Robbie Keane

[old git]

I thought he was a Leeds fan?! He should stay put. If he goes, he'll get the odd game. Just look at Torres at the start of last season! I hope he says put. He's to good to be played in a squad rotation system. I would argue, on his day, he'd be one of the top 5 centre-forwards in the the prem playing for the home nations.

if liverpool offer you loads of money of course your a boyhood liverpool fan .. cannot understand the move as i reckon he will start less games than at tottenham as torres is the no1 at liverpool ..

[NeilMcD]

Get with the real world Neil, EVERY club does it incuding your own. I'd be fairly certain that almost every major transfer dealing starts off with a phone call to the agent or the player himself to see would he actually be interested in a move.

Doesn't make it right but to slag Liverpool as some sort of beastly club because of it is just immature. Take off the Tottenham shades.

Spurs are scum too and dont for a second think that they do not do something similar. Levy is a dodgy git.

[old git]

He's been given the legendary number 7 shirt worn by Smicer and Kewell. A big honour for Keane


nice one :D:D

[Drumcondra 69er]

You are talking through your hat. Liverpool have given the money to a Spurs charity. They did not have to give this money. It is bascially an admission of guilt in return for Spurs dropping their complaing. Both sides win as Spurs get the money and rid of a player who wanted to leave.

But it does not get away from the fact that Liverpool behaved disgracefully in this case.

I'm no Liverpool fan but they've behaved exactly how 99% of clubs often do in relations to transfers, Spurs have tapped up plenty of players in their time, that's how the transfer market works. Anoyone who thinks otherwise is being hopelessly naive. Whether it's an international team mate having a word or an agent getting teh nod it's rampant. Ferguson has made an art form out of it and Man U yet bitches when Real try to do it to one of his players he gets the hum as it shows them up as not being 'the greatest club in the world' (tm) the theatre of dreams. It's laughable to be honest and only becoming a big deal these days as Sky Sports News have hours of sh1te television to fill.

I'm not saying it's right but it is pratically the norm.

[Hibs4Ever]

Great transfer for player & club. Liverpool will still never come close to winning the league as long as Benitez is in charge though

[RivaldoBabb]

Its a great signing. Liverpool need someone who can help Torres with the goals, Keanes record over the last 4 seasons is nothing short of excellent. Robbie gets to play with better players and should improve because of that and he can expect lots of rest throughout the season as Benetiz likes to rotate. And for Ireland it has to be good as Keane hasnt really taken his Totenham form to the international level in the last few years, the change might be good for him. And as a Liverpool fan, im just delighted we have another Irish player playing for us.

[Denis The Red]

anyway...Keane great signin for Liverpool and good for Ireland that now we wont only have O Shea and Finnan playing TOP level footy. The more players we have playing CL and challenging the better.
Ofcourse players can improve when 28,how much he improves remains to be seen...

KEANOOOOOOOOO!!

I agree that Ireland will get the benefit of Keane going to the scousers, and I do believe that he will be a success there, Torres and he will do well together, however I'm not sure it's important to have as many players in the Champions League as possible to be a success ourselves. It would be nice but I'd rather see players playing regular football at decent, ambitious clubs like City, Spurs or Blackburn rather than wallowing away in the reserves of a big club or in League 1.
And you forgot Aiden McGeady, he plays regular CL football or does that not count because he's at Celtic.

[co. down green]

Benitez on Keane (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3881938,00.html)

"We were looking for a player who can be clever and can be prudent and could play alongside Torres, He can play with Torres or (Dirk) Kuyt or the other strikers, and also on the right. We knew that he was a very good signing in terms of the commitment, the quality and the intelligence of the player.

"He is a player who can give us a lot of goals. We were looking for the work-rate he can give us, the game intelligence and also the goals."

[newbie]

Denis The Red,

I forgot McGeady,slip of the mind. Dont be so uptight....i see Mcgeady as one of our leading players,have stook up for him many a time when people slate him.

I also shouldnt have forgotten the Drogs players who are in the CL aswel...

[inexile]

Benitez on Keane (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3881938,00.html)

"We were looking for a player who can be clever and can be prudent and could play alongside Torres, He can play with Torres or (Dirk) Kuyt or the other strikers, and also on the right. We knew that he was a very good signing in terms of the commitment, the quality and the intelligence of the player.

"He is a player who can give us a lot of goals. We were looking for the work-rate he can give us, the game intelligence and also the goals."


thats the one thing im worried about in relation to this move, i can see robbie playing a lot on the right. i hope im wrong but it wouldnt surprise me in the slightest.

[mypost]

Keane will get rested, hopefully for useless cup matches and that's no harm. The extent of Rafa's rotation system is greatly exaggerated.


There's no such thing as a "useless" competitive match. :mad:

[co. down green]

Robbie press conference (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/2468551/Robbie-Keane-completes-move-from-Tottenham-to-Liverpool.html)

[dublinred]

Liverpool don't play with the same amount of flair as Spurs do, they are more defensive they play a counter attacking game , Benirez likes one striker so expect Robbie will be on the right wing most of the time , he will get fewer chances and games than he would of got at Spurs , dissapointed he moved but can see his reasons.

[tetsujin1979]

Liverpool don't play with the same amount of flair as Spurs do, they are more defensive they play a counter attacking game , Benirez likes one striker so expect Robbie will be on the right wing most of the time , he will get fewer chances and games than he would of got at Spurs , dissapointed he moved but can see his reasons.
I think he'll end up playing where Gerrard was last season, behind Torres. This will push Gerrard back into midfield, or on the right to replace Kuyt

[Maroon 7]

Liverpool don't play with the same amount of flair as Spurs do

Spurs have to attack seeing as they can't defend.

Liverpool for an allegedly defensive team still score loads of goals. Robbie will get his fair share.

[TheBoss]

I can not see him being a success, the way that Liverpool played for the last few seasons, might not be suited to him unless Benitez is playing something different. Also, €25m, is way too much for him, he is about €10-€15 at best imo

[tetsujin1979]

Considering Bent's signed for Spurs for 16.5m, and Keane kept him out of the team for the better part of 2 seasons, I reckon he's worth far more than 10-15m

[pete]

Considering Bent's signed for Spurs for 16.5m, and Keane kept him out of the team for the better part of 2 seasons, I reckon he's worth far more than 10-15m

Based on that logic you are making an assumption that Bent was worth his price.

Keane needs to play games regularly as he not a player to come off the bench & score. I see him playing left forward/midfield for big games.

20m sterling for 28 year old is expensive.

[Maroon 7]

Based on that logic you are making an assumption that Bent was worth his price.

Keane needs to play games regularly as he not a player to come off the bench & score. I see him playing left forward/midfield for big games.

20m sterling for 28 year old is expensive.

Well Berbatov is 27 and Spurs are looking for 30 million for him.

Andy Johnson is 27 and looks like he's going to Fulham for 13 million.

That's the market place in England at the moment.

[Emmet]

I said improve dramatically ... Keane's game may seem improved while playing with liverpool because he's playing with better players, but when he goes back to play for his country, he'll still be dealing with the same level as he is now.I don't think anyone's expecting a 'dramatic' improvement but - provided he plays regularly - he should move up another level as a player. The culture and mindset at Liverpool will be different to anything he has experienced before (with the exception of Inter Milan) - even if we see greater maturity and a raised expectation of himself and his teammates, that would be significant enough for me. It all hinges on him playing regularly - Keane strikes me as one of those 'confidence' players ... sustained periods watching Torres, Gerrard et al. from the bench might have the complete opposite effect.

[Emmet]

I think he'll end up playing where Gerrard was last season, behind Torres. This will push Gerrard back into midfield, or on the right to replace KuytI'd be surprised if Benitez changed Gerrard and Torres - the general feeling towards the end of last season was that had he played that combination, up front, from the start then Liverpool would have been in a position to challenge for the League. He has bought established strikers before and played them in midfield - I have a feeling that could be where Robbie ends up.

[DotTV]

I don't think anyone's expecting a 'dramatic' improvement but - provided he plays regularly - he should move up another level as a player. The culture and mindset at Liverpool will be different to anything he has experienced before (with the exception of Inter Milan) - even if we see greater maturity and a raised expectation of himself and his teammates, that would be significant enough for me. It all hinges on him playing regularly - Keane strikes me as one of those 'confidence' players ... sustained periods watching Torres, Gerrard et al. from the bench might have the complete opposite effect.

Robbie dug his heels in bigtime when he was dropped at Spurs and ended up coming back to be captain. Fair enough he thrives on confidence, but in reality all players do. I think he knows what's ahead of him and he's got enough character to fight for his place. Good move for him and nice to see our best player join one of the top teams in Europe.

[Emmet]

That's true DotTV but he wasn't competing with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard at Spurs ... hopefully he isn't under any illusions and realises that he will have to work doubly hard just to have a chance of holding down a regular place.

[Razors left peg]

Just as a matter of interest those people on this forum who are saying that Keane will be on the bench/midfield or basically not a regular striker for liverpool, are they the same people who critisise Shay Given for not having the ambition to leave Newcastle or Damien Duff for choosing Newcastle over Liverpool when he made his move. I think Robbie Keane deserves alot of credit for wanting to better himself as a player and push himself to higher levels playing in the Champions League. He could easily have settled for spending the rest of his career being loved by Spurs fans but never achieving very much.
Also to say hes is not worth the transfer fee is unfair. Look at the prices that are being asked for Arashvin,Berbatov,Andy Johnson,Gareth Barry etc. Im pretty sure that in their time together at Spurs Robbie has more goals and more assists than Berbatov but yet Spurs are asking well over 30 million for him. Arashvin has burst onto the world scene in last seasons UEFA Cup and 2 good games in the Euros and he gets talked about as a superstar, hes 27 and only one year younger than Robbie, yet Robbie has been playing consistantly well for nearly 10 years now at club and international level. Sometimes I think we look at a foreign name and automatically assume he is infinately superior to an Irish lad.In my opinion Keane is one of the most under rated players playing in the Premiership for last few seasons and Im delighted that his talent has been recognised by one of the big 4.
The only bitch of it is that as a Man U fan Im gonna have to start hating him now ;)

[lionelhutz]

Benitez will hardly ever use Keane on the right. He'll be played in behind as the link man between midfield and torres - like the Bergkamp/Zola role. Gerrard played that role excellently for Liverpool in the second half of last season and I must say I was surprised (but delighted) that Liverpool were interested in Keane.

But now Gerrard will be dropped back into midfield with Mascherano or else on the right with Alonso and mascherano in the middle (thats hoping they don't sign Barry who's inferior to all three).

I think Gerrard, Keane and Torres, when played in the above formation, will be a joy to watch.

[4tothefloor]

Liverpool don't play 2 up front, they play 3 behind the striker. Keane will be part of that attacking three. Gerrard will prob play on the right with license to roam ala Ronaldo. The role will suit him fine :D Pennant will be the next out the door as now no longer needed.

---------------------------Reina----------------------------

Arbeloa-----------Skrtel------------Agger/Carragher-------Dossena

--------------Mascherano-----------Alonso/Barry-------------

--------Gerrard-------------Keane-----------------Babel-----

---------------------------Torres----------------------------

Not bad, bench is quite strong, and still another signing or 2 to come. Keane will be a starter, no doubt about that!

[youngirish]

Arashvin has burst onto the world scene in last seasons UEFA Cup and 2 good games in the Euros and he gets talked about as a superstar, hes 27 and only one year younger than Robbie, yet Robbie has been playing consistantly well for nearly 10 years now at club and international level.
Don't get all the hype about Arshavin he's been around for years and did nothing up until winning the UEFA cup last season (the Carling Cup of European football). He had two good games in the Euros and was absolute pants in the final one. To put things into perspective Gary Breen played a stormer in at least 3 of his 4 games in the WC in 2002. Any manager would be insane to buy Arshavin for the prices being touted.

The hype surrounding him baffles me to be honest. He must have a top PR relations team.

[lionelhutz]

Liverpool don't play 2 up front, they play 3 behind the striker. Keane will be part of that attacking three. Gerrard will prob play on the right with license to roam ala Ronaldo. The role will suit him fine :D Pennant will be the next out the door as now no longer needed.

---------------------------Reina----------------------------

Arbeloa-----------Skrtel------------Agger/Carragher-------Dossena

--------------Mascherano-----------Alonso/Barry-------------

--------Gerrard-------------Keane-----------------Babel-----

---------------------------Torres----------------------------

Not bad, bench is quite strong, and still another signing or 2 to come. Keane will be a starter, no doubt about that!

I'd agree with the above team. It's the most probable team Benitez will use in the big games.

I doubt that Carragher is in competition with Agger though - it's most likely Agger and Skrtel will be competing to partner Carragher. And I hope to God Barry doesn't sign.

It looks a very strong side - whether its strong enough to sustain a title challenge remains to be seen. Too many variables with Benitez at the helm.

[third policeman]

Arbeloa is apparently heading back to Spain for personal reasons. Degen is out for two months so unless Finnan is part of a potential Barry deal (which I think looks doubtful), there may be two Irish starters in Liverpool's first choice 11.

Dying to see Robbie tonight (will be flicking between LFC game and Drogs). Hope Liverpool play with a little more purpose than in their other pre-season jaunts.

[tetsujin1979]

Barry staying at Aston Villa now, according to the Villa official site: http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1354618,00.html

[gustavo]

Dying to see Robbie tonight (will be flicking between LFC game and Drogs). Hope Liverpool play with a little more purpose than in their other pre-season jaunts.

Drogs played last night so you wont have to worry about that!

[sligoman]

Liverpool game on tv tonight?

[Razors left peg]

Liverpool game on tv tonight?
Sky sports 1 at 8.30

[newbie]

Barry staying at Aston Villa now, according to the Villa official site: http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1354618,00.html

yeh i read that on another site also but the lads here in work are saying that they heard on the radio that 17.5mil + Finnan deal has been agreed tonight and another heard it on his way into work...
dont know what to be beleiving.

[Emmet]

Benitez will hardly ever use Keane on the right.Quote from Liverpool's website today:

But Benitez is still remaining open-minded over the issue of Tores and Keane forming a straightforward striking partnership or whether his new man will be required to operate in wider areas.

“Everybody knows Keane is a very good player, a clever player.

“He can play on the right, as a central striker or in a deeper position,” Benitez added.

“You can play 4-4-2 with Keane and Torres, you can play 4-2-3-1 if he is on the right or left. It won’t be a problem.”

There's every chance we'll see Robbie on the right side of midfield wearing a red shirt next season.

[eirebhoy]

Don't get all the hype about Arshavin he's been around for years and did nothing up until winning the UEFA cup last season (the Carling Cup of European football). He had two good games in the Euros and was absolute pants in the final one. To put things into perspective Gary Breen played a stormer in at least 3 of his 4 games in the WC in 2002. Any manager would be insane to buy Arshavin for the prices being touted.

The hype surrounding him baffles me to be honest. He must have a top PR relations team.
He's a top player on football manager which was out long before Euro 2008. Serious post btw. FM is the king of football scouts. :) He was class for Zenet all of last season.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Keane's friendly debut's v Villarreal is on Sky Sports at half 8 if anyone's interested.

[Royal rover]

overall a good piece of business from Spurs - regardless whether he's Irish or not i hope he does well, Robbie was never and will never be world class,and there's no way any other club would of paid that sort of money for him, that said you can't knock him for wanting to play champions league

[tetsujin1979]

He's a top player on football manager which was out long before Euro 2008. Serious post btw. FM is the king of football scouts. :) He was class for Zenet all of last season.

Swallows and summers there eirebhoy, he had one decent season, and 2 games at Euro 2008, I'm still to be convinced.

[eirebhoy]

Swallows and summers there eirebhoy, he had one decent season, and 2 games at Euro 2008, I'm still to be convinced.
I dunno. Football Manager was released last October. ;) I think people have doubts about his consistency but there's no about his talent.

[tetsujin1979]

My doubts about Arshavin would be that when he's marked heavily, he seems to disappear off the pitch. There's no doubt about his talent, but only when he's given the space to display it. I don't think he'll be able for the physical side of the Premiership. Spain completely shut him down in euro 2008, after 2 fantastic displays

[tetsujin1979]

anyway, back on topic, interview with Robbie after making his debut for Liverpool: http://www.skysports.com/video/0,20285,12606_3888786,00.html

[sligoman]

Why is there discussion about Steven Gerrard on a Ireland forum?

[NeilMcD]

Yeah feel free to move all posts about Gerrard to a thread on World Forum if you like. Got a bit side tracked there but sure woe be tide the guy who is slightly critical of a Liverpool fan. For he will feel the wrath of the victim seeking wannabe scousers.

[eirebhoy]

Yeah feel free to move all posts about Gerrard to a thread on World Forum if you like.
Done. :)

[loscherland]

Well that didn't take very long...

He's Quick,
He's Red,
He talks like Father Ted,
Robbie Keane, Robbie Keane!!!

Where's that 'songs' thread gone... We should just pay the scousers to come with some for us... cause in all fairness we're rubbish at it!

[hp123]

Well that didn't take very long...

He's Quick,
He's Red,
He talks like Father Ted,
Robbie Keane, Robbie Keane!!!

Where's that 'songs' thread gone... We should just pay the scousers to come with some for us... cause in all fairness we're rubbish at it!

I wouldn't pay too much for that one!

[NeilMcD]

It only makes sense if is sung by non Irish fans. Because he does not sound one bit like Dermot Morgan to the Irish ear.

[beautifulrock]

It only makes sense if is sung by non Irish fans. Because he does not sound one bit like Dermot Moran to the Irish ear.

Neil, its Morgan but anyhow Morgan,Moran to any ear sounds the same :p

[NeilMcD]

Neil, its Morgan but anyhow Morgan,Moran to any ear sounds the same :p

sorry it was a typo. Late at night, typing skills not the best.