Robbie Keane

[Charlie Darwin]

Anybody who thinks Keane has a brutal touch has a brutal appreciation of football. It's frightening the level of idiot that Keane seems to lure from the undergrowth.

[French Toasht]

1 of the comments from that blog.....

I'm Irish. We DON'T all love him.
He has a brutal touch, an annoying visage, an inability to speak, and an inability to finish.

He's the Irishman's Franny Jeffers.

Tad harsh?!

That barstooler must have mistakenly typed "The Guardian" into google instead of "The Daily Mail".

[DannyInvincible]

...and an inability to finish.

Except for those 53 occasions there.

[jbyrne]

Anybody who thinks Keane has a brutal touch has a brutal appreciation of football. It's frightening the level of idiot that Keane seems to lure from the undergrowth.

sums up the averge football "fans" attidude to our national team and captain really.

saw a post on another forum back just before the draw in december saying we would be hammered in each of our 3 group matches (remains to be seen) and that we had only qualified by the "skin of our teeth"..... a 5-1 aggregate win in the play off after a group where we finished 4 pts ahead of 3rd would say otherwise.

[French Toasht]

Also on a side note, I absolutely can't stand when Irish people begin their sentence with "I'm Irish" and then proceed to claim to be devine authority on whatever the topic of conversation is in relation to Ireland. I've seen it happen quite a bit here in Sweden. Your average Scandanavian knows far more about Irish trad music than your average Irish man as the trad music scene here tends to be much bigger here than it is on the East coast of Ireland. Yet about a week ago I heard an Irish man from Dublin who would cite his musical influences as U2 and The Cranberries, proceed to "inform" a Swede (who visits Connemara regularly and plays fiddle in a trad band) about the Irish trad music scene, despite the fact he had never darkened the door of a trad session before. The locals here would be too diplomatic to point out the fact he was talking utter rubbish.

Generally people who preface any remarks with "I'm Irish so ..." tend to proceed with a gross misrepresentation of the overwhelming view of the Irish people, like the idiot discussing Robbie Keane above.

Sorry, tangent over.

[Closed Account]

Also on a side note, I absolutely can't stand when Irish people begin their sentence with "I'm Irish" and then proceed to claim to be devine authority on whatever the topic of conversation is in relation to Ireland.
I'm Irish, and that makes a lot of sense.

[Sullivinho]

I'm Irish. We DON'T all love him.

He has a brutal touch, an annoying visage, an inability to speak, and an inability to finish.

He's the Irishman's Franny Jeffers.He has a fine touch, is the picture of innocuous, has been known to speak and has finished to record-breaking proportions. What's more, Franny Jeffers is surely the most authentic occurrence of Franny Jeffers known to man, Irish or otherwise.

I feel like striking through the word 'Irish' and replacing it with 'mistaken' so as to pull one of those riotous 'fixed that for you' capers on that silly billy!

[bennocelt]

I'm Irish and I think Keane is a knob:)

[christo]

ugh, I still don't get why the best goalscorer we ever had is so berated, especially since the other goalscorers had for the most part a much better squad behind them...

[jbyrne]

I'm Irish and I think Keane is a knob:)

worth posting on a football forum alright

[an_ceannaire]

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=71492&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Villa fans disgusted at this signing
They Dont want him near the place

[Charlie Darwin]

That's from a couple of weeks ago. The more recent posts are a little more realistic.

[Murfinator]

The fans disgust isn't primarily because of keane, its confusion at the signing of a striker for 6 weeks and the reasoning behind it.

There's no short term cover problem with injuries or African Nations so what exactly do Villa stand to gain from this? Dropping Bent or Agbonlahor for him won't exactly play them into form, changing the formation to accommodate all 3 will be unsustainable when Keane leaves and using him purely as an impact sub seems a poor way to spend half a million and damaging to their young talent Delfouneso and Weimann.
They're also concerned that chance creation is their problem so signing a finisher won't help with that and their main solution to that creation problem in recent weeks has been Ireland and they're also worried Keane could shunt him out of the team or onto the wing and damage the progress he had been making.

Its a strange one from McLeish, hope he knows what hes doing here. A lot of Irish interest at Villa these days.

[theworm2345]

Goal Robbie! Wolves attempt to clear it, ball comes to Clark about 40 yards out, heads it down towards Robbie who is about 25 yards out. Lets it run across his body, turns and fires a low right footed drive past Hennessey who might've done better. Don't think he'd done a think up until that point to be honest but won't matter.

[EastTerracer]

Goal Robbie!

A really good first time finish from Keano.

[theworm2345]

Another! Absolute cracker. Ball comes in from the right, headed out. Finds Robbie maybe 25-30 yards out, takes a touch to control it before letting fly a rocket that hits the underside of the bar and goes in.

[zero]

still got it!

[EastTerracer]

And he shows his class by not celebrating against his old club.

[the bear]

only saw a small bit of the gane. was he playing centre mid?

[paul_oshea]

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=71492&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Villa fans disgusted at this signing
They Dont want him near the place

what do they say now?

[paul_oshea]

very annoynmous but good finishes, however we all know how woeful the wolves defence is so these opportunities wont come as easy again.

[Predator]

Didn't see the game, but I don't get how 2 goals and anonymous go together. A striker's job is mainly to score goals.

[richieos]

very annoynmous but good finishes, however we all know how woeful the wolves defence is so these opportunities wont come as easy again.

You'd swear he had scored 2 tap-ins from the 6 yard box

[DannyInvincible]

Here's the first anyway: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/robbie-keane-v-wolves/

Can't find the second yet.

[AlaskaFox]

Here's the first anyway: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/robbie-keane-v-wolves/

Can't find the second yet.

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2012-01-21-video-robbie-keanes-second-goal-game-winner-vs-wolves

[BonnieShels]

And he shows his class by not celebrating against his old club.

If it was Liverpool I bet he would celebrate.

:-)

[SkStu]

if he keeps going like he is there wont be many clubs left that he'll be able to celebrate against!! :D :D j/k

[Jinxy]

Fair play Robbie.
To score twice on your debut for the club you dreamed about playing for as a boy!
It doesn't get any better than that.

[tricky_colour]

Just the goals but I see they have already been posted and in better quality.

http://footyarena.com/Wolves-2-3-Aston-Villa_v1934

[tricky_colour]

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=71492&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Villa fans disgusted at this signing
They Dont want him near the place

I wonder what they are saying at the moment?

[rebelmusic]

Was an odd game for him. I've never seen him make so many mistakes but his 2 goals were sublime. The second will go down as one of the best of his career. His passing was horrendous throughout.

Foley and Ward were solid enough without being spectacular. Clarke was much better than last week. Dunne and Given were their usual brilliance. Doyle gone further down the pecking order it looks like. Might be a good idea for him to get a move to the likes of Everton.

[pineapple stu]

I wonder what they are saying at the moment?
It's on the same thread. In fairness, many are putting their hands up, and there's plenty of talk of humble pie.

[tricky_colour]

It's on the same thread. In fairness, many are putting their hands up, and there's plenty of talk of humble pie.

Yea just been wading through the 50+ page thread, I think this comment, one of the first after the result sums it up.

"Egg all over my face, and every one else's." :rofl:

dunno if he will be getting a Christmas card from Mick McCarthy though, that was a game they would have otherwise probably won.

[tetsujin1979]

Robbie now clear of Anelka and Yorke in all time top Premier League scorers on 125 goals in eleventh, three behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on 128, in tenth spot

[Carrigaline]

I am delighted for Robbie. He really is one of the most under-rated strikers that Ireland has ever produced. Sure, he does miss a couple of sitters, but what people ignore is his build up play and ability to get himself into scoring chances. Don't get me wrong. I love Kevin Doyle, and I love his commitment and workrate for the Irish team; but how often do you see him score, or miss great chances? He is a workhorse, and I recognise his contribution, but we have several players in his mould (Walters, Cox, etc.). How many Robbie Keane's do we have? How many players in our international setup do you think can score 53 international goals?

I can actually see us in the Euros playing Spain, Robbie missing a complete sitter and playing muck for 89 minutes of the game, but still popping up to grab an equalizer and gain us a point. Despite getting one of the most incredible results in our international history, people will still complain. "we should have played Clinton Morrison, or Frank Stapleton and we would have won the match" is what they will say. "Pooh to you, with knobs on" is what I say.

[pineapple stu]

"Pooh to you, with knobs on" is what I say.
:D

Nothing like a bit of Blackadder to ram home a point!

[Charlie Darwin]

I am delighted for Robbie. He really is one of the most under-rated strikers that Ireland has ever produced.
I think this is a massive understatement. He's the best striker we've ever produced by far and still he can't do anything right in some fans' eyes.

Something I noticed in the few minutes he played against Everton and was highlighted by Kenny Cunningham today was how deep he's playing for Villa, almost in the quarterback role. It's where he played for us in Bari after Italy went down to 10 men, but otherwise he's always played further forward for us. Given the Irish team's general inability to hang onto the ball in midfield, I'd have thought it'd be the perfect place for him to play. Might be more suited to Long's game than Doyle though.

[theworm2345]

I am delighted for Robbie. He really is one of the most under-rated strikers that Ireland has ever produced.
I don't know about under-rated, as I think many people do recognize his ability, but certainly under appreciated. He really wasn't great today and I wouldn't have known he was on had I not checked but that will all be forgotten. Was the same against Estonia as well but again got two goals. Even if he contributes nothing besides two goals a game for a striker that's still an excellent match.

[BonnieShels]

Good first goal.

But that second is something else. The first touch was sublime and the flight of the ball thereafter was amazing.

Delighted for him.

[drummerboy]

Take a bow son!

[liamoo11]

Hopefully long can get fit again and rob plays deep with long up top to stretch teams with proper pace with gibson and mccarthy making us solid and decent on the ball in midfield

[Murfinator]

A Gibson and Mccarthy midfield is far too lightweight, jury is out if either of them can play in a 2. Both of them is surely suicide.

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't call them lightweight - they've both got a bit of pudge on. Gibson is very sound defensively but the pair of them might not satisfy Trap's lust for harrying.

[mark12345]

I think this is a massive understatement. He's the best striker we've ever produced by far and still he can't do anything right in some fans' eyes.

was highlighted by Kenny Cunningham today was how deep he's playing for Villa, almost in the quarterback role. It's where he played for us in Bari after Italy went down to 10 men, but otherwise he's always played further forward for us. Given the Irish team's general inability to hang onto the ball in midfield, I'd have thought it'd be the perfect place for him to play. .

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. We need more postst likes this. Robbie in midfield - somebody finally recognises the fact that we need him there to hold the ball and do something constructive with it. If Trap ever sees sense and puts Robbie in the middle of the park we would be twice the attacking force that we are.

[TrapAPony]

He's the best striker we've ever produced by far and still he can't do anything right in some fans' eyes.

Absolutely. Can never understand the stick he gets from some Irish fans. We will never produce another forward like him, that's for sure.

[Supreme feet]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. We need more postst likes this. Robbie in midfield - somebody finally recognises the fact that we need him there to hold the ball and do something constructive with it. If Trap ever sees sense and puts Robbie in the middle of the park we would be twice the attacking force that we are.

There have been games - even going back to Kerr's time - where the strikers have been isolated, and Keane could have dropped deeper, making it a 4-4-1-1, instead of having both front-men hanging on the last defender's shoulder. But then, he's scored 13 goals in the last two years (our next top scorers being on 3) so he's certainly providing enough value further up the pitch. Keane could work as the free man in a 4-3-1-2, like we played in Bari - but only against weaker (or weakened) sides.

The idea of Keane in CM in a 4-4-2 instead of Whelan/Andrews, as I suspect you're suggesting, is suicide. The roles Whelan and Andrews play might look easy or pointless to you, but they're getting in blocks and tackles, denying space to opposition playmakers, and making sure that the opposition are playing in front of us, rather than in behind. It's about protecting the back four when we don't have the ball, which is an essential job in midfield at this level. An ideal replacement for either GW or KA, one which would genuinely improve the team, should be able to do all the above when we don't have the ball, but with above-average passing, movement and vision when we are in possession. A 2008 Steven Reid is the most recent Irish example for this kind of midfielder, and the likes of McCarthy, Meyler, maybe even Gibson, could fit that bill in the near future, should they continue to develop. Keane has never been that kind of player, and putting him there would not enhance our attacking ability, given the goals we would lose from his absence up top. It would also weaken us defensively in a big way.

[third policeman]

A 2008 Steven Reid is the most recent Irish example for this kind of midfielder, and the likes of McCarthy, Meyler, maybe even Gibson, could fit that bill in the near future, should they continue to develop. Keane has never been that kind of player, and putting him there would not enhance our attacking ability, given the goals we would lose from his absence up top. It would also weaken us defensively in a big way.


Would add Clark to that list and suggest that even at this stage he is the best equiped to break into the reckoning for a CM slot. Playing really well for Villa and appears to be the complete player (mobile, technically adept, good defensive instincts), but Trapp reckons he's not a midfield player apparently....

[ifk101]

Clark plays a few games in CM for Villa and lo and behold already "appears to be the complete player". Despite breaking into the Villa team in mid-Dec and the last Irish game was in November, Trapattoni gets stick for not picking him. :)

[tricky_colour]

After watching the villa match the idea of Robbie in midfield does have his merits, I mean he had 3 shots from similar distance,
the sort of distance a midfielder gets to shoot from, and he put 2 in the back of the net!! In the words of the great USA midfielder
Meatloaf, two out of three ain't bad!
A bit like a Lampard or a Scholes perhaps?
Anyhow he does seem to be good at shooting from distance, sometimes that is easier than close up when the angles are narrow.
But obviously there is more to midfield than taking pot shots on goal so the defensive side would be a concern particularly to
the likes of Trap.

[Stuttgart88]

My God - I'm able to post again after a week's enforced absence. The relief!

By all accts Robbie was sloppy in possession on Saturday.

He drops very deep for Ireland anyway, but that's not to say he's a midfielder. The red card in Estonia came from Robbie starting a run just around the centre circle. His opener in Macedonia came from distance. That doesn't mean he should restrict himself to a withdrawn role. He more regularly scores for us by being cute in the box. That's where defenders all say he's at his most difficult. By all means let him drop deep to muck in when required - as he does - but he's not an orthodox midfielder and never will be.