Robbie Keane

[SkStu]

She's northern Irish? :) :p

[KK77]

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.

Was at most games that season and a blind man could see he wasn't at the races. A lot if not the majority of the games you wouldn't have thought he was on the pitch. A pity because i was so excited when he signed. Wasn't to be. These things happen.

[Charlie Darwin]

Robbie's doing his badges: http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/11552/robbie-keane-starts-uefa-a-b-licence-course/

[DeLorean]

Was at most games that season and a blind man could see he wasn't at the races. A lot if not the majority of the games you wouldn't have thought he was on the pitch. A pity because i was so excited when he signed. Wasn't to be. These things happen.

N'Gog a far better option alright.

[KK77]

N'Gog a far better option alright.

I preferred Gerrard myself but i suppose that’s the beauty of forums and the differing opnions.

[DeLorean]

As a back up I meant.

[DeLorean]

He's an Irish footballing legend and I would expect him more than anyone else to nick a goal against Faroe Islands but his record and importance to the team doesn't compare with someone like Miroslav Klose who performs and scores against the best teams in the world for some of the biggest teams in the world; including current team Lazio in Serie A.

I didn't want to take the Shane Long thread back off topic so I'll post this here.

Robbie Keane's importance to the Irish team doesn't compare to Klose's importance to Germany? His 62 goals for us doesn't compare to Klose's 68 goals for a footballing powerhouse who routinely blow away second and third seeds and invariably cruise through qualifying?

Maybe you should have checked out the list of Klose's international goals as well as Robbie's. The last 'top class' sides Klose scored against competitively were in 2010, one being Argentina and feel free if you want to include England and Belgium, but it might be stretching it. Other decent/top sides he scored against previously would include Portugal and Turkey. Other than that I think you'll struggle to back up your argument and it's certainly no better, if it's even as good, as Keane's goals against Yugoslavia, Holland, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

Plus your facts are extremely questionable, to put it nicely. Klose has been playing for a distinctly average Lazio side in one of the worst Serie A leagues that I can remember. Playing for one of the biggest teams in the world, he is not.

He was playing for one of the biggest teams in the world before that though, Bayern Munich, when (wiki informs me) he scored 24 goals in 98 games. Again, the Bundesliga wasn't exactly in it's pomp during this time. Keane's record at Spurs is very very "comparable" to anything Klose has done at club level, when in one of his final seasons he scored against the 'Big 4' of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool. Of course, he would have still been deemed incapable of scoring against middle to higher ranked international teams.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I didn't want to take the Shane Long thread back off topic so I'll post this here.

Robbie Keane's importance to the Irish team doesn't compare to Klose's importance to Germany? His 62 goals for us doesn't compare to Klose's 68 goals for a footballing powerhouse who routinely blow away second and third seeds and invariably cruise through qualifying?

Maybe you should have checked out the list of Klose's international goals as well as Robbie's. The last 'top class' sides Klose scored against competitively were in 2010, one being Argentina and feel free if you want to include England and Belgium, but it might be stretching it. Other decent/top sides he scored against previously would include Portugal and Turkey. Other than that I think you'll struggle to back up your argument and it's certainly no better, if it's even as good, as Keane's goals against Yugoslavia, Holland, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

Plus your facts are extremely questionable, to put it nicely. Klose has been playing for a distinctly average Lazio side in one of the worst Serie A leagues that I can remember. Playing for one of the biggest teams in the world, he is not.

He was playing for one of the biggest teams in the world before that though, Bayern Munich, when (wiki informs me) he scored 24 goals in 98 games. Again, the Bundesliga wasn't exactly in it's pomp during this time. Keane's record at Spurs is very very "comparable" to anything Klose has done at club level, when in one of his final seasons he scored against the 'Big 4' of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool. Of course, he would have still been deemed incapable of scoring against middle to higher ranked international teams.

Ah here come on.

Klose scored 4 goals against Sweden, Austria and us in 2014 qualifying and 4 goals against Belgium, Turkey and Austria in 2012 qualifying. That's more than twice as many goals against top International teams in competitive matches as Keane has in 12 years.

Klose has 12 goals in International competition.

He is regularly one of Germany's best players in International competition.

He isn't just some big lump of sh*te who gets on the end of things. He actually looks like he belongs on the pitch with players like Schneider, Ballack, Ozil and Podolski.

Lazio are at the same level now that Spurs were at when Keane was at his pomp and Klose is 35 years old. Keane moved to LA Galaxy when he was 30! Robbie Keane's teammates include Robbie Rogers. Klose's teammates include technically gifted players like Ederson, Ledesma, Hernanes and Biglia. Keane has flopped at Inter & Liverpool. Klose has regularly competed in the Champions League and won League titles with Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.

I have not belittled Keane's club or International accomplishments at all. He has had a very respectable career in club football and has an International goalscoring record that will never be matched or bettered by an Irish footballer.

But let's call a spade a spade. His career does not match up to Klose. He has scored the vast majority of his competitive International goals against poor sides. His competitive goalscoring record against big International teams is very poor and frankly, his performances against them have been embarrassing lately.

I'm not stupid. His ability to nick goals against teams like Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands is important (I'm not being cheeky when I say that by the way). I just don't see how a 34 year old LA Galaxy player with his record against big teams can possibly justify having his place in the side being guaranteed. Because let's face it, as soon as he is rotated, he will retire (as he has implied himself).

[Stuttgart88]

Robbie has spent the vast majority of his international career playing for a mediocre side. Klose has spent the vast majority of his career playing for a team that strolls through qualification and is usually good for at least a semifinal. The fact that they have comparable records is extraordinary.

I think Klose went through some long barren spells at club football and was probably a better player for Germany than at any of his clubs. Good player, but not up there with the best despite his international stats.

Keane hasn't said as soon as he is rotated he'll retire. He said that when he is no longer picked he'll walk away (i.e., when he isn't in squads anymore he'll accept it without a fuss).That's different. Only a real cynic would say that by "walk away" he means he'll quit on his own terms just to make a point, especially if only being "rotated".

[geysir]

Well said Stutts.
Robbie says he'll play until he's not selected any longer AND someone replaces him - was turned into .. ( for cynics and fools)... Robbie vows to to quit unless he's selected.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well said Stutts.
Robbie says he'll play until he's not selected any longer AND someone replaces him - was turned into .. ( for cynics and fools)... Robbie vows to to quit unless he's selected.

Really, geysir?

[Closed Account]

Yes, Robbie was quoted as saying something like "It is all about now and I've said before if I didn't play for Ireland and someone else came in, I have always said I would walk away."
Which was taken out of context as meaning he would just walk away if dropped.

He later clarified that statement though,
“Listen, I want to play as long as I can.
“But I’m not daft. I’m 33 years of age, so next time the Euros come around...
“Ultimately it’s the manager’s choice. All I can do is keep playing well and keep scoring goals and if he sees that I can continue doing that, then there’s no problem.
“But I don’t have any problems with people making decisions. If anybody feels that I can help them now until the Euros and there’s a situation coming around to the Euros where for some reason my legs are gone, then I’ll pack it in.”

Again it's open to interpretation, but I remember watching the interview and it was pretty clear that he meant he had no problem being a squad player if the manager still thought he could do a job whether it be for 10 minutes or 90.

[geysir]

Really, geysir?
Hmm..... why did you select the fool option?
You could have selected the cynic option :)
Cynics read the most negative interpretation of a recorded quote and a fool just doesn't bother too much but just accepts the headline.
I don't take you for a fool.

[AlaskaFox]

Keane has flopped at Inter & Liverpool

Two Champions League goals for Liverpool. He's on a par with Borini and Carroll alright.

[tricky_colour]

Ah here come on.

Klose scored 4 goals against Sweden, Austria and us in 2014 qualifying and 4 goals against Belgium, Turkey and Austria in 2012 qualifying. That's more than twice as many goals against top International teams in competitive matches as Keane has in 12 years.

Klose has 12 goals in International competition.

He is regularly one of Germany's best players in International competition.

He isn't just some big lump of sh*te who gets on the end of things. He actually looks like he belongs on the pitch with players like Schneider, Ballack, Ozil and Podolski.

Lazio are at the same level now that Spurs were at when Keane was at his pomp and Klose is 35 years old. Keane moved to LA Galaxy when he was 30! Robbie Keane's teammates include Robbie Rogers. Klose's teammates include technically gifted players like Ederson, Ledesma, Hernanes and Biglia. Keane has flopped at Inter & Liverpool. Klose has regularly competed in the Champions League and won League titles with Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.

I have not belittled Keane's club or International accomplishments at all. He has had a very respectable career in club football and has an International goalscoring record that will never be matched or bettered by an Irish footballer.

But let's call a spade a spade. His career does not match up to Klose. He has scored the vast majority of his competitive International goals against poor sides. His competitive goalscoring record against big International teams is very poor and frankly, his performances against them have been embarrassing lately.

I'm not stupid. His ability to nick goals against teams like Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands is important (I'm not being cheeky when I say that by the way). I just don't see how a 34 year old LA Galaxy player with his record against big teams can possibly justify having his place in the side being guaranteed. Because let's face it, as soon as he is rotated, he will retire (as he has implied himself).


So in short he is a good international, but not even close to Klose?

On the other hand it's gonna be a little easier scoring for Germany than Ireland.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

So in short he is a good international, but not even close to Klose?

On the other hand it's gonna be a little easier scoring for Germany than Ireland.

It's a little easier scoring goals against Faroe Islands, Andorra and Macedonia than scoring goals against Argentina, Portugal, Engand, Turkey.....

If Robbie Keane's goalscoring record against top seeds was up to snuff, then maybe we would have qualified for more tournaments between 2002 and 2012. There was a period in time where Clinton Morrison would be more likely to score against a direct rival.

Trapattoni made a lot of questionable decisions during his reign but I'll give him this; he got the best of Keane.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Frequently as a lone target man? I don't think so.

Keane's comments, in their entirety, are perfectly reasonable. Ireland should be looking to better use younger options, just like the management should have been doing for a variety of positions over the last few years.

[CraftyToePoke]

It's a little easier scoring goals against Faroe Islands, Andorra and Macedonia than scoring goals against Argentina, Portugal, Engand, Turkey.....If Robbie Keane's goalscoring record against top seeds was up to snuff, then maybe we would have qualified for more tournaments between 2002 and 2012.

Despite him having scored against, Russia, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Holland, Croatia, Italy, France in that ten year window you picked out ?

[tricky_colour]

To compare Klose to Keane you would have to adjust for the the strength of the team in which they play and the opposition of course.
Not an easy thing to do really, how many international goals would Keane have if he were German?? (now don't say none!! :D).

Or perhaps how many international goals could Klose have if he were Irish? (None cos he would not make the team!! :))

If you compare robbie top league scoring record with Klose's they are very similar, about 0.5 goals a game,
it not that easy to compare, I excluded Robbies Galaxy games, but then you have the relative strength of the
leagues and teams issues.

http://uk.soccerway.com/players/robbie-keane/2949/
http://uk.soccerway.com/players/miroslav-klose/40/


But both top class goalscorers.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Despite him having scored against, Russia, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Holland, Croatia, Italy, France in that ten year window you picked out ?

He's scored competitive goals from open play against Italy, France and Sweden since the 2002 World Cup. Klose scored goals against top/second seed standard teams 8 times over the last two qualifying campaigns.

Every goal counts but I wouldn't be starting Keane against direct rivals on the basis of how he performs against them which has been by and large, pretty poorly. We have to get with the times and make the switch to a 5 man midfield for those matches and Keane can not perform with that function.

We have even seen over the last few games how a switch in formation made Whelan look like a better player. This is someone - for all the talk about how Hoolahan and Reid could not play in a 4 man midfield - was responsible for helping us concede several important goals in qualification games by giving away the ball in stupid positions or failing to track players; fundamental stuff. It's not like he possesses any creative streak, goalscoring threat or even passes the half-way line, so the basics of tracking players runs and providing a half-decent screen for the defence is the least he can do! Mini rant about Whelan over

I would still start Keane against the bottom seed teams and spring him off the bench against the big teams when we are chasing a goal though.

We don't know how Keane would react in such circumstances though? Team player or retirement?

[BonnieShels]

He's scored competitive goals from open play against Italy, France and Sweden since the 2002 World Cup. Klose scored goals against top/second seed standard teams 8 times over the last two qualifying campaigns.

Every goal counts but I wouldn't be starting Keane against direct rivals on the basis of how he performs against them which has been by and large, pretty poorly. We have to get with the times and make the switch to a 5 man midfield for those matches and Keane can not perform with that function.

We have even seen over the last few games how a switch in formation made Whelan look like a better player. This is someone - for all the talk about how Hoolahan and Reid could not play in a 4 man midfield - was responsible for helping us concede several important goals in qualification games by giving away the ball in stupid positions or failing to track players; fundamental stuff. It's not like he possesses any creative streak, goalscoring threat or even passes the half-way line, so the basics of tracking players runs and providing a half-decent screen for the defence is the least he can do! Mini rant about Whelan over

I would still start Keane against the bottom seed teams and spring him off the bench against the big teams when we are chasing a goal though.

We don't know how Keane would react in such circumstances though? Team player or retirement?


Have they got more value than goals not from open play? Why do you persist with this bizarre anti-Keane fallacy?

Sure Robbie is getting on as is natural for us all. Time waits for no man and all that but seriously your assertion that we should drop Robbie is purely speculative and frankly laughable without any concrete proof to the contrary.

And as regards your thinking that Robbie is not a team player and would retire on losing his starting place is bordering on insanity. Where have you pulled that ASSumption from?

---

I would wager that the anti-Keane brigade, on Robbie's retirement whenever it may come, will consider him a quitter and a failure for not continuing.


The simple truth is until our other forwards start to actually score to the same extent and to a similar consistency then there should be room for Robbie in all cases.

There's a certain merit to you say changing his role, but you can state that without resorting to these petty and quite frankly ridiculous statistics that you are coming up with.

[AlaskaFox]

If Robbie Keane's goalscoring record against top seeds was up to snuff, then maybe we would have qualified for more tournaments between 2002 and 2012. There was a period in time where Clinton Morrison would be more likely to score against a direct rival.

There you have it. It's Robbie's fault we didn't get to Euro 2004 or 2008 or the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Have they got more value than goals not from open play? Why do you persist with this bizarre anti-Keane fallacy?

Sure Robbie is getting on as is natural for us all. Time waits for no man and all that but seriously your assertion that we should drop Robbie is purely speculative and frankly laughable without any concrete proof to the contrary.

And as regards your thinking that Robbie is not a team player and would retire on losing his starting place is bordering on insanity. Where have you pulled that ASSumption from?

---

I would wager that the anti-Keane brigade, on Robbie's retirement whenever it may come, will consider him a quitter and a failure for not continuing.


The simple truth is until our other forwards start to actually score to the same extent and to a similar consistency then there should be room for Robbie in all cases.

There's a certain merit to you say changing his role, but you can state that without resorting to these petty and quite frankly ridiculous statistics that you are coming up with.

They are not my petty and ridiculous statistics!

I like Robbie Keane but he is 34 years old this summer and his performances have been diminishing noticeably for several years. A hat-trick against Faroe Islands and brace in a friendly against Georgia doesn't paper over those cracks.

It's irrelevant how much or how little our forwards score. Robbie is 34 and can not play in a 433/451 formation. The needs of the team outweigh the needs of Robbie. Wes Hoolahan, Andy Reid and potentially Stephen Ireland our more important to our 2016 Qualification chances. If we are going to play with 5 in midfield - like the previous several campaigns have proven we have to - then Shane Long should be lone striker.

Robbie Keane - if he is a team player - still has an important role to play. He is a far more luxurious option off the bench then the dross we have been accustomed to over the years; Keogh, Cox, Sammon, Green....

I would even start him against the bottom seeded teams because his record against them (especially under Trapattoni is superb).

I understand that my assertion that Keane heavily implied he would retire upon being dropped is causing consternation but he did imply such a thing approximately three years ago and as soon as I am able to supply a link, I will.

I can not fathom how a 33 year old playing in the MLS and who has not performed consistently at club level or against direct rivals at International level in several years could possibly think he should be guaranteed a place in the team.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

There you have it. It's Robbie's fault we didn't get to Euro 2004 or 2008 or the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

That's twisting my words now in fairness.

I just think that if Robbie Keane's importance to the Irish National Team is being held up on a pedestal to Miroslav Klose, then his International goalscoring record should be more closely analysed.

Since the World Cup 2002, he hasn't score many important goals in important games - the games in which Qualification are ultimately achieved. He was a pivotal figure in helping us to qualify for Euro 2012, primarily because of his goals against lower seeded teams and when we actually got to the tournament, he was very poor. Of course simply getting to an International competition is an achievement for some people.

The crux of my argument is that Keane does not score enough goals against no.1, no.2 or even no.3 standard teams. That isn't to denigrate his overall goalscoring achievements. I have already said they will never be beaten by an Irish player.

In another thread, I bemoaned our inability to beat big International teams in meaningful games, something that Northern Ireland and Scotland are regularly able to do. Perhaps this links in to what I am saying about Keane?

[BonnieShels]

They are not my petty and ridiculous statistics!
You're right they are barely stats.


I like Robbie Keane but he is 34 years old this summer and his performances have been diminishing noticeably for several years. A hat-trick against Faroe Islands and brace in a friendly against Georgia doesn't paper over those cracks.


You are heading dangerously towards the Paul O'Shea zone of "selective data".


It's irrelevant how much or how little our forwards score.

You have to be kidding?


Robbie is 34 and can not play in a 433/451 formation.

Why can't he?

On several occasions due to the toothlessness of our creative outlets in the last campaign Robbie found himself actually coming back to receive the ball. And was pretty effective in that "role".

If the new management team is going to start playing 433 or 451 then the logical way to try it out is in friendlies with Robbie-in-tow.

If it doesn't work then you change it up.

I would wager it is unlikely that Robbie will play in every game in the next campaign but who knows what ill happen.


The needs of the team outweigh the needs of Robbie. Wes Hoolahan, Andy Reid and potentially Stephen Ireland our more important to our 2016 Qualification chances. If we are going to play with 5 in midfield - like the previous several campaigns have proven we have to - then Shane Long should be lone striker.

We don't need to play 5 in midfield but we need at least a top-6.

Given the opportunities that Long wasted in the last campaign I would be fearful of him as our lone striker. If we play a lone striker we have to play Robbie given all evidence at our disposal.


Robbie Keane - if he is a team player - still has an important role to play. He is a far more luxurious option off the bench then the dross we have been accustomed to over the years; Keogh, Cox, Sammon, Green....

What is this "team player" bull you keep spouting?

Of course he has an important role to play. He's been the most important player in our history with out compare.

Calling those players dross is incredibly glib and unfair and shows how petty you can be for no valid reason:

Keogh: Was never gonna set the world on fire especially how he was utilised.

Cox: Gave 100% everytime and was unfortunately used out of position too often towards he creaky end of Trap's reign. Can never fault his application.

Sammon: Totally out of his depth. But he was called up and he played. You would have done the same. It's not his fault that he was in the squad.

Green: Any criticism of Green's apparent awfulness I find is based on a biased opinion seemingly created by the liked of Dunphy and barstoolers.
Green completely neutralised Ibra against Sweden and got practically no credit.
He has been a credit to the shirt. When when he gets a well-deserved MOTM he's roundly slagged as if it's some joke. Keep ytour ire for the likes of Whelan whose shortcomings have been far more costly to us.


I would even start him against the bottom seeded teams because his record against them (especially under Trapattoni is superb).

I would start him in every game he is fit and is in better form than our other options.


I understand that my assertion that Keane heavily implied he would retire upon being dropped is causing consternation but he did imply such a thing approximately three years ago and as soon as I am able to supply a link, I will.

I find it odd that you can make an assertion with no evidence but I am sure, that as an active user of this forum over the last 5 years that I would certainly have read that. And others would have commented on it here.

Can anyone shed light on this? I genuinely have no recollection of it.


I can not fathom how a 33 year old playing in the MLS and who has not performed consistently at club level or against direct rivals at International level in several years could possibly think he should be guaranteed a place in the team.

I cannot fathom how an inconsistent 26 year old playing for average PL teams keeps being touted as the saviour...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

1. I provided a link to a list of his International goals. Take away the friendlies and he has barely any goals against a high standard of International team.

2. I said Keane's goals against teams like Faroe Islands and Georgia are still important but the catch 22 is that he is playing at too poor a standard to replicate those performances against half-decent teams. If we are relying on one 34 year old MLS player to bail us out with all our goals then we are in trouble. I have faith in our team scoring more goals all over the pitch once dead end players like Whelan and Green are dropped and players like Brady, McClean, Ireland, Reid, Hoolahan, Pilkington and Long are properly utilised.

3. No I am not kidding! It doesn't matter how much or how little Long, Walters and Doyle score against the big teams because present day Keane is not going to score any more than them. Statistically, he is more likely to score against the bottom seed teams hence why I would be more open to selecting Keane for these matches. The defenders he plays against are of a similar standard to those of the MLS and whatever age he is, Keane will not lose the ability to outwit defenders who aren't as clever as he is.

4. Long is more apt to play as a lone forward. Keane dropping back into midfield just makes him even less of a goal threat and more ineffective than he already is. His link up play is not on a par with Long or Doyle imo.

5. Long is still more likely to score against the top seeded teams as his domestic performances against teams like Chelsea and Liverpool prove. Keane is more likely to score against bottom seeded teams but I have never disputed that. We are going to have to look past Keane at some point and if we can't beat teams like Macedonia and Andorra because he isn't playing then I despair.

6. I said Sammon, Keogh, Green and Cox were dross options and I stand by it. Of course I wouldn't begrudge them a call up though. In their shoes, I would gladly accept a call up. The constant selections of players like Walters and Cox in particular and pushing Green and marginalising more creative players like Reid and Hoolahan epitomised where the Trapattoni era went so badly wrong. It went okay for a year or two but eventually you become so predictable you hit a dead end and the constant playing for one point becomes an albatross around your neck. I mean come on, a win and a loss is worth more than two draws.

7. Okay that's your opinion. I think the League he is playing in is poor and Long looks like a PL player every week.

8. People can read what he said however they want. I will look for the exact quotes.

9. I didn't say Long is the saviour. I just think it is more prudent to start a player who is in his peak and regularly troubles the best defences in the best League in the world than it is to start a 34 year old playing in a Mickey Mouse League who doesn't play as well against the best defenders and whom is no more likely to score against them. Which is the crux of the argument.

[SkStu]

TOWK - what percentage of Ireland goals against "bigger teams" were scored by Keane?

Keane has NEVER let Ireland down in terms of commitment or as a team player. He has showed up everytime he's been asked and always put in 110%.

I think Long is the future but Keane is still the best goal scorer we have. Your point #5 above is straight out of analysis for dummies.

As well as being far and away Ireland's greatest ever striker, he is also in the top ten (or thereabouts) strikers in the history of the premiership. Yeah, a decent career alright...

Fast forward 30 years and our kids and grand kids will have only one opinion of Keane - world class striker, the best we ever had and 100% legend.

One question for you - where in ireland are you from and what teams do you support?

[BonnieShels]

For shiz and giggles I analysed Keane's goals post WC2002:



21-Aug-02 *Finland 3–0 Friendly 1
07-Jun-03 *Albania 2–1 EURO 2004 Q 1
11-Jun-03 *Georgia 2–0 EURO 2004 Q 1
18-Nov-03 *Canada 3–0 Friendly 2
31-Mar-04 *Czech Rep 2–1 Friendly 1
05-Jun-04 *Nether 1–0 Friendly 1
04-Sep-04 *Cyprus 3–0 WC2006 Q 1
13-Oct-04 *Faroes 2–0 WC2006 Q 2
16-Nov-04 *Croatia 1–0 Friendly 1
04-Jun-05 *Israel 2–2 WC2006 Q 1
01-Mar-06 *Sweden 3–0 Friendly 1
15-Nov-06 *San Marino 5–0 EURO 2008 Q 3
22-Aug-07 *Denmark 4–0 Friendly 2
11-Nov-07 *Wales 2–2 EURO 2008 Q 1
29-May-08 *Colombia 1–0 Friendly 1
20-Aug-08 *Norway 1–1 Friendly 1
15-Oct-08 *Cyprus 1–0 WC2010 Q 1
11-Feb-09 *Georgia 2–1 WC2010 Q 2
01-Apr-09 *Italy 1–1 WC2010 Q 1
29-May-09 *Nigeria 1–1 Friendly 1
05-Sep-09 *Cyprus 2–1 WC2010 Q 1
18-Nov-09 *France 1–1 WC2010 Q 1
28-May-10 *Algeria 3–0 Friendly 2
07-Sep-10 *Andorra 3–1 EURO 2012 Q 1
08-Oct-10 *Russia 2–3 EURO 2012 Q 1
26-Mar-11 *Macedonia 2–1 EURO 2012 Q 1
24-May-11 *Nor Ireland 5–0 Carling Nations 2
29-May-11 *Scotland 1–0 Carling Nations 1
04-Jun-11 *Macedonia 2–0 EURO 2012 Q 2
11-Nov-11 *Estonia 4–0 EURO 2012 Q 2
09-Sep-12 *Kazakh 2–1 WC2014 Q 1
02-Jun-13 *Georgia 4–0 Friendly 2
07-Jun-13 *Faroes 3–0 WC2014 Q 3
06-Sep-13 *Sweden 1–2 WC2014 Q 1
15-Oct-13 *Kazakh 3–1 WC2014 Q 1
15-Nov-13 *Latvia 3–0 Friendly 1


Goals since WC2002: 49
Goals in competitive games: 26
Important goals since 2002: 7
Goals that changed result (all games): 25
Goals that changed result (comp games): 18

Important goals were scored based on what you have consistently stated as our group rivals.
I'm currently working on the tables of where Ireland would be if Robbie's goals were discounted.

[BonnieShels]

TOWK - what percentage of Ireland goals against "bigger teams" were scored by Keane?

Keane has NEVER let Ireland down in terms of commitment or as a team player. He has showed up everytime he's been asked and always put in 110%.

I think Long is the future but Keane is still the best goal scorer we have. Your point #5 above is straight out of analysis for dummies.

As well as being far and away Ireland's greatest ever striker, he is also in the top ten (or thereabouts) strikers in the history of the premiership. Yeah, a decent career alright...

Fast forward 30 years and our kids and grand kids will have only one opinion of Keane - world class striker, the best we ever had and 100% legend.

One question for you - where in ireland are you from and what teams do you support?


He's 11th all-time in the EPL.

And you are right on every count.

[Stuttgart88]

If scoring goals against lesser teams is so easy how come nobody else can do it? Even when Long was picked ahead of Keane (Georgia) he couldn't hit a barn door. I think Robbie is nearing the end of his shelf life but for goals he has no competition.

I think Keane could still be playing at Long's standard of club. His cameo at Villa last season showed he still has quality. He's only a year older than Ibrahimovic and is in great shape. I think we can squeeze another campaign out of him, certainly the first half of one. Keane has earned the right to a well paid curtain call at the MLS, with a lifestyle to go with it. LA or Hull. Hmmm...

The reason Robbie doesn't score vital goals against big teams has nothing whatsoever to do with him being in the MLS. It's because we only play a big team once a year and we haven't been very good for a long time.

Long is a lot of good things but instinctive, reliable and natural goal scorer he ain't. Some of his recent misses for Ireland have been poor, as was his inability to pick out Keane for a tap in at home to Sweden. He also has a petulant streak that he showed at home to Sweden, making dumb late tackles, and arguably also cost us the points at home to Austria. Trap took him off because he had lost his cool when already on a yellow. If he had kept his cool Sammon might have come off instead. He ballooned a great chance over the bar in Stockholm.

I'm not trying to rubbish Long, just the silly notion that he's most likely to score against big teams.

Now, if the debate is whether Keane should make room for a Reid or Hoolahan type of advanced playmaker, with a player like Long ahead, then I think there's merit in that line of thought.

[BonnieShels]

Now, if the debate is whether Keane should make room for a Reid or Hoolahan type of advanced playmaker, with a player like Long ahead, then I think there's merit in that line of thought.


There is merit in such a discussion but not in the context of Keane being rubbish which is what TOWK is peddling.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

There is merit in such a discussion but not in the context of Keane being rubbish which is what TOWK is peddling.

Where have I said Keane is "rubbish"?

I said his International career does not compare to Klose's which is an undisputed fact.
He had a "respectable" career in the Premier League. How does respectable get misinterpreted as "rubbish"?
I credited him for his knack of scoring goals against teams ranked below 50 in the International rankings and admitted that our other forward options don't possess said knack.
I said that continuing with a 4-4-2 formation is regressive and to accommodate Hoolahan, Reid or Ireland, I cannot see how you would fit Keane into that formation.
And lastly, I don't think Keane's performances at International level have vindicated making him an automatic selection in the games against the top ranked teams.

The guy spends 75% of matches just moaning at teammates and badgering the referee.

The fact is that he has a maximum of one campaign left as a regular starter, as do Dunne and possibly O'Shea. Long, Stokes and whomever may not score as many goals (against the lower ranked teams) but we are going to have to start giving them a chance.

"Long is a lot of good things but instinctive, reliable and natural goal scorer he ain't. Some of his recent misses for Ireland have been poor, as was his inability to pick out Keane for a tap in at home to Sweden. He also has a petulant streak that he showed at home to Sweden, making dumb late tackles, and arguably also cost us the points at home to Austria. Trap took him off because he had lost his cool when already on a yellow. If he had kept his cool Sammon might have come off instead. He ballooned a great chance over the bar in Stockholm."

I agree with the majority of what you say but you can not blame our capitulation against Austria on Long. It was tactical suicide taking the only forward with any stamina off, leaving Sammon and Walters on and putting Paul Green on the wing. There was no tactical nous whatsoever about anything Trapattoni did in that game. Leaving Sammon on had the same effect of Long being sent off. You had 10 players not going past the half-way line and then you had Sammon totally knackering himself by running all over the Austrian side of the pitch with no teammates anywhere remotely near him.

[peadar1987]

Where have I said Keane is "rubbish"?

I said his International career does not compare to Klose's which is an undisputed fact.


I dispute it. Klose had a far better team around him than Keane did.

[Stuttgart88]

Trap did take Long off because he lost his rag though. I'd have left him on and told him to calm down myself, but he was a walking red card at one stage.

[AlaskaFox]

That's twisting my words now in fairness.

No, no, that's exactly what you said.


If Robbie Keane's goalscoring record against top seeds was up to snuff, then maybe we would have qualified for more tournaments between 2002 and 2012.

[AlaskaFox]

I like Robbie Keane but he is 34 years old this summer

Wes Hoolahan, Andy Reid

32 this summer and 32 this summer.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

No, no, that's exactly what you said.

Well maybe we would have. He didn't score enough goals against top seeds. Qualification for us isn't (it shouldn't) be measured on how many goals you get against Liechtenstein. It's measured on how many goals you get against teams like Switzerland, France, Czech Republic and Germany but someone seems to get stage fright in those matches.

It was another Keane who dragged us to the World Cup in 2002 so when all is said and done, Robbie Keane contributed to helping us qualify for Euro 2012 and we all know how that turned out....

Again. Sorry if I implied that not qualifying for all those tournaments was all Robbie's fault. It wasn't. But he is a striker and he is being compared to Miroslav Klose so it's only fair to draw comparisons.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

32 this summer and 32 this summer.

We can still squeeze one more campaign out of them, as we can Keane. I never said I wouldn't have Keane in squads, just not as a guaranteed starter.

It's also important to remember that Reid is on fire in the Championship and Hoolahan plays well whenever he gets a game but he will have to wait until his move to Aston Villa goes through to get his game because Chris Hughton is Mr. Negativity.

[CraftyToePoke]

Sorry if I implied that not qualifying for all those tournaments was all Robbie's fault. It wasn't

Nothing implied, you straight out said it :)


If Robbie Keane's goalscoring record against top seeds was up to snuff, then maybe we would have qualified for more tournaments between 2002 and 2012.

But anyway, lets say he goes as a squad player for another couple of campaigns, is there any chance he has another 17 Irish goals in him ? A couple of hat tricks vs some worthless minnows and he might have half a chance. It would put him level some guy who goes by the name of Pele.

[gastric]

Depressing article really about our lack of strikers coming through, but it does reiterate the importance of Robbie to us, which is relevant considering some recent rash comments about our leading goalscorer ever.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-have-all-the-strikers-gone-29931089.html

[PatJR]

It's always very interesting (or downright annoying) to hear someone say "don't get me wrong I like Robbie Keane" then go on to list a series of "crimes" and stats that try to denigrate his career. This near obsession of comparing him to strikers from major footballing nations is also just so ridiculous and pointless. From an Ireland perspective only one stat counts 62 goals in 131 appearances over 15 YEARS!

[Closed Account]

Robbies best XI and some other interesting info in a conversation with Kilbane for the daily mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2541532/Robbie-Keane-Leaving-England-LA-Galaxy-easy-Jermain-Defoe-perform-pressure.html
Given
Zannetti Dunne King Bale
Beckhame Keane Seedorf Gerrard Duff
Berbatov

[DeLorean]

I said his International career does not compare to Klose's which is an undisputed fact

How can you call it an undisputed fact when the majority on here have been disputing it for the last couple of pages?

I'm not a believer in counting medals to determine a player's ability or contribution, but seeing as you used Klose's medal, in an incredibly unproductive spell at Bayern, I'll make an exception.

Keane has actually won more at international level than Klose, the U18 European Championship. Klose only has a bunch of runners up stuff but I don't think that means much to Germans.

Keane also won the Carling Nations Cup.

2-0 :D

[geysir]

I find it odd that you can make an assertion with no evidence but I am sure, that as an active user of this forum over the last 5 years that I would certainly have read that. And others would have commented on it here.

Can anyone shed light on this? I genuinely have no recollection of it.
Younger generation! what can you do! excess drink damaged brains and incapable of doing a teeny weeny bit of research.

It all came about from this type of flippant cynical headline, falsely trying to make a story out of a non story.
Keane vows to 'walk away' if Trapattoni puts faith in young guns (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keane-vows-to-walk-away-if-trapattoni-puts-faith-in-young-guns-26636564.html)
"It is all about now and I've said before if I didn't play for Ireland and someone else came in, I have always said I would walk away."

That's about as far some people got as their overtaxed one dimensional thought process stopped at the headline 'Robbie vows to walk away if he's dropped' and the headline became the one true interpretation of this story for these great minds for the next 3 year, even some to this day zealously believe the veracity of that headline. Not that they bothered to read Robbie's quoted sentiments expressed in a 100 articles since then 'As long as the manager calls him up he will turn up', just as he always done throughout his playing career. If the manager doesn't pick him, should he still travel across half the world and turn up looking to play?
Cue the headlines 'Robbie, get over it' - 'Move on Robbie', 'Walk away Robbie'.

[Yard of Pace]

Depressing article really about our lack of strikers coming through, but it does reiterate the importance of Robbie to us, which is relevant considering some recent rash comments about our leading goalscorer ever.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-have-all-the-strikers-gone-29931089.html

About a year ago we were all creaming ourselves about our striking options. If Long and Walters could just actually stick it in the net a bit more often we'd be fine.
Personally I foresee a goals coming from midfielders, diamond formation sort of a job after Robbie.

[bennocelt]

I would have Klose over Keane anyday, but cant argue with keane's record in the green jersey. His scoring record will never be beaten, that's for sure.

[BonnieShels]

Younger generation! what can you do! excess drink damaged brains and incapable of doing a teeny weeny bit of research.

It all came about from this type of flippant cynical headline, falsely trying to make a story out of a non story.
Keane vows to 'walk away' if Trapattoni puts faith in young guns (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keane-vows-to-walk-away-if-trapattoni-puts-faith-in-young-guns-26636564.html)
"It is all about now and I've said before if I didn't play for Ireland and someone else came in, I have always said I would walk away."

That's about as far some people got as their overtaxed one dimensional thought process stopped at the headline 'Robbie vows to walk away if he's dropped' and the headline became the one true interpretation of this story for these great minds for the next 3 year, even some to this day zealously believe the veracity of that headline. Not that they bothered to read Robbie's quoted sentiments expressed in a 100 articles since then 'As long as the manager calls him up he will turn up', just as he always done throughout his playing career. If the manager doesn't pick him, should he still travel across half the world and turn up looking to play?
Cue the headlines 'Robbie, get over it' - 'Move on Robbie', 'Walk away Robbie'.


Thank you good sir. Now I remember it and of course it again proves TOWK is talking though his hoop.

[BonnieShels]

Well maybe we would have. He didn't score enough goals against top seeds. Qualification for us isn't (it shouldn't) be measured on how many goals you get against Liechtenstein. It's measured on how many goals you get against teams like Switzerland, France, Czech Republic and Germany but someone seems to get stage fright in those matches.

It was another Keane who dragged us to the World Cup in 2002 so when all is said and done, Robbie Keane contributed to helping us qualify for Euro 2012 and we all know how that turned out....

Again. Sorry if I implied that not qualifying for all those tournaments was all Robbie's fault. It wasn't. But he is a striker and he is being compared to Miroslav Klose so it's only fair to draw comparisons.


Why single out Robbie and not any of our other forwards who also didn't stick it in the net?

On the previous page I listed out all of Robbie's goals since WC2002 a cursory glance will show his importance in those campaigns in turning draws into wins and losses into draws.

[back of the net]

Bill Murray:
Ireland worlds best place to play golf.
http://www.dailyedge.ie/bill-murray-ama-ireland-golf-snoop-dogg-1270660-Jan2014/

he also said Irelands the best place to hunt ghosts.............seemingly


https://static.squarespace.com/static/51b3dc8ee4b051b96ceb10de/51ce6099e4b0d911b4489b79/51ce61aae4b0d911b449c08d/1334594427713/1000w/murrayghost4162012.jpeg

[back of the net]

Well maybe we would have. He didn't score enough goals against top seeds. Qualification for us isn't (it shouldn't) be measured on how many goals you get against Liechtenstein. It's measured on how many goals you get against teams like Switzerland, France, Czech Republic and Germany but someone seems to get stage fright in those matches.

eh Robbie has scored against the french ,germans and czech rep



It was another Keane who dragged us to the World Cup in 2002 so when all is said and done, Robbie Keane contributed to helping us qualify for Euro 2012 and we all know how that turned out....

Roy had a massive part to play in getting us to wc2002 - but he didnt get us there on his own....and your extremely naieve if you think he did.

Euro 2012 turned out the way it did primarily because of a manager and his caveman tactics.....not because of robbie keane




Again. Sorry if I implied that not qualifying for all those tournaments was all Robbie's fault. It wasn't. But he is a striker and he is being compared to Miroslav Klose so it's only fair to draw comparisons.



If you are truly sorry.....then you will stop posting this utter nonsense