Robbie Keane

[Scram]

He's only gone and dropped Keano today.......what a clown. He can hardly say he needs to rest him because he only plays 60 minutes a match!

Yeah, preposterous. I'll be disgusted if he doesn't get a run.

[rambler14]

After today Keane should walk up to Benitez and politley tell Benitez to go fcuk himself and tell him that he wants a transfer!

[seanfhear]

To be honest a lot of the time I can not work out Benitez but

for those that want to question him today all he has to do is point to the scoreboard.

I think he has been a very defensive manager more suited to an underdog type of team.Having said that he seems to be attacking more this season and if he wins the league for Liverpool I will happily eat my words.
I am not a pool supporter but for competitive leagues to prosper the winners position has to be spread around more that the English league has been in recent times.

[tricky_colour]

Looks like Robbie is in for Premiership winners medal.

[SkStu]

Looks like Robbie is in for Premiership winners medal.

what? so they actually are handing out the winners medals at christmas this year? Fascinating.

[Maroon 7]

On 5 live they said Keane had a slight thigh strain. Could have played but they decided to rest him. Probably didn't think it was worth bringing him on when they were winning the game so easily.

[Maroon 7]

Robbie not making life easy for himself. He's missed two or three good chances so far against Preston. Hopefully he can nick one before he gets hauled off.

[strangeirish]

Robbie not making life easy for himself. He's missed two or three good chances so far against Preston. Hopefully he can nick one before he gets hauled off.
Missed two sitters and the keeper made a good save on another effort. Should have had a hat trick in the first half alone.

[tricky_colour]

Robbie not making life easy for himself. He's missed two or three good chances so far against Preston. Hopefully he can nick one before he gets hauled off.

You were right about him getting hauled off ;)

[razor]

Robbie not making life easy for himself. He's missed two or three good chances so far against Preston. Hopefully he can nick one before he gets hauled off.Normal service resumed. Terrible stuff.

[shakermaker1982]

Woeful. His arm flapping antics are getting worse as well. If only he played against Newcastle when on fire........left out and 2 weeks later he is a wreck. Torres came on and within minutes did this fantastic turn (shot let him down but I imagine that is just rust). If Torres stays fit then Keane will be warming the bench which is not good for the 3 crunch games over the next few months.

[seanfhear]

No quetion Robbie needs to quit the arm waving and running after referee's.
I would say its counter productive and a waste of energy and he would be better putting the energy into concentrating on his game.

I know that its kind of strange to say this as Robbie is our top scorer but he has never been a clinical finisher like a Shearer/Lineker/Fowler.If he was how many goals would he have scored for us.Robbie is probably better as the support striker or even as "the number 10" in support of a Berbatov which is where he has played his best top level football.

Fernando Torres while a great player does not interact with his strike partners as well as Berbatov.Torres almost always gets his shot away after being passed the ball where Berbatov at Tottenham may look for his strike partner if he is in a better position.

It is more difficult to look a dangerous striker when partnering Torres as he is going to be taking more shots at goal.
For Robbie to be a success as a main striker(of two) Torres would have to be less selfish and I dont think this will happen and when you are as good as Torres should he.

If Torres stays fit(?? he is injury prone) Robbie will have to become more of a creator and perhaps a front three of Keane/Torres/Gerard might have a chance but would be lacking a bit of width.

[irishfan86]

Pretty brutal performance earlier, no defence for those misses.

Made St. Ledger look like a fool on one play though!

[the doc]

Pretty brutal performance earlier, no defence for those misses.

Made St. Ledger look like a fool on one play though!

At least Keane is getting into the right goalscoring positions, great movement from him yesterday.

A good test for St Ledger too, who showed that he can player at this level.

Yes Keane got in once of twice, but Robbie does that to most Premiership defenders too.

[strangeirish]

Never got a run today. Convinced Benitez just has it in for him. He leaves on Kuyt, who I thought was having a stinker. Just didn't get his thought process at all for this game.

[tricky_colour]

Never got a run today. Convinced Benitez just has it in for him. He leaves on Kuyt, who I thought was having a stinker. Just didn't get his thought process at all for this game.


Don't worry he will get a game when Stevie G is banged up.
He hit the post more times today then he elbowed that DJ.

[sligofan4ever]

Why was Kuyt on for the full 90! he was absolutly brutal and it was obvious they needed all the attacking power they needed, Rafa needs to think about his decisions before Robbie gets fed up at Liverpool.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd put a transfer request in. I'd just say to Rafa "look we're supposed to be chasing a title and you play two defensive midfielders and Kuyt upfront against STOKE." Keane got slated for his performance against Preston but at least he was getting himself into goalscoring positions. Kuyt just runs around like an aimless school kid (always praised for his effort but I should think so for a guy on £x thousand a week) and when he should be in the box he's in midfield?! On one hand I'm delighted Liverpool dropped points today but on the other it's annoying me Keane is wasted at this club because it has such an impact on Ireland's chances of qualifying for the WC. We need him on form and full of confidence because it's unfair to keep relying on Doyle to get the goals.

[aidz1]

Keane should get out of this club to get minutes on the pitch.
he is not getting enough time on the pitch for the talent he has

[Crosby87]

The bad news is he didnt get on the good news is they were basically awful without him. Clearly, Rafa is trying to send him a message but I was surprised he did it against potentially the teams best intrest, at least from what I saw today. And off the subject, that Brazillian guy Lucas is just awful. I dont pretend to be an expert and I havent seen him a lot, but he was horrible. No way Pool holds off Man U.

[Colbert Report]

Keane should leave but we all know he is going nowhere. How much money is he on? Would he get anything close to that if he played for anyone else? What is his next stop? The only other EPL teams he can play for:

Aston Villa
Fulham
West Ham
Newcastle
Portsmouth
Middlesbrough
Blackburn

all the others are either too good, can't afford him, or are names Spurs or Everton. At least one of these teams above WILL go down this season. My pick to go down is Portsmouth. Can't see him going to Villa. Blackburn maybe, if they have to sell Santa Cruz?

[irishultra]

robbie keane to real madrid.:p

[Razors left peg]

robbie keane to real madrid.:p

well if Pennant can be linked with them anyone can ;)

[Stuttgart88]

On the bench for all of Saturday’s game. Maybe Ferguson is right about Benitez’ psychological condition.

Irish Times ran a piece on Robbie on Saturday.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0110/1231515467689.html

Just a few observations:

Berbatov seems to have attracted far less criticism than Keane despite generally being underwhelming to date (3rd - and inconsequential - goal yesterday notwithstanding). Both his goals against Celtic were offside anyway! Berbatov’s output versus Keane’s output are comparable yet Berbatov has had far more pitch time.

The contrast between Ferguson & Benitez is marked: Ferguson keeps his attacking options on the pitch as often as possible, though arguably Tevez has reason to be upset.

The article says that “Keane missed four chances that were shocking by any professional standards” referring to Preston away.

I missed the start of the game and hear he missed an early chance. He made one decent chance for himself which the keeper saved well coming off his line. His miss from Gerrard’s cross was awful. He later laid a ball off instead of taking it on himself, but in fairness it was from a tight angle and the chance was by no means clear cut. Were these all really "shocking by any professional standards"?

I think a lot of commentators are losing perspective when describing Robbie. Just as Berbatov got more of the plaudits at Spurs, Robbie is getting more of the flak this season. I saw bits of MUFC vs Chelsea yesterday. Rooney played Berbatov through one-on-one with Cech and his left footed attempt was dreadful to say the least. I didn’t hear much fuss about it though.

I'd say Robbie is down about 5 or 6 realistic "could haves" and probably no more than 3 "should haves". OK, Bolton away and Preston away were awful misses. A week after Bolton Schwarzer made a super block from Keane - that's what it was though - a decent effort and a better save. He has 2 goals in MOTD's Goal of the Month shortlist for December.

I think some perspective is required.

[lionelhutz]

On the bench for all of Saturday’s game. Maybe Ferguson is right about Benitez’ psychological condition.


Just a few observations:

Berbatov seems to have attracted far less criticism than Keane despite generally being underwhelming to date (3rd - and inconsequential - goal yesterday notwithstanding). Both his goals against Celtic were offside anyway! Berbatov’s output versus Keane’s output are comparable yet Berbatov has had far more pitch time.

The contrast between Ferguson & Benitez is marked: Ferguson keeps his attacking options on the pitch as often as possible, though arguably Tevez has reason to be upset.


I think some perspective is required.

100% agreed. I made a similar comment on another forum comparing the criticism Keane gets with Berbatov's. Berbatov has looked lazy and disinterested in alot of games this season and has a total of 4 league goals in 1395 minutes played this season. Keane has always been lively and has scored 5 league goals in 1180 minutes played.

Yet Keane has been slated by the media and Berbatov has barely been under the spotlight (if at all). it just doesn't add up.

And your point re Ferguson and Benitez is correct too. Benitez pretty much played a 4-6-0 formation against Stoke with 2 defensive midfielders while Ferguson played 4-3-3 against Chelsea with Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov up front. Says it all really.

[Lenny82]

Totally agree with that aswell. Keane got more goals than Berbetov last season and was captain for a good chunk yet people laughed at Keane's £20m price tag but said nothing about Berbetov's £30m move. Any body got stats on the minutes played, games started, goals scored for the 2 this season?
I've slated Keane in the past for some of his international performances but feel sorry for him this season with all this bad press. Fair enogh, he's missed some chances that Gerald Keane would have finished but he works his socks off and has got on the score sheet as much as Rooney and Berbetov this season. He looks genuinely disheartened when he doesn't get a run which proves he's eager to play and not just there to sit back and pick up his massive wages.

[third policeman]

Totally bemused by Benitez's selection policy. If he is trying to demoralise Robbie he couldn'y be doing a better job. It took Benitez most of last season to accomdate Alonso and adopt the formation and selection that most fans had been advocating for the previous three months. The solution looks equally obvious at the minute, but his seemingly homo-erotic fixation with Kuyt is blinding him to the obvious. Keane and Gerrad should both be accomodated as part of a fluid three man formation behind Torres with either Babel or Rierra filling the third position. Kuyt lacks the technique, pace and awareness to play in this style and formation.

[lionelhutz]

Any body got stats on the minutes played, games started, goals scored for the 2 this season?


Premier League statistics

Keane - Games started - 15 / Sub app. - 2 / Goals - 5 / Assists - 3 / Mins palyed - 1180
Berbatov - Games started - 15 / Sub app. - 2 / Goals - 4 / Assists - 8 / Mins palyed - 1395

[Maroon 7]

Not even on the bench today for the FA Cup game.

[carloz]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield:eek:

[Colbert Report]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield:eek:

I don't blame him. He should sign for Everton!

[rambler14]

An Appeal to Robbie Keane!:

Leave Liverpool for a side who'll won't treat you like crap.

[Razors left peg]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield:eek:

David Ngog on bench ahead of him... really cant blame him if he did storm out. Really hard to see what the future holds for him

[Noelys Guitar]

Get out now Robbie. Back to Spurs or off to City. It is a pity as someone mentioned above that Everton don't have the dosh to buy him.

[strangeirish]

"It's always important for us to progress in this competition, it's massively vital to try and win the FA Cup, another trophy. I think Robbie Keane has a future here. I wanted to pick 19 players, but could only have 18."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez....Today.

He needs to get the hell out of there. What a joke the way he's being treated by Benitez. I mean come on, Ngog ahead of him on the bench!

[co. down green]

"It's always important for us to progress in this competition, it's massively vital to try and win the FA Cup, another trophy. I think Robbie Keane has a future here. I wanted to pick 19 players, but could only have 18."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez....Today.

He needs to get the hell out of there. What a joke the way he's being treated by Benitez. I mean come on, Ngog ahead of him on the bench!

Just heard Benitez interviewed on BBC radio 5.

Q. Was Robbie Keane injured today or was there another problem, or was he simply not selected?

A. Not selected.

Q. Is he likely to take part in the game next week?

A. We need to have all our players available.

Clearly something going on behind the scenes, Robbie needs an exit strategy from Liverpool, soon.

[back of the net]

He had a bad game against Everton a few days ago and they have a more important premier league match on Wednesday which I'll assume Rafa intends on starting him in.

His rotation of him is strange but I think Keane should stay, Spurs will be lucky not to be relegated and City aren't going anywhere fast.
He's got a shot at a top team and while yes Rafa isn't treating him fairly its in his own interest to not overreact to this and take his chances when he gets them.

Agreed on all points

[OwlsFan]

Any forward would struggle in that Liverpool team. His one flick apart, Torres was barely in the game. If he was Keane, Benitez would have subbed him. As for Kuyt!!

[tricky_colour]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield:eek:

Bit more than a rumour (they always are),
I heard something on Sky news, I think they said he stormed out, this is the best I could find. They are doing the sports news now, Will see it they say any more - they didn't.
Not surprising though, as a man manager Benetiz is useless IMO treats people like dirt, surprised it tok so long really.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1127465/Keane-Cup-snub-Future-20million-Liverpool-striker-doubt-stays-away-Rafa-axe.html

[shaneker]

Totally agree that Benitez is a useless man manager - anyone remember when he took off Gerrard against Everton (whatever your feelings on Gerrard, you don't take off your captain, best player at the time and local legend in a derby). Keane has also been treated like sh!t.

'I decided not to select him, that was all. He is not injured, but Ngog scored two goals for the reserves the other day, so he was a good option.’

- If this is all it takes to get above Robbie Keane in the pecking order, then Rafa is showing (again) that he knows nothing about strikers. A blind man could see Torres was a bitching player, but he has no other successes in this area.

Keano - get the fudge out.

[Hibs4Ever]

'I decided not to select him, that was all. He is not injured, but Ngog scored two goals for the reserves the other day, so he was a good option.’





But yet when Robbie scores 2 goals in a league game against Stoke he got dropped for the next game

[elroy]

Totally agree that Benitez is a useless man manager - anyone remember when he took off Gerrard against Everton (whatever your feelings on Gerrard, you don't take off your captain, best player at the time and local legend in a derby). Keane has also been treated like sh!t.

'I decided not to select him, that was all. He is not injured, but Ngog scored two goals for the reserves the other day, so he was a good option.’

- If this is all it takes to get above Robbie Keane in the pecking order, then Rafa is showing (again) that he knows nothing about strikers. A blind man could see Torres was a bitching player, but he has no other successes in this area.

Keano - get the fudge out.

In fairness to Torres I think he wants Keane as a strike partner, he came out a week or so ago and more or less said that. Keane has not been given a chance to establish a worthwhile partnership at united, yes he's missed a few chances and hasnt set the world alight but every striker needs time to settle in at a new club and Benitez hasnt given him a chance. Look at Berbatov, he had a very mediocre first half of the season but Ferguson persisted with him and is slowly starting to get rewards.

Judging by the treatment he has got from RB, it looks to me that Keane wasnt Benitez's choice. Delighted to see the pool make a mess of things with Keane not in the team. Think there is a good chance Rafa wont be at anfield by the start of next season.

At least Robbie will be over as fresh as daisy for the Georgia game, hopefully will bang in a few goals.

[dr_peepee]

He really needs the international break right now.. Also the sooner the better the Window closes too. Put to bed any questions about leaving in the imediate future. There's still alot of games to be played and say what you will Liverpool are hardly top heavy with fowards so he'll get his chance again.

In Keanes defense, he's not being utilised in a way that suits him. In Rafa's defense, for 20m you should be getting a more versatile player, plus you can't argue with some of his performances thus far either... Rafa's man managment leaves alot to be desired. However Keane is not the first player to be treated like this by a manager, and it will be a measure of the player and the man, how he deals with this.

Crouch and arguably even Alonso And Gerard have been shabbily treated by Benitez in the past. It's how you respond. Imagine how Tevez (at the start) and Mascherano felt under Curbishly at West Ham given their profiles.

As a captain of his country he should to get through this with some dignity, even if he ends up Leaving Anfeild later on (though not this Window). The ball's firmly in his court in how he deals with this. Assuming the "storm out" is true that is...

[Dr. Ogba]

He really needs the international break right now..

exactly, would love to see him bang in a few against Georgia and really stick it to Benitez

[elroy]

Crouch and arguably even Alonso And Gerard have been shabbily treated by Benitez in the past. It's how you respond.


Very true re Alonso at least, imo Keane is a better all round striker than Crouch. Alonso was very close to the exit door last season and funny how he arguably is liverpool's most influential player this year after Gerrard.

[HammerNThongs]

exactly, would love to see him bang in a few against Georgia and really stick it to Benitez

I would just be happy to see him bang in a few goals against Georgia. He needs a really good performance for himself as well I think. Either a good all round performance or a couple of high quality goals.

[DeLorean]

He really needs the international break right now..

It's not actually an international break though. Our match with Georgia is thrown on the Wednesday with no break in Premier Lge matches. Expect injuries.

On the Keane situation....Benitez wanted 18m for Garreth Barry in the summer and the board wouldn't give it to him saying that they would give him €20m for Keane. In a sense this makes it the boards signing and I wonder is Rafa just trying to stick it to them now. I do honestly believe he is that thick minded and the only surprsing thing for me is that Alonso is playing week-in week-out, seeing as he tried to shaft him in the summer.

[shakermaker1982]

I can see him rotting away in the scouse reserves just as we approach three critical qualifiers. Rust never sleeps. I just hope another PL team comes in for him, whether Liverpool can recoup a good portion of the 20 million fee is another matter.

[back of the net]

He really needs the international break right now.. Also the sooner the better the Window closes too. Put to bed any questions about leaving in the imediate future. There's still alot of games to be played and say what you will Liverpool are hardly top heavy with fowards so he'll get his chance again.

In Keanes defense, he's not being utilised in a way that suits him. In Rafa's defense, for 20m you should be getting a more versatile player, plus you can't argue with some of his performances thus far either... Rafa's man managment leaves alot to be desired. However Keane is not the first player to be treated like this by a manager, and it will be a measure of the player and the man, how he deals with this.

Crouch and arguably even Alonso And Gerard have been shabbily treated by Benitez in the past. It's how you respond. Imagine how Tevez (at the start) and Mascherano felt under Curbishly at West Ham given their profiles.

As a captain of his country he should to get through this with some dignity, even if he ends up Leaving Anfeild later on (though not this Window). The ball's firmly in his court in how he deals with this. Assuming the "storm out" is true that is...


good thought out post Dr.

[Wolfie]

At least Robbie will be over as fresh as daisy for the Georgia game, hopefully will bang in a few goals.

We could possibly reap some benefit alright, if Keane keeps the chin up - a determined Keane with a point to prove is not a bad scenario for us.