Robbie Keane

[pineapple stu]

I just don't think it's even "one of his finest"

I just think that, even though he hasn't scored too many spectacular goals for us, he has plenty better.

In fact, let's see the Yugoslavia goal again - generally overshadowed by Mark Kennedy's effort in the same match.

[DeLorean]

Irwin put it on a plate for him (or was it Quinn?).

Nah, I've always loved that goal.

[pineapple stu]

On the bounce though. Much harder.

[jbyrne]

Don't think that was one of his finest goals in fairness - Duff's drag-back put it on a plate for him.

I still have the game recorded and had a look at the goal again last weekend. keane basically sweeps the ball into the far corner beyond Lloris when others would have tried to smash it. the duff pull back was great (although I think the ball takes a bounce or two before it reaches keane) and keane makes it look so easy. great finish in such a pressure game

[OwlsFan]

So where has Robbie ended up in the list of Europe's top-scorers? Gerd Muller seems to have fallen off Wikipedia's list. I think he is level with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ers_by_country

It looks like:

1) Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
2) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - also not listed ?
3) Miroslav Klose (Germany)
4) Robbie Keane (Ireland) and Gerd Muller (Germany)

Nearest other Irish scorer Niall Quinn on 21 goals.

Record number of caps for Ireland, 32 ahead of the nearest other outfield player although JOS may close that gap.

Amazing career. Amazing guy. Will be missed hugely.

[DeLorean]

Actually his goal against Israel has to be well up there.

[paul_oshea]

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat

You speak Irish?!

The poetry is cod-umptious alright TOWK, he could have had a role on Bosco!

I thought it was all very low key last night from Robbie, quite poignant without any fanfare. I know though many were hoping/expecting a walk around. He was very humble at the end, but funny how he is so in the moment that he didn't even notice his son messing about with the mic, and he has always shown that steely, fully focused approach - sometimes misinterpreted as unapproachable and robotic.

I also thought keane in his younger years had the same back of the head as his older namesake.

[BonnieShels]

I was going by the guidelines of 'one of his finest', rather than 'finest'. I do think it's one of his finest all things considered.

Yeah, good point about the goal poaching, because he's got some real crackers at club level for Tottenham as well, remember this?

This has to be his best goal overall though in terms of technical difficulty.

[video=youtube;iSm5oubwP1g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSm5oubwP1g[video]

What goal was that DeL? In work, can't see YouTube.

I just don't think it's even "one of his finest"

I just think that, even though he hasn't scored too many spectacular goals for us, he has plenty better.

In fact, let's see the Yugoslavia goal again - generally overshadowed by Mark Kennedy's effort in the same match.

[yt]HTERrBF2gRs[yt]

Mark Kennedy's goal in that game was sublime.

That was one of our greatest ever games. Everything about it. Despite not qualifying at the end of that campaign. I think that that was the most enjoyable campaign from a footballing POV. Some super performances. BEating Croatia in the fist game did set the tone.

I woud love to watch that match again to see if it reall was as great as I remember. Is it available anywhere?

So where has Robbie ended up in the list of Europe's top-scorers? Gerd Muller seems to have fallen off Wikipedia's list. I think he is level with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ers_by_country

It looks like:

1) Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
2) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - also not listed ?
3) Miroslav Klose (Germany)
4) Robbie Keane (Ireland) and Gerd Muller (Germany)

Nearest other Irish scorer Niall Quinn on 21 goals.

Record number of caps for Ireland, 32 ahead of the nearest other outfield player although JOS may close that gap.

Amazing career. Amazing guy. Will be missed hugely.

Only fourth? Poor.

I was at a shindig last night and some guy tried to belittle Keane saying that he played 145 times of course he scored that many yada yada. Unbelievable how he can even be questioned.

[paul_oshea]

I hope you let him have it BS. Don't be a peter or worse a judas. I make sure I do my patriotic duty and robbie a service, by letting those people have both barrells, and dispell any of those stupid arguments.

The one thing I ask is, do french people or Swedish start ridiculing Henrys record or Zlatans cos he scored a lot against minnows? No of course they don't, and the question of the greater footballers, is they played with greater(better players anyway) teams, so would have had even more opportunities to score. It's not robbies fault what groups we ended up in, he scored the goals in the games he played, the argument is as simple and as strong as that.

[DeLorean]

What goal was that DeL? In work, can't see YouTube.

His goal for Liverpool at The Emirates.

[Supreme feet]

Thought his goal against Denmark in 2002 (from 1:10 here) was a beaut, and not typical of the goals he normally scored.

[tetsujin1979]

One last addition to my tribute to Robbie Keane after last night's game: https://twitter.com/irish_abroad/sta...74790166487040

[DeLorean]

Thought his goal against Denmark in 2002 (from 1:10 here) was a beaut, and not typical of the goals he normally scored.

I was picturing that goal but couldn't remember who it was against. It really flew through the air from a standing start. Would it be harsh to question the keeper though?

[geysir]

I was picturing that goal but couldn't remember who it was against. It really flew through the air from a standing start. Would it be harsh to question the keeper though?

Will we ever escape the zeal to minimise when it comes to evaluating Robbie?

[BonnieShels]

I hope you let him have it BS. Don't be a peter or worse a judas. I make sure I do my patriotic duty and robbie a service, by letting those people have both barrells, and dispell any of those stupid arguments.

The one thing I ask is, do french people or Swedish start ridiculing Henrys record or Zlatans cos he scored a lot against minnows? No of course they don't, and the question of the greater footballers, is they played with greater(better players anyway) teams, so would have had even more opportunities to score. It's not robbies fault what groups we ended up in, he scored the goals in the games he played, the argument is as simple and as strong as that.

I actually did shoot down his stupid justifications. And then just stopped talking to him. Moron.

[jbyrne]

I actually did shoot down his stupid justifications. And then just stopped talking to him. Moron.

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

[BonnieShels]

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

Completely. But one must set the rest to rights if the opportunity arises.

I actually get relatively emotional writing my post last night. He was special.

[geysir]

I could feel your pain Bonnie

[paul_oshea]

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

Only half of those bothered to show that last night.

I think the Irish psyche, and the British which is even more venomous, is to build someone up only to then try and find every opporunity to shoot them down after. Robbie retiring now everyone lauds him, many of those same people were calling for his retirement and Long starting ahead of him for 2-4+ years.

[Stuttgart88]

David Kelly in 2011

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-28652634.html

I'm not really quite sure what he is trying to say about Keane. Kelly was going through a particularly acute "Footy bad, rugby heroes" phase at the time.