, but I think England will win 2-1.
Republic of Ireland in the 2000s
Q: Ireland are struggling a little bit these days, when you look back to the quality you had in your playing days...
A: The squad was ridiculous. Just the spine of the squad where you've got Shay Given and then you've got someone like a Richard Dunne, then you got a Roy Keane, then you've got a Robbie Keane, then you've got Damien Duff. That's four or five players that have played, that are top, top, Premier League players. So our squad was fantastic.
It was even hard to get into the squad of the 20 when it was picked, because you knew you had to say at right-back we had Stephen Carr, Stephen Finnan, Jason McAteer could play there. And there was always competitions for places, and you're thinking to yourself, how are you going to get into that squad? And that's the dilemma all these Ireland managers had when we were in our squad, in particular Mick McCarthy.
I loved it, and I knew if I was picked in a squad and I didn't go away with the squad, I'd be worried about whoever went into my position, I wouldn't get back in. I always back myself, but you just never know if they go in and have a good international break while you're away and took your place, you do worry. And then you gotta keep your levels up at club level.
It has been a struggle for Ireland recently. They haven't qualified for a major which is disappointing, and the fans are frustrated, but hopefully under the new manager, things can start turning around, because those fans, and let me tell you, they have some of the best fans I've ever played with in my career. They are passionate, and they love their football, and they deserve to be at a major tournament. That's for sure.
Q: Just some of those names you mentioned. There's a lot of big personalities in there. What is it like being around them on a daily basis?
A: It was amazing. I was the biggest mouth out of all of them, because I didn't shut up! I annoyed everyone.
But I feel like when I went in to play for Ireland, I was accepted by everyone in there. So it was fantastic. The fans accepted me, the management and the players in particular.
I still get on with a lot of the players now, but there's characters in it. And one thing you know is, when you go from club level to international, and you're working with the likes of Roy Keane, Robbie Keane and Duff, the level has to go up.
You have to raise your game, because they will be firing balls from you from 5-10 yards. And if you can't deal with it, they'll be saying, well, when I'm at Tottenham, Chelsea Man United, if I fire it into my strikers, they'll be able to deal with it. So it's something that I thought was a brilliant experience to go and play internationally.
It took my game to another level, and being involved with some of those characters, and they'll let you know when you're not having a good game and I liked it, I just feel you look at it nowadays, maybe I know it's changed, and you can't be going mad all the time, but if I gave the ball away, Roy Keane would definitely let me know, and Robbie Keane that you better go and win that ball back for the team.
And that's what I liked, and I knew it wasn’t criticism. It was trying to get the best out of me on the football pitch. The best that we could do for our country.
Q: Was it a case of sink or swim with somebody like Roy Keane? I imagine some players would come in and be scared of him, whereas sometimes, you know, if you could actually stand up for yourself….
A: I think people were scared because, yeah, because he trained how he played, and that's the one thing, the best thing I could say with Roy.
Roy was a fantastic football player. You don't win that much as captain of Man United if you're not a good footballer, with players that have come through that door for him still managed to be captain...
So whenever he sits down, he was one who I wanted to sit down next to and always pick his brain about stuff, because I was that type of person. I was never going to be as good as what Roy Keane is, but I tried to give myself the best chance
I could speak to someone who had played with the best strikers at Man Utd and the one thing he used to say to me is, 'you make too many runs down the channel, what you should have to do is play in the within the 18-yard box, because that's where you're judged on scoring goals.'
And then all of a sudden - I still sometimes had to do it - but stayed in there and started scoring more goals. It was a great bit of advice he gave me. So just something little like that helps you massively.
He was a proper leader.
I've not seen anyone like that the way he trains, he would hit big tackles, and you would know about in training, even when we've got a game on a Saturday, he'd still be flying into tackles on a Thursday. But I didn't mind it, because he trained how he played, and he set an example.
It's the same like with Robbie Keane. His finishing was the best I've seen, like he always would be on the coach running to go back to the hotel. He's still out there having shots at Shay Given. So players like that to go and learn from them, then was fantastic. It helped me massively. And you know that when you go to that level, you gotta raise your game, because you will get found out.
Q: Trying to get back to those levels now, you can have all the personalities you want but the quality isn’t there is it?
A: There is quality in there. But a lot of the times, a lot of the players are playing in in the EFL, which is a big jump to the Premier League. So when we were playing, nearly the majority of our squad was in the Premier League.
But where is the next Roy Keane, where is the next Shay Given? Even though Caoimhin Kelleher, the young Liverpool goalie is a top goalkeeper, and Evan Ferguson is a top striker, but you have to keep him fit.
We had players like Kevin Kilbane – who got over 100 caps, and you don’t get over 100 caps for your country without being a good footballer – and Damien Duff, Niall Quinn was there when I came into the squad, Steve Staunton, all these experienced players that have been there, seen it, done it, and I just feel like back then, the competition for places was really, really tough, and it's just a different era. It happens like that.
But Ireland will come again.
They don't have a whole pool of players where they can pick for from like England, so it's always going to be difficult, but the FAI and around the regions, the lower regions of the like under 16/17/18/19s, they have to produce players to come through, and that's what they're doing at the moment.
I know there's some good ones in the 19s, 20s, 21s. And hopefully in years to come, they can come through when you get another Roy Keane. So I do believe, like the squad is good, it's good, but it's not on the England level, but I still think we should be doing better and be there or thereabouts qualifying for major tournaments.
I know our squad was better, but one thing we had is great togetherness. And we knew, even if the chips were down, somehow we'd find a way, because we are quality in the team that could go and get us a goal. So I do think the good times are just around the corner for Ireland. Well, I hope so, because the country does deserve it.
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