Robbie Keane

[brine3]

There is no debating the currency of goals.

That's true for some people. Co Adriaanse would call them scoreboard journalists.

There's more to forward play than goal hanging. Strikers can cost their team goals at the other end if they don't play for the team.

[geysir]

That's true for some people. Co Adriaanse would call them scoreboard journalists.

There's more to forward play than goal hanging. Strikers can cost their team goals at the other end if they don't play for the team.
Some strikers can, but obviously Robbie doesn't. He's a consummate professional football athlete, one of the top athletes this country has produced and a fully deserving captain of the national team. His football skills, leadership etc are universally applauded (well, by those who matter in the universe).

[Charlie Darwin]

There's this bizarre opinion that seems to be prevalent that Robbie offers nothing to the team other than goalscoring. I don't know if brine3 is making that accusation but it's almost like a desperate last attempt by those who would seek to discredit him, to suggest that apart from breaking the Irish goalscoring record three times over, we'd still have been better off with a game lad like Kevin Doyle leading the line and scoring a goal every other year.

[tetsujin1979]

Busy week for Robbie, landed in LA at 2pm local time, came off the bench last night for the Galaxy against Montreal Impact, and hit the crossbar: http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2013/10/match-recap-kofi-opares-first-mls-goal-pushes-la-past-impact

[geysir]

Actually the story is on another page Tets.

Not bad for a goal hanger who's a liability for his team

Robbie Keane travels great lengths to help LA Galaxy earn important victory over Montreal (http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2013/10/robbie-keane-travels-great-lengths-help-la-galaxy-earn-important-victory-over-montreal)

“He told me he was playing, I have been in touch with him via text messages and he indicated to me from yesterday on that he was going to be ready and I said let’s wait and see,” said Arena, who described Keane’s play against Montreal as ‘spectacular.’ “He arrived...and walked in and said he was ready to go, to give us as many minutes as we need.”

“He’s a true captain and a true pro. It just shows how much this team means to him,” said Opare. “He came in here and wanted us to do well. He came in with jet leg after going 90 minutes [on Tuesday] and really led us to victory.”

[tricky_colour]

There's this bizarre opinion that seems to be prevalent that Robbie offers nothing to the team other than goalscoring. I don't know if brine3 is making that accusation but it's almost like a desperate last attempt by those who would seek to discredit him, to suggest that apart from breaking the Irish goalscoring record three times over, we'd still have been better off with a game lad like Kevin Doyle leading the line and scoring a goal every other year.


Doyle has score a goal every year other than this year, and most of that was due to not playing.

[DeLorean]

Failed to score in 83 of his 130 caps.



Jaysus, don't let the anti-Robbie brigade see that one. Kind of looks poor enough when worded that way.

[Crosby87]

That LA sun is making Ms Palmers tan look almost pants dropping worthy. Good thing there is a lock on my office door.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2471753/Robbie-Keane-enjoys-family-day-wife-son-West-Hollywood.html

[tricky_colour]

That LA sun is making Ms Palmers tan look almost pants dropping worthy. Good thing there is a lock on my office door.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2471753/Robbie-Keane-enjoys-family-day-wife-son-West-Hollywood.html

Typical third rate journalism from the Daily Mail, Robbie was never managed by Sir Alex and she was never Miss Ireland,
not that the DM is bother whether it's reporting is accurate or not, most of it is made up.

[shakermaker1982]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/05/robbie-keane-la-third-straight-mls-cup

Article on Robbie for all you Keano fans, sorry can't paste it all in because I'm on my phone.

Part 2 hopefully to follow soon.

[tetsujin1979]

Part two of the interview here: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/06/robbie-keane-interview-part-two-la-galaxy

[EastTerracer]

The LA Galaxy were beaten in the second leg of their playoff game last night so Robbie's club season is over.

I had feared he might get caught in a club versus country row next week if LA were preparing for a semi-final but he will now be able to join up with the rest of the squad on Monday (rather than his usual two days late). Who know's what his long-term future will be under Martin O'Neill but at least he will have the chance to make a first impression.

[tetsujin1979]

Three more years in LA for Robbie: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9025230/republic-of-ireland-striker-robbie-keane-agrees-new-la-galaxy-deal

[DeLorean]

O'Neill: play on as long as possible, RobbieRepublic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has urged skipper Robbie Keane to play on as long as he can before heading into coaching.

The 33-year-old has signalled his intention to stay in the game once his playing days are over, and hopes to gain the relevant qualifications over the next few years.

However, O’Neill, who will send Keane out at the head of his team for the first time when they face Latvia in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, is advising him to wring every last second out of his career.

He said: “If he wants to look like me, I would dissuade him from doing his coaching badges and getting into management.

“Play as long as you can, play until you’re 64 and then think about management.”

Keane has spoken on more than one occasion in recent months of his coaching ambitions, and that is something he will attempt to further in the near future.

He said: “Yes, of course, it’s certainly something that I’m looking to – but it’s first and foremost to play as long as I can, obviously.

“I wish I had have done the badges a few years ago, and that’s the reason I’m doing it, because it’s something that down the road I would like to get in to.

“But this January, I’m speaking to the FAI [Football Association of Ireland] about doing something and
if it worked out I’d like to do it.

“But that’s not just because in the next year or so, I feel I’ll become a coach, far from it.”

Keane is the Republic’s record caps winner and goalscorer having found the back of the net 61 times in 130 senior appearances for his country, a record O’Neill described as “remarkable”.

He said: “He’s a natural goalscorer. That international record is fantastic, really, really fantastic.

“I’d prefer him not to be sitting here while I’m telling you that, but it’s really brilliant.

“If you look at some of the other players who have played international football for reputedly better teams than the Republic of Ireland whose record is nowhere like that, his record is remarkable, really remarkable.

“Naturally I would have liked to have had in my time here a 23-year-old Robbie Keane instead of a 64-year-old Robbie Keane.

“That’s a problem, but outside that, yes, it’s a fantastic record.”

O’Neill has retained Keane as his captain for the time being and has no immediate plans for a rethink on that situation.

He said: “Robbie’s been the captain of the team and from the manner in which the players are enthused by it, I didn’t see any reason whatsoever to change it.

“If he’s playing brilliantly and scoring goals for us, I’ll be absolutely delighted. And if he says, listen I want to enjoy it – I want to relinquish the captaincy, but I want to enjoy playing, as some players have done, sometimes the captaincy overall can be a wee bit too much for them – I will listen to that.

“But that’s not anything that he’s said at this minute.”


IrishExaminer: O'Neill: play on as long as possible, Robbie (http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/oneill-play-on-as-long-as-possible-robbie-613322.html)


Some more suspect O'Neill humour but a real appreciation for Robbie's incredible goalscoring record.

[bennocelt]

As much as I like Robbie the player, cant see him doing to well as a coach tbh

[back of the net]

As much as I like Robbie the player, cant see him doing to well as a coach tbh

any particular reason for that?

[bennocelt]

any particular reason for that?

Not shrewd or clever enough:D

[Stuttgart88]

Keane is 15 months older than Zlatan. Are people talking about putting Zlatan out to grass?

[DannyInvincible]

Robbie now the equal of Ronaldo and Drogba:

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc12/poguemahone85/robbie_zps74a89dc9.png

Next up; Jassem Al-Houwaidi. :)

[Charlie Darwin]

I had no idea Jan Koller had so many goals.

[DannyInvincible]

Not that I want to completely dismiss what are, in their contexts, the impressive records of guys like Kiatisuk Senamuang or Stern John, who've racked up their goals in what might justifiably be perceived as lesser company, but Robbie's record is utterly phenomenal in a European context. No other contemporary UEFA-based player lies ahead of him, besides Miroslav Klose. He is UEFA's all-time fifth-highest goalscorer.

[bennocelt]

Should play a few friendlies V San Marino and the likes to get him up that table

[CraftyToePoke]

Overhauling Pele isn't completely out of the question.

[IsMiseSean]

Kiatisuk Senamuang was some player in his day.

[DeLorean]

If it was weighted in a European Golden Boot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Golden_Shoe) type of system I would place him joint 7th, alongside Ronaldo, behind:

1. Puskas (84 x 2) 168
2. Ali Daei (109 x 1.5) 163.5
3. Pelé (77 x 2) 154
4. Kocsis (75 x 2) 150
5. Muller (68 x 2) 136
6. Klose (68 x 2) 136
7. Keane/Ronaldo (62 x 2) 124

It's even debatable whether Ali Daei's goals should be multiplied by 1.5 or just count as 1.

[back of the net]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/1121/488126-keane-on-mls-player-of-year-shortlist/


Ireland captain Robbie Keane has been named on the three-man shortlist for the MLS player of the year.
Keane scored 16 goals in 23 games for LA Galaxy during the season and the Dubliner joins Montreal Impact's former Italy striker Marco Di Vaio and Chicago Fire’s Mike Magee as a finalist for the award.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Ireland manager Martin O' Neill is looking for Ireland to play two friendlies in the USA next summer, with games being lined up against countries that have qualified for the upcoming World Cup finals.

[geysir]

Robbie is being interviewed on Newstalk this evening, I've missed most of it. He did refer to the time he went to Wolves 'there were 5 Irish there and the rest were English but now there's more foreigners, harder for the Irish lads to get in there now into the English clubs'. :)

Strachan he reckons was the coach who helped him most.
Berbatov the best sidekick.
Well worth catching the interview on the podcast.

[Kingdom]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/1121/488126-keane-on-mls-player-of-year-shortlist/


Ireland captain Robbie Keane has been named on the three-man shortlist for the MLS player of the year.
Keane scored 16 goals in 23 games for LA Galaxy during the season and the Dubliner joins Montreal Impact's former Italy striker Marco Di Vaio

Marco di Vaio - what a striker, but one who made a series of terrible transfers. One of my favourite players who played for Parma, a true fox-in-the-box and very similar to Robbie, quicker, but not as naturally gifted.

[Crosby87]

Keane worried about the future of Irish football:
http://www.thescore.ie/robbie-keane-ireland-development-1186783-Nov2013/

[Crosby87]

Keane: Me know the end is near.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/robbie-keane-i-dread-the-day-that-i-finish-playing-it-feels-like-its-far-away-but-obviously-its-not-29774868.html

[DannyInvincible]

Robbie appeared on Sky Sports' 'Goals on Sunday' this morn:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YXp86pyycs

[DannyInvincible]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZRyHIRIXY

[SkStu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZRyHIRIXY

Is that a corset or a bullet-proof vest he's wearing over his plaid shirt?

[Crosby87]

Keane: Me left Liverpool too soon.
http://www.koptalk.co.uk/20131124735/robbie-keane-i-probably-left-liverpool-too-soon.html

[Fixer82]

First time i've heard Robbie really speak his mind. He usually says nothing of any interest or controversial but he had a bit of a go at Benitez there. Delighted to see. Not a Liverpool fan but reckon Robbie wasn't treated very well by Benitez. Don't think Benitez ever wanted him there

[DeLorean]

I wouldn't blame Benitez for being p!ssed of with the owners forcing Robbie on him. After that though, Rafa's ego got in the way of the possibility of Keane being a success there. After his amazing goal against Arsenal and brace at home to Bolton he was dropped to the bench. It was as if Rafa was afraid the owners were being proved right. Fair enough the preferred system that season was playing Gerrard off of Torres but it would still have been worth holding on to Keane as N'Gog was the only back up for Torres. I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that selling/refusing to play Keane quite possibly cost Liverpool the league.

[OwlsFan]

Is that a corset or a bullet-proof vest he's wearing over his plaid shirt?

Yes, probably for his trips to play Baltimore Ravens.

[Metrostars]

Robbie having surgery:

Robbie Keane's ailing Achilles' tendons will go under the knife Wednesday as the Irish striker looks to complete some needed maintenance in his first extended offseason in years.

The LA Galaxy captain, a finalist for MLS' Most Valuable Player award, is in London for the surgeries, he told local media during a conference call on Tuesday morning.

“I've got to get some procedures done tomorrow on the Achilles problem,” said Keane, who has dealt with the problem for several years and this year missed assorted games because of it. “I'll get that done, and then it's rest and a lot of rehab, so that's mainly what I'll be doing [during the offseason].”

Keane led the Galaxy with 16 goals and 11 assists in just 23 MLS regular-season games -- he scored 20 goals in all first-team action -- and LA were a far different team when he was on the field (12-4-7, with 44-19 goals for/against) than when he wasn't (3-7-1, 9-19).

“You get nothing for nothing in this life. You have to earn it,” Keane said. “To be honest with you, this year we didn't deserve it. We were too kind of inconsistent. We didn't deserve it this year, so sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and just accept it.”

The Galaxy's loss to Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Semifinals, a month before the Dec. 7 title game, provided a lengthy break that Keane acknowledged would be helpful.

“[The tendons have] been bothering me for a long time, and this is an opportunity to get it done,” he said following the decisive second-leg loss in Utah. “It will be nice to have an extended break, but not too long.”

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/26/la-galaxy-captain-robbie-keane-have-surgery-achilles-tendons-plans-take-exte

[NeverFeltBetter]

I can only imagine the talk of him returning to the EPL will take a hit over this.

[Kingdom]

I wouldn't blame Benitez for being p!ssed of with the owners forcing Robbie on him. After that though, Rafa's ego got in the way of the possibility of Keane being a success there. After his amazing goal against Arsenal and brace at home to Bolton he was dropped to the bench. It was as if Rafa was afraid the owners were being proved right. Fair enough the preferred system that season was playing Gerrard off of Torres but it would still have been worth holding on to Keane as N'Gog was the only back up for Torres. I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that selling/refusing to play Keane quite possibly cost Liverpool the league.

Old ground, but it was Rick Parry's involvement in this one, not the owners. The dropping of key offensive players was part of a system Benitez used, but if you're looking for the straw that broke the camels back moment, it was the fluffed opportunity away to Atletico in the CL that made Benitez go crazy by all accounts. Cost Liverpool 3 points and meant he couldn't play a weakened team in the remaining CL match.

You're wrong about Robbie being sold costing Liverpool the league. They were excellent after the transfer window. Robbie played in the matches against fulham, everton, spurs, west ham, coming on away to Wigan, where Liverpool dropped points.
So no.

I'm a self-confessed fanboy of Benitez, and while he made plenty of mistakes that season, Robbie wasn't one of them. Gerrard-Torres was unplayable for most of that season. It was on the flanks where there was trouble, not up top.

[Stuttgart88]

I hate the term "up top"! Everyone's using it now. It sounds OK if you're a north of England hick.

I also hate that the term "match up" is commonly accepted now. We heard a guy use the term in USA 94 and we nearly wet ourselves laughing.

[DeLorean]

You're wrong about Robbie being sold costing Liverpool the league. They were excellent after the transfer window. Robbie played in the matches against fulham, everton, spurs, west ham, coming on away to Wigan, where Liverpool dropped points.
So no.

I said a combination of Rafa selling/refusing to play Keane possibly cost Liverpool the league. Keane saw no game time in a 0-0 draw at Stoke, even though Torres didn't start the match. They drew 2-2 at home to Hull with Torres out injured and Keane wasn't even brought on (even though they trailed 0-2 at one point). They also drew 1-1 at home to City shortly after Keane leaving and lost 2-0 at the Riverside with Torres, again, out injured. I'm sure there are another couple of examples but the worst bit was dropping him completely when he hit a mini purple patch. It obviously did nothing for his confidence even when he was recalled. There's no way of knowing if Keane would have made a difference in these games but Liverpool only lost the league by a small margin that season. It's at the very least a possibility he could have turned a couple of draws into wins so I'm not sure how I can be deemed factually "wrong".

Just think of the little, yet massive, contribution Federico Macheda made for United the same season. He turned two points into six with consecutive winners against Villa and Sunderland... United won the title by four points.

[Charlie Darwin]

Robbie's on the Late Late Toy Show, came out on crutches to surprise one of his young fans. Legend.

[paul_oshea]

He must have got the work done in dublin.

He was tripped over one of the toys and started waving his hands,and then as he left THR floor he spat on the ground.

[cornflakes]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BaRocaOIMAAzBPh.jpg:large

[Charlie Darwin]

What arse? She's so skinny she barely even has one.

[DannyInvincible]

He must have got the work done in dublin.

He went under the knife in London last Wednesday. The whole event was documented here in spectacular fashion: http://balls.ie/football/pictures-robbie-keane-goes-knife/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BaFeMf4CcAAsGck.jpg

[NeverFeltBetter]

That was amazing. I wish I was still as enraptured by footballers as that kid.

[DannyInvincible]

Footage of Domhnall meeting his hero:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBV39a2oFuA

She's slightly hungover this afternoon, but his reaction brought a tear to my girlfriend's eye when we watched the clip and she's not even Irish.

[paul_oshea]

I hope she is from Brazil or Spain or Argentina or even German.

If so impregnate her quick and get the passport sorted.