Robbie Keane [Archive] - Page 119

Bungle

15/03/2013, 10:57 AM

If we judge it on the 10/15 greatest players to come out of Ireland, then I would feel that Robbie is not in that list - some seriously great players we have produced. Each and every one of them really great players that should include the likes of Carey, Hurley and Cantwell as well as modern players from the past 30-40 years.

However, if we judge it on a player's contribution to the green shirt, Robbie easily walks into the top 5 in my opinion. He has scored 54 goals for a middle tier country. Yes some of them were against minnows and many were in friendlies, but he has been an ever present in our team for 15 years and a great example to young players in this country on how to conduct themselves. The likes of Gibson could take a leaf out of Robbie's book. You could compare Ronnie Whelan to Robbie for the purpose of this argument. Ronnie was arguably the best midfielder in Britain for a period of a few years and easily world class. On paper, he is one of our greats for what he achieved at Liverpool. However, in a green shirt, I seem to recall him often being poor or ineffective - in the same way Hoddle was wasted with England, Ronnie was probably wasted by us.

I'm not sure if some people are biased against Robbie because he is from Dublin - there is the Dub/country thing that goes on from a small element of our support, or others begrudge him being recognised as one of our greats because aside from fleeting moments and periods in his career, he never became the consistently world class player that he threatened to be when he was 18/19. Some maybe feel that he has made the easy decisions in his club career too often, like going to LA Galaxy.

However, regardless of what you think of Robbie as a man or as a player, he deserves to be recognised as a true Irish great.

brine3

15/03/2013, 11:46 AM

I agree, it's difficult to compare eras, so that's why people shouldn't go around claiming that so and so is in the "Top 5 Irish players of all time", no matter who it is.

Robbie Keane Top 5 in the last 20 years? Most probably.

DannyInvincible

15/03/2013, 1:21 PM

"He won the Champions' League" as a token of praise died when Djimi Traore won it.

http://wherearetheynow1.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/david-may.jpg

DannyInvincible

15/03/2013, 1:27 PM

I'm not sure if some people are biased against Robbie because he is from Dublin - there is the Dub/country thing that goes on from a small element of our support, or others begrudge him being recognised as one of our greats because aside from fleeting moments and periods in his career, he never became the consistently world class player that he threatened to be when he was 18/19. Some maybe feel that he has made the easy decisions in his club career too often, like going to LA Galaxy.

However, regardless of what you think of Robbie as a man or as a player, he deserves to be recognised as a true Irish great.

I usedn't have a great deal of time for him due to his tremendous arm-waving abilities and propensity to get caught offside - just found it very frustrating to see and was maybe a sign of immaturity in spite of his obvious ability - but his record and contribution to our cause has most certainly won over my wholehearted respect since. Why would people from outside of Dublin dislike him? Most of our Ireland-born players are from Dublin. That's always been the case, and it makes sense in terms of the Irish population balance, but it's not as if the rest of the country shuns the team as a result.

geysir

15/03/2013, 1:56 PM

Of course there's also a FAI Dublin conspiracy to ensure that most of our players are Dublin born, even today they are still jumping the queue, Hendrick over Meyler .... need I go on?

Bungle

15/03/2013, 2:00 PM

I usedn't have a great deal of time for him due to his tremendous arm-waving abilities and propensity to get caught offside - just found it very frustrating to see and was maybe a sign of immaturity in spite of his obvious ability - but his record and contribution to our cause has most certainly won over my wholehearted respect since. Why would people from outside of Dublin dislike him? Most of our Ireland-born players are from Dublin. That's always been the case, and it makes sense in terms of the Irish population balance, but it's not as if the rest of the country shuns the team as a result.

Alot of valid points there. In response to the Dublin thing, I do think that there is an anti-Dublin bias among a small section of our support. It is probably historical and a reaction to the fact that in the past alot of very good players from the country never got the same chances that lads in Dublin got. That kind of feeling shines through in Roy Keane's book.

brine3

15/03/2013, 2:03 PM

David May

Steve Finnan made over 50 European appearances for Liverpool.

ArdeeBhoy

15/03/2013, 2:10 PM

Robbie stuck around longer than a certain distant namesake. That's all we need to know.

DannyInvincible

15/03/2013, 2:12 PM

Alot of valid points there. In response to the Dublin thing, I do think that there is an anti-Dublin bias among a small section of our support. It is probably historical and a reaction to the fact that in the past alot of very good players from the country never got the same chances that lads in Dublin got. That kind of feeling shines through in Roy Keane's book.

Didn't Stephen Ireland mention perceived preferential treatment for Dublin lads too? Maybe just a Cork thing...

Steve Finnan made over 50 European appearances for Liverpool.

Tongue ever so slightly in cheek, there. :)

DannyInvincible

15/03/2013, 2:16 PM

Robbie stuck around longer than a certain distant namesake. That's all we need to know.

Roy's international career spanned 14 years. Robbie's has spanned 15, although Robbie's cap-count may give him a significant edge in the commitment department.

tetsujin1979

15/03/2013, 3:18 PM

Didn't Stephen Ireland mention perceived preferential treatment for Dublin lads too? Maybe just a Cork thing...Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you....

paul_oshea

15/03/2013, 3:32 PM

Alot of valid points there. In response to the Dublin thing, I do think that there is an anti-Dublin bias among a small section of our support. It is probably historical and a reaction to the fact that in the past alot of very good players from the country never got the same chances that lads in Dublin got. That kind of feeling shines through in Roy Keane's book.

I'm the first to jump on the Dubs and outside in terms of genuineness and honesty and stuff, and I do think there is a bias by some of those outside of Dublin towards Dublin players. I'm sure its more to do with robbie seen as a bit of a kncaker from tallaght, as opposed to Brian from nice clontarf.

Cork people are just a bit strange, tribal and clannish. Us against them siege mentality. Its a pseudo-superiority complex stemming from second city syndrome.

ArdeeBhoy

15/03/2013, 7:20 PM

Roy's international career spanned 14 years. Robbie's has spanned 15, although Robbie's cap-count may give him a significant edge in the commitment department.

I was being facetious.

Bungle

15/03/2013, 9:40 PM

I'm the first to jump on the Dubs and outside in terms of genuineness and honesty and stuff, and I do think there is a bias by some of those outside of Dublin towards Dublin players. I'm sure its more to do with robbie seen as a bit of a kncaker from tallaght, as opposed to Brian from nice clontarf.

Cork people are just a bit strange, tribal and clannish. Us against them siege mentality. Its a pseudo-superiority complex stemming from second city syndrome.

O'driscoll is a great rugby player and a great man, but i do think that you're right Paul, there is a bit of a class undercurrent with some people in how they perceive Robbie, though sometimes he doesn't help himself as a few posters noted with his theatrics.

Crosby87

15/03/2013, 10:24 PM

Was Robbie given a chance at Inter? I dont remember those days.

Charlie Darwin

15/03/2013, 10:47 PM

How many times would Brian O'Driscoll have to wave his arms to be removed from the list of great Irish rugby players?

gastric

15/03/2013, 11:46 PM

How many times would Brian O'Driscoll have to wave his arms to be removed from the list of great Irish rugby players?

A bit of an unfair comparison really, O'Driscoll is very articulate and embodies all of the attributes that people respect in a world class rugby player. Robbie on the other hand, while is our best striker ever, is not the most articulate, has a tendency to whinge when decisions go against him and could be deemed a journey man who chases money.

Charlie Darwin

15/03/2013, 11:55 PM

None of which holds any relevance to his ability or performance. Which is the point I was making.

SkStu

16/03/2013, 12:18 AM

It's not worth it anymore Charlie... if a bit of arm waving and old fashioned culchie begrudgery is what takes him from great to very good then let them have at it. Bizarre that this still being argued....

samhaydenjr

16/03/2013, 3:43 AM

Quick question for the Keano-skeptics: How many Irish players have scored in competition against Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Yugoslavia?

Charlie Darwin

16/03/2013, 3:52 AM

Quick question for the Keano-skeptics: How many Irish players have scored in competition against Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Yugoslavia?
Or you could be even more pithy and ask how many Irish players have scored - or really excelled - at a World Cup. I know many Irish players haven't had the fortune to play at the top level, but on the very, very highest stage, you're looking at Robbie doing the business, Paul McGrath doing the business, Niall Quinn doing the business but not many others. The best we have ever performed on the highest stage was WC2002, and who was there bailing us out at the last minute time and again?

DannyInvincible

16/03/2013, 5:07 AM

Quick question for the Keano-skeptics: How many Irish players have scored in competition against Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Yugoslavia?

Or even how many players of any nationality? I'd imagine it wouldn't be too many.

gastric

16/03/2013, 8:10 AM

None of which holds any relevance to his ability or performance. Which is the point I was making.

I agree completely with you, I was just acknowledging the questions that surround Robbie, but should not be used to judge his football ability. Will be interesting to see will his profile rise in the US with him leading Galaxy's media campaign.

brine3

16/03/2013, 9:17 AM

[QUOTE=samhaydenjr;1670289]Quick question for the Keano-skeptics: How many Irish players have scored in competition against Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Yugoslavia?

Not fair to judge all Irish players by goals scored, when not everyone is a forward.

Shay Given has made world class saves against all those opponents.

But I would say that Robbie Keane is the greatest goal-poacher striker we've ever had.

brine3

16/03/2013, 9:21 AM

Was Robbie given a chance at Inter? I dont remember those days.

He was signed by Marcello Lippi but Lippi was sacked soon after he arrived and replaced with... our very own Marco Tardelli, who immediately shipped him on to Leeds.

Robbie has a lot of natural ability but he is essentially the same player he was when he was 20 years old. He never really matured in the tactics department. Still a great player, but I will always wonder what he could have been if he had tried to stick it out at Inter or Liverpool and tried to develop his tactical game.

tetsujin1979

16/03/2013, 10:44 AM

He was signed by Marcello Lippi but Lippi was sacked soon after he arrived and replaced with... our very own Marco Tardelli, who immediately shipped him on to Leeds.

Robbie has a lot of natural ability but he is essentially the same player he was when he was 20 years old. He never really matured in the tactics department. Still a great player, but I will always wonder what he could have been if he had tried to stick it out at Inter or Liverpool and tried to develop his tactical game.
Tardelli didn't sell him, it was a decision by the director of football. This was mentioned in one of the early press conferences in Trapattoni's reign

EastTerracer

17/03/2013, 10:02 PM

No goal for Keane today as LA Galaxy finished 1-1 against Chivas USA. He played the full match but did manage to get himself booked in injury time. Hopefully he will be safely on a plane tonight or tomorrow morning.

Murfinator

17/03/2013, 11:11 PM

Was Robbie given a chance at Inter? I dont remember those days.

Inter had Vieri, Hakan Sukur and Ronaldo back then, who were all among the best in the world at that time. He got a chance as a young player and 4th choice but it was a bit of a strange move that he left so soon, he surely couldn't have expected more gametime in that company but he seems to have. In retrospect we learned from Robbie's career that he's been intolerant towards sitting on the bench anywhere so that might be it.

geysir

18/03/2013, 9:47 AM

Inter had Vieri, Hakan Sukur and Ronaldo back then, who were all among the best in the world at that time. He got a chance as a young player and 4th choice but it was a bit of a strange move that he left so soon, he surely couldn't have expected more gametime in that company but he seems to have. In retrospect we learned from Robbie's career that he's been intolerant towards sitting on the bench anywhere so that might be it.
The decision was made to send him to Leeds on loan, in the season that Leeds were flying high. Robbie got a place in that team.
Where do you get the idea from that Robbie expected more game time at Inter ahead of Sukur, Vieri and Ronaldo, apart from normal desire/ambition to play?

Stuttgart88

18/03/2013, 10:27 AM

I didn't realise that being articulate was an essential criterion for being considered world class.

SkStu

18/03/2013, 2:14 PM

Clearly not Stutts. We have Paul O'Shea who, despite being more articulate when drunk, is in my opinion a world class poster. Controversial to some, maybe. But easily top 5 foot.ie poster from what ive seen. And im just going on his performances on foot.ie as that is all that is relevant to the discussion.

DaHamsta OUT!

osarusan

18/03/2013, 2:18 PM

The best we have ever performed on the highest stage was WC2002, and who was there bailing us out at the last minute time and again?What criteria are you using? We went further in the tournament in Italia 90.

Stuttgart88

18/03/2013, 2:28 PM

Maybe goals scored?

I think we got 2 in Italia 90. Robbie got 3, all crucial, in Japan / Korea.

geysir

18/03/2013, 2:34 PM

Performance wise? we played better football at WC2002, apart from penalty shoot out drama of course.

paul_oshea

18/03/2013, 2:35 PM

Ya and he scored in the penalty shoot out too stutts.

paul_oshea

18/03/2013, 2:35 PM

Charlie Darwin

18/03/2013, 9:02 PM

What criteria are you using? We went further in the tournament in Italia 90.
Quality of football and opposition faced. You could argue beating Italy in '94 was our best single result, but in terms of facing top-quality teams and actually matching them, it's the best we've ever done.

PatJR

19/03/2013, 3:26 PM

An startling piece of audio on RTE with Dunphy commenting on Doyle being left out. he has a go at including Sammon which is obvious enough but he moved on Keane then saying how can we play Robbie Keane who, according to Dunphy, has not played a match in two months!! The moron presenting didn't have a clue either, not able to point out that he play two games in last two weeks. Of course it's only Dunphy but the dumb dumbs and barstool experts will pick up on it and cite it as valid reason to drop Keane and revoke his passport.

Fixer82

19/03/2013, 10:01 PM

I heard that too and was thinking....he surely has been playing again recently for LA Galaxy...I read it on Foot.ie

tetsujin1979

19/03/2013, 10:21 PM

Dunphy's interview is on the podcast here: http://podcast.rasset.ie/podcasts/audio/2013/0318/20130318_rte2fm-gameon-gameonoot_c20172734_20172737_232_.mp3

DannyInvincible

19/03/2013, 10:36 PM

I heard that too and was thinking....he surely has been playing again recently for LA Galaxy...I read it on Foot.ie

Well, if anything, at least we can be safe in the knowledge that Dunphy's not a lurker.

gustavo

21/03/2013, 11:39 AM

Dunphy in not having a clue shocker.

Crosby87

03/04/2013, 11:31 AM

Keane supporting grassroots development in Westmeath:
http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/sport/soccer/articles/2013/04/02/4015188-robbie-keane-launches-initiative-supporting-grassroots-football-in-westmeath/

Also playing tongiht in Mexico.

Grafter

03/04/2013, 12:04 PM

Eminence Grise

03/04/2013, 1:13 PM

Better than! Our goalscoring saviour has gotten to more crosses...

Fixer82

03/04/2013, 3:13 PM

Colbert Report

21/04/2013, 4:27 AM

Robbie sets up Donovan for a tap-in to put LA Galaxy up 2-0 on Sporting KC. The defender rushed into a tackle, missed the ball, and set Robbie up in five yards of space in his own half. He ran down the pitch and passed off to Donovan at the last possible moment, could have easily scored himself.

Colbert Report

21/04/2013, 4:41 AM

88th minute - after scoffing a great chance only five minutes earlier, our Robbie collects the ball inside his own half in about twenty yards of space, then proceeds to dribble the ball directly into the opposing goalkeeper's arms.

Crosby87

02/05/2013, 11:24 AM

Grafter

02/05/2013, 1:20 PM

Look at some of the comments under this article about Rob being out on the town with Rob Jr and Claudine. You have to laugh.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2314606/Robbie-Keane-family-theyve-settled-LA-life-cut-cool-clan-leisurely-lunch.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

It's true what they say though, Claudine does look better sans makeup - less is more yet so few chicks realise it:confused: