Robbie Keane

[pineapple stu]

I just don't think it's even "one of his finest"

I just think that, even though he hasn't scored too many spectacular goals for us, he has plenty better.

In fact, let's see the Yugoslavia goal again - generally overshadowed by Mark Kennedy's effort in the same match.

HTERrBF2gRs

[DeLorean]

Irwin put it on a plate for him (or was it Quinn?). :p

Nah, I've always loved that goal.

[pineapple stu]

On the bounce though. Much harder. :)

[jbyrne]

Don't think that was one of his finest goals in fairness - Duff's drag-back put it on a plate for him.


I still have the game recorded and had a look at the goal again last weekend. keane basically sweeps the ball into the far corner beyond Lloris when others would have tried to smash it. the duff pull back was great (although I think the ball takes a bounce or two before it reaches keane) and keane makes it look so easy. great finish in such a pressure game

[OwlsFan]

So where has Robbie ended up in the list of Europe's top-scorers? Gerd Muller seems to have fallen off Wikipedia's list. I think he is level with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_international_association_football_goa l_scorers_by_country

It looks like:

1) Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
2) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - also not listed ?
3) Miroslav Klose (Germany)
4) Robbie Keane (Ireland) and Gerd Muller (Germany)

Nearest other Irish scorer Niall Quinn on 21 goals.

Record number of caps for Ireland, 32 ahead of the nearest other outfield player although JOS may close that gap.

Amazing career. Amazing guy. Will be missed hugely.

[DeLorean]

Actually his goal against Israel (https://youtu.be/4r9x68LLAKs?t=13s) has to be well up there.

[paul_oshea]

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat

You speak Irish?! :shock:

The poetry is cod-umptious alright TOWK, he could have had a role on Bosco!

I thought it was all very low key last night from Robbie, quite poignant without any fanfare. I know though many were hoping/expecting a walk around. He was very humble at the end, but funny how he is so in the moment that he didn't even notice his son messing about with the mic, and he has always shown that steely, fully focused approach - sometimes misinterpreted as unapproachable and robotic.

I also thought keane in his younger years had the same back of the head as his older namesake.

[BonnieShels]

I was going by the guidelines of 'one of his finest', rather than 'finest'. I do think it's one of his finest all things considered.

Yeah, good point about the goal poaching, because he's got some real crackers at club level for Tottenham as well, remember this? (https://youtu.be/FxJ_mI7O1-I?t=3m35s)

This has to be his best goal overall though in terms of technical difficulty.

[video=youtube;iSm5oubwP1g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSm5oubwP1g[video]

What goal was that DeL? In work, can't see YouTube.


I just don't think it's even "one of his finest"

I just think that, even though he hasn't scored too many spectacular goals for us, he has plenty better.

In fact, let's see the Yugoslavia goal again - generally overshadowed by Mark Kennedy's effort in the same match.

[yt]HTERrBF2gRs[yt]

Mark Kennedy's goal in that game was sublime.

That was one of our greatest ever games. Everything about it. Despite not qualifying at the end of that campaign. I think that that was the most enjoyable campaign from a footballing POV. Some super performances. BEating Croatia in the fist game did set the tone.

I woud love to watch that match again to see if it reall was as great as I remember. Is it available anywhere?


So where has Robbie ended up in the list of Europe's top-scorers? Gerd Muller seems to have fallen off Wikipedia's list. I think he is level with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_international_association_football_goa l_scorers_by_country

It looks like:

1) Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
2) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) - also not listed ?
3) Miroslav Klose (Germany)
4) Robbie Keane (Ireland) and Gerd Muller (Germany)

Nearest other Irish scorer Niall Quinn on 21 goals.

Record number of caps for Ireland, 32 ahead of the nearest other outfield player although JOS may close that gap.

Amazing career. Amazing guy. Will be missed hugely.

Only fourth? Poor.

I was at a shindig last night and some guy tried to belittle Keane saying that he played 145 times of course he scored that many yada yada. Unbelievable how he can even be questioned.

[paul_oshea]

I hope you let him have it BS. Don't be a peter or worse a judas. I make sure I do my patriotic duty and robbie a service, by letting those people have both barrells, and dispell any of those stupid arguments.

The one thing I ask is, do french people or Swedish start ridiculing Henrys record or Zlatans cos he scored a lot against minnows? No of course they don't, and the question of the greater footballers, is they played with greater(better players anyway) teams, so would have had even more opportunities to score. It's not robbies fault what groups we ended up in, he scored the goals in the games he played, the argument is as simple and as strong as that.

[DeLorean]

What goal was that DeL? In work, can't see YouTube.

His goal for Liverpool at The Emirates.

[Supreme feet]

Thought his goal against Denmark in 2002 (from 1:10 here) was a beaut, and not typical of the goals he normally scored.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeVAP3WJ02U

[tetsujin1979]

One last addition to my tribute to Robbie Keane after last night's game: https://twitter.com/irish_abroad/statuses/771274790166487040

[DeLorean]

Thought his goal against Denmark in 2002 (from 1:10 here) was a beaut, and not typical of the goals he normally scored.

I was picturing that goal but couldn't remember who it was against. It really flew through the air from a standing start. Would it be harsh to question the keeper though?

[geysir]

I was picturing that goal but couldn't remember who it was against. It really flew through the air from a standing start. Would it be harsh to question the keeper though?
Will we ever escape the zeal to minimise when it comes to evaluating Robbie?:)

[BonnieShels]

I hope you let him have it BS. Don't be a peter or worse a judas. I make sure I do my patriotic duty and robbie a service, by letting those people have both barrells, and dispell any of those stupid arguments.

The one thing I ask is, do french people or Swedish start ridiculing Henrys record or Zlatans cos he scored a lot against minnows? No of course they don't, and the question of the greater footballers, is they played with greater(better players anyway) teams, so would have had even more opportunities to score. It's not robbies fault what groups we ended up in, he scored the goals in the games he played, the argument is as simple and as strong as that.

I actually did shoot down his stupid justifications. And then just stopped talking to him. Moron.

[jbyrne]

I actually did shoot down his stupid justifications. And then just stopped talking to him. Moron.

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

[BonnieShels]

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

Completely. But one must set the rest to rights if the opportunity arises.

I actually get relatively emotional writing my post last night. He was special.

[geysir]

I could feel your pain Bonnie

[paul_oshea]

I think a lot of these clowns have slowly melted away this week. those supporters that count greatly appreciate Robbie and that's all that matters really.

Only half of those bothered to show that last night.

I think the Irish psyche, and the British which is even more venomous, is to build someone up only to then try and find every opporunity to shoot them down after. Robbie retiring now everyone lauds him, many of those same people were calling for his retirement and Long starting ahead of him for 2-4+ years.

[Stuttgart88]

David Kelly in 2011

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/indispensable-robbie-keane-remains-an-enigma-28652634.html

I'm not really quite sure what he is trying to say about Keane. Kelly was going through a particularly acute "Footy bad, rugby heroes" phase at the time.

[paul_oshea]

It was always going to end that way really once his impact reduced, and it has reduced significantly over the past few years. Being dropped for the game in Glasgow really was the start of the end but that was in 2014, walking away nearly two years later does not make you right I'm afraid! It's idle speculation anyway, O'Neill might have asked him to stay on for all we know, I doubt it though.

Look it was interpreted two ways, that keane would keep showing up regardless of selection or Keane would "walkaway" when he wasn't wanted anymore. Keane was not really selected much, and O'Neill at least gave the impression the last while, over emphasising "having him around the place", as though to placate the "why isn't/is he being selected?" question. Keane weighed up the fact that he was unlikely to feature at all or very little over this campaign and thought coming all that way from LA was too much, especially now with two young kids and that he is probably trying to prolong his time in LA and also the fact he had given 18 years of good service. O'Neill didn't give him much choice as everything appeared to be around what he offered "around the place". But either way he is still scoring in LA at the same rate, and he has retired for Ireland.

Its very debatelable whether Robbie of 2012/13/14 is any different to Robbie of 2015/16

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It was always going to end that way really once his impact reduced, and it has reduced significantly over the past few years. Being dropped for the game in Glasgow really was the start of the end but that was in 2014, walking away nearly two years later does not make you right I'm afraid! It's idle speculation anyway, O'Neill might have asked him to stay on for all we know, I doubt it though.

I think P.O.S. is right, obviously. I could have sworn he got a call up for Euro 2016.

[OwlsFan]

Only owlsfan brings that up.......never seen anyone else go on about it. Silly stuff.
I am not fan of keano, as he is a bit dim, but what footballer isnt i guess.

Not quite the only one, Bill. See the article above Stutts cites: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/indispensable-robbie-keane-remains-an-enigma-28652634.html

"The chasm between their share of the public's acclaim is yawning. True, there is a class issue at work but this can hardly be the crux of the matter".

It is an element like his refusal for a while to lick up to the media (which they didn't like) and comes across in the article Stutts cites.

[tetsujin1979]

Not quite the only one, Bill. See the article above Stutts cites: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/indispensable-robbie-keane-remains-an-enigma-28652634.html

"The chasm between their share of the public's acclaim is yawning. True, there is a class issue at work but this can hardly be the crux of the matter".

It is an element like his refusal for a while to lick up to the media (which they didn't like) and comes across in the article Stutts cites.

just on that, I've been to Dundrum cinema a load of times, most recently for Independence Day about six weeks ago, and I've never seen Brian O'Driscoll there. Actually, the only rugby player I've ever met there was Jamie Heaslip when he was doing a signing session in Lifestyle Sports

[DeLorean]

Look it was interpreted two ways, that keane would keep showing up regardless of selection or Keane would "walkaway" when he wasn't wanted anymore. Keane was not really selected much, and O'Neill at least gave the impression the last while, over emphasising "having him around the place", as though to placate the "why isn't/is he being selected?" question. Keane weighed up the fact that he was unlikely to feature at all or very little over this campaign and thought coming all that way from LA was too much, especially now with two young kids and that he is probably trying to prolong his time in LA and also the fact he had given 18 years of good service. O'Neill didn't give him much choice as everything appeared to be around what he offered "around the place". But either way he is still scoring in LA at the same rate, and he has retired for Ireland.

Its very debatelable whether Robbie of 2012/13/14 is any different to Robbie of 2015/16

I suppose he was willing to accept his reduced contribution up until the point that he wasn't. It's no great mystery really, he might have stuck around if O'Neill really showed him some love but there was no point in making promises he couldn't keep either. Keane is 36 with two young kids and living/working in America... it's been a superhuman effort from him the past two years really for the amount of game time he's got in return.

[DeLorean]

just on that, I've been to Dundrum cinema a load of times, most recently for Independence Day about six weeks ago, and I've never seen Brian O'Driscoll there

He is an awful man for the popcorn though.

[tetsujin1979]

He is an awful man for the popcorn though.

it's the cornerstone of every athlete's diet, or so I'm led to believe.

[DeLorean]

I could have sworn he got a call up for Euro 2016.

What's your point?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Good article by Ken Early.

(http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/ken-early-robbie-keane-s-ireland-contribution-doesn-t-end-now-1.2774893)http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/ken-early-robbie-keane-s-ireland-contribution-doesn-t-end-now-1.2774893


Ken Early: Robbie Keane's Ireland contribution doesn't end now

Given the occasion, Oman were probably the perfect opponents

I would quote the whole article but I don't know what the rules are about posting articles that are normally behind a paywall.

Nice tribute from Crumlin United.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/crumlin-united-have-brilliant-response-to-la-galaxys-classy-tribute-to-robbie-keane-35012852.html


Crumlin United have brilliant response to LA Galaxy's classy tribute to Robbie Keane

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Times articles aren't behind a paywall, but there is a limit on the number of articles you can view in a week.
There are ways around this..allegedly

[geysir]

Not quite the only one, Bill. See the article above Stutts cites: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/indispensable-robbie-keane-remains-an-enigma-28652634.html

"The chasm between their share of the public's acclaim is yawning. True, there is a class issue at work but this can hardly be the crux of the matter".

It is an element like his refusal for a while to lick up to the media (which they didn't like) and comes across in the article Stutts cites.
And there are very good reasons why Robbie kept to a minimal script in public as well as O'driscoll's global sporting profile is a mere fraction of Robbie's.
Sometimes Robbie attracted dreadful journalistic attempts to come to terms with their own chagrin, but claim they are speaking for millions, this goes for an excruciating article in the IT (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/keane-has-won-the-struggle-with-me-and-many-more-sceptics-1.1422330)
from 2013 which lays the blame on Keane for being the cause of the rancour but somehow then Keane managed to mature into a person that the journalist could stoop to tolerate, even respect.

[BonnieShels]

I could feel your pain Bonnie

Thankfully mine was dulled with free whiskey.


just on that, I've been to Dundrum cinema a load of times, most recently for Independence Day about six weeks ago, and I've never seen Brian O'Driscoll there. Actually, the only rugby player I've ever met there was Jamie Heaslip when he was doing a signing session in Lifestyle Sports

When I went to see the Revenant in Liffey Valley in January I met Duffer. I say met but I skulked behind him in ticket queue like a schoolgirl would Niall Horan, petrified for him to notice me noticing him. Sigh.

[tetsujin1979]

When I went to see the Revenant in Liffey Valley in January I met Duffer. I say met but I skulked behind him in ticket queue like a schoolgirl would Niall Horan, petrified for him to notice me noticing him. Sigh.

he was sitting beside me at the Belgium game ;) well, his dad was beside me, he was beside his dad
did the same "oh god notice me/please don't notice me" internal argument for the whole game!

[Stuttgart88]

I got slack on here for interpreting robbies comments a few years ago about walking away when he wasn't wanted, i am not suggesting he is sulking in any way, but I do feel he has done what he said.Hang on, what are you saying Paul?

I think everyone feels like he has done exactly what he said. The issue is how to interpret what he said all those years ago. What did he mean by “walk away”. Was it (a) once I’m no longer needed I’ll walk away gracefully and accept that all good things come to an end, or (b) if I’m dropped I’ll quit?

Was “walk away” = retire without complaint (i.e., innocuous), was it something controversial, negative and egocentric?

I can’t recall what you said back then Paul but I’m sure if you got slack it was for taking the (b) interpretation. Now you’re saying I told you so, whilst also saying you’re not saying you think it’s (b). That doesn’t really make sense.

Richard Dunne used the words “walk away” to be completely interchangeable with “retire” without any controversy, I think Keane should be allowed the same benefit. Especially at 36 years old, increasingly peripheral and living in Los Angeles. As DeLorean said, he was first dropped 22 months ago and he kept turning up.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I think Keane was relatively assured of a place in the squad for Euro 2016 so he wanted to go out on a high having played at another Intl tournament, in which he made two appearances.

I think the writing is on the wall that he if he stayed on he is going to participate less and less, and is unlikely to make the World Cup squad.

I don't know what Dunne's body language was when he said that, but the way Keane said it was as if someone had got his back up and was very much said in a defensive tone.

[geysir]

Hang on, what are you saying Paul?

I think everyone feels like he has done exactly what he said. The issue is how to interpret what he said all those years ago. What did he mean by “walk away”. Was it (a) once I’m no longer needed I’ll walk away gracefully and accept that all good things come to an end, or (b) if I’m dropped I’ll quit?

Was “walk away” = retire without complaint (i.e., innocuous), was it something controversial, negative and egocentric?

I can’t recall what you said back then Paul but I’m sure if you got slack it was for taking the (b) interpretation. Now you’re saying I told you so, whilst also saying you’re not saying you think it’s (b). That doesn’t really make sense.

Richard Dunne used the words “walk away” to be completely interchangeable with “retire” without any controversy, I think Keane should be allowed the same benefit. Especially at 36 years old, increasingly peripheral and living in Los Angeles. As DeLorean said, he was first dropped 22 months ago and he kept turning up.

That quote from Robbie is from 5 years ago when he was in some space after Celtic (west ham?)

"I have not really worried or thought about my position with the Ireland team, 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,"

And in the 5 years that followed Robbie has demonstrated beyond any doubt what he meant at the time.

In Nov 2013
"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."

We can take it that Robbie's legs have finally gone.

[Stuttgart88]

He touched the ball once vs Sweden in over 20 minutes, and it was in our half. He barely touched it against Belgium too. He is not stupid, he must have known after those games he couldn't contribute any more at this level. You can say he's second guessing MON thinking the same thing, but I think he deserves credit. He knew it was time so retired. We wouldn't be discussing this only for the more hysterical amongst us taking a partisan view of what he said 5 years ago, and one of them bringing the point up again, saying I told you he'd do what I said he's not now doing but kind of doing, at the same time.

[Charlie Darwin]

If Robbie came out tomorrow and said he's changed his mind and is available for the campaign, I'd be pleased. For all the strikers coming through, I think he has a role. I think that says a lot about either a) how much he still has to offer, or b) my mental health. Fingers crossed it's a).

[SkStu]

If Robbie came out tomorrow and said he's changed his mind and is available for the campaign, I'd be pleased. For all the strikers coming through, I think he has a role. I think that says a lot about either a) how much he still has to offer, or b) my mental health. Fingers crossed it's a).

Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness Charlie.


Actually his goal against Israel (https://youtu.be/4r9x68LLAKs?t=13s) has to be well up there.

Given FFS...

[Charlie Darwin]

Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness Charlie.

No, supporting Rovers the last five years is. The talking to myself is a more recent innovation.

[SkStu]

All the signs are there...;)

[tetsujin1979]

It was mentioned on the radio commentary on Wednesday night that, after his final goal, Robbie has now scored at least one international goal in 19 consecutive years
I posted that on the football365 forum and someone replied that might be a world record, and it just might be

I had a look at the wiki page for the list of top international goalscorers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_men%27s_association_football_players_with_ 50_or_more_international_goals
Only five players had a career span the same as Robbie (19 years), or greater - Hossam Hassan(Egypt, 22), Imre Schlosser(Hungary, 22), Fandi Ahmad(Singapore, 19), Romário(Brazil, 19), and Carlos Ruiz(Guatemala, 19)
From the list of Hossam's international goals - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_goals_scored_by_Hossam_Hassa n - he didn't score in 1995, 2001, 2002, or 2003
According to RSSSF, Schlosser didn't score in 1921-1925 - http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/schlosser-intlg.html
Ahmad didn't score in 1984, 1986, 1988, or 1994 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fandi_Ahmad
Romario didn't score in 1991, 1992, or 1993 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%C3%A1rio
Ruis didn't score in 2009, 2010 or 2013 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Ruiz_%28Guatemalan_footballer%29

[DeLorean]

I suppose it's possible that a player with less than 50 international goals might have done it, but pretty unlikely you would think. It's an amazing record really.

[paul_oshea]

He touched the ball once vs Sweden in over 20 minutes, and it was in our half. He barely touched it against Belgium too. He is not stupid, he must have known after those games he couldn't contribute any more at this level. You can say he's second guessing MON thinking the same thing, but I think he deserves credit. He knew it was time so retired. We wouldn't be discussing this only for the more hysterical amongst us taking a partisan view of what he said 5 years ago, and one of them bringing the point up again, saying I told you he'd do what I said he's not now doing but kind of doing, at the same time.

Whether robbie anticipated the push or the fall isn't here nor there, the push was likely but in the end he chose to retire himself, he chose to walkaway.

Keane is about halfway through the league season in the states and has scored 20 goals or so similar to the last few years at this stage of the season. Nothing to suggest he is doing anything less this year than he was previous year's.

Wednesday showed albeit against weal opposition that robbie is still the best in and around the box that we have creating something from nothing.

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, a bit like you and Charlie (��) I'd probably like to have him around as an option but equally I think it's hard to argue that he hasn't made the right decision at the right time. I've no complaints. Despite what he's doing in the US the last time I saw him in Dublin it looked obvious to me the legs required against good opposition had gone.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This article will go over well.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/comment-no-matter-how-much-you-loved-robbie-he-loved-himself-a-little-bit-more-35019244.html

[OwlsFan]

This article will go over well.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/comment-no-matter-how-much-you-loved-robbie-he-loved-himself-a-little-bit-more-35019244.html

You still won't let it go. I think most of the responses to the article respresent "the public" as opposed to Conlon who thinks he speaks for "the public":

oggy81 21 minutes ago
are we missing something or what? what is the reason for the media hate of keane.?? he must be pro-life or something otherwise i really can't understand it.


Macbeth 1 hour ago
Talk about damning with faint praise.!!

Paul Staunton 1 hour ago
From reading the article the case against Keane seems to be the following

- he is confident (you don‘t achieve what he did without confidence)
- his premiership scoring record (which is excellent)
- his international scoring record (which is excellent)
- how he celebrated his world cup goal against Saudi Arabia(shock as footballer likes to celebrate goals)
An absolutely ridiculous article which doesn‘t raise a single decent argument against Robbie.Congrats.

coco33 1 hour ago
Was robbie always involved in off the field trouble, drinking, partying or parading himself in the media? No. Did he love playing and scoring goals for his country? Yes. Open and shut case.

carboncopy 2 hours ago
What a miserable article. Keane could have walked away when he hit 100 caps. He stayed involved with the team despite knowing that in the last few years, he was no longer first choice - not easy to do when you have been top dog for so long. Clearly, the management team valued him or they would have dropped him.

I'd encourage anyone to tune into the sports pages review on Off the Ball on Sundays - if you have the stomach to listen to sports journalists fawning over each other's copy. Now that's a bunch of people who really value themselves a bit too highly, far more than Robbie Keane does.

clarklsparkl 2 hours ago
Most people in life love themselves and the few that dont usually end up committing suicide or self harming. This Tommy guy who wrote article is a bull****ter and the Indo is worse for publishing it.

DevO'Max 3 hours ago
The point of this article seems to be to tell everyone to pay attention to the author.

andyharan9 3 hours ago
jesus christ that was an embarrassingly petty article.

robtor11 3 hours ago
I am no fanboy of Robbie Keane or anyone else but this is a nasty, rather spiteful article I must say...:(

Shankly5 4 hours ago
First prize goes to conlon for the most childish bitter non sensical article written in 2016 so far.

SwayL 4 hours ago
I'm grateful for Robbie, a vital cog in the wheel. It's difficult to judge his international scoring record given that the team was mainly focused on stopping goals at our end.

Shonboleth 11 hours ago
What a horrible article, what was the point of this vitriol? You've lost a reafer

murtles 3 hours ago
@Shonboleth ...looks like you've smoked that reefer.

etc etc

[geysir]

Top prize goes to those who swallowed the joe.ie gem

Robbie Keane vows to quit Ireland if dropped by Trapattoni (http://www.joe.ie/sport/robbie-keane-vows-to-quit-ireland-if-dropped-by-trapattoni/14441)
Ireland captain Robbie Keane has said that he will walk away from the Irish soccer team if he loses his place in the starting XI.


but say now 5 years later, 'but he did walk away didn't he, just as he vowed he would'.

[samhaydenjr]

This article will go over well.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/comment-no-matter-how-much-you-loved-robbie-he-loved-himself-a-little-bit-more-35019244.html

Even the use of Robbie's scoring statistics in that article is disingenuous, at the least - Conlon says his Premier League scoring record was "close to a one-in-three ratio". Well, actually 126 goals in 349 games is just under 1 every 2.77 games. While that may not sound like much of a difference at first glance, he would have had to have played 3/4 of an extra season (29 games) without scoring to hit 1 in 3, or failed to score in 2004-2005 when he got 11. Also take into account that during his time Spurs, when he was most settled, he was sharing scoring duties with Jermain Defoe and, so far as I remember, they were always competing with each other to be the main striker and didn't complement each other so well (as Quinn and Keane did for Ireland). Had he had a Quinn-like partner at that time, his record might have been even better. Also, in the early days of his career, he was criticized for not scoring enough tap-ins to be a prolific goalscorer and his scoring record at Coventry and Leeds was worse than 1 in 3. However, after his move to Spurs, his record for the rest of his Premier League career was 1 in 2.67

[SkStu]

I read that article yesterday and was going to post it here but decided against it as it was just a load of tripe. Conlon's a geebag