Liam deserved to be put on list

Mar 9 2008 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

JONNY EVANS has given tardy team-mate Liam Miller advice on how to stay on the right side of Roy Keane . . .

Set your alarm clock earlier.

Evans insists midfielder Miller DESERVED to be transfer-listed for turning up late for training once too often.

By all accounts, Miller has learned his lesson and has been a model pro since his public dressing down from Keane.

And he could even be in the squad for this afternoon’s game against Everton at the Stadium of Light.

But Evans says there are no excuses for Miller and admits that the rest of the players are now keeping a close eye on the clock after seeing what has happened to their colleague.

“People know that the one thing that the manager hates is lateness – he said that to me when I first came here last season,” said Evans.

“If you are on time, I’m sure you’ll be all right by him.

“I don’t think anyone should have any excuses.

“Usually the lads get in about an hour or so before training and in my own mind, I always set the clock so I can make sure that I come in a bit early and don’t run the risk of being late.

“No matter what club you are at, you have to respect the manager when he says you have to be in at this time or that time.

“When they tell you to be on time, you have to be there.”

Keane’s high standards of professionalism – both on and off the field – are legendary and he expects the same from his players.

Northern Ireland international Evans joined Sunderland from Manchester United on loan until the end of the season in January – just as he did 12 months ago.

But he says he has seen a different side to Keane this season.

“It’s not been as smooth as last season!” Evans admitted.

“When everything was going well last year, it was hard for him to have a go at the players because we were winning nearly every week.

“But obviously the manager hates losing and he is very disappointed if we lose a match, even if we play well.

“It really hurts him and it hurts everyone around him.

“But I haven’t seen him blow his top. The couple of times that he has had a go at us, he has been right to.

“As a team, when he has been unhappy we have probably realised that we could have done a bit more.

“If you give 100 per cent, he will give you a bit of leeway – but when you do give 100 per cent, he demands a bit of quality too!

Sunderland will need 100 per cent effort AND quality this afternoon when Champions League-chasing Everton arrive on Wearside.

Everton inflicted a painful 7-1 humiliation on Sunderland at Goodison Park back in November and that is a wound that still runs deep with Keane and the players.

Evans had yet to join Sunderland’s survival campaign but the scoreline got his attention.

“I saw the goals from that Everton game on Match of the Day and again on Sky on the Sunday,” he said.

“I think several of the goals came from some of the lads slipping. It just seemed to be one of those days for Sunderland, and the scoreline could have been even higher.

“What came out of it, though, was that the lads did have a go at Everton but defensively it was costly.”

Sunderland go into today’s game just a couple of points clear of the drop zone but Evans is convinced that they will stay up.

The 20-year-old said: “I think we’ll be all right come May.

“In the time I have been here, I think there has been a definite improvement.

“Team spirit is very good and everybody is fighting for each other.

“The gaffer has brought Andy Reid in and he brings a bit of extra quality to the side.

“We’ve still got Carlos Edwards to come back in when he is fit and once we have got a fully-fit squad, you’ll start to see the best of us.”