Robbie Keane

[tetsujin1979]

recovering from knee surgery after returning to LA: http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/03/31/robbie-keane-posts-instagram-photo-successful-right-knee-surgery-insider

[Stuttgart88]

Notice lack of panic and hysteria over a Robbie Keane knee injury!

[DeLorean]

He must be hanging on by a thread squad wise?

[jbyrne]

the fact that long was our only fit striker on Tuesday highlights our lack of options. Robbie will be needed in france

[DeLorean]

Four strikers getting injured in a couple of days would highlight a lack of options in any squad. It's unlikely that will be an issue come June.

[jbyrne]

Four strikers getting injured in a couple of days would highlight a lack of options in any squad. It's unlikely that will be an issue come June.

the fact that no one was called up to replace those injured says a lot about our realistic options though

[DeLorean]

Our realistic options are Long, Walters, Murphy, Keane and Doyle. At a push Pilkington or McClean could do a job.

I suppose my question was asked under the assumption that all of these will be available when the squad is named. Will he be needed in France if all of those are available? He wasn't needed in the four most recent games he was available for, Germany, Poland and B&H.... not even from the bench.

[Stuttgart88]

Despite our reservations about Keane I'd have been curious to see how he (or a player of his style / attributes) would have fared during that nice spell in the first half against Slovakia where Wes was finding space with ease.

I'd still have him in the squad because he is different to our other options. Long, Walters, Murphy and Doyle are all variations on a theme.

[paul_oshea]

I think if robbie is given enough time, and certainly if we play like we did against slovakia first half he will score a goal in the Euros. I don't like how he is being written off. He can't play on his own up front, but with a diamond formation and a fast man beside him up top he would still thrive. It's a bit annoying that he hasnt had that chance yet under MON.

[geysir]

If we play Robbie and someone fast beside him, that implies playing with 2 up front, we would in all likelihood be beaten in every game in France using that tactic.

We'll probably be set up with McCarthy and Whelan as anchors in a 4231, similar to how we were set against Bosnia Herz over both legs, I think the peak of MO'N so far was reached against Bosnia Herz, how we reacted after being being out played away and not giving an inch at home. Walters or Long up front
Robbie's chances to get on the pitch in France will be limited.

[paul_oshea]

we were playing 2 up front with Mclean and Long in the first half v switzerland, the diamond was around the midfield, and i think that formation would suit robbie to come into in the second half, not from the start.

Ya, I see us playing the 4-2-3-1 and taking our set pieces as MONs approach for Italy and Belgium. But I am not so sure about Sweden, I think he might spring a suprise there, generally he has surprised us before most games with something.

[jbyrne]

Robbie's chances to get on the pitch in France will be limited.

1 down with 20 mins to go in france. do you bring on 67 goal and current worlds highest international goalscorer still playing Robbie keane or zero goals in 16 internationals daryl murphy????

[paul_oshea]

The answer is obvious. Doesn't mean the obvious is the right answer.

[jbyrne]

The answer is obvious. Doesn't mean the obvious is the right answer.

its obvious because its the right answer!

[geysir]

1 down with 20 mins to go in france. do you bring on 67 goal and current worlds highest international goalscorer still playing Robbie keane or zero goals in 16 internationals daryl murphy????
You only need to use 3?, 4 is overkill even for Murphy :)
I'd define limited opportunity as Robbie being used as a sub in certain circumstances from the 75th min onwards.

[OwlsFan]

The answer is obvious. Doesn't mean the obvious is the right answer.

The obvious answer is usually the correct answer (cf Occam's razor). However, agreed not 100% of the time.

Let's hope he'll be fit and worry about it at a later stage. We do have Adam Rooney as well who shouldn't be forgotten and should be back in action before too long.

[paul_oshea]

its obvious because its the right answer!

For me its robbie all day long just in case you didnt think I agreed with you ; )

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

1 down with 20 mins to go in france. do you bring on 67 goal and current worlds highest international goalscorer still playing Robbie keane or zero goals in 16 internationals daryl murphy????

I'd bring on someone who will actually touch the ball more than a few times, bully defenders, bring others in to play and get his head on things in the box.

Keane has not influenced against a team the standard of Sweden or Italy in a long, long time.

I posted an article recently that touches on how he is even getting less touches and being less influential in MLS games now.

[OwlsFan]

I'd bring on someone who will actually touch the ball more than a few times, bully defenders, bring others in to play and get his head on things in the box.

Keane has not influenced against a team the standard of Sweden or Italy in a long, long time.

I posted an article recently that touches on how he is even getting less touches and being less influential in MLS games now.

Not with 75 minutes gone. You just need someone to touch the ball once (i.e. when scoring).

Keane was never someone who would touch the ball more than a few times, bully defenders, bring others in to play and get his head on things in the box but he has still managed to score over 300 career goals so he must be doing something right wouldn't you think?

[Charlie Darwin]

Keane has not influenced against a team the standard of Sweden or Italy in a long, long time.
Holding him back for Belgium. I like your style, TOWK.

[tetsujin1979]

Keane has not influenced against a team the standard of Sweden or Italy in a long, long time.



Except for those times he scored against Sweden and Italy

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keane out for 4-6 weeks. All strikers currently injured. Hopefully Martin will make sure there is more than one striker in the squad for the next two friendlies.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/anxious-times-for-martin-oneill-as-strikers-injured-390687.html

[tetsujin1979]

Back in training, but still a few weeks from playing for Galaxy: http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/04/25/return-king-robbie-keane-returns-training-insider

[DeLorean]

On the verge of a return according to the Galaxy website (http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/04/30/match-preview-la-galaxy-remain-confident-ahead-sundays-sporting-kansas-city-matchup).


The offense has scored an MLS-high 17 goals despite the absence of striker Robbie Keane, who has missed the last four matches after undergoing minor knee surgery and is on the verge of returning to the playing field.

[Closed Account]

Back in the starting lineup tonight.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ch9CGOAVEAEMjsh.jpg

[tetsujin1979]

Scored a tap in at the far post after 12 minutes

[Closed Account]

Scored a tap in at the far post after 12 minuteshttp://www.snappytv.com/snaps/keanegoalvne_ow9aen

Edit: He's scored a second but it also sounds like a tap in which obviously we don't count:

Keane makes it 3-0 to the Galaxy on the stroke of halftime. Finishes off a Zardes pass into an empty net.
https://vine.co/v/iQD61Ah50hx

[tetsujin1979]

yeah, another tap in, pretty much a mirror of the first goal: https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/729412883587715072

[liamoo11]

played well for an hour till he went off. Looked sharp and worked very hard. Some lovely link up with dos santos who scored an absolute worldie

[Olé Olé]

I know they're obviously playing within the rules and restrictions somehow but, Christ, that Galaxy squad is stacked with players with European experience: Nigel De Jong, Ashley Cole, Jelle Van Damme, Gio Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard, Robbie.. And Robbie is the star!

[Grafter]

I know they're obviously playing within the rules and restrictions somehow but, Christ, that Galaxy squad is stacked with players with European experience: Nigel De Jong, Ashley Cole, Jelle Van Damme, Gio Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard, Robbie.. And Robbie is the star!

Could someone explain the latest MLS designated player rules? Used to be clearly three players e.g. Keane, Beckham, Donovan etc.... the Galaxy must have more than three now?

[pineapple stu]

They've Keane, Gerrard and dos Santos (ex Spurs, who scored against Rovers in the group stages in White Hart Lane) as designated players

Nigel de Jong and Ashley Cole are extra then, but I guess they just fit into the regular salary structure?

The DP rules (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_Player_Rule) are unchanged since 2012 anyway, and even then, those changes mainly centred on youth players.

[geysir]

Could someone explain the latest MLS designated player rules? Used to be clearly three players e.g. Keane, Beckham, Donovan etc.... the Galaxy must have more than three now?

This article explains nicely how Galaxy were able to sign 3 imports and not use up any of their (already occupied) 3 designated player spots.
Galaxy gets creative to acquire three European players (http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-85773946/)

[tricky_colour]

yeah, another tap in, pretty much a mirror of the first goal: https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/729412883587715072

He tapped it in well, very composed., he does not miss that many from that distance.

[geysir]

One tap-in is lucky, two tap-ins is very lucky.

[seanfhear]

One tap-in is lucky, two tap-ins is very lucky.There is more to tap dancing than meets the eye !

[Closed Account]

http://www.footballinsider247.com/tottenham-news-keane-one-of-best-strikers-i-played-with-says-berbatov/
Robbie makes Berba XI
Berbatov’s XI:
Van der Sar,
Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra,
Ronaldo, Scholes, Stiliyan Petrov, Giggs,
Rooney, Keane.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

That was some partnership.

Alas strike partnerships like that are a dying artform now.

[Stuttgart88]

Football moves in cycles.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

John Fallon feels that Robbie is throwing a bit of a sulk.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/robbie-keane-role-in-doubt-after-lansdowne-snub-34756213.html

[Duggie]

John Fallon feels that Robbie is throwing a bit of a sulk.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/robbie-keane-role-in-doubt-after-lansdowne-snub-34756213.html

nothing much in that article. he will be starting tomorrow in Cork so it seems. Its clear that Long when fit is the number one right now.

[thischarmingman]

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane a serious doubt for Euro 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/30/robbie-keane-republic-of-ireland-injury-euro-2016-belarus


• Striker pulled up in training with calf injury and will miss Belarus friendly
• Harry Arter a further worry after limping out of practice match clutching thigh

[tetsujin1979]

Returned for LA Galaxy last night, scored a cracking opener in the first few minutes (goal on 0:34)
sDoEaR7-HYE

[OwlsFan]

I saw Robbie on Premier League 100 Club on Sky the other day. Some of his goals and finishing were breath-taking. What a genius the man is. Interesting that of the 126 (!) goals he scored, only 7 I think were headers which makes his achievement all the more special.

[Stuttgart88]

Of all his worst misses, all were headers :)

[DeLorean]

He got two really excellent headers for us off the top of my head, the opener in the 2-2 draw in Amsterdam and the winner in Cyprus under Trap. He scored a header at home to Cyprus in the same campaign actually but couldn't really miss. He can't be too far off the same amount of headers for us as for his clubs.

I'm not sure scoring so few headers makes his scoring record better, although I think I know what you mean. Heading is a brilliant attribute in itself, the way Ronaldo and Bale use those neck muscles is unnatural although they have a good few inches on Robbie to be fair. Tim Cahill was the man though, his timing and spring was probably the best I've seen, taking his height into consideration.

[Charlie Darwin]

Of all his worst misses, all were headers :)
He only scores headers against the minnows, never in the big games :)

[Stuttgart88]

Actually, humour aside, the only really bad headers I can remember were last minute chances against Czech Rep (1-1, days after Cyprus nightmare) and v Slovakia (0-0, home under Trap). Both important late result-changing misses, but also not least beacuase they gave TOWK plenty of "no big goals v decent teams" ammo :)

[Stuttgart88]

He got two really excellent headers for us off the top of my head.You're Robbie Keane!

[DeLorean]

Ha ha! ;)

I can't remember that Czech Rep miss at all, only Kilbane's goal and McShane playing "cat & mouse" with Koller (in his own words).

That goal against Georgia when we came back to win 2-1 at Croke Park was another Keane header actually, that's four anyway for Ireland at least.