Robbie Keane

[Paddy Garcia]

I'm not criticising O'Driscoll. He's a fabulous player, I was trying to point out that it's stupid of Kelly to downplay Keane's contribution to Irish sport.

Agree its stupid of Kelly to downplay Keane's contribution.

Its equally stupid of anyone to downplay O'Driscoll's role. For example by suggesting he has failed on the worlds biggest stage.

[CraftyToePoke]

Wouldnt surprise me in the slighest if he scores the winner on tuesday.

Me neither, he is well capable of it, however, had he put away his penalty V Slovakia away, and his header last night we wouldnt need a winner from him on Tuesday. The group would be ours, or as good as, already. I admire Keane, he has done well for Ireland, always turns up and you feel it means so much to him to be our record goalscorer. He has forged an admirable career from his undoubted talent, but those two misses could be about to cost us our place in the finals, and the record books dont show those, he will still be the be all and end all of Irish goalscorers after this campaign, but those misses, to me, demonstrate why so many still harbour doubts about him as a true world class player, and with some justification.

They are the margins, and for all his goals in this present campaign, its those two missed chances which could define it.

[mypost]

Which makes it more frustrating.

I'm not criticising his whole career. He's got plenty of credit in the goodwill bank. But it was a shocking miss, and more so because it was by a guy who specialises in composure in front of goal.

How bad was Dunne's miss? I haven't seen it again. It looked like Sledge might have put him off.

Keane's miss was a bad one, but it wasn't an easy chance, trying to head the ball down with the keeper near him putting him off. It looks easy, but it's technically a difficult chance. But every forward misses chances, he's still a world-class forward, and if he scores the winner on Tuesday, his critics will have egg on the face again.

Dunne's miss on the other hand is a shocker. It looked bad in the stadium, it looked worse on tv. Just knock it back where it came from and it's 3 points. But it's a long time since we won a qualifier in the last minute.

[OwlsFan]

I'm going to base my earlier opinion that he should retire on that miss. What he has done previously in his careeris irrelevant. He is not up to the job at this point in time, and his semi-retirement in LA is not going to help matters.

Remind who scored the winner in our last away game?

His movement to get in to the position shows he still has that gift. We have no one else of that quality. Strikers miss opportunities. If they had to retire every time they miss a chance, we'd have a forward line of defenders but hang on Dunne missed one as well.

Unbelievable criticism. The time for Robbie to go is when he isn't getting in to those positions. He'll miss some to be sure but like in France/Macedonia he'll also score some.

[old git]

Keane's miss was a bad one, but it wasn't an easy chance, trying to head the ball down with the keeper near him putting him off. It looks easy, but it's technically a difficult chance. But every forward misses chances, he's still a world-class forward, and if he scores the winner on Tuesday, his critics will have egg on the face again.

Dunne's miss on the other hand is a shocker. It looked bad in the stadium, it looked worse on tv. Just knock it back where it came from and it's 3 points. But it's a long time since we won a qualifier in the last minute.

are you for real not an easy chance if centre forward missed that chance at a juniour sunday afternoon game we would be shocked technically difficult !! you head the ball not shoulder it when you are unmarked in front of goal a world class forward would not miss it. once again keanes misses could cost us dearly.. and then you try to blame it all on richard dunne after his chance in last few mins way more difficult chance than Keanes but he still should have done better .

[Stuttgart88]

If he hit the keeper with his header, then fair enough. He missed it altogether though. Unlike Georgia at home, when he scored with his shoulder, he didn't get away with it. As Geysir & I have already pointed out, it was the same mistake as against the Czechs.

[DannyInvincible]

I think he had his eye on the approaching keeper and was reluctant to put his head fully into it for fear of injury. Whether cowardly or responsible is open to interpretation, I guess.

[kennedmc]

I think he had his eye on the approaching keeper and was reluctant to put his head fully into it for fear of injury. Whether cowardly or responsible is open to interpretation, I guess.

Explain to me how it could be construed as responsible?

[DannyInvincible]

Explain to me how it could be construed as responsible?

A nasty head injury might prevent him from doing his cartwheels with Galaxy.

[DannyInvincible]

In seriousness, I dunno. I'm not really defending his hesitation - it was a horrible miss, no doubt about it - but I'm trying to think of why he didn't put his head fully into it and the only thing I can think of is that he feared a heavy clash to the head from the oncoming keeper. A miscalculation on his part, sure, but I'm guessing that's how he perceived it.

[PatJR]

Ha ha ha ha. Best laugh in a while.

The extension of that logic is that we also ask Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Kevin Doyle, Aiden McGeady to retire after Friday night. And presummably you want Whelan and Andrews to hand over their passports along with their resignation letters.

[geysir]

I think he had his eye on the approaching keeper and was reluctant to put his head fully into it for fear of injury. Whether cowardly or responsible is open to interpretation, I guess.
Or quite simply, Robbie has a technical shortcoming which rears its ugly head now and again.

[weldoninhio]

In seriousness, I dunno. I'm not really defending his hesitation - it was a horrible miss, no doubt about it - but I'm trying to think of why he didn't put his head fully into it and the only thing I can think of is that he feared a heavy clash to the head from the oncoming keeper. A miscalculation on his part, sure, but I'm guessing that's how he perceived it.

So our captain decided that he didn't want to get a knock and wimped out, to go with his peno miss, and probably cost us a place in Polkraine. Well done Robbie, but don't worry, we've Andorra soon, you'll probably get a hat-trick there, for all the good it'll do us, and you can do your celebration!!

[Stuttgart88]

I actually watched the replay last night. There was plenty of daylight between the keepr and Robbie. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was an absolutely dreadful miss, but I don't think Robbie was wimping out. I think he may have - unforgiveably - taken his eye off the ball distracted by the keeper's proximity, but that's not the same as turning his back.

It's what we get with Keane. We know he leaves chances out there. He should have had two in Paris, not one. He had a 'mare in Armenia. He should have scored in Slovakia (although at no stage was the keeper ever on his line - even during Robbie's run up). He should have scored on Friday. 4 points against Slovakia and we'd be virtually guaranteed second.

Really frustrating.

The flipside is that it's his goals that secured 6 points against Macedonia. His goal got us the win in Cyprus. There'd be no play-offs without his goals.

We're better off for having him. We're better off for having Doyle too, but I don't think he's in any way clinical for Ireland either.

[Murfinator]

So our captain decided that he didn't want to get a knock and wimped out, to go with his peno miss, and probably cost us a place in Polkraine. Well done Robbie, but don't worry, we've Andorra soon, you'll probably get a hat-trick there, for all the good it'll do us, and you can do your celebration!!

BS. Strikers are entitled to not have a 100% strike rate, had he missed 3,4,5 of those kind of chances you'd raise your eyebrow. The fact that only one of those clearcut chances were created for him in the entire match therein lies the problem and that it was an aerial chance for a striker who likes it on the ground to boot doesn't help. The problem lies with our midfield and ball retention. Robbie could have bailed us out but make no mistake it would have been an undeserved victory if he did and papering over the cracks. I'd much rather look at the cracks in our performance than blame the paper for not sticking.

[osarusan]

I actually watched the replay last night. There was plenty of daylight between the keepr and Robbie. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was an absolutely dreadful miss, but I don't think Robbie was wimping out. I think he may have - unforgiveably - taken his eye off the ball distracted by the keeper's proximity, but that's not the same as turning his back.


I thought he was really swinging his head to get power into the header, when from that distance he probably just needed to find the target and avoid the keeper, who looked too close to get to anything that wasn't directed at him.

[Duggie]

it was one chance, strikers miss chances all the time. yes he prob should have scored it but robbie didnt make his name for scoring headers. id be more worried about our non existant midfield than robbie missing a chance. robbie has carried us for over 10 years, hes earned any miss he may have IMO.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought he was really swinging his head to get power into the header, when from that distance he probably just needed to find the target and avoid the keeper, who looked too close to get to anything that wasn't directed at him.Yep, only needed to let the ball bounce off his head.

[DannyInvincible]

It missed his head and hit his shoulder though, didn't it?

[Stuttgart88]

...because he swung his head at it instead of just letting his head get in the way. He mistimed his "swing" is what osarusan was saying.

[Docboy]

Done nothing tonight, he should have been taken off instead of Doyle. Hasn't put in any effort over the last two games but not sure whether the travel time has got to him or what.

[IsMiseSean]

Done nothing tonight, he should have been taken off instead of Doyle. Hasn't put in any effort over the last two games but not sure whether the travel time has got to him or what.

To say Keane put no effort in over the last two games has to be the most ridiculous comment I've ever read on this forum

[brine3]

Did a fair bit of tracking back, in fairness. But was clearly knackered out there and just as how it made sense to take Duff off for fresh legs, Keane should have come off too. We only made two subs, didn't we? Maybe Trap was holding one in reserve for injuries.

In any case, it's clear that the number 5 is this team's captain. No disrespect to Robbie meant with that at all.

[weldoninhio]

If he was any sort of man, he would take Trap aside and tell him that Dunne should be captain from now on. But his ego is never going to let that happen!!

[Fixer82]

Thought Keane did ok tonight. Tactics didn't suit a striker tonight as we were once again over-run in midfield and Trap wouldn't dream of changing his system

[OwlsFan]

Looks as if the whole of the Russian frontline, Rob Earnshaw, many of the Scottish forwards, a number Slovakians etc etc will have to retire after those misses.

[BonnieShels]

To say Keane put no effort in over the last two games has to be the most ridiculous comment I've ever read on this forum

You obviously haven't read the transport debates on here.

[EastTerracer]

After his long journey from Moscow back to LA Robbie played the last 30 minutes against the Colorado Rapids last night. A 1-0 win for the Galaxy means they have secured a place in the playoffs (Landon Donovan got the goal).

Caleb Folan and Danny Earls played the full 90 minutes for Colorado - probably the first time three Irish players have played in an MLS game (apologies to Steve Morrow, Colin Clarke et al if this is not true)

ESPN UK are showing the game in full at 3pm but you can see the edited highlights here
(http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-09-09-los-angeles-galaxy-vs-colorado-rapids/highlights?videoID=18863)

[Metrostars]

The MLS Players Union releases the salaries of all players every year. Just came out this week:

LA Keane Robbie F
2011 Base Salary: $2,917,241.40
2011 Guaranteed Compensation: $3,417,243.15

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/September%...20By%20Club.pdf

[EastTerracer]

Robbie just scored his second goal for the LA Galaxy to give them a 1-0 lead over Morelia in the CONCACAF Champions League - I'm guessing the first goal he's ever scored in Mexico?

[IsMiseSean]

Robbie just scored his second goal for the LA Galaxy to give them a 1-0 lead over Morelia in the CONCACAF Champions League - I'm guessing the first goal he's ever scored in Mexico?

Good goal too. Here's the link if anyone is still up
http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/6708/1/concacaf-champions-league-:-morelia-vs-los-angeles-galaxy.html

[EastTerracer]

He very nearly scored a second goal from inside his own half with about 17 minutes to go - the keeper had to push it over the bar to keep it out.

....and a goal incorrectly disallowed in injury time for offside. Morelia won the game 2-1 with a very late goal but a good performance (at altitude) for Robbie.

[osarusan]

http://www.footytube.com/video/ca-monarcas-morelia-los-angeles-galaxy-sep14-90421?ref=hp_lmrv

Game highlights.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Have any of the Robbie detractors even ever played ball, as there's some pure sh*te in this thread...

No-one's perfect, but even so.

[the bear]

good goal. looks like galaxy could do with given more than keane, that keepers brutal

[pineapple stu]

Great goal alright. Morelia were blessed to win that - dunno how the linesman called that second goal offside. The LA keeper pulled off some great saves in fairness, and the header at the death was tricky for him to get down to smartly. And even the first one - granted, he shouldn't have fumbled it, but did it go over the line before the Morelia lad barged in? Maybe a bit unlucky not to get a free out there?

[geysir]

In real time for Morelia's first goal, it looked like the ball had enough momentum to cross the line, after the goalie fumbled it. I'd be inclined to say it was a legit goal.
For Morelia's 2nd goal, I don't know why the goalie didn't just boot it first time, why waste time trying to get down to a ball that's directed at his foot.
Nice goal from Robbie and should/could been more.

[John83]

The MLS Players Union releases the salaries of all players every year. Just came out this week:

LA Keane Robbie F
2011 Base Salary: $2,917,241.40
2011 Guaranteed Compensation: $3,417,243.15

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/September%...20By%20Club.pdf
That's a little under STG£42,000 per week, for those of you attempting to compare that to previous wage figures. Of course, tax complicates things - if he's paying less tax in LA (as I seem to recall reading) then the equivalent UK figure would be higher.

[tricky_colour]

The MLS Players Union releases the salaries of all players every year. Just came out this week:

LA Keane Robbie F
2011 Base Salary: $2,917,241.40
2011 Guaranteed Compensation: $3,417,243.15

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/September%...20By%20Club.pdf


That link will not work for me.

How much was Beckham on?

[cclinton]

try:
http://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html

becks has a base of 5.5mil and 8 cents ;-). -- but what's not clear with Robbie is if this is just his time in the 2011mls season which probably for him ends in November -- which it seems to suggest. If it is, then with wages prior to joining the gals this is a good rtn for about four months of work.

wrt gals gk's... Saunders is not their #1 keeper. Donovan Ricketts is their usual first choice but has been injured for a couple of months.

[tricky_colour]

try:
http://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html

becks has a base of 5.5mil and 8 cents ;-). -- but what's not clear with Robbie is if this is just his time in the 2011mls season which probably for him ends in November -- which it seems to suggest. If it is, then with wages prior to joining the gals this is a good rtn for about four months of work.

wrt gals gk's... Saunders is not their #1 keeper. Donovan Ricketts is their usual first choice but has been injured for a couple of months.


Interesting stuff. especially the disparities in incomes.


COL Folan Caleb F $200,000.00 $203,375.0

A lot of the galaxy players are earning under $50,000 so David is worth 100 times as much as them!!

[paul_oshea]

Might be in la in a couple of weeks.the day after spurs v rovers.whereas the schedule for their home games

[EastTerracer]

Might be in la in a couple of weeks.the day after spurs v rovers.whereas the schedule for their home games

Schedule is here Paul http://www.lagalaxy.com/schedule

They are due to play at home on the Saturday night (1st Oct) vs Real Salt Lake and then they are in New York on Tuesday 4th. I had assumed Robbie would skip this one due to Andorra on Friday 7th but there was something in the papers at the weekend saying Trap might let Robbie play 3 days before the Andorra game - I'd be very surprised if that was the case.

[EastTerracer]

Interview with Robbie after last night's game is here http://youtu.be/zUg2--b4mYk?t=1m1s

Very short and he didn't have much to say. If you watch the video from the start you'll see he was clearly onside when he got a tap-in but it was disallowed.

[paul_oshea]

keano would never get the opportunity to do that against decent opposition, when has anyone seen keano beat a defender for pace? And the keeper looked like he was pleading for his life the way he attempted to save that.

[tetsujin1979]

So if he scores against crap opposition it's because they're terrible, if he doesn't score against crap opposition it's because he's terrible?
Keane has always scored goals, against all kinds of opposition, and I'm glad to see him continuing it against teams he hasn't played against before

[paul_oshea]

I'm not saying its not a good thing to score goals. Don't over react, i was just disagreeing with everyone saying it was a great goal....because really it wasn't. He took it well given what was put up against him.

[SwanVsDalton]

The opposition keeper's movements and hair make him seem the spit of Rene Higuita.

[geysir]

keano would never get the opportunity to do that against decent opposition,
True enough, Robbie would not score that type of goal against a quality defense, instead he scores different goals against quality defenses.

when has anyone seen keano beat a defender for pace?
He didn't beat the defender for pace, he beat him with skill. What goal were you watching?


And the keeper looked like he was pleading for his life the way he attempted to save that.
Well, with the legendary striker Robbie Keane bearing down on him one on one, no wonder he turned to higher powers for some assistance.

[EastTerracer]

LA Galaxy are at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps tomorrow night - its a 3.30am start Irish time (Sunday morning) but helpfully ESPN will be showing it at 9.45am on Sunday morning in Ireland.

Lots of Irish connections with Vancouver given that Giles managed them back in the NASL days and Pierce O'Leary spent a few years there (although all his seven caps were while he was playing for Shamrock Rovers).