Robbie Keane

[NeilMcD]

YOu have missed my point, THe london metro is English therefore that is why it described Keane replacing the injured Defoe it as such. Its audience was English therefore its content was more English based.

[endabob1]

I think the real reason is
Defoe Started on Saturday, picked up a knock not 100%
Keane brought in to replace him in starting XI
Therefore the simple conclusion is 'Defoe injured, Keane relacing him' and if you read the Metro you should know the demographic they're after like simple answers.

[eirebhoy]

Can anyone put the highlights up here?
First half highlights:
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=A39290D4649DF28B
or
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YUK8J8LY

[Beavis]

Nothing to do with thread so not going to answer it.

If I start a thread about it will you answer it then?

:D

[Billsthoughts]

they must have some Irish players that play for them.

[NY Hoop]

Nothing to do with thread so not going to answer it.

Could not care less about the thread. Answer the question.


KOH

[joema]

Would I be right in saying that the bohs crest is there to see if people will have a different attitude to your views if they think you are a bohs/ el fan?

[NeilMcD]

No it isnt for that reason.

[NeilMcD]

Back on Thread Robbie was fantastic last night and if Staunton can maximise him he can be our best player in my view.

[Beavis]

Would I be right in saying that the bohs crest is there to see if people will have a different attitude to your views if they think you are a bohs/ el fan?

Yup thats how it works round here. My mate plays for Rovers, perhaps I qualify for a crest through him in a granny rule sorta way:D

[DeNiro]

Keane was fantastic last night. He could play a deep role. Is 4-3-1-2 an option? Given - Carr-O'Brien-Dunne-Finnan- McGeady-Reid,S. Kilbane- Keane - Duff - Doyle. I fancy Duff up front as he was always decent enough when he played there and Keane drops so deep sometimes that we need another one up there with the other front man. Like the goal last night Berbatov nodded it down to Jenas. If Keane was knocking balls up to Doyle like that we would need somebody coming onto them.

[NeilMcD]

Yeahi in that case it would be Reid as he plays in a similar position to Reid. I think Duff should be on the wing.

[Billsthoughts]

Back on Thread Robbie was fantastic last night and if Staunton can maximise him he can be our best player in my view.

Not if our midfield keep giving the ball away as cheaply as they have for the last while now.

[NeilMcD]

Agreed but I try to look on the positive side rather than look at the negatives. the negatives are pretty obvious to me so I try to find the positives.

[Billsthoughts]

Its nothing to do with being positive or negative. You can have Pele up front but if you never have the ball it wont make any odds. We would all be delighted if robbie ran amok against the Germans but reality of the situation is we keep hoofing the ball back at the opposition.

[NeilMcD]

I agree with you I am just saying I am trying to remain positive and Robbie is one of the positive. I agree if we dont keep the ball we dont have a chance but thats a given in my view.

[Fergie's Son]

Nothing to do with thread so not going to answer it.

Thank you for that. Nice to see people sticking to the point of the thread.

Watched the highlights also and he looked great. Problem is, Doyle isn't much of a poacher either so Morrisson might be the better choice?

[Fergie's Son]

Problem is, I don't think Staunton has the wherewithal to actually rearrange his line-up.

[eirebhoy]

Its nothing to do with being positive or negative. You can have Pele up front but if you never have the ball it wont make any odds. We would all be delighted if robbie ran amok against the Germans but reality of the situation is we keep hoofing the ball back at the opposition.
We have 8 players in the team who I'm more than happy with in Given, Dunne, Finnan, Duff, McGeady, Reid, Keane and Doyle. These players have the ability to play a good passing game and its up to the manager to best utilise them. As Neil said, IF Staunton can maximise him. We have the individual players imo to get us to the Euros.

[oconghc2]

i was brickin it a few times watchin them highlights - thought Robbie had picked up an injury at one stage before coming off -

maybe i'm just being a little dramatic!

[rocketballs7]

i was brickin it a few times watchin them highlights - thought Robbie had picked up an injury at one stage before coming off -

maybe i'm just being a little dramatic!

I was a bit anxious myself about RK picking up an injury last nite. we need all the help we can get for the game next week and as we only have a few world class players, we cant afford to be missing them. Given is a bit doubtful i hear also. Cannot afford to be without him either, remember that dreadful game in Cyprus last year. In all fairness to Paddy Kenny though, he did pull off a few good stops last night, and will do a decent job should we need him, but fingers crossed we wont

[fergalr]

I was a bit anxious myself about RK picking up an injury last nite
Why? It appears he can stage a miracle-like recovery from injury whenever it suits him.

[Irish_Praha]

Why? It appears he can stage a miracle-like recovery from injury whenever it suits him.

Are you Mick McCarthy? It's Robbie not Roy Keane :p

[fergalr]

Are you Mick McCarthy? It's Robbie not Roy Keane :p

I think you'll find it was Robbie who didn't turn up in Dublin last Wednesday.

[Closed Account 2]

If we had a tall striker, like what Quinn was, or what Koller, Jancker or Zigic are now then I think we would really be able to put the pressure on the opposition defenders.

We need someone to hold the ball up and get knockdowns for the likes of Keane and Duff. Sadly our target men (the like of Doc and Alan Lee) are just a bit below the level we need internationally.

[Scram]

Keane was superb in one of the best number 10 performances I have seen in the Premiership in a long time. It was only Sheff Utd he was playing but he ran the show playing beautiful passes and basically controlling the game the way a number 10 can. I think if he can play like this against Germany we have a great chance. The problem sometimes is that with Ireland he is not encouraged to drop deep as we need him to get goals also. But when he is on this form he is almost unplayable.

Yeah, I've said it for years and sorry but it didn't take a tactical genius to see where he is best, witht the ball at his feet running at players...not fcekin sitting in the box waiting for the ball...and I am certainly no tactician....he's been played out of position for years but Muppets like Muckarthy and Kerrful couldn't see that.....they could only mimic whatever the Premiership managers did. Just looking at videos of Keane doing his best work would tell you where he should be utilised.

[endabob1]

I think you'll find it was Robbie who didn't turn up in Dublin last Wednesday.

And then wasn't fit enough to start for his club on the Saturday.

Don't balme the players for the stupid timing of International Friendly's when they are just finishing pre-season with their clubs. It's the time of the season when more players pick up injurys because they're not 100% fit.

[Sideline]

I remember being impressed with Robbies workrate a few seasons ago in internationals .
Its not something you can pick up on when watching on tv.

[endabob1]

I go to White Hart Lane a fair bit and there's not much wrong with his work ethic for Spurs.
Has been 1 of the top 3 most consistent players at Spurs for the last 12 months, well since he got his place back form Defoe.

[eirebhoy]

Did anyone watch Newcastle tonight? Apparantly Duff had a great game on the right wing and got motm.

[cavan_fan]

I saw the game and duff was prominent. It's hard to judge because Newcastle were playing a novel formation with no strikers but I was a bit concerned at his lack of end product. Lots of attempted crosses and blocked shots. Anyway hopefully having Robbie alongside might help.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I saw the game and duff was prominent. It's hard to judge because Newcastle were playing a novel formation with no strikers but I was a bit concerned at his lack of end product. Lots of attempted crosses and blocked shots. Anyway hopefully having Robbie alongside might help.
:eek:

How did they line out?

[Closed Account 2]

Did anyone watch Newcastle tonight? Apparantly Duff had a great game on the right wing and got motm.

I saw it, he had a good game, caused the Latvians (who were generally well organised and got plenty of men behind the ball) no end of problems down the near side.

He set up a few chances for Luque (who fluffed them) and Scott Parker. Overall he got forward a lot and had a good game, seemed to develop an understanding with Carr towards the end of the game too - which could be good for us.

[eirebhoy]

McGeady playing well again against Hibs atm. He hit a through ball into the box for Naylor to play it on a plate for Zurawski. He then hit the post for Venegoor of Hesselink to easily tap in the follow up. Celtic winning 2-1 after going 1-0 down.

/edit - Got motm today for the 3rd game in a row.

[ken foree]

great news for mcgeady and duffer, pity robbie looked a little out of it today against everton. we need everyone firing on all cylinders!

[Irish_Praha]

pity robbie looked a little out of it today against everton. we need everyone firing on all cylinders!

The whole Spurs team were pretty average from what I saw. At least he didn't get injured :)

[Fergie's Son]

What an ugly game. Johnson looked good.

Keane did his best but Spurs were woeful.

McGeady has to start against the Germans.

[eirebhoy]

What an ugly game. Johnson looked good.
Off topic but the most underrated striker in the PL.

[Stuttgart88]

McGeady has to start against the Germans.Didn't see any of the Hibs game but I hear McGeady was superb. Can anyone comment?

[eirebhoy]

Didn't see any of the Hibs game but I hear McGeady was superb. Can anyone comment?
Here's Celtic's 2 goals, he was involved in both:
http://www.celtic-crazy.com/videos/celtic2_1hibs.html

[eirebhoy]

I was looking at Keane's stats compared to the other Spurs strikers and they're very impressive:
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=413006&CPID=8&clid=6&lid=1490&title=Mido+means+business

Best:
Shooting accuracy
Chance conversion
Minutes per goal ratio (around 2 goals every 3 games)

and also fairly decent on the offside front. I'm suprised with how few assists he got though.

[ken foree]

. I'm suprised with how few assists he got though.

maybe he gives the 2nd last ball more often??

[Condex]

Can't remember him playing well in a competetive match against a
decent team in years, Doyle on his first start played a lot better...
as captain if he is supposed to lead by example time to try someone else...
a spell on the bench would do him the world of good..

[eirebhoy]

You have to ask how he plays so well for Spurs but can't convert it to the international stage. I suppose the same question can be asked about dozens of players though.

[osarusan]

You have to ask how he plays so well for Spurs but can't convert it to the international stage. I suppose the same question can be asked about dozens of players though.

Perhaps because he is playing under a quality manager and quality players at Spurs while at Ireland...................................

[Closed Account 2]

Could be due to the fact, at Spurs, he tends to play off a big striker (Berbatov, Mido etc)

[RogerMilla]

deffo the big striker thing imo , he needs a target man to feed off

[Stuttgart88]

No central mifield to feed him. I'd like to see a chart of where Robbie, Doyle & elliott had possession. Barely 30 yards from goal is my guess. The only time I recall Elliott getting a touch was over in front of Staunton's water bottle rack.

[endabob1]

At Spurs they have a central midfield capable (Jenas excluded) of doing their own jobs so Robbie doesn't spend 90% of his time dropping in to midfield to help out or looking for the ball.
He can't play without the ball and apart from missing a couple of half chances I thought he ran himself into the ground for the cause.

[NeilMcD]

Yeah its our central midfield that is the main problem. I know its a cliche but its the engine room of the team and in a car if you have problem with the engine that is where you start with. We need a new engine.