Robbie Keane

[sligofan4ever]

It may only be a rumour but it says in the sun Benitez is ready to offer Dirk Kuyt a 3 year contract to keep Juventus from signing him. I think that says alot about him if he's willing to give a useless player a 3 year contract but leave a proven player out of what could be a huge game this season.

[gustavo]

It may only be a rumour but it says in the sun Benitez is ready to offer Dirk Kuyt a 3 year contract to keep Juventus from signing him. I think that says alot about him if he's willing to give a useless player a 3 year contract but leave a proven player out of what could be a huge game this season.
If Kuyt was so useless he wouldnt be in their team every week and if Keane was proven with them he wouldn't be amongst the subs at best for them

[third policeman]

He's been responsible for Liverpool making the step up from UEFA cup team to top 4, you can't possibly criticise his results.

His methods at times appear crazy to me and a lot others but then I'm not a proven top class manager so I'm willing to accept I'm not qualified to judge him. He's either a genius that most don't understand or incredibly lucky.

Liverpool had qualified for the CL under Houllier, so I dont think that Rafa has really taken them on that much. He has not taken them any closer to getting a league title than either Houllier or Evans for that matter. There is now a very grave danger that their season is about to implode and if that happens he will have to take a very large slice of personal responsibility.

His rant at Fergie was Keeganesque in its idiocy and has only served to galvanise UTD and raise serious question marks about his own judgment and sanity.

His absurd faith in the appalling Lucas has cost us results against both Wigan and Everton.

He has demoralised and discarded Robbie at a time when we desperately need forward cover.

He is on the verge of losing Agger due to his stubborn and sentimental refusal to rotate or rest (or drop) Carragher.

He has failed to give Babel the opportunity to develop and gain confidence when he is clearly an outstanding talent who is in a totally different league to the abysmally mediocre Kuyt.

He has assembled some of the most astoundingly inept fullbacks ever to grace the Premier League

What ever he once was, this man is not a genius.

[NeilMcD]

How many international managers and Premiership manager do you now know more than.

[Noelys Guitar]

Going on the comments by Jamie Redknapp and Gullit in the Sky studio it seems Robbie is on his way out of Liverpool.

[Aaron]

12 Million + Aaron Lennon with Keane heading back to Spurs

[Colbert Report]

That would be a great deal for both clubs now that Defoe is out for the next three weeks. Could be the difference between relegation and staying up for Spurs.

I'm as massive Liverpool fan so it breaks my heart to see this move not working out for Robbie. How often does the captain of your country play for your club team? Ah well. I hope he gets back to Spurs tomorrow and plays the rest of the season. Far too much talent to waste the next twenty PL/CL games on the bench or out of the squad altogether.

Benitez clearly isn't playing with a full deck and should be let go immediately. I bet Wenger could be convinced to take the job!

[DmanDmythDledge]

How many international managers and Premiership manager do you now know more than.
Maybe you could start by pointing out what part of his post you disagree with at least.

I hate this attitude that people have, and one that was prevalent on this site when Trappatoni took charge of the national team, that managers that have had success in the game are automatically right and are infallible. I can see no harm in people forming opinions based on the facts/merits of managers decisions and stating whether they think they are right or wrong rather than people being in favour of certain decisions for no other reason other than he's won this and that so he must be right.

[Noelys Guitar]

12 Million + Aaron Lennon with Keane heading back to Spurs

Sky just showed Robbie with street clothes on heading into the Liverpool dressing room (to say goodbye?). With Richard 'Sky' himself suggesting the next time Robbie is at Liverpool he will be entering the visitors dressing room. It is better for Ireland that Keane gets out now and gets back to Spurs (or City who I believe are also involved). He needs to be playing 90 mins. Happy and scoring.

[Aaron]

Read this:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/01/31/liverpool-fc-blast-tottenham-hotspur-over-robbie-keane-100252-22821393/

[Qwerty]

Liverpool had qualified for the CL under Houllier, so I dont think that Rafa has really taken them on that much. He has not taken them any closer to getting a league title than either Houllier or Evans for that matter. There is now a very grave danger that their season is about to implode and if that happens he will have to take a very large slice of personal responsibility.

His rant at Fergie was Keeganesque in its idiocy and has only served to galvanise UTD and raise serious question marks about his own judgment and sanity.

His absurd faith in the appalling Lucas has cost us results against both Wigan and Everton.

He has demoralised and discarded Robbie at a time when we desperately need forward cover.

He is on the verge of losing Agger due to his stubborn and sentimental refusal to rotate or rest (or drop) Carragher.

He has failed to give Babel the opportunity to develop and gain confidence when he is clearly an outstanding talent who is in a totally different league to the abysmally mediocre Kuyt.

He has assembled some of the most astoundingly inept fullbacks ever to grace the Premier League

What ever he once was, this man is not a genius.

Liverpool won't win the league this season, the dogs in the street know that. Kuyt is a good player but they need Torres and Keane to win games. And Benitez doesn't seem to want to give Keane a chance, he is not even on the bench today...

[Colbert Report]

Bellamy was hardly a failure at Liverpool. What makes you say that Ciaran?

[Colbert Report]

Hardly. When I think of Bellamy in a Liverpool shirt I think of his great performances in the knock out stages of the Champions League, especially right after the golf club incident. Great player. 9 goals in 41 games is nothing to sneeze at - how many goals did Kevin Doyle have for Reading last season? Do you consider him a failure there?

[EastTerracer]

Conversely he's the man who established Finnan as one of the best right backs in the world.

Turned Riise into a top class left back instead of a gung ho left winger.

Allowed Gerrard to flourish under him.

Ciaran, that's a very selective memory you have. Finnan was already a well-established and highly-regarded full-back before Rafa arrived. If anything Rafa never rated Finnan and immediately signed a full-back to replace him. He grudgingly brought Finnan back into the team pretty quickly but seemed to try and sign a replacement every season. If anything Finnan was unsettled by Rafa when he was already a class-act at right-back.

Riise was always a full-back, occasionally picked on the wing but Rafa certainly had nothing to do with this. Riise was another of those players who made more of an impact at Liverpool before Rafa arrived.

For Rafa's first two seasons Gerrard was clearly unhappy. He was persistently selected at right-midfield instead of in the centre. Rafa kept telling the press how no one player was more important than others. He was subbed in a lot of important games (and clearly showed his dis-satisfaction). He very nearly signed for Chelsea and needed his family to persuade him to stay. It is only in the last two years that Rafa seems to have realised how good Gerrard is and started to use him in his best position. He is still prone to crazy substitutions though (last Wednesday).

There's no doubt that Rafa has some really good tactical abilities (and got them through to a Champions League playing some of the most stifling and negative football Liverpool have ever played). However, his man management has been generally poor. He has spent an awful lot of money on players who made no impact and quickly moved on.

Can't agree with you on this one.

[dr_peepee]

I will be absolutely gutted if Keane leaves before the summer at the earliest.. Doubly so if he goes back to Spurs... (Who I would have tought don't need him with Bent, Defoe and Pavlyechenko at the club... Even Modric)

To buckle under the adversity is wrong for the captian of Ireland. It's too soon to pack it in. His place in the Irish team is secure. There's no major championship this summer so he's not risking anything by staying to battle it out...

Benitez is clearly a sap with his carry on and it would more than get you down but you have to put it up to him and power through it.... Alonso handled his situation alot better.

[EastTerracer]

The suggestions coming from the press during the week were that Robbie wanted to stay on and fight for his place. It seems likely that Benitez has not given him that option.

Way back when, I thought Robbie should have stayed at Inter Milan when there was a change of management (ironically Tardelli didn't fancy him when Lippi had signed him). This time around though I think Robbie might be making the right move.

[NeilMcD]

yeah I do not think it is a case of Robbie Keane giving up. I think its a case of him being the victim of politics at Liverpool. Benitez obviously does not rate him for the system he wants.

[Hibs4Ever]

I actually expect him to be in the starting 11 tomorrow.


Good call :rolleyes:

[Noelys Guitar]

Sbraigia has just said Sunderland are in talks with Spurs for Bent. So it looks like Bent to Sunderland for 8 mil. Spurs give back the 8 mil downpayment they received from Liverpool for Keane. And Keane goes back to Spurs.

[NeilMcD]

Maybe you could start by pointing out what part of his post you disagree with at least.

I hate this attitude that people have, and one that was prevalent on this site when Trappatoni took charge of the national team, that managers that have had success in the game are automatically right and are infallible. I can see no harm in people forming opinions based on the facts/merits of managers decisions and stating whether they think they are right or wrong rather than people being in favour of certain decisions for no other reason other than he's won this and that so he must be right.

I never said that these managers are always right however Third Policeman does not just disagree with these managers policies he goes further and questions their sanity and whether they have a clue about football at all. There is a difference.

[EastTerracer]

If Robbie does go back to Spurs, what are the chances Liverpool try to get a clause saying that he can't play in the Liverpool v Spurs game on the last day of the season? I think that usually only happens in loan deals but it might be interesting.

On one hand, Robbie would be going back with something to prove, on the other he has already played enough games to qualify for a Premiership medal if Liverpool are still in contention.:rolleyes:

[Colbert Report]

If Robbie does go back to Spurs, what are the chances Liverpool try to get a clause saying that he can't play in the Liverpool v Spurs game on the last day of the season? I think that usually only happens in loan deals but it might be interesting.

On one hand, Robbie would be going back with something to prove, on the other he has already played enough games to qualify for a Premiership medal if Liverpool are still in contention.:rolleyes:

It is illegal to put a clause like that in a non-loan transfer agreement. Liverpool got into trouble over this regarding a goalkeeper loan a few years ago in a cup match. I think it was Kirkland? Maybe Carson?

[elroy]

This disgraceful treatment of Keane continues. It does look like he will be a new club by the end of tomorrow. Disgusted that they managed to score two late goals as well, another inept 0-0 draw wouldve put more pressure on Benitez whereas now hes got the three points and keeps them in the title race.

[dr_peepee]

What was Rafa's answer to the question regarding Keanes potential departure tommorow?? I fell asleep in the second half of the game (just back from a stag) and was barely conscious but when Rafa was asked if Keane would be at anfield beyond tommorow.... I think he said "I think so yes" and smiled... Is that what was said????

[EastTerracer]

What was Rafa's answer to the question regarding Keanes potential departure tommorow?? I fell asleep in the second half of the game (just back from a stag) and was barely conscious but when Rafa was asked if Keane would be at anfield beyond tommorow.... I think he said "I think so yes" and smiled... Is that what was said????

The question was along the lines of "Can you tell us now that Robbie Keane will definitely be with Liverpool after tomorrow's transfer deadline?"

He did say "I think so" which is not quite the ringing endorsement that Robbie needs but probably indicates that there are no bids or negotiations in progress yet.

[dr_peepee]

The question was along the lines of "Can you tell us now that Robbie Keane will definitely be with Liverpool after tomorrow's transfer deadline?"

He did say "I think so" which is not quite the ringing endorsement that Robbie needs but probably indicates that there are no bids or negotiations in progress yet.


Good stuff.. Like I said I was cabbaged so I couldn't rely on my brain. But in as much as it was only a "Think So" the vibe I got from the delivery was that he'd defo be there beyond tommorrow...

I sware, knowing Benitez I'd put money on Keane to start on Wednesday.:rolleyes:

There's enough games left for Robbie Keane to do himself justice at Anfield.. Whether it's enough to keep him there beyond the summer is another thing but I'd have hated for him to leave now as things are.

[an_ceannaire]

lads, here is a MAD idea, i mean maybe i am just off my head....but is there any chance atall, that maybe, just maybe, Robbie is just not good enough:rolleyes:

[EastTerracer]

Five Live (well, Spoony on 606) just claimed that Spurs have made a GBP 15 million bid for Robbie.

It's not clear whether Rafa will even be interested given his comments earlier that he thinks Robbie will still be at Anfield. It does read a bit too much like the rumours in the Sunday papers this morning.

[Razors left peg]

lads, here is a MAD idea, i mean maybe i am just off my head....but is there any chance atall, that maybe, just maybe, Robbie is just not good enough:rolleyes:

No:rolleyes:

[an_ceannaire]

why's that then razor:confused:

[Razors left peg]

why's that then razor:confused:

Robbie has proven over a long period of time in the premiership and at international level that he is a top striker.As far as Im aware in his time at Spurs when he played along side Berbatov he had more goals and more assists than Berbatov.At the start of the season Berbatov was very ordinary for Man United but with some good man management by Ferguson and by sticking beside his signing the goals are starting to flow now. If Benitez was half the man manager that Ferguson is Robbie would be fine. Look at the goal he got against Arsenal earlier in the season, do u think that Kuyt,Ngog or Babel are capable of anything like that? And yet Robbie is behind all of them in the pecking order at Liverpool.
Even from playing at a crap level of football myself I know that playing as a striker is all about confidence and you cannot have confidence if every time u play u know u are gonna be substituted.Or when u score 3 goals in 2 games and then find yourself sitting on the bench again for 3 games.
Robbies failure at Liverpool in my opinion is down to a lack of man management by Benitez or that Benitez is making Robbie a pawn in his arguement with the board over control of transfer policy.... either way Robbie is better off out of the club if Benitez stays on

[elroy]

Robbie has proven over a long period of time in the premiership and at international level that he is a top striker.As far as Im aware in his time at Spurs when he played along side Berbatov he had more goals and more assists than Berbatov.At the start of the season Berbatov was very ordinary for Man United but with some good man management by Ferguson and by sticking beside his signing the goals are starting to flow now. If Benitez was half the man manager that Ferguson is Robbie would be fine. Look at the goal he got against Arsenal earlier in the season, do u think that Kuyt,Ngog or Babel are capable of anything like that? And yet Robbie is behind all of them in the pecking order at Liverpool.
Even from playing at a crap level of football myself I know that playing as a striker is all about confidence and you cannot have confidence if every time u play u know u are gonna be substituted.Or when u score 3 goals in 2 games and then find yourself sitting on the bench again for 3 games.
Robbies failure at Liverpool in my opinion is down to a lack of man management by Benitez or that Benitez is making Robbie a pawn in his arguement with the board over control of transfer policy.... either way Robbie is better off out of the club if Benitez stays on

Robbie isnt in the same class as say Torres but the lad has been treated something terrible by terrible by Benitez. He has not been given a fair shot at it. Yes he has had a few bad performances but he has also showed glimpses of what he can do. He has not been given a decent run in the team to settle in and build up an understanding with his team mates. As mentioned above, compare this to what Fergie has done with Berbatov.
I hope Keane can turn it around at pool, his confidence must be shot at the moment and if he leaves, it may be something that he never fully recovers from.

[Noelys Guitar]

lads, here is a MAD idea, i mean maybe i am just off my head....but is there any chance atall, that maybe, just maybe, Robbie is just not good enough:rolleyes:

He is not as good as Torres (very few are) and Ferguson has never rated Robbie as a top striker. Then again I thought Keane was brilliant last year for Spurs. His performances against Chelsea at home and Liverpool away were top drawer. I wish O'Neill or Moyes had bought him rather than Benitez. Keane would be perfect playing alongside Heskey or Carew. If I was O'Neill I would be battering down Lerner's door to get the money to buy Keane. He would get the extra goals Villa will need to get into the Champion's league.

[NeilMcD]

He will be very good beside Pavluchenko I think.

[Colbert Report]

Aston Villa have already signed Emile Heskey. Combined with Abonglahor and Carew, they don't have the money to pay Keane. No need to have four high-priced strikers when they got where they are this season by playing only one in most matches. Arsenal look like they are imploding so Villa just need to not lose a tonne of matches and they'll be fine for the last Champions League spot.

Everton is where Robbie should go. The problem is, nobody wants to pay fifteen million for a guy that hasn't had a good season so far. Even if they got rid of him on loan is he really worth the money in terms of wages he'd command?

[4tothefloor]

Robbie has proven over a long period of time in the premiership and at international level that he is a top striker.As far as Im aware in his time at Spurs when he played along side Berbatov he had more goals and more assists than Berbatov.At the start of the season Berbatov was very ordinary for Man United but with some good man management by Ferguson and by sticking beside his signing the goals are starting to flow now. If Benitez was half the man manager that Ferguson is Robbie would be fine. Look at the goal he got against Arsenal earlier in the season, do u think that Kuyt,Ngog or Babel are capable of anything like that? And yet Robbie is behind all of them in the pecking order at Liverpool.
Even from playing at a crap level of football myself I know that playing as a striker is all about confidence and you cannot have confidence if every time u play u know u are gonna be substituted.Or when u score 3 goals in 2 games and then find yourself sitting on the bench again for 3 games.
Robbies failure at Liverpool in my opinion is down to a lack of man management by Benitez or that Benitez is making Robbie a pawn in his arguement with the board over control of transfer policy.... either way Robbie is better off out of the club if Benitez stays on

I think you have a slightly distorted view on Keane's career. I've always seen him as a bit of a shaper and a sulker who throws strops when things don't go his way. I don't think he has proven himself as a TOP striker actually. He's been distinctly average for many a season, save for his recent partnership with Berbatov at Spurs. What he has definitely proved is that he's a one trick pony - he can only play in one system, and that's with/off a target man in a front two. He's done f all for Ireland since Niall Quinn retired in 2002, save score goals in meaningless friendlies and against cr@p opposition like Leichteinstein. He's been abysmal for Ireland for the last 7 years.

With regard to his club career, again he can only play with target men. Dion Dublin at Coventry, Viduka at Leeds and Berbatov/Mido at Spurs. He flopped at Inter Milan (I don't accept Lippi's sacking as an excuse). He spent quite a lot of time on the bench at Leeds cos he failed to deliver in big games or to develop any sort of partnership with the other strikers. At Spurs he failed to strike up a partnership with Defoe, a player with similar qualities to Torres. Defoe was subsequently sold on. Pre-Berbatov and indeed after Berbatov initially joined Spurs, Keane often found himself warming the Spurs bench as well on a regular basis, which culminated in the famous shirt throwing incident with Martin Jol.

I struggle to believe that Rafa Benitez chose Keane 100%. For one, he did not need him as Keane occupies both Torres and Gerrard's position on the pitch. £21m on a player that would not start when all are fit or at best a player Benitez would have to change his system for to accomodate? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I'm a Rafa critic but the man is not stupid. I think we're all beginning to see now that this transfer was pushed by the board and that clown Rick Parry to appease Rafa after the Gareth Barry saga. He clearly doesn't fancy Keane, whipping him off after 70 mins every game and sporadically leaving him out of the squad altogether.

Keane can't take the pressure at big clubs or clubs chasing trophies - see Leeds and Inter Milan. He can't perform against decent sides for Ireland either. If Spurs or City come a calling, Liverpool should take the money and RUN. I've been watching him live since he was 18 for Ireland and aside from Dirk Kuyt, I don't think I've ever seen a more frustrating player. Not top drawer, Spurs was and is his level.

[EastTerracer]

I think you have a slightly distorted view on Keane's career.

I think your opening comment could equally be applied to your own analysis.

To say he's been abysmal for Ireland is totally unfair given the scant service he received during the Kerr and Staunton reigns. He's one of the players who will always turn up and give his all. It's not always effective but he always gives everything for Ireland. I've seen every competitive game he's played for Ireland and he's been one of our three best players in the last 7 years - Given and Dunne being the others.

I think he should have stayed in Milan but to label him a flop is harsh given that he played less than 10 league games for them. No player is going to establish themselves in that short timeframe. Ask any Spurs fan if he has proved himself as a top-class striker and they will give you a very definite answer.

The idea that the Liverpool board pushed the transfer is something that Benitez has been hinting at but there is no evidence to support that. It's never something that has been suggested for any other transfers there. It's more likely that Benitez has just changed his mind on Robbie because he doesn't know where to fit him in. He's scored three goals in his last three league games so the idea that he won't get goals is debunked.

.... and btw Keane has never played against Liechtenstein, let alone score against them.

[paul_oshea]

poor robbie the pawn in the fatmens chessgame.

I crinch now everytime I hear benitez metion keane.

Sadly Benitez was lucky today chelsea and scolari had very little appetitie for the game.

[NeilMcD]

I think your opening comment could equally be applied to your own analysis.

To say he's been abysmal for Ireland is totally unfair given the scant service he received during the Kerr and Staunton reigns. He's one of the players who will always turn up and give his all. It's not always effective but he always gives everything for Ireland. I've seen every competitive game he's played for Ireland and he's been one of our three best players in the last 7 years - Given and Dunne being the others.

I think he should have stayed in Milan but to label him a flop is harsh given that he played less than 10 league games for them. No player is going to establish themselves in that short timeframe. Ask any Spurs fan if he has proved himself as a top-class striker and they will give you a very definite answer.

The idea that the Liverpool board pushed the transfer is something that Benitez has been hinting at but there is no evidence to support that. It's never something that has been suggested for any other transfers there. It's more likely that Benitez has just changed his mind on Robbie because he doesn't know where to fit him in. He's scored three goals in his last three league games so the idea that he won't get goals is debunked.

.... and btw Keane has never played against Liechtenstein, let alone score against them.


Great post especially the bit at the end fair play.

[Razors left peg]

I think you have a slightly distorted view on Keane's career. I've always seen him as a bit of a shaper and a sulker who throws strops when things don't go his way. I don't think he has proven himself as a TOP striker actually. He's been distinctly average for many a season, save for his recent partnership with Berbatov at Spurs. What he has definitely proved is that he's a one trick pony - he can only play in one system, and that's with/off a target man in a front two. He's done f all for Ireland since Niall Quinn retired in 2002, save score goals in meaningless friendlies and against cr@p opposition like Leichteinstein. He's been abysmal for Ireland for the last 7 years.

With regard to his club career, again he can only play with target men. Dion Dublin at Coventry, Viduka at Leeds and Berbatov/Mido at Spurs. He flopped at Inter Milan (I don't accept Lippi's sacking as an excuse). He spent quite a lot of time on the bench at Leeds cos he failed to deliver in big games or to develop any sort of partnership with the other strikers. At Spurs he failed to strike up a partnership with Defoe, a player with similar qualities to Torres. Defoe was subsequently sold on. Pre-Berbatov and indeed after Berbatov initially joined Spurs, Keane often found himself warming the Spurs bench as well on a regular basis, which culminated in the famous shirt throwing incident with Martin Jol.

I struggle to believe that Rafa Benitez chose Keane 100%. For one, he did not need him as Keane occupies both Torres and Gerrard's position on the pitch. £21m on a player that would not start when all are fit or at best a player Benitez would have to change his system for to accomodate? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I'm a Rafa critic but the man is not stupid. I think we're all beginning to see now that this transfer was pushed by the board and that clown Rick Parry to appease Rafa after the Gareth Barry saga. He clearly doesn't fancy Keane, whipping him off after 70 mins every game and sporadically leaving him out of the squad altogether.

Keane can't take the pressure at big clubs or clubs chasing trophies - see Leeds and Inter Milan. He can't perform against decent sides for Ireland either. If Spurs or City come a calling, Liverpool should take the money and RUN. I've been watching him live since he was 18 for Ireland and aside from Dirk Kuyt, I don't think I've ever seen a more frustrating player. Not top drawer, Spurs was and is his level.

Could hardly disagree with you more
The reply from East Terracer pretty much sums up anything I would reply to that

[SwanVsDalton]

With regard to his club career, again he can only play with target men. Dion Dublin at Coventry...

Keane never played at Coventry with Dublin, he moved there a full season after Dion went to Villa.

Doesn't really do your chances of being taken seriously much good...

[gspain]

Newstalk had him in Madrid yesterday but the sky cameras had him at Anfield.

He is our all time leading scorer by a country mile. He has given and will give great service

He is also a confidence player and badly needs a move today. Fingers crossed he will get it.

[bwagner]

Keane flew to Albania like 3 days after his dad passed to play for his nation ...No one can ever fault his heart !

[Razors left peg]

From the football365 site, sums Keane up in a few words:D

liverpoolbob

"wedjwants, I admit I'm wrong about Keane not being good at anything. I've seen some world class air shots, some spectacular falling over, a good bit of non-productive energy use and some really impressive hard done by expressions. I should try to give a more balanced view, Sorry.

I lost interest when you said from football365

[aidz1]

I think you have a slightly distorted view on Keane's career. I've always seen him as a bit of a shaper and a sulker who throws strops when things don't go his way. I don't think he has proven himself as a TOP striker actually. He's been distinctly average for many a season, save for his recent partnership with Berbatov at Spurs. What he has definitely proved is that he's a one trick pony - he can only play in one system, and that's with/off a target man in a front two. He's done f all for Ireland since Niall Quinn retired in 2002, save score goals in meaningless friendlies and against cr@p opposition like Leichteinstein. He's been abysmal for Ireland for the last 7 years.

With regard to his club career, again he can only play with target men. Dion Dublin at Coventry, Viduka at Leeds and Berbatov/Mido at Spurs. He flopped at Inter Milan (I don't accept Lippi's sacking as an excuse). He spent quite a lot of time on the bench at Leeds cos he failed to deliver in big games or to develop any sort of partnership with the other strikers. At Spurs he failed to strike up a partnership with Defoe, a player with similar qualities to Torres. Defoe was subsequently sold on. Pre-Berbatov and indeed after Berbatov initially joined Spurs, Keane often found himself warming the Spurs bench as well on a regular basis, which culminated in the famous shirt throwing incident with Martin Jol.

I struggle to believe that Rafa Benitez chose Keane 100%. For one, he did not need him as Keane occupies both Torres and Gerrard's position on the pitch. £21m on a player that would not start when all are fit or at best a player Benitez would have to change his system for to accomodate? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I'm a Rafa critic but the man is not stupid. I think we're all beginning to see now that this transfer was pushed by the board and that clown Rick Parry to appease Rafa after the Gareth Barry saga. He clearly doesn't fancy Keane, whipping him off after 70 mins every game and sporadically leaving him out of the squad altogether.

Keane can't take the pressure at big clubs or clubs chasing trophies - see Leeds and Inter Milan. He can't perform against decent sides for Ireland either. If Spurs or City come a calling, Liverpool should take the money and RUN. I've been watching him live since he was 18 for Ireland and aside from Dirk Kuyt, I don't think I've ever seen a more frustrating player. Not top drawer, Spurs was and is his level.

so much of this irrates me...

Stick to supporting your beloved reds..
.
keane is the best irish forward we've had for the last 20+ years... a man who has given good service to his country INCLUDING THE LAST 7 YEARS!!!

[rebelmusic]

1st post to back aidz here. Robbie may be frustrating at times but his positional sense is top notch and before liverpool he was a master at getting into a "sitter" position and knocking them in.

Its pretty simple - the media attention got to him at liverpool, you could see it when he made some cockups like the preston game and then would look to pass rather than shoot.

Going back to Tottenham is the best thing for him and Ireland, especially since he'll feel the need to prove himself. Benitez is a prat

[4tothefloor]

The idea that the Liverpool board pushed the transfer is something that Benitez has been hinting at but there is no evidence to support that. It's never something that has been suggested for any other transfers there. It's more likely that Benitez has just changed his mind on Robbie because he doesn't know where to fit him in. He's scored three goals in his last three league games so the idea that he won't get goals is debunked.

It's well known that one of the reasons Keane has been sold is because of his attitude around the club. Namely his constant moaning, his attitude when being substituted, his stoney faced glares when sitting on the bench and his general inability to deal with the fact that at a trophy chasing club there are no automatic starters, especially for under-performers. His mutterings to himself and to supporters when being substituted were both hilarious and pathetic. His assertion to Jamie Carragher that Benitez 'speaks to players like you're a YTS' shows that Keane belongs at a club like Spurs where players are often bigger than the club. His stoney faced demeanour in the dressing room and around the club when not selected was something Benitez and other senior players did not appreciate and it's been known for sometime that Keane was on his way out - you can go back months ago to Mark Lawrenson's clanger when he revealed in the media that Steven Gerrard had told him Keane would be gone in the January window - look who was proved right.

The sale was made all the more easier because Keane was not Benitez's signing. He was deliberately frozen out towards the end and the resultant sale is a victory for Benitez over Rick Parry. Benitez recently turned down a new contract because he wants Parry relieved of all control of transfers and the control transferred to him. The main reason being years of incompetence on Parry's part culminating in August with the Gareth Barry transfer being vetoed and Robbie Keane being signed instead. Benitez has, rightly or wrongly, made an example of Keane to illustrate that chief executives should have no say on what player signs or on any footballing matters.

Now, you can choose to believe what you want to believe, that's you're choice. I'd expect no less from a Dub supporting Keane tho - it's the same on the Liverpool forums but I will not judge a player on his nationality etc, rather his actual performance and attitude - and Keane stank on both counts. Best of luck to him at Spurs, but his Anfield failure was no one's fault but his own

Benitez Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1133129/Spurs-end-Keanes-Anfield-misery-Rafa-admits-I-didnt-signing.html
Carragher Source: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/74837/Robbie-s-future-all-in-the-cards



.... and btw Keane has never played against Liechtenstein, let alone score against them.
Pardon me, but it was the mighty San Marino and Faroe Islands I was thinking of. That actually makes all the difference, good man for pointing it out. Maybe you could now name me all of Robbies goals against top tier international sides since the 2002 world cup? No friendlies now! :D


so much of this irrates me...

Stick to supporting your beloved reds..
.
keane is the best irish forward we've had for the last 20+ years... a man who has given good service to his country INCLUDING THE LAST 7 YEARS!!!
That may be your opinion mate but mine is that Keane is over-rated. He usually flops when the chips are down. I'd rate Quinn's/Aldridge's quality over quantity goals myself. Robbie's record is good but it's padded out with a lot of fodder


Keane never played at Coventry with Dublin, he moved there a full season after Dion went to Villa.

Doesn't really do your chances of being taken seriously much good...
You're right, my bad. Doesn't change my argument or opinion of him in any way tho

I hope Keane does well at Spurs because ultimately it may benefit Ireland, if he could start pulling the finger out that is. He's a confidence player who needs to be indulged, and they'll have plenty of time to give him that indulgence at Spurs while they try to achieve mid table mediocrity.


BTW, for anyone who says he wasn't given a "fair crack of the whip" by Benitez, here are the actual facts to blow that rubbish out of the water:

The Premier League & Keane (starting unless otherwise stated):
Sunderland (A)
Middlesborough (H)
Villa (A)
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (H)
Everton (A)
Man City (A) - (used as a sub)
Chelsea (A)
Portsmouth (H) - (used as a sub, stoppage time)
Tottenham (A)
West Brom (H)
Bolton (A)
Fulham (H)
West Ham (H)
Blackburn (A) - (unused sub)
Hull (H) - (unused sub)
Arsenal (A)
Bolton (H)
Newcastle (A) - (unused sub)
Stoke (A) - (unused sub)
Everton (H)
Wigan (A) - (used as a late sub)
Chelsea (H) - (left out of squad pre-Spurs move)

Keane and the Champions League:
Liege (A)
Liege (H)
Marseille (A) - (used as a sub)
PSV (H)
Atletico Madrid (A)
Atletico Madrid (H)
Marseille (H) - (unused sub)

[DotTV]

In the same post you say Robbie has no one to blame but himself yet you outline in detail that he was used as a pawn in Benitez's spat with the board.

His first few games for Liverpool he was stuck out on the left wing. How many other players can adapt to a new club while being played out of position? None that I can think of.
Once he started to find a bit of form he was dropped. He scores a great goal against Arsenal, then gets two against Bolton...then he's dropped!
I'm a Liverpool fan and I'm glad for him that he's left, because he was treated like ****.

[OwlsFan]

He's done f all for Ireland since Niall Quinn retired in 2002, save score goals in meaningless friendlies and against cr@p opposition like Leichteinstein. He's been abysmal for Ireland for the last 7 years.

12 goals in competitive games since 2002. Has anyone else come even close to this "abysmal" record? Even if the opposition is "cr@p", someone has to score against them and thank heavens for Robbie Keane because otherwise we would be knee deep in cr@p.

[limerickblue]

The Premier League & Keane (starting unless otherwise stated):
Sunderland (A)
Middlesborough (H)
Villa (A)
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (H)
Everton (A)
Man City (A) - (used as a sub)
Chelsea (A)
Portsmouth (H) - (used as a sub, stoppage time)
Tottenham (A)
West Brom (H)
Bolton (A)
Fulham (H)
West Ham (H)
Blackburn (A) - (unused sub)
Hull (H) - (unused sub)
Arsenal (A)
Bolton (H)
Newcastle (A) - (unused sub)
Stoke (A) - (unused sub)
Everton (H)
Wigan (A) - (used as a late sub)
Chelsea (H) - (left out of squad pre-Spurs move)

Keane and the Champions League:
Liege (A)
Liege (H)
Marseille (A) - (used as a sub)
PSV (H)
Atletico Madrid (A)
Atletico Madrid (H)
Marseille (H) - (unused sub)

O.k he played alot of the games , but how many games was he substituted in.As a goalscorer you always want to stay on the field espicaly in the last twnety minutes because that is when so many goals are scored in the premier league.

Personally Robbie will see his time at Liverpool as a failure, It will hurt him even more as it is the club he loved as a boy,but he should hold his head high because in 2 months time, everybody is going to see what a fool benitez is when torres gets injured and all he has is babel ,kuyt and NGOG(dont make me laugh). Silly buisness from Mr.Benitez
Thank god he is back at the lane anyway because that is where the most goals are scored in the premier leauge anyway, 80 goals last year more goals then anywhere else