Robbie Keane

[as_i_say]

its not robbie's fault he was made captain-anyone can see (except stan) that it was a poor choice. richard dunne or shay given were the obvious choices, but no-stan is the man.

[Wolfie]

Handing him the captaincy was aimed at getting the best out of Keane. Maybe Stan felt Keane would mature with the honour that went with being the captain and that he'd get some influential performances from him installed as captain.

It's only served to inflate an already over blown ego and has had no influence for the good on the teams performance.

[DeNiro]

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).



I'm not defending him here but only trying to reinforce the point. His best game I think was against Croatia at home in 1998 (maybe his 3rd / 4th cap),.That's not today or yesterday. He's been pretty average since. To be fair to him as well he got injured in the Russia game at home in 2003.

[geysir]

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.
Don't know where you are coming from with Robbie being very poor in the game against the Czechs. Even with the glaring goal chance missed, his performance that night was very good, re positioning, attacking angles, distribution, crosses, closing down and tackles made.
Are there questions about his commitment? Do people so easily forget that he turned up for the Albania game and tried to perform.

Its also up to the team and manager to use Robbie. In the few club games that I have seen of him, I think Hodddle understood that best.
Where is the Jamican PM, he wouldn´t stand for this sort of thing.

[carloz]

I didnt think he was great against the Czechs, he wasnt in our top 4 performers on the night. Carsley, McShane and Kelly looked much more impressive that night. I was at that gam and i noticed that he was continously coming out to the left wing. I dont actually have a hatred of the player as it would appear in my recent posts, but i hate a striker that wont stay in his position. This was very evident in Germany where Kevin Doyle must have been getting very ****ed off of being surrounded by German defenders while his strike partner was 25 yards behind him

Whats this about the Albania game.......im sure all the 11 on the pitch tried to perform. that was the game where it took an OG in the last minute to beat them yeah??

[geysir]

It is forgotten, Albania away, turned up to play right after his father's funeral.
The game wasn't that important, should have stayed at home.
Not related to any point you made

[Reddladd]

What is Robbies defined role? Is he a striker, winger, playmaker, midfielder? If he's a striker then he isn't scoring enough goals, fact! His record with one on ones with goalkeepers is poor, we saw that again Wednesday night. On his day he can be brilliant but all too often he's poor, frustrating to watch and has too much to say.
Having said all that we cannot do without him as the options are not there just right now. However if I was Robbie looking back over the last 4 or 5 seasons, aside from my bulging bank account, I wouldn't be completely happy with how things have gone.
Robbie is our all time top goal scorer that's no argument but I would be interested to know how he would fare if goals scored were weighted i.e 5 points for a goal against the top seed in the group etc etc down to 1 point for a minnow. I would think that the likes of Stapleton and Givens would compare favourably with Robbies record.

[Reddladd]

To follow on from the last point maybe there is a statistically gifted individual with some time on their hands who could work out a co-efficient and see how strikers/goalscorers compare over the past few years.

[eirebhoy]

He scores about as much as Wayne Rooney.

[citizenerased]

yeah preferably, would like him to play like a captain, and score in games that matter...that would be a start..

[jmurphyc]

does anyone know the last time he scored away from home?

[citizenerased]

id say faroes was it ?

[jmurphyc]

i think it was in the world cup (disregarding friendlies). that's pathetic.

[carloz]

Yeah he deserves credit for coming out and playing in Albania but that doesnt defeat the argument i made. I have not at any time questioned his commitment. And that game against Albania was a massive game as a matter of fact. Russia had lost there and Swizerland drew(i think). If we had won that one instead of gotten a draw then we would could have got to the playoffs with the draw a draw away to Switzerland in the last game rather than having to beat them

[tetsujin1979]

If we had won that one instead of gotten a draw then we would could have got to the playoffs with the draw a draw away to Switzerland in the last game rather than having to beat them
If we beat Russia instead of draw at home we wouldn't have needed to beat the Swiss away, and if my auntie had balls....

[carloz]

I was using that argument to show the importance of the Albania away game, someone earlier said it wasnt an important game

[tetsujin1979]

I was using that argument to show the importance of the Albania away game, someone earlier said it wasnt an important game
After the opening 2 games in that series, every game became important, we couldn't afford anymore slip ups.

[geysir]

I was using that argument to show the importance of the Albania away game, someone earlier said it wasnt an important game
Of course that game was important.
I said it wasn't that important, as in not more than life or death as in Robbie's situation.
As it turned out, he didn't play at all well and wouldn't have been missed.

[FarBeag]

See the goal he scored for Spurs to-day.Why cant he do this for Ireland?

[OwlsFan]

He has 20 times or so :rolleyes:

[eirebhoy]

The Israel goal was similar.

[eirebhoy]

He's just after scoring another goal the exact same as the previous one.:eek: I think it's pretty obvious he needs to play with a big man.

[OwlsFan]

He's just after scoring another goal the exact same as the previous one.:eek: I think it's pretty obvious he needs to play with a big man.

That's exactly what I was going to say. Remember his goal against Germany? Two similar ones today. On the shoulder of a big man looking for the flick. Alas we no longer have a Niall Quinn.

[dodgycanadian]

Gary Doherty ne one?

Even made a nice flick on to berbatov for the 4th goal. I just think the service isnt there when he places for Ireland.

[Qwerty]

One thing to bear in mind has been Keane's club form this season, before today he had scored 7 goals for Spurs, and only 2 premiership goals. Interestingly he has also picked up a yellow card in 4 of his last 5 games!!! That to me suggests a pretty frustrated player.

[dodgycanadian]

To be honest he didnt really deserve a yellow today. Was chasing down Montella and montella swung his arm around and gave him a knock to the face.

[kev107]

felt he complained a bit too much to get montella sent off. At 4-0 and in the 90th minute is a player getting sent off from the other team gonna make much of a difference?

[NeilMcD]

Montella elbowed him, keane was right annoyed by that to be honest. Two great goals he scored yesterday and it does show he likes a big man beside him as he reads the flick ons really well. Jol Should stick wtih Berbatov and Keane to be honest as Berbatov has it all up front in my view except blistering pace.

[OwlsFan]

felt he complained a bit too much to get montella sent off. At 4-0 and in the 90th minute is a player getting sent off from the other team gonna make much of a difference?

Most would have gone down clutching the face and rolling around. Robbie clutched his face and then realising it wasn't too bad didn't make a meal of it. Not sure why he was yellow carded.

[carloz]

i might have interpreted it wrong but when Keane went over to the referree he pointed to e dug outs as if to say send him off, if this was the case then thats very poor, i hate that. However he had an excellent game, only his second one in total this season(the other one being at home to Chelsea where he gave Boulahrouz a torrid time)

[NeilMcD]

Wrong he was top class against Sheff Utd at home also just off the top of my head, in fact I would say thats one of his best ever games.

[geysir]

Strangely enough, apart from the 2 superb goals and a few passes, I thought Robbie was out of sorts and struggled to impose himself against Fulham.

[Saint Tom]

easy knowing it wasn't a green and white kit he was wearing. two goals against a poxy side like fulham in the FA cup for some English club and all is forgiven? my arse

[eirebhoy]

easy knowing it wasn't a green and white kit he was wearing. two goals against a poxy side like fulham in the FA cup for some English club and all is forgiven? my arse
After the recent San Marino game and Sunday's game it's finally clear to me that the right partner is essential for Keane. Playing him with Long again would but the equivalent of playing a player out of position. At Inter he was considered an attacking midfielder so we shouldn't be relying on him as our main goalscorer, even though he does score plenty.

[jmurphyc]

i thought in the past that maybe we should play him in an advanced midfield role. it mightn't work, but i think it's at least worth a try in a friendly at some point. robbie does seem to work a lot better with the right partner (generally taller players) but at the moment he doesn't seem to be working with the other strikers in the squad and the only target man option seems to be alan lee who has been tried and didn't seem up to international football. so i think we should either drop him or play him deeper.

[endabob1]

Wrong he was top class against Sheff Utd at home also just off the top of my head, in fact I would say thats one of his best ever games.




Strangely enough, apart from the 2 superb goals and a few passes, I thought Robbie was out of sorts and struggled to impose himself against Fulham..

Both true, he was playing well in the first month of the seaosn but apart from that he's been out of sorts, probably only started on Sunday because Defoe was out it's been clear that Defoe & Berbatov are the better pairing whereas Keane & Mido worked well last season.

[kingdom hoop]

on the captaincy issue, i've been to three spurs games in the past few seasons and its been very noticable before the games how keane goes around to the players individually and has words with them trying to gee them up. i realise he could fulfill this function when not captain but given that he takes it upon himself anyway displays a certain enthusiasm and attitude that are suited to captaincy.

his advice to the players to go out and have fun v SM was poor, but being the captain under stan can not be too easy, what are you meant to say 'dont mind him, he hasnt a clue'? the problem with him being captain,IMO, is that he probably gets an inflated sense of his own importance, in that he tries to do too much and doesnt focus on his role in the team. but the issue there, is that stan probably doesnt tell him his role. i think doyle and keane has the makings of a very good partnership, but alas one that will require the boys to figure it out for themselves instead of direction from management. delighted he scored those great goals at the weekend, should help his confidence a lot, a good run of form before march would be nice(but then will he be too cocky and see how many laps of croker he can do!)

[John83]

One thing to bear in mind has been Keane's club form this season, before today he had scored 7 goals for Spurs, and only 2 premiership goals. Interestingly he has also picked up a yellow card in 4 of his last 5 games!!! That to me suggests a pretty frustrated player.
He's been injured a good bit though.

[strangeirish]

on the captaincy issue, i've been to three spurs games in the past few seasons and its been very noticable before the games how keane goes around to the players individually and has words with them trying to gee them up.
Was that the mens or the ladies squad?:D

[zenokelly]

Put Anto Stokes up with Doyle in Croker wnd be done with it. The 2 goals on Sunday proves Keane has such talent but he has no heart.

Every Irish game is like a holiday for him.

Stan needs to put him in his place which is on the bench and Richie Dunne desrves the captaincy

[Nailer77]

Stan won't put him in his place though, he's made him captain (?) and has allied himself to Keane, in much the same way that Eriksson did with Beckham.

[dr_peepee]

Put Anto Stokes up with Doyle in Croker wnd be done with it. The 2 goals on Sunday proves Keane has such talent but he has no heart.

Every Irish game is like a holiday for him.

:rolleyes:

I sware lads, as Irish fans we're being painted as mindless tabloid readers by the FAI and even some former players to counter the recent poor performances of the team, manager and the Ascotiation.... But ridiculous comments like that give them credence!!

Keane is our best available forward.... But he should never be beyond getting subbed. End of!!

[Kingdom]

i thought in the past that maybe we should play him in an advanced midfield role. it mightn't work, but i think it's at least worth a try in a friendly at some point. robbie does seem to work a lot better with the right partner (generally taller players) but at the moment he doesn't seem to be working with the other strikers in the squad and the only target man option seems to be alan lee who has been tried and didn't seem up to international football. so i think we should either drop him or play him deeper.

There is so much wrong with this post. Murph you are probably right in terms of where Keane would be effective minus a front man - attacking midfield , and you are definitly right in saying he plays well off a big man.
But to do the first option, you would have to change the system in some way shape or form. Either the wingers would have to be dropped, making a three man midfield with Keane advanced behind two strikers or, a three man functional midfield with two advance players off a man striker.
This was tried by Kerr and the players themselves said we should stick to what we know. Basically stop trying anything different and let us at 442. Also anytime we do play two off a striker, one of the 'two off' tend to be not suited to the position. A la Elliot against Croatia and Sweden. Why not play Duff and Keane behind Doyle? Or McGeady and Keane behind Long/Stokes?
And as for Alan Lee being tried in international football, don;t give me that. When we 'try' players in matches, its usually out of position or surrounded by other newbies who we're also trying out!

[Nailer77]

Doyle and Keane really should compliment each other quite well. Doyles good in the air and makes the ball stick. Keane could easily drop off him and come deep and with us and our remarkably limited midfield options this could well be the answer. Two sitting midfielders in S Reid and Carsley and then play with two out and out wingers in Duff and McGeady. I think when Doyles out its more of a problem because we simply don't have anyone else to lead the line, Robbie for all his qualities isn't really a centre foward, the other options in Morrison/Lee/Stokes aren't really at the level required, yet in the case of Stokes.

and as for players deciding that they know 442 and they should stick to it....they should do as they're ****ing told and not be so english in they're outlook on the game.

[Billsthoughts]

On a lighter aside(and god knows this thread needs it).....
robbie is listed as one of Kevin Rowlands freinds on his official myspace...how random is that....
deffo cant drop him now....
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=135573349

[NeilMcD]

Scored 2 again today and was sent off but I heard it was harsh. I will see later on MOTD2. Thats four goals in the last 3 games for him. Hope the rec card is recinded so he does not get suspended.

[gustavo]

On a slightly related note , when Keane got sent off , how stupid are footballers?
Every time the ref makes a decision they disagree with they are all surrounding the ref and being generally agressive towards him and i cant remember any time this has had the effect of changing the refs mind.
I wish they would treat the refs with the same respect rugby refs seem to get.

[tricky_colour]

On a lighter aside(and god knows this thread needs it).....
robbie is listed as one of Kevin Rowlands freinds on his official myspace...how random is that....
deffo cant drop him now....
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=135573349

I was wondering it it was genuinely his, and apparently it is but someone else
maintaiins it. Athough I suppose anyone can create a page using whatever name they like and say whatever they want and you have no way of knowing if is genuine or not. Damien Duff is on there also, as is Zidane and Maradonna,
and no doubt Elvis.

[tricky_colour]

I have seen the 'handball' frame by frame on my PC and you cannot say for sure he handballed it. I don't think he did but basically you have to 'guess' what happens between frames. He should be given the benefit of the doubt IMO

[danonion]

On a slightly related note , when Keane got sent off , how stupid are footballers?
Every time the ref makes a decision they disagree with they are all surrounding the ref and being generally agressive towards him and i cant remember any time this has had the effect of changing the refs mind.
I wish they would treat the refs with the same respect rugby refs seem to get.

A few weeks ago the Roma (I think) goalkeeper was sent off, and he politely pleaded with the referee, who then consulted with the linesman, and the red was commuted to yellow.