There seems to be a trend on these boards of criticism of Robbie Keane

[NeilMcD]

This is mad, as the guy is a legend for ireland. He is 23 and yet he has 51 caps and 19 goals. He is due to hammer the goals record and probably break the caps record. He has scored in the biggest matches for us,

Iran at home
Germany at World Cup
Spain at World Cup


He is a flair player and sometimes he does things that can drive you round the bend but without these things he would not be the player he is.

[only1kilbane]

Yeah , good thread fair point. He is a frustrating player but also our best forward with an excellent scoring record for us.

At the end of the day he has had a couple of bad games in friendlies but im sure with duffer supplying the crosses he will be back to his best for the qualifiers in september.

Theres only one keano !

[lopez]

He just needs to pass the ball about a bit more. He did one selfless thing on Thursday - left the ball for Holland - which resulted in a goal. A little bit more of that please...while here's hoping he's got that record by thursday morning.

[tiktok]

sometimes he does things that can drive you round the bend

hence the criticism.

he's far and away the best we've got, in goalscoring terms soon to be the best we've ever had and he will be remembered as a hero.

but he's a striker who insists on dropping deep and then taking too much out of the ball. he was very poor last thursday, he was clear through on goals on four occasions but never got a shot off.

If we find the right partner for him, he won't need to drop deep (or else he won't have to be in the box carrying the burden of being our only goalscorer) and may not need to take so much out of the ball as he'll have more support.

But he played badly on thursday (and saturday, but we'll allow him that, everyone was tired and off form), and while he's allowed an off day, what's the point in pretending otherwise?

[Sheridan]

He is a flair player and sometimes he does things that can drive you round the bend but without these things he would not be the player he is.
That's simply not true. If he had a brain, he'd be a superb player. Yes, he'll probably break the Irish goalscoring record within twelve months, but then KLUIVERT is the Netherlands' leading goalscorer, and he hasn't had a good game since 1995.

Robbie's not quite in that category of uselessness, but those traits which could have been dismissed as youthful zest and inexperience six years ago are still blighting his game. If he was going to mature as a player, he would have done it by now. He'll never be a top player at a top club, or a prolific goalscorer in a top league, and blew his chance of playing a higher standard of football in Italy.

That said, he had a superb World Cup and is still your second-best player. He may well explode over a four-week period again at some point, and bring Ireland a long way in a major competition.

[colster]

That's simply not true. If he had a brain, he'd be a superb player. Yes, he'll probably break the Irish goalscoring record within twelve months, but then KLUIVERT is the Netherlands' leading goalscorer, and he hasn't had a good game since 1995.

Robbie's not quite in that category of uselessness, but those traits which could have been dismissed as youthful zest and inexperience six years ago are still blighting his game. If he was going to mature as a player, he would have done it by now. He'll never be a top player at a top club, or a prolific goalscorer in a top league, and blew his chance of playing a higher standard of football in Italy.

That said, he had a superb World Cup and is still your second-best player. He may well explode over a four-week period again at some point, and bring Ireland a long way in a major competition.


The problem with Robbie is that he hasn't been at a club long enough or played with the same partner long enough to develop a partnership or his decision making.
He needs to do this if he's to develop. I think he's young enough to do this.
I think the last couple of games he may have been over-eager to break the record.
He's fairly young. He's about the same age as Miller remember.

[NeilMcD]

what you mean still your second best player, are you not irish or something , are you referring to Ireland as someone elses team now, or is it to my lose support for spurs. If so i would never say they are my team and they he is our second best player. They are a foreign team that i like to see do well, no more or no less, Not sure what the your, was referring to so decided to clear both points up. Keane has scored 19 goals for ireland at the age of 23 as someone says that is the same age as miller younger than duff and carr . He has 51 caps which is amazing for someone of that age. Plus he has never really had a really good partner. As Quinn had a few injuries when Keane was starting off and then was on the way out when Keane got going. He basically has had that burden on his shoulders since he came in he is still only 23. Aldridge had never played international football at that age. It is hardly his fault that he wont be a top class striker. I think that Keane is best suited as a drop off player who gets his fair share of goals. But due to our lack of striking resources his is forced to be come our main striker. He is not a natural finisher but a very very clever player who also works his arse off to, both on and off the ball. IN addition his mentality and the amount of bottle he has to score two last minute goals and take first peno in shoot out and the age of 21.

[NeilMcD]

yeah and you have taken penos in a world cup before both in the last minute and in the shoot out so you would knwo what is easiest and what is not.

[1MickCollins]

He is simply the best goalscorer we have ever had.

As regards his performance in the Permiership, 9 players scored more goals than he did this season. But only Anelka played for a team as poor as Spurs, all the other strikers played for very solid teams.

He has some flaws in his game, don't criticise him - criticise the Spurs coaches, they are not doing their job!!

[Beavis]

Worst performance I've seen from him on Saturday but everyone has 'em.

I think if you take away his 'immaturity' as a player you effectively take away his flair.This is Robbie,he'll take on players,try tricks and will obviously quite often lose the ball.It's this that differs him from what else we have up front;when he is effective he has the abilty to open things up when there looks nothing on and create a chance.Everyone is due critisism now and then but Robbie Keane is and will be one of the greatest players we've ever had.

[fergalr]

This is mad, as the guy is a legend for ireland. He is 23 and yet he has 51 caps and 19 goals. He is due to hammer the goals record and probably break the caps record. He has scored in the biggest matches for us,

Yes, yes and yes, but ......

The problem with Robbie is that one gets the feeling that he is not fulfulling his potential. There is something wrong when a striker repeatedly fails to get a shot away when he has a clear sight of the goals. There is something wrong when he continually takes 12 touches when 2 would do. There is something wrong when he never stays at a club for more than two seasons (though maybe one more move - this time to a bigger club - might help). Hopefully Kerr will give him the kick up the arsenals that he needs - just haven't seen it yet. We desperately need Robbie to step up to the mark and become as important to the team as Duffer and RMK.

That said, hope he breaks the goals record ASAP!

[fergalr]

Mr. Cathal Dervan says please don't use his (one) joke without his permission...
I stopped taking instructions from Mr Dervan since a game against Iceland a few years back ....

[KCFC Bohs]

This is mad, as the guy is a legend for ireland. He is 23 and yet he has 51 caps and 19 goals. He is due to hammer the goals record and probably break the caps record. He has scored in the biggest matches for us,

Iran at home
Germany at World Cup
Spain at World Cup


He is a flair player and sometimes he does things that can drive you round the bend but without these things he would not be the player he is.
What about Holland away in the WC Qualifier, Yugoslavia at home in the EC Qualifier, and Turkey at home in the EC Qualifier Play-Off? The man is a legend - any critics (and admittedly he does seem to over-elaborate at times) should think of our alternatives to him: Doherty and Morrison partnership? :eek:

Plus, he was one of the few English-based players in the last few years to have the skill and courage to try his hand in a Seria A (and I still think he could have made it with Inter if they hadnt changed manager after 3/4 games).