Robbie Keane

[eirebhoy]

Although banging in thirty goals a season at Celtic might make him feel like the best striker on earth when he comes back to play for us against proper,organised defences he would struggle.
Larsson had a mediocre record at international level before he joined Celtic, since the World cup 2002 qualifiers he has been averaging almost a goal a game for Sweden. I'd love for Celtic to sign Keane but as PP says, there is absolutely no chance of that happening.

BTW, a few weeks on the bench is always good for any player in the world. By watching the silly things Robbie does on the pitch none of us on this forum would do the same because we know how frustrating it is to watch. The same would happen to Keane. He'd learn a lot things from watching the football from the sidelines. He's had his few injuries and always comes back a different player.

[DolansWaistcoat]

BTW, a few weeks on the bench is always good for any player in the world. By watching the silly things Robbie does on the pitch none of us on this forum would do the same because we know how frustrating it is to watch. The same would happen to Keane. He'd learn a lot things from watching the football from the sidelines. He's had his few injuries and always comes back a different player.[/QUOTE]

A few games on the bench maybe but any longer and he'd have to consider his future there,he needs first team football and we all know he's our number 1 striker so Ireland needs him to play regularly.

I don't think putting a player on the bench will make him play any better when he gets back in the starting line up.Yes,they'll probably try a lot harder when they get back but it's not gonna make him any better as a striker.It probably pi$$es thhem off at first and the longer they stay on the bench the lower their confidence will get.

[skbio_toronto]

This is going to seem like a bizarre comment on the face of it. I reckon (ideally) Robbie needs a 'fox in the box' proven goalscorer alongside him in the national team. This is Ireland's all time goalscorer we're talking about, but I would'nt classify Robbie Keane as a natural goalscorer ala Shearer, Vieri, Raul, van Nistelrooy etc.

Now thats not really much of a criticism, because the number of genuine bona fide goalscorers in the world game in European football is a relatively short list. Van Nistelrooy, Raul (albeit going through a crisis), Shevhenko, Ronaldo plus A.N. Others. Compare the current crop to the days when Marco Van Basten, Gianluca Vialli, Julio Salinas, Gary Lineker made the art of scoring goals varying from simpe to the straight forward to the sometimes extraordinary. (In Van Basten' cases mostly extraorinary - what a legend!)

Anyhow, I'm going off the point. Young Elliot looks a decent prospect as that 'fox in the box striker who also seems a good outlet for posseion coming from central midfield. For the moment, if Morrison can sustain his performace level in the qualifiers thus far - things ain't too bad! Just lets hope that Keane's profligacy in front of goal won't end up costing us our German pass in '06.

SKBIO-TOR

[eirebhoy]

This is going to seem like a bizarre comment on the face of it. I reckon (ideally) Robbie needs a 'fox in the box' proven goalscorer alongside him in the national team.
He never did well with Connolly. and before anyone says Connolly isn't a proven goal scorer. If you discount his games from the bench and games partnered with Keane he scored about 8 in 14 or 15.

[1MickCollins]

Just because Connolly plays for Leicester City doesn't mean he's a fox in the box :)

[Donal81]

I have to say lads I'm not interested in this argument in the slightest as we've done it to death on this site. Thought the Fanning piece was fair enough, Keane needs development, good player but could be better, still the best we've got. End of story, no? Interesting debate on what Keane should do to develop but the argument over whether or not he's sh*te is dull as anything.

[Lionel Ritchie]

This is going to seem like a bizarre comment on the face of it. I reckon (ideally) Robbie needs a 'fox in the box' proven goalscorer alongside him in the national team.

That's presuming Robbie would play his part and actually pass the ball to said fox in the box :D

As for him getting away from Spurs -if he were available I'd say David O'Leary'd snap him up for Villa in a shot -which incidently would be Robbies first upward move since he left Coventry City.

[Irish_Praha]

O'Leary was his manager at Leeds and for the majority of games he was introduced as a second half sub. I know Villa don't have the choice of strikers that Leeds had back then but I wouldn't be so sure about O'Leary jumping at the chance to buy him.

[TerryPhelan]

Just because Connolly plays for Leicester City doesn't mean he's a fox in the box :)

:p 1MickCollins, I applaud you! The sheer fromage of it all! :D

[skbio_toronto]

That's presuming Robbie would play his part and actually pass the ball to said fox in the box :D

He's never really developed that part of his game and thats the kernel of this thread as I see it.

Is he going to develop more of an awareness in general play is very much open to question. For a 24 year old, he has had plenty of game experience.

Its a real pernickity point though. Robbie Keane, without question, is a first team player for Ireland. Its just alot of us would prefer to have seen him develop more as a player - like a certain Damian Duff for instance.

SKBIO-TOR

[Stuttgart88]

Well said SKBIO.

Of course he's our best striker; it's just frustrating that he doesn't seem to be fulfilling his full potential.

I'd like to see him drop the diving and falling over from his game too.

It was mentioned above that Celtic could be an option for him. My own view (as always - from a purely Irish perspective) is that it'd be a wise move.

He's got to get used to scoring goals regularly and he's not going to do this at a mediocre (at best) PL club like Spurs. At present 12 to 15 goals a season is a very good haul for Robbie but he needs to be scoring 25+.

Think about it: Robbie's one-on-one against the 'keeper in the last minute of a crucial qualifier. Is he more likely to score if he's feeding off scraps at Spurs or if he's just scored 2 from the same position 3 days earlier against Dundee at Parkhead?

It didn't seem to do Larsson any harm.

[barglee]

Well said SKBIO.


Think about it: Robbie's one-on-one against the 'keeper in the last minute of a crucial qualifier. Is he more likely to score if he's feeding off scraps at Spurs or if he's just scored 2 from the same position 3 days earlier against Dundee at Parkhead?

It didn't seem to do Larsson any harm.

well maybe he'd rather play in one of the best leagues in the world rather than play sh*t teams every week in a sh*t league.

also he wouldnt get half the salary up there id say....

[Stuttgart88]

Maybe so. I'm only thinking about how he can sharpen up his finishing. If he's used to scoring more regularly maybe this'll transfer to his international form.

Either way, I'd just like to see someone coaching some bad habits out of him regardless of where he plays. He's easily one of our better players but as SKBIO pointed out the pace of his development seems to have slowed down, whereas Duff's has sped up.

[eirebhoy]

well maybe he'd rather play in one of the best leagues in the world rather than play sh*t teams every week in a sh*t league.

also he wouldnt get half the salary up there id say....
If Henri Camara can get €25k I'm sure a salary wouldn't be a problem for Robbie. As has been said already, the problem is Celtic have no money at all. BTW, we're talking about 5 games against Rangers, at least 6 CL games, at the very least another 2 european games unless Celtic finish bottom. Thats at least ~13 or 14 big games and believe me the likes of Hearts away (beat Basel last night in Switzerland) is no worse than Norwich away.

[barglee]

jaysus didnt know camara was on that much.......

still dont think a player of Robbie Keanes ability and age would think about a move to scotland.

A few champions league games wud be great but in my opinion the league there is sub standard, equivalent to division1 in england(or whatever its called now)barring celtic and rangers.

bar maybe palace ,norwich ,west brom + portsmouth the rest of the premiership are big clubs with international players.

best way to devlop is to play aginst good players right/

[eirebhoy]

Yes but the SPL isn't as bad as people make out. Look at the only players that got at least 20 goals in the SPL since 95:

Henrik Larsson
Mark Viduka
Marco Negri
Jorge Cadete
Pierre van Hooijdonk

Hartson got 18 premiership goals in 97/98 yet he has never broke that in the SPL. Sutton also got 18 premiership goals in 97/98 yet hasn't got more in the SPL. A move to the SPL has done nothing but boost the careers of the above players and many more. He doesn't have to stay forever, just a season or two to sort out his goalscoring etc.

[Eirambler]

To be honest lads I wouldn't recommend a move up here for Robbie.

Outside the Old Firm, theres little to get excited about. Hearts are OK, Hibs and Aberdeen have good young teams, but the rest are pish.

I mean, I'm going to Hibs v Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow. Can you name one Inverness player?

The only reason players dont score 20+ goals a season is because teams put 11 men behind the ball when the Old Firm come to town, and then kick the legs off any players that try to come within 25 yards of their goal.

[eirebhoy]

I mean, I'm going to Hibs v Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow. Can you name one Inverness player?
I know what you mean but a move to Scotland has worked for a lot of players.

Anyway, there's no real point in debating this as nobody has the money to buy him.

[EamonD]

...a move to Scotland has worked for a lot of players...

Yeah like you become a bigger goldfish as the bowl becomes smaller, just an illusion really. What Robbie needs is the right manager not so much the right team or league.

[eirebhoy]

...a move to Scotland has worked for a lot of players...

Yeah like you become a bigger goldfish as the bowl becomes smaller, just an illusion really.
What I mean when I say "has worked for a lot of players" is that it has got a lot of players careers going or got them back on track (and records at international and club level before and after their move to Scotland proves that). Larsson, van Hooijdonk, Viduka, Burley, van Bronckhorst, di Canio, Tony bloody Cascarino, Tugay, Arteta, Gattuso, etc, etc, etc.

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

...a move to Scotland has worked for a lot of players...

Yeah like you become a bigger goldfish as the bowl becomes smaller, just an illusion really. What Robbie needs is the right manager not so much the right team or league.

Anyone read the reports this week that Robbie is on his way to Everton for €10? I think it would be a good move because he would be first choice striker at a club that is well-managed and on the up. Look at what David Moyes has done for ordinary players like Kilbane and Carsley. Think what he might do for a player with Robbie's ability. As EamonD said, a move to a club with good management might be better than a move to Scotland. Robbie has never reached his full potential because he has never worked under a top manager, with the exception of Marcello Lippi (and Im not sure he would have had what was needed to make Robbie a great player). On the other hand, Moyes might.

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

What I mean when I say "has worked for a lot of players" is that it has got a lot of players careers going or got them back on track (and records at international and club level before and after their move to Scotland proves that). Larsson, van Hooijdonk, Viduka, Burley, van Bronckhorst, di Canio, Tony bloody Cascarino, Tugay, Arteta, Gattuso, etc, etc, etc.

Dont know whether you payed much attention to Scottish football when Tony Cas was there. You're obviously too young to realise that Cas was a flop at Celtic. He may have been good at international level in the early 1990s. However, the Parkhead faithful became so frustrated by him that they began to give him a hard time.

[eirebhoy]

Dont know whether you payed much attention to Scottish football when Tony Cas was there. You're obviously too young to realise that Cas was a flop at Celtic. He may have been good at international level in the early 1990s. However, the Parkhead faithful became so frustrated by him that they began to give him a hard time.
I'm 22 so I wouldn't have remember Cascarino's time at Celtic but the reason I put him in the list was because he had a better career after his move away from Celtic than he did before his transfer to Celtic. Anyway, you can ignore him in the list anyway. :)

[M@ttitude]

Duff just scored for chelsea, 2 games in a row...

[inexile]

as has clinto which is a great sign,with a bit of luck he might go on a bit of a roll now,there is plenty of goals in him if his confidence is up

[eirebhoy]

as has clinto which is a great sign,with a bit of luck he might go on a bit of a roll now,there is plenty of goals in him if his confidence is up
Would you believe I was going to put a few quid on Clinton to score first when i saw the team at 10 minutes before kick off. Regretting it now. :( Still, great to see him scoring, hopefully he wins that bet with Brucey.

[brine3]

Robbie Keane: Six years in the green and 24 goals.

I'll leave you to work out the goals per year ratio yourself.

[EamonD]

What I mean when I say "has worked for a lot of players" is that it has got a lot of players careers going or got them back on track (and records at international and club level before and after their move to Scotland proves that). Larsson, van Hooijdonk, Viduka, Burley, van Bronckhorst, di Canio, Tony bloody Cascarino, Tugay, Arteta, Gattuso, etc, etc, etc.

An interesting idea the SPL as Recycle Bin or Betty Ford Clinic. If the SPL wasn't located so close to England both physically through the media then it would be treated for what it is; a knackers yard.

[Plastic Paddy]

An interesting idea the SPL as Recycle Bin or Betty Ford Clinic. If the SPL wasn't located so close to England both physically through the media then it would be treated for what it is; a knackers yard.

What rubbish. The SPL receives precious little coverage through the English media, and what there is tends to be pitched at the same disparaging level as your comment above. Still, it's not a bad knacker's yard when three teams record positive results in Europe in the last week. Oh, and that's European competition post-September, lest you forget. Not the qualifying rounds. :eek: :p

:D PP

[EamonD]

What rubbish. The SPL receives precious little coverage through the English media, and what there is tends to be pitched at the same disparaging level as your comment above. Still, it's not a bad knacker's yard when three teams record positive results in Europe in the last week. Oh, and that's European competition post-September, lest you forget. Not the qualifying rounds. :eek: :p

:D PP


The knacker's yard is where the SPL is headed according to Tony Higgins who knows a lot more about Scottish Football than you me lad, how many non-Old Firm SPL games have you been to anyhow PP?

I am not disparaging the SPL but the league has decended a long way since the 80s. I lived for a year in Edinburgh 10 years ago I would love to see Scottish fottball thrive and clubs like Hibs & Aberdeen do well - but the game up there is in crisis at many levels.

How could it benefit Robbie Keane to go and play for Celtic against (unfortunately) dross teams? Richie Foran is playing regularly for Motherwell but nobody thinks that he has a snowball's chance in hell of playing for Ireland. Dempsey & Hunt & Byrne play for Dunfermline ( on a plastic pitch!! ) again nobody considers them near international class. You have seen the reaction to Alan Maybury's selection on this board.

Can you name one world class player playing in the SPL?
Name a best 11 from the SPL.
Now name a best 11 excluding the Old Firm.

If the SPL isn't in the knackers yard yet in financial terms or in terms of players it is getting closer every month old bean. To judge the health of a league you need to look at the middle of the table teams and they sadly aren't very impressive in Scotland.

[4tothefloor]

Celtic themselves are knackered, they have no money, same old players who are beginning to look tired. Rangers are seriously in the red. They need to join the premiership, but that will never happen. They should cut their losses, join the championship League 1 (old 3rd division), and work their way up. Otherwise they're screwed in 10 years, or less.

[eirebhoy]

Eamonn, its all well and good telling us that the players outside of the Old Firm are pish but, as I said above, history has shown that if you move to the SPL for a season or 2 you are more likely to have a much better career thereafter. BTW, I could make a best 11 out of non-SPL players but not a lot of you would know the players, it doesn't make them bad players. Did many of you know Novo before he joined Rangers?

[Plastic Paddy]

The knacker's yard is where the SPL is headed according to Tony Higgins who knows a lot more about Scottish Football than you me lad,

And yourself, too, I'd wager. But then Higgins does have a vested interest in saying that, doesn't he? After all, it's his players who are being hit in their pockets by the "decline in standards". He should look more towards the chairmen though. After all, if Lex Gold and Co had accepted Sky's TV offer two seasons ago, at least the clubs would have some half-decent TV money to spend. As it stands, Celtic receive less TV money for domestic football than clubs in the "Championship", Division 1 or whatever it's called now. Farcical.


how many non-Old Firm SPL games have you been to anyhow PP?

About twenty pre- and post-SPL, as it happens. I've had my balls half-frozen off at Pittodrie, been rained on at Rubgy Park and chased away from Firhill. Altogether, most unsalubrious experiences. And yes, the standard of football is variable, ranging from middle-ranking European standard to something akin to the English third tier or the eL premier, all in one twelve-team league.

I'm not sure what you seek to prove by posing the question though.


I am not disparaging the SPL but the league has decended a long way since the 80s. I lived for a year in Edinburgh 10 years ago I would love to see Scottish fottball thrive and clubs like Hibs & Aberdeen do well - but the game up there is in crisis at many levels...

If the SPL isn't in the knackers yard yet in financial terms or in terms of players it is getting closer every month old bean. To judge the health of a league you need to look at the middle of the table teams and they sadly aren't very impressive in Scotland.

I agree, but see my earlier point about chairmen for much of what's wrong about the SPHell. Self-interest and short-termism has strangled the game in Scotland. No wonder Dermot Desmoond wants out.

:) PP

[ken foree]

fine display by keaney then? heard he was full of purposeful running and saw his finish, a well-timed late arrival and composed take.

[Paulie]

Personally I reckon that if Robbie is going anywhere it should be to a club in one of the other big European leagues ie. Spain, Italy, Germany etc. I presume that he has ambitions to play on a regular basis in the Champions League and I don't think that he's highly rated enough in england to be signed by a club there that plays in that competition on a regular basis. I'm sure that he can't help but look at Duffer with a little bit of envy. They were both very highly regarded as young players but their careers have taken entirely different paths (at club level). While Damien is playing for a team that is going to be competing for both domestic and European honours Robbie is with a side that very rarely competes in Europe, never mind looking to win the competition. I know from going away to see Ireland play that Keane is a lot more highly rated in Europe than he is in england or possibly even here. When talking with the supporters of whichever team Ireland are due to play they alway refer to Keane in glowing terms so I reckon that a move to a European league might the best option for him now. We shouldn't always just look at the english clubs when talking about possible moves for Irish players. There are other leagues out there.

[Kingdom]

I know from going away to see Ireland play that Keane is a lot more highly rated in Europe than he is in england or possibly even here. When talking with the supporters of whichever team Ireland are due to play they alway refer to Keane in glowing terms

Paulie, are you sure tis the Robbie lad they are referring to?..... ;)

[Paulie]

Paulie, are you sure tis the Robbie lad they are referring to?..... ;)

All some of them were short of doing was a celebratory cartwheel just to emphasis the point! Dutch people in particular seem to rate him very highly. Understandable as he's scored on each of his last 2 visits to Amsterdam. Personally I'd like to see him move to the continent. I just always feel watching him that he might offer so much more if he just took the simple option every now and then. Maybe by playing in a different league he might start to put his head up when on the ball and check out his options a bit more.

[Dillo]

Anyone read the reports this week that Robbie is on his way to Everton for €10? I think it would be a good move because he would be first choice striker at a club that is well-managed and on the up. Look at what David Moyes has done for ordinary players like Kilbane and Carsley. Think what he might do for a player with Robbie's ability. As EamonD said, a move to a club with good management might be better than a move to Scotland. Robbie has never reached his full potential because he has never worked under a top manager, with the exception of Marcello Lippi (and Im not sure he would have had what was needed to make Robbie a great player). On the other hand, Moyes might.


Hear that rumour in circulation alright. Would be a great move for Robbie linking up with fellow internationals Kilbane and Carsley. The way Everton are playing these days, expect more big names to be linked with Moyes' Blue Army!

[brine3]

I really think that Robbie needs to move to a league that places emphasis on positioning and tactics. He has a bit of pace, he has the skill, now he just needs to use it properly!

[tricky_colour]

I though Robbies goal at Blackburn showed good positioning and a cool
headed finish, thats the best way to get goals in my opinion.
I hope we see more of the same, especially in a green shirt!

[brine3]

Is it just me or is he putting on weight again? He can hardly do his somersaults anymore. :D

When is he going to stop arseing around and do something of note at club level?

[livehead1]

hes a in the confort zone. mediocre side, earning plenty of cash, assured of regular football. hes a footballer that lacks motivation.inter milan and leeds showed this. how many players of his age have been as far around the block as him!

[Slash/ED]

He was outstanding today, very unlucky not to have a hat trick and still managed a goal and an assist. He's been scoring alot of goals latley.

[Éanna]

he misses way too many chances. and he gives the ball away stupidly too often. he has all the talent to be a great, but he won't be the way he's going.

[thejollyrodger]

he should have got a hat trick today

[livehead1]

He was outstanding today, very unlucky not to have a hat trick and still managed a goal and an assist. He's been scoring alot of goals latley.

keane's whole career can be summed up with the word unlucky....
Inter Milan: he was unlucky that they changed managers soon after he arrived
Leeds: he was unlucky to find himself at a club where they had so many strikers and then to have such a financial situation they had to sell him
Tottenham: Maybe unlucky with the amount of managers they have had, hasnt had chance to settle

he hit the bar with a lovely chip 2day dint he? unlucky.... :p i rate him, i just dont think theres such a thing as luck, the true world class performers make their own luck

[Pablo]

he's ireland top goal scorer ever! some people are never happy!

[ollie]

he hasn't really progressed that much in the last few years.i agree with livehead1 in saying he's in the comfort zone.i think he would benefit from moving to a top side where he would really have to fight for his place to get the best out of him.

fair enough pablo he's irelands top scorer but how many of his goals were against below average opposition?

that said,he was very good today.

[eirebhoy]

fair enough pablo he's irelands top scorer but how many of his goals were against below average opposition?.....

Keane has scored 11 of his goals against then top 15 teams [Yugoslavia, Turkey, Czech Republic (2), Holland (2), Russia, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Croatia]. Teams that weren't the worst that he scored against would be Iran, Albania (beat Greece recently) and Finland (doing well in the "group of death"). Plus, a goal in the world cup is never bad. Its not as if we play the stronger nations so much more than the weaker ones.

[dr_peepee]

He had a very good game against Everton at the weekend. There's a hatrick in him over the next two or three games....