Robbie Keane [Archive] - Page 44

Stuttgart88

16/12/2008, 12:33 PM

The disappointing thing about this is that Robbie�s move to Liverpool really doesn�t answer the question of whether he�s a top 4 calibre player or not. Sure, the results are plain to see in terms of goals but I really query how Benitez is using him / treating him, though maybe Torres� repeated absence has at least part-dictated this.

I hope he stays and puts a run together.

I don�t think his move has been either positive or negative for Ireland. He�s always been his own player when he comes over, but whereas in the past things when weren�t going well he could return to his bubble-like world at Spurs I think he may actually feel more at ease in the Ireland camp than at his club these days.

HammerNThongs

16/12/2008, 12:50 PM

I think some of us may have learned that he really isnt versatile and can only play in one system. That is with a partner who plays with his back to goal with good feet. Like with Berbatov and Quinn or potentially with Crouch. There is no way he is a lone striker, we all knew that before hand, but he cant seem to link with Torres, he cant play wide right and he cant play in the hole (though, to be fair, Rafa has hardly tried him here). He can only play in a strict enough 4-4-2 system with a certain type of strike partner. Roussel, Kanoute, Mido, Viduka, Berbatov, Quinn....

OwlsFan

16/12/2008, 1:09 PM

Keane is an overrated player who never produces in the big matches..

Yep, overrated enough as follows:

All Irish Time Goalscorers
35 Robbie Keane
21 Niall Quinn
20 Frank Stapleton
19 John Aldridge, Tony Cascarino, Don Givens
14 Noel Cantwell
13 Gerry Daly
12 Jimmy Dunne

NEVER scores in big matches. To me all our qualifers are BIG matches. This irritating rubbish that you're only a great player if you score against the likes of Brazil, Germany (oops, he's done that), Spain (oops, he's done that), etc

I'll take an "overrated player" anyday, thank you.

Hibernian

16/12/2008, 1:23 PM

There more to strikers then sticking the ball in the net. Remember Andy Cole?

I dont think Robbie has done as bad as what most people think. I think he needs to be given way more time and deserves a run that is worth that.

Yes he has wasted some good chances but soon enough I think his luck will change. Thats if Rafa gives him time to be able to do that.

One vital goal is all it may take for him to kickstart his career at the pool. He needs time and patience from the Liverpool and Irish fans.

L37Ultra

16/12/2008, 1:24 PM

Keane is an overrated player who never produces in the big matches..

Hes worth at most 6/7m...

Anyone that knows anything about football would see that Keane is not an out and out goalscoring striker.

And he does score against the bigger sides anyways. For Example Czech Republic in 2000, Holland in 2000, Iran in the play-offs in 2001, Germany in 2002, Spain in 2002, Czech Republic again in 2004, Sweden in 2006, Denmark in 2007 and we wouldn't have beaten Cyprus if it wasn't for his goal in October. All of those teams mentioned are top class international sides he scored against.

elroy

16/12/2008, 2:49 PM

Yep, overrated enough as follows:

All Irish Time Goalscorers
35 Robbie Keane
21 Niall Quinn
20 Frank Stapleton
19 John Aldridge, Tony Cascarino, Don Givens
14 Noel Cantwell
13 Gerry Daly
12 Jimmy Dunne

NEVER scores in big matches. To me all our qualifers are BIG matches. This irritating rubbish that you're only a great player if you score against the likes of Brazil, Germany (oops, he's done that), Spain (oops, he's done that), etc

I'll take an "overrated player" anyday, thank you.

Agreed, i cant stand the people that come on this site and say that we would be a better team without Keane etc etc what nonsense. his record is phenomenal!

Very much like we have struggled to fill Roy Keane's boots in the team now, Robbie Keane will certainly be missed for a long time when he retires and that says alot about a player.

For example, alot of us would consider Doyler a damn good player but he is very unlikely to get even near the amount of goals for us that Robbie has.

HammerNThongs

16/12/2008, 3:20 PM

Anyone that knows anything about football would see that Keane is not an out and out goalscoring striker.

And he does score against the bigger sides anyways. For Example Czech Republic in 2000, Holland in 2000, Iran in the play-offs in 2001, Germany in 2002, Spain in 2002, Czech Republic again in 2004, Sweden in 2006, Denmark in 2007 and we wouldn't have beaten Cyprus if it wasn't for his goal in October. All of those teams mentioned are top class international sides he scored against.

You probably should have stopped after Denmark! :p

You're right though. I cant understand where this Robbie Keane hate brigade came from. Right now he isnt doing all he should, for either club or country, and I do think giving him the Irish captaincy was a mistake and the last qualifying campaign under Stan were probably his worst games ever in an Irish shirt, but those goals that he has scored, all that good that he has done, that doesnt just disappear. That talent is still in there. I think we need to stop him from roaming around the field as much and get him to do more work away from the midfield and just in the final third. We also need to get out of his head, what I see, as some selfdelusional qualities where he seems to try and do things too complicated. He is a gifted goalscorer and should try and simplify his game a bit better again. That was when he was at his best. First time shots, one touch and turn shots, quick passes...these were Robbies trademarks in his prime. Now, he insists on taking 3 or 4 touches before doing anything or that irritating step over which I dont think has ever worked.

In short, Robbie has disappointed me over the last 2 years, but the good Robbie Keane that Liverpool spent �20 million on is still in there. I am sure of it

razor

16/12/2008, 3:24 PM

but the good Robbie Keane that Liverpool spent �20 million on is still in there. I am sure of itThe irritating bit is that he was probably only worth half that at the very most.
Lawrenson did say on Matt Cooper last night that Pool have probably only payed out 5m in down payments on him and also said that he spoke to Gerrard last weekend and they share the same agent and Steven had told him he wouldn't be surprised if he does go in the January window.

HammerNThongs

16/12/2008, 3:27 PM

The irritating bit is that he was probably only worth half that at the very most.
Lawrenson did say on Matt Cooper last night that Pool have probably only payed out 5m in down payments on him and also said that he spoke to Gerrard last weekend and they share the same agent and Steven had told him he wouldn't be surprised if he does go in the January window.

I disagree...in a league where Andy Johnsons transfer fee rose by �2million during his goal shy spell at Everton to �10.5 million, I think Robbie is worth way more then the �10 million you rate him at....now if you bring in the over inflated EPL transfer rates argument, we're onto a whole other debate!

Anyway, I heard that too. I'm sure Gerrard will thank Lawro for that too!

dr_peepee

16/12/2008, 3:29 PM

There is no way he is a lone striker, we all knew that before hand, but he cant seem to link with Torres, he cant play wide right and he cant play in the hole (though, to be fair, Rafa has hardly tried him here). He can only play in a strict enough 4-4-2 system with a certain type of strike partner. Roussel, Kanoute, Mido, Viduka, Berbatov, Quinn....

I think he can play in the hole.. The issue here is not Keane and/or Torres, it's Keane and Gerard. He should stick it out the season at the very least. There'll be a time when Gerard will be unnavailable and we'll see the best of Keane...

I'm not saying that'll be the best for Liverpool, I just think he'll do himself more justice if he doesn't have to tailor himself to the free reign Gerard is rightly or wrongly given.

jmurphyc

16/12/2008, 3:32 PM

There is no way he is a lone striker, we all knew that before hand, but he cant seem to link with Torres, he cant play wide right and he cant play in the hole (though, to be fair, Rafa has hardly tried him here).

Keane has hardly had any games with Torres, so I think it's a bit unfair to suggest that he doesn't work well with Torres. I think that one of the main problems for him is that Rafa bought him to partner Torres, and so far that hasn't really been possible. I'm surprised Kuyt and him haven't really been tried together up front yet though. Once Torres does come back, I think he'll see a lot more time in the team. I'd be very surprised if he does actually leave in January. I'd even be surprised if he left in the summer tbh.

HammerNThongs

16/12/2008, 3:48 PM

I dont see Torres working because he is so direct. Robbie likes a partner who will occassionally look towards him for the ball and will play it back, once Torres gets it, he turns straight for goal and either dribbles, shoots or passes it elsewhere. He very rarely seems to link with his strike partner in the way that Keane would like.

dr peepee, true, Gerrard isnt helping matters at the moment, but if Robbie was signed to play in the hole, then it's kind of the same situation as being signed to play as the center forward. He was signed as �20 million reserve. Gerrard owns that spot now and is surprisingly good at it and only seeming like he is getting better. Even if Stevie Me does get injured and Robbie steps in, it is going to be a very short stay in the Liverpool team.

Saying that, the love that Kuyt gets from Rafa is pretty much impossible to make out!

ken foree

16/12/2008, 5:11 PM

He was signed as �20 million reserve.

i want to disagree with this but i can't - there were endless quotes coming out of benitez, torres, et al when they signed him saying "robbie can also play on the right, so it's good." this really annoyed me at the time, i'd never see him as a player to play one particular position with a simple directive like they were suggesting. he's too much a mobile, instinctive, and organic a player for that. often plays like a kid would, with all that that entails.

Dodge

16/12/2008, 5:27 PM

So, getting back to a discussion we had earlier. Has Robbie Keane's move helped Ireland?

Anyone?

ken foree

16/12/2008, 5:29 PM

Anyone?

sorry, jury's out for me, meant to imply that in my other post up there.

Stuttgart88

17/12/2008, 6:59 AM

Anyone?I'm obviously on Dodge's ignore list :)

Stuttgart88

17/12/2008, 7:01 AM

I'd be very surprised if he does actually leave in January. I'd even be surprised if he left in the summer tbh.Me too, though the headline in this mornings London Metro (free & of dubious journalistic merit) says that Gerrard told Lawrenson that Robbie is on his way out.

Edit: it was quoting The Last Word:

Guardian says:

Speaking on The Last Word on Today FM, Lawrenson said he discussed Keane's predicament with Steven Gerrard after the game and claimed the Liverpool captain suspects his team-mate could be sold in the forthcoming transfer window. "I hate to name drop," said Lawrenson, "but I was having a drink with Gerrard on Saturday and we talked about Keane. They share the same agent [Struan Marshall] and quite honestly he thinks something is going to happen with Keane in January. Sounds like he could be moved on."

While Marshall declined to comment Liverpool issued a statement last night denying the pundit's version of events. A club spokesman said: "Mark Lawrenson's remarks are his interpretation of a private chat between the two of them. They do not accurately reflect Steven's opinion of *Robbie Keane and they certainly do not tally with Steven's recollection of the *conversation itself."

HammerNThongs

17/12/2008, 8:18 AM

Anyone?

Hmmm, it's a tough one to answer because he wasnt exactly playing well for us before he went there. In fact, he was probably on his worst run of form in an Ireland jersey. Now, he is showing a bit more work rate anyway....I think we might need a few more Irish games to see if this has been a dose of reality for Robbie that he needs to get his game back to basics and what he's good at before we can comment for sure

seanfhear

17/12/2008, 9:36 AM

irishfan86

17/12/2008, 9:54 AM

Lawrenson has some sort of obsession with Robbie. It seems every second article is about him.

Stuttgart88

17/12/2008, 10:13 AM

he had to brag that he was talking to Stephen Gerrard.I hate this whole cult of Steven Gerrard

Sligo Hornet

17/12/2008, 10:24 AM

I hate this whole cult of Steven Gerrard

Had to read you comment a couple of times.......thought you said something else at first!:eek:

Drumcondra 69er

17/12/2008, 10:29 AM

A bit indiscreet of Lawrenson.He wont be getting much more information from players or backroom staff if he does not keep his sources to himself.
Like an excited school boy he had to brag that he was talking to Stephen Gerrard.

Pretty indiscreet of Gerrard to let something like that spill to a media whore like Lawrenson. 'Is that Today Fm? Yeah, I'm sure I can fit you in as long as it's not when I'm on BBC1, 5 live or TV3. As long as the money's right of course! Oh, yeah, make sure it doesn't clash with that dreadful Daily Mirror ad I have coming up as well......'.

Great player but such an annoying pundit.....

shakermaker1982

17/12/2008, 10:58 AM

elroy

17/12/2008, 2:57 PM

Lawro is a bit of a **** to come out with something like that IMO. Aren't Keane and the most overrated player in the PL very close friends? Maybe not for much longer if your mate runs to Lawro for a little scoop....

Lawro is trying to back track on it now.....apparently what gerrard said is that he hopes that Keane doesnt leave in Jan as opposed to he will leave in Jan....oh ya sure Lawro.

tricky_colour

18/12/2008, 12:34 AM

The way I look at it is Liverpool are top of the table with Keane, they were
about 4th without him.
That makes Keane unsellable in my book.
He might walk out though ;)

irishfan86

18/12/2008, 1:00 AM

The way I look at it you either play or him or sell him.

You can't justify 20 million pounds sitting on the bench.

The fact that Benitez won't sell him means that he's going to get more chances this season.

back of the net

18/12/2008, 1:19 PM

"Premier League rules state a player cannot return to a club within a one-year period, ruling Keane out of a winter reunion at White Hart Lane. "

fact lads????

co. down green

18/12/2008, 2:12 PM

"Premier League rules state a player cannot return to a club within a one-year period, ruling Keane out of a winter reunion at White Hart Lane. "

fact lads????

Didn't realise this until yesterday, rule L19.

It will also stop Harry Redknapp bringing Defoe back to Spurs, as had been reported. Defoe joined on deadline day last January and can't move until after the year has elapsed.

The Premier League rules that a club which transfers or cancels the registration of a player may not apply to register that player within a year.

Closed Account

18/12/2008, 2:28 PM

Think Defoe can avoid it because he signed on 31/1/08 or 1/2/08 but transfer deadline doesn't close until 2/2/09 this season.

paul_oshea

18/12/2008, 2:38 PM

what about a loan back to the same club and then spurs pay the fee in the summer?!

Drumcondra 69er

18/12/2008, 2:44 PM

what about a loan back to the same club and then spurs pay the fee in the summer?!

Still needs to be registered to the club for a loan I think so that'd close that option off.

noby

18/12/2008, 2:56 PM

Still needs to be registered to the club for a loan I think so that'd close that option off.

Are you sure? It sounds like something that's done regularly (although I can't think of any specific examples right now).

DmanDmythDledge

18/12/2008, 3:04 PM

Are you sure? It sounds like something that's done regularly (although I can't think of any specific examples right now).
I think you may be thinking about when a club buys a player and loans back to the selling club immediately (Cardiff and Man Utd had such an agreement for Aaron Ramsey). Presumably in those sort of deals the player's registration is kept with the selling club.

paul_oshea

18/12/2008, 3:12 PM

ya they buy a player and then loan them back for the year. united do it a lot.

elroy

21/12/2008, 5:01 PM

Fine finish from Keane today. Surprised to see him start, but he played very well in the first half. Didnt really do a whole lot in the second and was substituted with about 10 mins to go. Their 2nd half tactics didnt help him however.

Pools tactics following the sending off illustrate why they wont win the league in my opinion. With Fabregas injured and Adebayor sent off, they would never have had as good a chance to take the 3 points.

ken foree

21/12/2008, 6:09 PM

indeed, a bit grim that approach by 'pool after webb ruined the game. robbie was peripheral for the majority of the time he was on but not bad on the ball when he got it. however: what. a. f*cking. goal. bet he enjoyed that one.

OwlsFan

21/12/2008, 6:34 PM

Keane is an overrated player who never produces in the big matches...

Scores a screamer for Liverpool against Arsenal. I suppose that's not a big match!

hoops1

21/12/2008, 6:36 PM

Keane has some flaws but he has balls in fairness to him, Delighted for him.

irishfan86

22/12/2008, 12:34 AM

Fantastic finish. I don't think Liverpool's tactics suit him at all (unless he was playing the Gerrard role, but good luck getting that job!).

Hopefully he can kick on now and have a great second half to the season. Would love him to be in form and get selected for at least one of the games against Real.

Really cowardly stuff from Liverpool after going a man up, stuff like that is why I have little respect for Benitez (I know he wasn't there, but he was effectively managing by phone).

donalmcdonagh

22/12/2008, 8:15 AM

Great goal from robbie, every striker would not have scored that. His starting position..reaction to the long ball (quicker of the mark than djourou & gallas) and pace as well as the finish were all very impressive. He had a good game, service was sh1te from mid field. I think he gets a raw deal some times, a lot of liverpool players played poorly yesterday, but the focus seems to be on robbie. Carragher was at fault for the goal. Also, If im not mistaken robbie missed an open goal in the atletico game, but Torres and gerrard also missed open goals in this game, even though they combined for a goal. I think before people judge robbie on his next performance have a look around the liverpool teams and see how the others play.

Lastly, does anybody think that robbie may get more game time in the PM when Torres returns, will we see a 4-4-2 with Robbie and Fernando up front?? By the way Im not a pool fan, Im a happy Villian!!!

paul_oshea

22/12/2008, 9:42 AM

was at the game yesterday, pool fans went mental when keane scored. they could see how much it meant to him, got a standing clap when he was substituted as well. Benitez was on the phone and then 2 mins later keane was gone. Have to say his off the ball running was a lot poorer than usual. Gerrard when he went for the dive, was completely isolated and keane ran away from him instead of to him, was very naive at times. Worked his socks off though and the finish was exquisite. He was happy coming off and so was lee. Hopefully he can go on from here.

Was having a an argument all day yesterday with a gooner supporting mate, a lot of people dont seem to realise what type of player keane is, or how he gets around on the field. yesterday he spent very little time up front, usually running out on the wings or coming back to the centre to pick the ball up and play 1-2s.

Den Perry

22/12/2008, 2:15 PM

Delighted for him with that strike. I have been watching Ireland play since 1981 and he is in my opinion the best forward we have ever had...(I suppose if you look at the goalscorer charts the proof is in the pudding)

I'll admit, he's had a few poor games for Ireland and Liverpool, however anybody that calls for him to be dropped from the Irish team really has very little knowledge of football. these calls are the most ridiculous thing I've heard(since some people here said to give Staunton a a chance:D