Ireland ask FIFA to be 33rd team in WC

[OneRedArmy]

Does ORA chair them?With a wooden gavel, none of your inflatable tricolour hammers for me ;)

[geysir]

http://www.icenews.is/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/justice.thumbnail.thumbnail.jpg

[paul_oshea]

brilliant ORA and brilliant response geysir :D

Doire, thats the point, the FAI dont have the same media outlets or receipients as Messr Blatter. His original comments will have been carried around the world, however his second im pretty sure wont. I know for a fact the FAI statement hasn't gone anywhere near as global.

John: you stole my original by idea....

Fair play to Ms Theron pulling Ireland out of the bowl in the rehearsal.

[John83]

John: you stole my original by idea...
Oops - missed your post. Still, it was a crap idea! ;)

[Bluebeard]

Fair play to Ms Theron pulling Ireland out of the bowl in the rehearsal.

WHAT!

Stupid dense unforgiveably stunning bint! I spent the best part of two weeks planning to get the ball into the bowl, and she yanks it out a couple of days before.

And I know we'd have got away with it, as long as we took the approach "as the official overseeing the draw did not see the ball being handled in, it must stand"...

[irishfan86]

She really should have saved it for the official draw.

[Scooby Doo]

A brilliant statement from the FAI tonight. Points very well put across and showed real balls on the part of the governing body of soccer in Ireland. Prompted a pathetic apology (but an apology nonetheless) which showed BLatter up for the sniveling little weasel that he is. I'm not an advocate of the FAI at all but I have to say they came out the better in this whole farcical mess.

[Qwerty]

And it's still rumbling on ... we can't seem to get over it. It's like the neverending moaning about Brian O'Driscoll's injury on the Lions tour to New Zealand. It's like the Irish team talking about the win over the Springboks as being revenge for the Lions failure and the Luke FitzGerald eye gouging. There seems to be an obsession with these incidents, when New Zealand's Tony Woodcock was eye gouged by the French last weekend the report was made and the NZ media have not spoken about it since. I think we need to man up a bit here and move on. It's only a game and we are losing dignity the longer this goes on.

[jbyrne]

And it's still rumbling on ... we can't seem to get over it. It's like the neverending moaning about Brian O'Driscoll's injury on the Lions tour to New Zealand. It's like the Irish team talking about the win over the Springboks as being revenge for the Lions failure and the Luke FitzGerald eye gouging. There seems to be an obsession with these incidents, when New Zealand's Tony Woodcock was eye gouged by the French last weekend the report was made and the NZ media have not spoken about it since. I think we need to man up a bit here and move on. It's only a game and we are losing dignity the longer this goes on.

the odriscoll incident couldve broken his neck.
so what if they mentioned the SA win was revenge for the lions? big deal.
never heard the revenge issue over the eye gouging mentioned once after our win.
the fact that the fitzgerald gouging incident received so much coverage at the time was that it was so blatantly dangerous and didnt get the punishment it deserved. such serious issues should be kept in the public eye (no pun intended!).

[endabob1]

the odriscoll incident couldve broken his neck.
so what if they mentioned the SA win was revenge for the lions? big deal.
never heard the revenge issue over the eye gouging mentioned once after our win.
the fact that the fitzgerald gouging incident received so much coverage at the time was that it was so blatantly dangerous and didnt get the punishment it deserved. such serious issues should be kept in the public eye (no pun intended!).

The SA media have mentioned it, especially in light of Heaslip being accused, albeit 3 days after the game :rolleyes:

[OwlsFan]

I'm glad that Blatter has said sorry, but that doesn't mitigate the damage that his original comments have made.

What exact "damage" was done? Before we asked confidentally could we go to the World Cup, we weren't going. After we asked we still weren't going. Some egg on our face but egg on a face doesn't go any damage. Just needs to be wiped away and in this instance the thrower of the egg had to apologise.

Same result (no damage) but lots of egg on Blatter's hands as he wipes the egg off Delaney's face. I am happy with that outcome.

[twoenz]

Very concise well written statement. However it won't get the pedestal Blatter got. We need to fight fire with fire. The Official Statement should be pinned to the back of a volotile inciting statement from a sacrificial lamb in the FAI, And by that I mean someone should openly question the integrity of Blatter and FIFA as a man and organisation. No requesting of replays or asking for anything..... No ambiguity. Straight out. Blatter is corrupt... FIFA is corrupt.. Addidas.. Mafia... Fat Cats... Greco Roman... back Scratching.. Henry's a coward.. And finish up by citing that Paris will not be the last example of the corruption of the game...

Then face the sanctions knowing they'll never work in an official cappacity in the sport again... I vote Don Givens..

I'm serious about the first paragraph though.

After all the dust has settled the FAI have to get on with the job of being a member of FIFA. There's nothing that they can do. Do they think that they didn't know about the corruption, Blatter's ways and the way the game worked?

What ends would this have?

[dr_peepee]

WHAT????:eek: You winding me up man?? The serenity to accept what we can't chage?? Put up an shut up???..... Jim Larkin is rolling in his grave...

Balls to that... What end you ask?? I'll tell you what end?? The world of cycling and athletics have been decimated in recent times due to questionable ethics. Before the usual nit picking pedestal mounters on here (you know who you are) claim I'm equating Paris to the persistant abuse of performance enhancing drugs I'm not... I'm hammering home the potential effect on an institutian when the sports integrity is compromised.

We have a situation where we as stereotypical underdogs were DEFINATELY WITHOUT DOUBT conspired against along with other minority nations in terms of the belated seeding of the playoff. And more pointedly denied a place in the sports showpiece tournament on the back of a blatant breaking of the most fundemental rule of the sport itself at a defining point in a campaign.. That's CAMPAIGN, not match, not Leg. Campaign. WITH NO ACCOUNtABILITY OR DETERENT in place for future infractions.

Mark my words. FIFA want this to die. Charleze Theron did us a huge favour last night. I'm embarassed by the Oliver Twist perception of us begging for a replay or free pass. I am. But it's serving another purpose of keeping this in the public eye the day before the draw is made.

I'll be content with a three game competitive ban for Henry, plus the addition of "umpires" behind the goal.

Harrumph!!!!

[twoenz]

WHAT????:eek: You winding me up man?? The serenity to accept what we can't chage?? Put up an shut up???..... Jim Larkin is rolling in his grave...

Balls to that... What end you ask?? I'll tell you what end?? The world of cycling and athletics have been decimated in recent times due to questionable ethics. Before the usual nit picking pedestal mounters on here (you know who you are) claim I'm equating Paris to the persistant abuse of performance enhancing drugs I'm not... I'm hammering home the potential effect on an institutian when the sports integrity is compromised.

We have a situation where we as stereotypical underdogs were DEFINATELY WITHOUT DOUBT conspired against along with other minority nations in terms of the belated seeding of the playoff. And more pointedly denied a place in the sports showpiece tournament on the back of a blatant breaking of the most fundemental rule of the sport itself at a defining point in a campaign.. That's CAMPAIGN, not match, not Leg. Campaign. WITH NO ACCOUNtABILITY OR DETERENT in place for future infractions.

Mark my words. FIFA want this to die. Charleze Theron did us a huge favour last night. I'm embarassed by the Oliver Twist perception of us begging for a replay or free pass. I am. But it's serving another purpose of keeping this in the public eye the day before the draw is made.

I'll be content with a three game competitive ban for Henry, plus the addition of "umpires" behind the goal.

Harrumph!!!!

A 3 match ban for henry? On what grounds? You're keen to use FIFA's creditability when it suits you and ignore their bending of the rules when it's to your own advantage. Fair enough.

I do agree with the need for the referee team needing expanding, and help from TV. It's done wonders for Tennis, and adds excitement to rugby, American football and cricket.

My point is that the FAI have been in bed with FIFA for how long, and they've never once thought that they're slightly corrupt? Someone's made a good point in here, at the end of the day we're no more important than a St. Kitts and Nevis in Blatter's eyes.

[Stuttgart88]

A 3 match ban for henry? On what grounds? On the grounds of gross unsporting behaviour - for the umpteenth time. Perfectly valid grounds with actual precedents, both UEFA & FIFA.
I posted this on another thread but it's just as relevant here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/france/6625117/Fifa-Frances-Thierry-Henry-could-face-World-Cup-ban-over-Ireland-handball.html

"The disciplinary commission is an independent organ," said a Fifa spokesman. "It will decide if the case is of interest. The possibility exists of sanctioning a player for unsporting behaviour on the basis of video evidence."

"...the more apt parallel is with Mauro Tassotti, who was banned for eight games by Fifa after elbowing Spain's Luís Enrique during a World Cup quarter-final at USA 94. The incident had been missed by the referee.

Similarly, Marco Materazzi, the controversial Italian defender, was handed a two-match ban and fined €5,000 (£4,500) for inciting France's Zinedine Zidane to butt him in the 2006 World Cup final after a panel reviewed footage of the game."

[Leeside Swagger]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/11/27/1259334843034/Robert-Mugabe-with-the-Wo-001.jpg

Robert Mugabe with the World Cup, which was passing through Harare on its way to South Africa for the draw for next year's tournament. Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP
Human rights (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/human-rights) groups in Zimbabwe (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/zimbabwe) have condemned world football's governing body for allowing Robert Mugabe (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/robert-mugabe) to hold the World Cup trophy as it passed through Zimbabwe.
The trophy is on a tour of all 53 African countries ahead of next year's football showpiece in neighbouring South Africa. But activists in Zimbabwe criticised Fifa for handing a propaganda coup to a leader blamed for atrocities and oppression.
At a ceremony in Harare yesterday, Mugabe joked gleefully as he lifted the cup. Inspecting the 6.5kg solid gold trophy, the president could not resist a dig at his old enemy Britain, according to the New Zimbabwe website (http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-1373-Mugabe+has+urge+to+keep+World+Cup/news.aspx). "Britain does not have any gold, neither does Germany," he was quoted as saying.
"I am tempted to think that it came from Africa, and from Zimbabwe, and was taken away by adventurers who shaped it into this cup."
Mugabe's comments raised laughter at a ceremony attended by government officials, football fans and journalists at Harare international airport. He added: "When I hold the cup, I know all of you will have the urge that I should not let it go because this could be our gold."
Raymond Majongwe, secretary general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said Fifa should not have given Mugabe legitimacy.
He said: "It's a symbol of sporting excellence and the trophy every world leader craves to hold in their lifetime. They could have sent a political message by keeping it away from Zimbabwe. But with this, Mugabe was able to say the World Cup will come and go and he will still be there."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/27/robert-mugabe-holds-world-cup

[OneRedArmy]

I can't believe they let such a corrupt, self-serving, dictatorship that is propped up by special interests to tarnish the image of the worlds greatest sports spectacle.

....and they probably shouldn't have let Mugabe hold it either.

[jbyrne]

they wrote to the argentina FA to make sure diego maradonna didnt show up at the draw as he is currently banned for 2 months yet allow mugabe get involved in the whole show. unreal!

[Bluebeard]

they wrote to the argentina FA to make sure diego maradonna didnt show up at the draw as he is currently banned for 2 months yet allow mugabe get involved in the whole show. unreal!

And yet, does anyone really see this as a big surprise?

Diego Maradona - footballing legend, could waddle past most of today's greyhounds and dazzle us all even still, brought excitement to world football in the dreary cyncial footballing world post Fra 3-3 Schumacher's ar$e. Manager of a major nation. Passionate about the game, perhaps slightly more than a touch crazy. A controversial and outspoken figure. A thorn in the side of FIFA authority.

Robert Mugabe - inspirational leader turned dictator, responsible for the bankrupting of a powerful wealthy nation. His chief connection with football is through his nephew Leo Mugabe, former head of ZIFA. Fun Bobby likes to lay down the law and does not pay respect to any who challenge him. Sorts out his allies with favours, loves to make quips to the media about small scale problems to set them laughing and distracting them from various examples of collossal corruption. An inspiration to FIFA.

[Greenforever]

I see Blatter today calling on all players to respect the Fair Play principles, unless your one of the chsen few, and then it's ok, sure didnt I pull shirts as a player he sniggers

[thischarmingman]

I can't believe they let such a corrupt, self-serving, dictatorship that is propped up by special interests to tarnish the image of the worlds greatest sports spectacle.

....and they probably shouldn't have let Mugabe hold it either.

It may have sat up nicely for you but it was well dispatched. ;)

[bennocelt]

WHAT????:eek: You winding me up man?? The serenity to accept what we can't chage?? Put up an shut up???..... Jim Larkin is rolling in his grave...


Harrumph!!!!

Well he must be doing on awful lot of shifting around in that grave with the carry on of the unions and all, never mind the football:p

[OwlsFan]

whats wrong with bill o herlihy??!!



Had 4 friends over last night to watch a tape of the game. We had been in Paris so this was our first chance to review the whole thing.

Your hero, Laughing Bill,

(a) at the end of the game started a discussion on Trapp's tactics and said "we'll come back to the handball later" and the first segment of the discussion was about how the players (not Trapp) had devised the tactics for Paris.

(b) He then described the evening a "night of celebration" for Ireland :eek:because of the excellent Irish display.

(c) Later on, after the ads etc when they EVENTUALLY got to the handball, he laughingly says "he handled it not once but twice" as if it was some kind of joke.

(d) Later he went on to Stephen England and said "should we not go down on one knee to get him back" and "that he was misunderstood" but he backtracked on that when the panel had a go at him.

(e) Then he ended with something like "we played like the panel have been saying we should have played all the time" and with his usual smug smile signed off.

Anyone tuning in would have been hard pressed to realise that Ireland had just been knocked out of the World Cup due to the most obvious handball since Maradona. Instead, as it has been for the past 20+ years, the panel, aided and egged on by the laughing buffoon, lead an attack on the incumbent Irish manager.

Thank God I was in Paris and didn't have to watch it. Grotesque, unbelievable, bizzare.

p.s. George Hamilton: "When Robbie Keane scores, we never lose except in Korea on penalties". Does he love tempting the fates?

pps. Doyle in the after match interview could barely hold back the tears despite Tony O'Donogue taking the lead from the panel and asking about "was it the players who decided to play the way we did"?:rolleyes:

ppps. Looks like the defender got the slightest of knicks on the ball when Duff got through on goal.

[ifk101]

Martin Hansson was interviewed on Swedish TV last night.

Wasn't much of an interview tbh but the main points were;
He said his name will always be linked to the game and it will be talked about for years.

He still has a chance to be a ref at the World Cup but does not want to speculate if he will be there. (The Swedish interviewer said it was his dream to ref at the WC but he didn't said that when he talked).

He is disappointed about what happened in the aftermath of the match - neighbours and family were contacted by British journalists. Apparently journalists were knocking on neighbours' doors late at night looking for Hansson.

He's not going to quit being a referee - his love for the game is too strong.

[Stuttgart88]

No sign of humility, regret or any recognition that he made a mistake? I didn't pick this up in his comments in November and I didn't pick them up from the post above.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Or the lino either.

Still they wouldn't want to return the :rolleyes: 'fruits of their labour', or even book that appointment with the optician.

[Scram]

The referee, linesamn and Thierry will go to hell. They are criminals, criminals...but seriously...the linesman is the only one I would fault and of course, we should have won it in normal time except we were not confident enought to take our chances as we were not given enough freedon previously to create such chances.

[jbyrne]

we should have won it in normal time except we were not confident enought to take our chances as we were not given enough freedon previously to create such chances.

keanes chance was very difficult given the tight angles involved. he has never been good at one on ones. the defender did very well to get back at duff to deflect his chance and doyles header chance was nothing more than a half chance at best.

we created lots of chances over the campaign and scored 4 goals against the two finalists in the last wc final

[geysir]

Are you sure about Doyle's header chance being (downgraded to) a half chance?
I hadn't the heart to watch the game again.

[paul_oshea]

It was a lot more than a half chance. It was 3 times that. A chance and a half.

[OwenGoal]

It was a lot more than a half chance. It was 3 times that. A chance and a half.

Yep, clearest cut chance of the lot, should have buried it.

[Alf Honn]

Keith Andrews added his tuppence worth in a newspaper interview on Sat. Interesting to finally hear a player's perspective on the fall-out.

---

Among those Andrews now questions is the FAI, for its belated attempt to secure a replay and become the 33rd team at South Africa this summer.

"I don't even think there should have been us as a country asking for replays and for us to be added as an extra team. I think we should have just left it and let everybody resent the French, the referee and the whole of FIFA. We don't want anybody's sympathy. I certainly don't."

[eaststand85]

well said Keith Andrews.

[Fixer82]

Yep. Well done Andrews.

[yapster]

Well said Keith Andrews.


Ireland had numerous chances to kill the game and didn't take them and after Keanes appalling miss the game was up for Ireland and we never looked like scoring after that in fact the French were getting closer and closer to scoring in the end. If it went to peno's I honestly couldn't see Ireland winning it. FACT is we didn't take our chances to win the game. The 'handball' was heartbreaking but in all honesty if it were the other way around would we be as sel-rightous and outraged at cheating in the game?

[carloz]

he has a good point Andrews. He was probably the player who came out the Paris game with the most credit and my heart broke to see him crying at the end. But there is no point in sugar coating it, we lost a lot of credit worldwide for that silly 33rd team request. From having the support of the world, we quickly became a laughing stock with many. The only saving grace was the manner inwhich Blatter said it to the world. The worlds attention was completly against the French and we ****ed it up

[endabob1]

he has a good point Andrews. He was probably the player who came out the Paris game with the most credit and my heart broke to see him crying at the end. But there is no point in sugar coating it, we lost a lot of credit worldwide for that silly 33rd team request. From having the support of the world, we quickly became a laughing stock with many. The only saving grace was the manner inwhich Blatter said it to the world. The worlds attention was completly against the French and we ****ed it up

But the "request" was only one of a number of topics discussed in a private behind closed doors meeting, it should never have been in the public domain.
The mistake was to trust Blatter who used it to make the FAI look like they were idiots and the subsequent appology from Blatter and the FAI's comments have been on deaf ears, Blatter got the reaction he wanted by making Ireland look pathetic to divert the attention from the real serious issues raised by the FAI with regard to refereeing appointments and the use of technology.

[OwlsFan]

Well said Keith Andrews.


Ireland had numerous chances to kill the game and didn't take them and after Keanes appalling miss the game was up for Ireland and we never looked like scoring after that in fact the French were getting closer and closer to scoring in the end. If it went to peno's I honestly couldn't see Ireland winning it. FACT is we didn't take our chances to win the game. The 'handball' was heartbreaking but in all honesty if it were the other way around would we be as sel-rightous and outraged at cheating in the game?

Yapster, bringing your anti-Keane bias over from footymad I see.

[newrynyuk]

But the "request" was only one of a number of topics discussed in a private behind closed doors meeting, it should never have been in the public domain.
The mistake was to trust Blatter who used it to make the FAI look like they were idiots and the subsequent appology from Blatter and the FAI's comments have been on deaf ears, Blatter got the reaction he wanted by making Ireland look pathetic to divert the attention from the real serious issues raised by the FAI with regard to refereeing appointments and the use of technology.

Doesn't matter that the "request" was made privately in a closed doors meeting. It shouldn't ever have been made at all when the FAI knew full well it was a ridiculous proposal which would never be accepted. Yes Blatter was a knob for ridiculing Ireland with it, but the FAI are bigger fools for giving him the chance to do it.

It's time we simply faced up to the fact that Ireland are out of the World Cup due to our failure to get a second goal in Paris. Even with that Henry handball goal, we would still have won the tie on away goals had Keane or Duff put away those chances.

[endabob1]

Doesn't matter that the "request" was made privately in a closed doors meeting. It shouldn't ever have been made at all when the FAI knew full well it was a ridiculous proposal which would never be accepted. Yes Blatter was a knob for ridiculing Ireland with it, but the FAI are bigger fools for giving him the chance to do it.

It's time we simply faced up to the fact that Ireland are out of the World Cup due to our failure to get a second goal in Paris. Even with that Henry handball goal, we would still have won the tie on away goals had Keane or Duff put away those chances.

How do you know the context in which it was raised or discussed? Blatter made a sly off the cuff remark knowing full well the press would lap it up.
But think of UEFA allowing England 5 teams in the CL when Liverpool won it and finished 5th in the EPL, they had to change their rules to allow them to defend their trophy and made changes to the rules for future instances.
It may well have been that it was part of an opening gambit which would clearly fail but by raising the bar the FAI might have felt they would get something more substanbtial from the meeting.
I don't blame them for the behind door discussions, I do blame them for being trusting of Blatter and not having the discussions iron clad in secrecy.

And I agree if Duff or Doyle or Keane had taken their chances we wouldn't have had to worry.

[yapster]

Yapster, bringing your anti-Keane bias over from footymad I see.


No son, just stating a fact. Doyle and Duff are guilty as well. O'Shea had a chance as well but O'shea being O'Shea you wouldn't really expect him to score anyway.Keane hesitated and fluffed the easiest chance of all at the most crucial stage of the game and as being the captain and the most experienced striker and player in the side he should have scored .

[Stuttgart88]

Ireland had numerous chances to kill the game and didn't take them and after Keanes appalling miss the game was up for Ireland and we never looked like scoring after that in fact the French were getting closer and closer to scoring in the end. If it went to peno's I honestly couldn't see Ireland winning it. Before the Gallas goal France had started to get some territory for the first time in the match and had a good shout for a penalty denied (correctly I'm told), but I don't think "closer and closer to scoring" is correct at all.

There's no correlation whatsoever between the outcome of a shoot-out and performance in ET.

I don't think anyone denies the fact that we missed too many chances. With regard to Keane's "appalling" miss, I haven't seen a replay yet but my instinct was that Lloris had been so good in the previous 1-on-1s he had faced (Keane & Whelan in Dublin, Duff in Paris) that Keane felt he had to take it around him. Credit to the keeper - he was the most influential player over the 2 games in my opinion.

I think it has to be pointed out that the world media picked up on the "cheating" aspect before the FAI started making its complaints. It was front & back page news globally. The FAI don't have that sort of clout.

endabob1 is spot on in his assessment of the "33rd team" request in my opinion.

[elroy]

Before the Gallas goal France had started to get some territory for the first time in the match and had a good shout for a penalty denied (correctly I'm told), but I don't think "closer and closer to scoring" is correct at all.

There's no correlation whatsoever between the outcome of a shoot-out and performance in ET.

I don't think anyone denies the fact that we missed too many chances. With regard to Keane's "appalling" miss, I haven't seen a replay yet but my instinct was that Lloris had been so good in the previous 1-on-1s he had faced (Keane & Whelan in Dublin, Duff in Paris) that Keane felt he had to take it around him. Credit to the keeper - he was the most influential player over the 2 games in my opinion.

I think it has to be pointed out that the world media picked up on the "cheating" aspect before the FAI started making its complaints. It was front & back page news globally. The FAI don't have that sort of clout.

endabob1 is spot on in his assessment of the "33rd team" request in my opinion.

To the detriment of my health I have watched the game back a few times now and imo:

The challenge on Anelka by Given was def a peno in my book, in the reverse angle you can see clear genuine contact, as opposed to say Anelka leaning into Shay.

Agree with you re Lloris, in particular he made excellent saves from Whelan (in first leg), Duff and Keane. In contrast Shay had relatively little to deal with. In relation to Keanes miss, he had time to take it first time and shoot to the keepers left, it wouldve been a tight angle and who knows. Im not sure if a greater case can be put forward for one option over the other.

I felt that night in Paris and still now having watched it back that our chance was gone after normal time, well at least our chance to win it other than pens. The French were on top in the last few mins of normal time and this continued in the second half. They had vastly more possession and territory. Perhaps the Irish lads were simply wrecked after the performance they had put in, but imo pens was our only hope at that stage.

[SkStu]

good article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8418549.stm

[yapster]

keanes chance was very difficult given the tight angles involved. he has never been good at one on ones. the defender did very well to get back at duff to deflect his chance and doyles header chance was nothing more than a half chance at best.

we created lots of chances over the campaign and scored 4 goals against the two finalists in the last wc final


It all means nothing if you get nothing son.... It all came down to one game at the end and Ireland had probably the most clearcut chances in most of all the games they had but failed to take them and that is why Ireland are not going to SA. Keane & Duff are the so called experienced and technically gifted players in the team but when Ireland needed their guile & experience the most they hesitated & fluffed their chances.They both lack the mental toughness & disicline needed in top footballers and thats why Liverpool got shut of Keane and Duff is playing for Fulham.

[Stuttgart88]

They both lack the mental toughness & disicline needed in top footballers and thats why Liverpool got shut of Keane and Duff is playing for Fulham.Duff's finishing has always been a weakness. Go to the Robbie Keane thread - you'll see a frequent ctiticism over the years is his execution rate in 1-on-1 situations. I wouldn't say that's mental toughness, I'd say it's lack of clinical ability in front of goal. Their all round play was superb in that game and you've got to give credit to the French keeper who played out of his skin.

[elroy]

thats why Liverpool got shut of Keane

i think many pool fans would've loved to have Keane around this season! Keane was shafted there, look at the number of chances Ngog has been given compared to how long Keane was given. Keane a far superior player. Given time Keane wouldve been a very useful player for the pool, particularly with Torres injury record.

[superfrank]

Keane was shafted there, look at the number of chances Ngog has been given compared to how long Keane was given.
N'gog is only 20, iirc. He's still learning and he does chip in with a few goals. There's plenty of reason for him to be used.

[yapster]

i think many pool fans would've loved to have Keane around this season! Keane was shafted there, look at the number of chances Ngog has been given compared to how long Keane was given. Keane a far superior player. Given time Keane wouldve been a very useful player for the pool, particularly with Torres injury record.



Keane isn't exactly doing it for Spurs this year is he? Keane never devoloped as a player sadly. He failed at Inter,Leeds & Liverpool and now it seems he will be sold by Spurs before the season is out. The man had so much potential at 17 but sadly he never improved on his game cos if he had we would be in SA. Duff had a clearcut chance as did Keane and as I said they should have put those easy chances away but sadly as that clown Roy Keane said they failed to take the next step mentally!!

[SkStu]

Wolves - 29 goals in 87 appearances
Coventry - 12 goals in 34 appearances
Inter Milan - 3 goals in 14 appearances
Leeds - 19 goals in 56 appearances
Spurs (I) - 107 goals in 254 appearances
Liverpool - 7 goals in 28 appearances
Spurs - 14 goals in 33 appearances
Ireland - 41 goals in 96 appearances

a goal every 3 games and all time 10th top goalscorer in the premiership. yeah its a crying shame that Robbie never fulfilled his potential. :rolleyes:

what more do people want from an Irish player?! :o