Robbie Keane

[tetsujin1979]

I think it's the opposite tbh. We expect too much from Duff because of his past performances. He's not the player he was but he's a hell of a lot better than Kilbane.

Agreed, if Kilbane had played like Duff did on wednesday night, we'd all be clamouring for him to start against Wales. As it is, he'll just be a squad member.

[Irish_Praha]

Agreed, if Kilbane had played like Duff did on wednesday night, we'd all be clamouring for him to start against Wales. As it is, he'll just be a squad member.

I hope to God you're right!

[irishfan86]

I hope to God you're right!

Don't think the guy who's scored two crucial goals for us and just received the MoM is going to be dropped.

I'm not saying I think he should start, but he will barring injury.

[tetsujin1979]

Kilbane only started because McGeady was injured, so Duff had to move over onto the right. If there was a right winger in the squad, Kilbane wouldn't have played

[OneRedArmy]

Unfortunately (and I say unfortunately as its clear Duff has/had the talent), if its end product we are measuring, Kilbane deserves his place as much as, if not ahead of Duff.

Kilbane is an honest footballer of limited ability who gives his best and people appreciate effort.

Duff, for whatever reason, has lived on reputation for the last couple of years and similar to Robbie Keane a stepover or neat dribble once in a while doesn't really cut it.

[irishfan86]

Kilbane only started because McGeady was injured, so Duff had to move over onto the right. If there was a right winger in the squad, Kilbane wouldn't have played

Duff has played on the right for both club and country in the past.

McGeady is not a right winger for club, and has only a couple of matches under his belt in that position for us.

Kilbane has scored two vital goals and I really don't see Stan dropping him, unless you have an article pointing out that he's going to do otherwise?

I don't want to say this, but Kilbane will start against Wales barring injury, mark my words.

[tetsujin1979]

Duff has played on the right for both club and country in the past.

McGeady is not a right winger for club, and has only a couple of matches under his belt in that position for us.
Well then if McGeady was fit, maybe he would have played on the left, with Duff on the right? Either way I still think if McGeady was fit, Kilbane would not have started


Kilbane has scored two vital goals and I really don't see Stan dropping him, unless you have an article pointing out that he's going to do otherwise?

I don't want to say this, but Kilbane will start against Wales barring injury, mark my words.
Nope, no article, but all you can find about the Wales game is "get behind the team", "fantastic occasion", "6 points in the next 2 games", etc

By the time the Welsh game has rolled around, McGeady will have played against AC Milan in the Champion's League, Kilbane might not make it into the Wigan side for this weekend's game against Arsenal - he didn't play last week against Portsmouth and he only played for 33 minutes the previous week against Reading.

[irishfan86]

I'm well aware of his playing time, and before this game I was advocating Hunt in for Killer on the left, with Duff played on the right.

I'm just stating that I can't see Staunton leaving him out after what he's done for him.

There's also the height/aerial factor which some use to justify his place in the side.

I think there's a little bit of a misunderstanding here; I'm not advocating that he should stay in the team, rather I'm just saying Staunton will keep him in, due to his goal-scoring, his MoM award, experience and his height/aerial ability.

[danonion]

there are soooo many players I would drop before Kilbane......Robbie Keane and Harte spring to mind. Club football never has much bearing on Irish performances, Keane had a good season last and was shocking for Ireland, and McAteer missed a few Blackburn squads when he came up with the goal against Holland. I think Kilbane should hang on to his place for another while.

[eirebhoy]

Unfortunately (and I say unfortunately as its clear Duff has/had the talent), if its end product we are measuring, Kilbane deserves his place as much as, if not ahead of Duff.

Kilbane is an honest footballer of limited ability who gives his best and people appreciate effort.

Duff, for whatever reason, has lived on reputation for the last couple of years and similar to Robbie Keane a stepover or neat dribble once in a while doesn't really cut it.
Set up the 2 goals in Cyprus. Set up the goal against the Czechs. Unlucky not to set up a goal when he caught what looked like a lost cause in San Marino, beat 2 players and the ball somehow missed the 3 Irish players. Set up the only goal in Israel. won a peno against the Faroes. Set up the only goal in Switzerland. Set up (another) 2 against Cyprus. That's 8 assists in the last campaign and a half.

[OwlsFan]

Kilbane only started because McGeady was injured, so Duff had to move over onto the right. If there was a right winger in the squad, Kilbane wouldn't have played


Wouldn't be too sure of that. Kilbane is the only one up front who wins headers and he has been given his place in the team by both Kerr and Stan for this reason. Let's be honest, he doesn't offer much else. Duff had to keep cutting infield because he was being played on the right. Not sure Kilbane's place is worth playing our most gifted player out of position.

I liked the look of Stokes when he came on. He is a bigger lad than I thought. Hopefully, if he developes, he might be able to win a few headers up front where we are very weak.

[rambler14]

Its time Robbie Keane stood down as captain, Shay Given should be captain and against San Marino the other night Richard Dunne should have been captain.
Hes too fat to be captain and captaincy is too much pressure for a fat bloke like Keane

[gustavo]

Hes too fat to be captain and captaincy is too much pressure for a fat bloke like Keane

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Superhoops]

....Kilbane is an honest footballer of limited ability who gives his best and people appreciate effort.

Duff, for whatever reason, has lived on reputation for the last couple of years.

Agree with both of these statements.

At least with Kilbane you know you will get effort. Duff appears to think he has a right to be in team without producing anything. He has not put the type of performance you would expect from a supposedly class player for some time.

Against Wales, I would keep Kilbane in and start Doyle and Stokes up front. I would not start Duff and Keane and see if warming their arses on the Croke Park bench for an hour improves their attitude and desire to play for Ireland.

As for Keane being captain, since he took the armband, I have seen him mouthing off at referees several times, but not once have I seen him give encouragement to new players (Stephen Ireland v Cyprus or Long/Stokes v San Marino) or players going through a bad time (O'Brien v Cyprus). A captain should be an automatic choice. Robbie is no longer an automatic choice.

[OneRedArmy]

Set up the 2 goals in Cyprus. Set up the goal against the Czechs. Unlucky not to set up a goal when he caught what looked like a lost cause in San Marino, beat 2 players and the ball somehow missed the 3 Irish players. Set up the only goal in Israel. won a peno against the Faroes. Set up the only goal in Switzerland. Set up (another) 2 against Cyprus. That's 8 assists in the last campaign and a half.Read that again and you'll see the straws you're clutching at.

Hint, nearly performing against international titans such as the Faroes and San Marino doesn't really cut it. I nearly won a penalty in Torshaven by attempting to go to the toilet during the first half.

Seriously, read what you've just written and think if the word "world class" comes to mind.

Didn't think so.

[tetsujin1979]

I seriously cannot believe people are genuinely considering dropping Duff in favor of Kilbane.

[liaml]

Duff is and has been our best player over the last six years.

Keane's a donkey.

[RiffRaff]

I think Stan was talking about building a team around Steven Reid? I feel a bit sorry for Stan because the players welcomed his appointment as "one of the lads", and his approach of being mates with the players has failed. Maybe it was the same with Kerr - some of the players feeling they didnt have to work so hard as they already knew him from the underage teams. I remember McCarthy caused outrage in telling Denis Irwin to prove himself, but thats exactly what Stan (or more likely his replacement) needs to do. Club status counts for nothing in international football - David Healy being a prime example. On the subject of Robbie Keane, i have noticed his best runs of form with Spurs seem to come after he's been dropped - he seems to score a lot coming on as a sub - maybe that says something.

[eirebhoy]

Read that again and you'll see the straws you're clutching at.

Hint, nearly performing against international titans such as the Faroes and San Marino doesn't really cut it. I nearly won a penalty in Torshaven by attempting to go to the toilet during the first half.

Seriously, read what you've just written and think if the word "world class" comes to mind.

Didn't think so.
So you have to be world class to get into the team?

[Qwerty]

Making Robbie captain was a very bad call, he doesn't have the maturity and I doubt he can step up to it. He is our leading golascorer but it needs a very firm hand to get the best out of Robbie, making him captain probably makes him less effective IMO.

[Superhoops]

Duff is and has been our best player over the last six years.
Keane's a donkey.
If that is the case, tell me in what games over the last 2 or 3 years he has given the type of performance you would associate with a 'world class', 'international class' or 'premiership class' player, especially when we needed a big individual performance from our 'best player'?

[FarBeag]

How can Keane go out today and according to Sky Sports web be spurs best player and be an absolute waster for us on Saturday? I cannot for the life of me understand this.

[sligoman]

Duff is and has been our best player over the last six years.Please tell me your taking the **** here? FFS, the guy just doesn't try anymore. Gives all for his club but **** all for us anymore. He's only in the team because of his reputation.

[liaml]

I should have said best outfield player really. When did I say Duff was World Class? At the moment he's way, way, way off that.

Here's a list of regulars we've had over the last six years.

Given - World Class
Finnan - Solid
Carr - Missed a lot of games, was World class but never the same after injury
Dunne - Solid
A O'Brien - Not bad for us
McShane - Young and been partly responsible for out last two goals
Harte - Good at set pieces, not enough pace
O'Shea - Average for Man Utd, shocking for us.
A Ried - Has some talent but rarely lasts the full 90, when he is fit
S. Ried - Could be solid but has had two serious injuries and has never done it anyway for Ireland
Kilbane - Works his socks off but is technically limited
Holland - Solid but went missing too often
RMK - World class but missed too many games for us (enforced or otherwise)
Duff - Was world class, still seems to have a hand in most of your goals, has had a bad 18 months.
Carsley - Should have been brought back once RMK retired (again)
R Keane - Shocking whinger, bad attitude, was world class but IMHO Jol has ruined him (and Defoe).
Morrison - Trys hard but is technically limited.

So which outfield player would you have before Duffer?

[Paddy Garcia]

Keane & Duff to quit if Stan sacked. Misplaced loyalty if ever there was. Or maybe looking for any excuse to get out.

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1774580

[ifk101]

Keane & Duff to quit if Stan sacked. Misplaced loyalty if ever there was. Or maybe looking for any excuse to get out. [/url]

If that's the case, there's no need for them to turn up for the matches in Croker. They're representing their country and its people, not Stan.

[Soper]

That's fine with me.Don't want people treating international football as a holiday.

[Saint Tom]

if that's captain lathargics response to the honour of representing his country he can go **** right off. Apparently when quizzed over the Cyprus debacle by a supporter who had shelled out a fortune to travel he responded "Ireland dont pay my wages".

this leech can **** off. Did Inter milan or Coventry make this guy? did they ****. Uninterested, unenthusiastic, bad example, bad attitude

[eirebhoy]

Gives all for his club but **** all for us anymore.
Absolute and utter rubbish. Ask Newcastle fans if he "tries" for his club. Duff is not the same player he was but he's still one of our best players. To say he doesn't try is silly. He gives all he can. Like most people you're actually using his reputation as a stick to beat him with.

[FarBeag]

I don’t think that there is any doubt Duff tries to play his best in an Irish shirt. In fact I think that he has always tried harder playing for Ireland than he does for his club. For some reason he is clearly lacking in confidence and has been for some time now. I just can’t put my finger on it. I like the guy allot and I really feel for him. I think he is trying too hard and nothing appears to be going right for him. I sincerely hope that he was misquoted (if he said anything at all) with the comment on quitting if Stan was ousted.

As for Keane. To be honest I could not give a flying fig about the guy. If he wants to go he can sod right off. I can’t argue with the fact that he is the all time goal getter for Ireland but it seems is believing in his own hype. His attitude is atrocious and all he thinks he has to do now is turn up for Ireland and stroll around complaining with his hands up in the air.

[sligoman]

So which outfield player would you have before Duffer?Roy Keane without a doubt and going on recent form, Lee Carsley.
Absolute and utter rubbish. Ask Newcastle fans if he "tries" for his club. Duff is not the same player he was but he's still one of our best players. To say he doesn't try is silly. He gives all he can. Like most people you're actually using his reputation as a stick to beat him with.We'll have to agree to disagree then because I for one believe his effort for Ireland the last couple of years, hasn't been good enough. Maybe he doesn't try for his club either, I don't know any Newcastle fans to ask and I myself don't watch them either cos I follow my national league instead of watching a television.

[Gypsy1890]

Keane & Duff to quit if Stan sacked. Misplaced loyalty if ever there was. Or maybe looking for any excuse to get out.

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1774580

They can't quit anyway FIFA rules state that players not appearing for their national team face a ban from playing for their clubs, as with Makelele when he wanted to quit France he wasn't allowed.

Anyway who cares, Robbie Keane thinks he's better than he is, when in fact he is sh!t, Stokes and Doyle should be the first choice strikers, with Dunne as captain. Duff is overrated, he's far from the player he was in his first season at Chelsea, I'd rather play Hunt instead of him.

[geysir]

if that's captain lathargics response to the honour of representing his country he can go **** right off. Apparently when quizzed over the Cyprus debacle by a supporter who had shelled out a fortune to travel he responded "Ireland dont pay my wages".
IF that's Keane's response, the key word is if. Let's see, the article is written by Fanning, not a good start, then there is not one quote from the players. Of course the other key word in the article is "believed".
Fanning's belief system when applied to journalism doesn't need facts in order to make a sensational article.
You appear to subscribe to this style and compound this fabrication with even more fairy tales about Keane.

[liaml]

Roy Keane without a doubt and going on recent form, Lee Carsley.We'll have to agree to disagree then because I for one believe his effort for Ireland the last couple of years, hasn't been good enough. Maybe he doesn't try for his club either, I don't know any Newcastle fans to ask and I myself don't watch them either cos I follow my national league instead of watching a television.

In the last six years Keane's

1. Missed the world cup
2. Missed the entire Euro 2004 campaign
3. Played the WC 2006 campaign (arguably past his best).
4. Been retired for the last 18 months

Duffer was our player of WC 2002 and was outstanding for the few years before and after. Are you really saying our best player _over_ the last six years has been Keane? Complete ********.

[brine3]

If you're going back six years then that's as far back as February 2001, so you'd have to include Keane captaining us to the World Cup with Man of the Match performances, almost singlehandedly wiping the Dutch and Portuguese midfield off the pitch.

Can you name two matches we won during the the last six years where Duff was the Man of the Match? Let alone matches against top European opposition?

During the 2006 qualifiers Roy Keane was past his pinnacle alright, but was still one of our most important, if not the most important, players, both on and off the pitch. Would we have drawn 0-0 in Paris without him on the pitch? I can still remember the anxiety amongst the supporters when he had to go off the pitch for about 20 seconds to change his shorts, followed by a massive sigh of relief that almost lifted the roof off of the Stade de France when he came back on.

[liaml]

If you're taking one or two performances into account then Kilbane was MoM in Paris! Using that logic he's been our most important player.

So - over 3.5 campaigns, two of which he didn't kick a ball and one of which he was past his best Roy Keane's been our best player? What have you guys been smoking!

[OwlsFan]

Keane & Duff to quit if Stan sacked. Misplaced loyalty if ever there was. Or maybe looking for any excuse to get out.

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1774580

It's not "misplaced" loyalty. It's loyalty and is to be commended. That is the sort of person Robbie is. Remember when he scored against WOlves, one of his former teams. He refused to celebrate. Compare that to Bellamy on Saturday or Boyd for Rangers against Kilmarnock. Robbie is an honourable man.

Also how many players have you EVER heard calling for the head of their manager? It doesn't happen and it shouldn't. It's up to others to decide the fate of the manager.

This anti-Robbie thing really amazes me. A guy who has turned up for EVERY game he's been asked to play for his country and because he's not playing well = he doesn't care. He's not playing well for Spurs either and I don't hear their fans chastising him.

Fickle fans: pathetic.

[Irish_Praha]

I think Duff is having a hard time regaining his form full stop. For club and country. He's going through a bad patch and hopefully he'll come out the other side a better player - and soon. I think he set such high standards a few years ago that even when he's playing OK people are disappointed with him. As has been pointed out, even though he has had average games he has still had a hand in most of our goals so far in this campaign. Again I really think it's a lack of form and not because he doesnt care.

[carloz]

It's not "misplaced" loyalty. It's loyalty and is to be commended.

This anti-Robbie thing really amazes me. A guy who has turned up for EVERY game he's been asked to play for his country and because he's not playing well = he doesn't care. He's not playing well for Spurs either and I don't hear their fans chastising him.

Fickle fans: pathetic.

I dont think anyone who has slated him is being fickle. The guy has a serious attitude problem and a constant chip on his shoulder. His loyalty should be with his country, not a patetic excuse for a manager. At least Kerr had the balls to take him off at home to Switzerland in our group decider a few years back, and id be fairly confident that Keane was one of those that did not want Kerr kept in the job. Where was his loyalty when Kerr was getting all the slack.......and he was getting it for drawing with Israel home and away, not getting destroyed by Holland and Cyprus, outplayed by Germany and Chile and embarressed by candle stick makers. The fact that Staunton would give the captaincy to a player with such a horrendous attitude, and a player that doesnt understand that he is selected as a forward, not an anchoring midfielder says it all about the qualities of Stauntons management.

[tetsujin1979]

At least Kerr had the balls to take him off at home to Switzerland in our group decider a few years back
most people would argue that one of Kerr's biggest mistakes was not taking off a defender to bring on a striker in that game.

[OwlsFan]

I dont think anyone who has slated him is being fickle. The guy has a serious attitude problem and a constant chip on his shoulder. His loyalty should be with his country, not a patetic excuse for a manager. At least Kerr had the balls to take him off at home to Switzerland in our group decider a few years back, and id be fairly confident that Keane was one of those that did not want Kerr kept in the job. Where was his loyalty when Kerr was getting all the slack.......and he was getting it for drawing with Israel home and away, not getting destroyed by Holland and Cyprus, outplayed by Germany and Chile and embarressed by candle stick makers. The fact that Staunton would give the captaincy to a player with such a horrendous attitude, and a player that doesnt understand that he is selected as a forward, not an anchoring midfielder says it all about the qualities of Stauntons management.

What evidence do you have that he has a chip on his shoulder or an attitude problem? When has he ever failed to answer the call of his country for ANY game he has been picked for?

Where did he ever attack Kerr in public? He mightn't have thought much of Kerr (we're all entitled to opinions) but I never heard him utter a negative word about him while he was playing for Ireland.

One of the reasons he has to drop back to midfield is because he is getting no service from that quarter.

Incidentally, we were destroyed by Cyprus under Kerr. But for Shay Given on the day the score could have been the same.

I was at the game in SM. Keane worked hard but to no great effect like the rest of the team. At least he got in on goal in the first half but missed the target. The hand waving aside, I have no problem with Keane or his attitude and I will always remember that he gave me one of my greatest moments in my life: that equaliser against Germany. How short memories are :rolleyes:

[Billsthoughts]

What evidence do you have that he has a chip on his shoulder or an attitude problem? When has he ever failed to answer the call of his country for ANY game he has been picked for?:
his constant complaining at every decision that doesnt go his way is one example of his poor attitude.


Where did he ever attack Kerr in public? He mightn't have thought much of Kerr (we're all entitled to opinions) but I never heard him utter a negative word about him while he was playing for Ireland.

some players were going off record at how unhappy they were with kerr. no evidance to suggest keane was one of them but lets not be totally naive



One of the reasons he has to drop back to midfield is because he is getting no service from that quarter.
surely he should be thinking of the team and not himself?


Incidentally, we were destroyed by Cyprus under Kerr. But for Shay Given on the day the score could have been the same.
. damn dastardly kerr using the underhand tactic of getting his goalkeeper to stop shots on goal.....:confused:



I was at the game in SM. Keane worked hard but to no great effect like the rest of the team. At least he got in on goal in the first half but missed the target. The hand waving aside, I have no problem with Keane or his attitude and I will always remember that he gave me one of my greatest moments in my life: that equaliser against Germany. How short memories are :rolleyes:

Have to say I agree with you here. he was no better or worse than anyone else. however what annoyed people was the silly over celebrating of a last minute win agaisnt san marino as well as post match comments which seemed removed from reality to say the least.

[NeilMcD]

Keane in my view is not playing well at the moment for Club or Country. He is not captain material either for ireland as he is a front player who sometimes can have off days or doing not much for 80 minutes. The captain in my view needs to be a solid player like a Richard Dunne or maybe Shay Given. Flair players generally dont make good captains. In my view Staunton should ask Keane to step down from the captaincy but Stauntons position is not safe either so he wont have the balls or the power to do that. The team lacks leaders both on and off the pitch at the moment.

[gustavo]

I think people need to have an on the field scapegoat and someone with Robbie's style is suitable for it. I agree that he isnt playing the best recently but I would always persevere with him as I think he is an exceptional talent and one of our finest players of all time.

[Condex]

I think people need to have an on the field scapegoat and someone with Robbie's style is suitable for it. I agree that he isnt playing the best recently but I would always persevere with him as I think he is an exceptional talent and one of our finest players of all time.

I would advise you to keep taking the tablets...:eek:

[John83]

I think Duff is having a hard time regaining his form full stop. For club and country. He's going through a bad patch and hopefully he'll come out the other side a better player - and soon. I think he set such high standards a few years ago that even when he's playing OK people are disappointed with him. As has been pointed out, even though he has had average games he has still had a hand in most of our goals so far in this campaign. Again I really think it's a lack of form and not because he doesnt care.
I'd agree. I think it was Brady (I'm really not sure, so don't take my word on this) who suggested he's put on too much muscle above the belt, and it's hurt his agility and pace. Whatever it is, Duff isn't the player he was, not for anyone. I'm inclined to defend Keane, while I see an argument against him for sure, but with Duff, it's not a case of not turning up for us - he's trying, but it's not really happening.

As for the guy who asked above for two great Duffer performances in the past six years, I'm crap at this sort of thing, but I'd start with vs Denmark in April(ish) 2002. He tore them to shreds. I'd add vs Spain in the world cup, when he was excellent, particularly when Quinn came on and he could play on the wing. He won a penalty, and was skipping past Spanish defenders as if they weren't there. I remember him jinking past two, going down to a tackle of a third, and then, flat on his back, rolling the ball out of reach of the three Spanish defenders around him, before getting up, still in possession of the ball... I miss that Duff. :(

[eirebhoy]

As for the guy who asked above for two great Duffer performances in the past six years, I'm crap at this sort of thing, but I'd start with vs Denmark in April(ish) 2002.
If you include friendlies he's man of the match in most of them.

[OwlsFan]

I think people need to have an on the field scapegoat and someone with Robbie's style is suitable for it. I agree that he isnt playing the best recently but I would always persevere with him as I think he is an exceptional talent and one of our finest players of all time.


Hear hear. It's the Irish tradition to turn on your own and your former heroes. The attacks on him turn my stomach. The guy has lost form. No doubt about that at both international and club level. However, he has never failed to answer the call to the green jersey and no excuses about sham injuries etc etc. I for one will be sticking by our all time record goal scorer until the boo boys eventually drive him out.

[carloz]

Ok then Owls fan, ill give you a few examples. Switzerland at home and away twice. Russia home and away. France home and away, Germany away. Czech's home, Israel away. All very big games, all games where Robbie was very poor. These games are spread over a long time so you cant simply say he is in a loss of form. If thats the case his loss of form has been in evidence since 2002. And dont spout this **** about him being top goalscorer, all you have to do is look at the opposition he got most of those goals against. the big games that i mentioned at the start where Robbie was really needed, he done very little. im not aiming all my abuse towards Robbie, obviously there are ten other Irish players on the pitch during those matches gernerally underperforming but these are the matches where Robbie's qualities were needed, rather than scoring hat tricks against San Marino and scoring in friendlies


One of the reasons he has to drop back to midfield is because he is getting no service from that quarter.

Im sorry mate, you are entitled to your own opinion but giving this excuse for Robbie continually droping back is quite silly. Against Germany in Germany so many times Kevin Doyle found himself holding up the ball to wait for Robie to get back into the position that he shouldbe in at the start of the attack. if he is not geting the service then thats the midfielders problems. he cant take over that job, he has to realise his postion in the team

[fergalr]

Ok then Owls fan, ill give you a few examples. Switzerland at home and away twice. Russia home and away. France home and away, Germany away. Czech's home, Israel away. All very big games, all games where Robbie was very poor.

Agreed.

Capt Robbie defenders - lets hear your top 10 Robbie performances (not goals but performances where he has demonstrated that he gives it his all in a green shirt).