Robbie Keane

[eirebhoy]

Keane is one of 5 European players currently playing to have scored 40 goals or more. Koller, Henry, Raul and Shevchenko the others.

[tetsujin1979]

only noticed today that Henry has 49 goals for France, in 112 games. A goal every 2.2 games
Robbie has 40 in 92 games, which works out as a goal every 2.3 games, in a far worse team (yes France are better than Ireland, accept it)

[Scram]

only noticed today that Henry has 49 goals for France, in 112 games. A goal every 2.2 games
Robbie has 40 in 92 games, which works out as a goal every 2.3 games, in a far worse team (yes France are better than Ireland, accept it)

Some anti-Robbie clown will no doubt argue that France play better teams! Take Faroe Islands for example!

[John83]

only noticed today that Henry has 49 goals for France, in 112 games. A goal every 2.2 games
Robbie has 40 in 92 games, which works out as a goal every 2.3 games, in a far worse team (yes France are better than Ireland, accept it)
By that measure, David Healy is the new Pele. All those stats tell us is that they're all good strikers.

[Duggie]

always amazed that healy never transfered that into club level. has never really got a good run in a club side for whatever reason.

[Stuttgart88]

I always think if Owen or Rooney had scored 13(?) in one campaign like Healy we'd never have heard the end of it.

[Murfinator]

Healy's record always baffled me somewhat since he never cut it at Fulham or Sunderland, I mean even Daryl Murphy a player who can't get anywhere near our squad is higher on the pecking order than NI's all time greatest striker.

He must turn it on big time on the international stage because he's a different player for NI than he is at club level.

[Duggie]

I always think if Owen or Rooney had scored 13(?) in one campaign like Healy we'd never have heard the end of it.

if they qualified we might have heard more about it though.

[centre mid]

It was an exceptional performace by Healy in that Campaign, particularley when you look at the group N Ireland had.

[Qwerty]

Healy's record always baffled me somewhat since he never cut it at Fulham or Sunderland, I mean even Daryl Murphy a player who can't get anywhere near our squad is higher on the pecking order than NI's all time greatest striker.

He must turn it on big time on the international stage because he's a different player for NI than he is at club level.

His record is remarkable. He has not and will not crack the Premioer League nut, I think he might do well on the continent.

[Qwerty]

Remarkable achievement a genuinely nice guy. And if he were coached properly there is even more in the tank!!

[Irish_Praha]

Just for the record here's the Top Goalscorers for the British teams and the Republic:

England
Bobby Charlton (49/106)

Republic of Ireland
Robbie Keane (40/92)

Northern Ireland
David Healy (35/75)

Scotland
Denis Law (30/55)
Kenny Dalglish (30/102)

Wales
Ian Rush (28/73)

Another amazing return of goals per game at international level was Davor Suker with 45 goals from only 69 games.
A lot of them against tops sides, including Ireland :D
Maybe I am doing him a misjustice but IIRC he was a player that did nothing most of the game but more often than not managed to sneek a goal from 5 yards or less.

[paul_oshea]

I was saying about suker alright, that he had a great amount. THought it was actually 52 or 54 though?! Remember reading before it was a great amount.

ANyone have all time european top international scorers?!

[Serb]

I was saying about suker alright, that he had a great amount. THought it was actually 52 or 54 though?! Remember reading before it was a great amount.

ANyone have all time european top international scorers?!

This is probably the closest you'll get. Just lists the top scorers for each country:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_international_association_football_goal_scorer s_by_country

[DmanDmythDledge]

Not sure what he's done to be captain but he's a great player.


shouldn't be captainy
Because you guys are on the training ground and in the dressing room? In practically all cases it is impossible for anybody outside of the club/team to make a judgement on who should be captain.

[stiffler]

I always think if Owen or Rooney had scored 13(?) in one campaign like Healy we'd never have heard the end of it.


We're still not hearing the end of it up in the north!

[Colbert Report]

Because you guys are on the training ground and in the dressing room? In practically all cases it is impossible for anybody outside of the club/team to make a judgement on who should be captain.

Fair enough, but usually all I see him doing on the pitch is moaning and waving his arms about. Someone like Dunne is seen shouting instructions to the other players all match.

[Razors left peg]

Fair enough, but usually all I see him doing on the pitch is moaning and waving his arms about. Someone like Dunne is seen shouting instructions to the other players all match.

He does run his ass off and get the odd goal too.... He captain of his club too, think I would trust Harry Redknapps and Traps judgement on it a little bit more than yours

[Colbert Report]

He does run his ass off and get the odd goal too.... He captain of his club too, think I would trust Harry Redknapps and Traps judgement on it a little bit more than yours

Don't get me wrong, I love Robbie. He's our best player. You must admit he's a bit of a moaner though.

[Duggie]

i think this moaning talk and arm waving is totally exaggerated. hes captain so hes entitled to query decisions. anyway he can dig holes in the ground with a shovel mid game for all i care. hes quality. QUALITY.

[Stuttgart88]

I actually think he's eased off on the gesticulating lately.

Interestingly Dunne was saying that Robbie is a great leader both on and off the pitch, so maybe he's not as ill-suited to the captaincy as we think. Dunne's performance in Cyprus was anything but captain-like.

[DeLorean]

I would trust Harry Redknapps and Traps judgement on it a little bit more than yours

Ah come on Razor you're better than that!!

I think Robbie Keane is a complete moaner as well, on the pitch. Redknapp said that he's a great personality in the dressing room so presumably he's that way with Ireland as well. Dunne always looked more like captain material to me on the pitch, like O'Connell compared to O'Driscoll in the rugby, but I suppose 'on the pitch' is only half the story.

[seanfhear]

His moaning may not have been quite as bad recently which is a good thing.

He seems to be concentrating on scoring goals which is a bloody good thing.

[Scram]

I actually think he's eased off on the gesticulating lately.




That has been gone from "his game" for ages now and was always (and still is) exaggerated by the anti-Robbie-no-matter-what brigade, and I don't know what games Colbert Report has been watching lately??

Glad it is gone though because it seemed to coincide with below par performances and distracted himself from his game and focus.

[DeLorean]

I don't know what games Colbert Report has been watching lately??

The same ones as me obviously. It was very prominant in his spell at Liverpool and I'm sure it will return once he fully settles in to his Spurs return too. The Australia friendly match he was out of control at times, waving his finger at every (correct!!) offside call, etc.


That has been gone from "his game" for ages now and was always (and still is) exaggerated by the anti-Robbie-no-matter-what brigade

My God man just because you're blind doesn't mean that everybody else is out to get the guy. I think he's a class player and want to see him scoring for Ireland for as long as possible. I think he's got a great attitude effort wise as well, he's also a moaner, no big deal.


My only problem with the GAA elite (as opposed to the grass roots) is their apparent dislike and applying double standards to Ulster teams and Dublin teams and their fans, and this is reflected in RTE commentary with the appalling Pat Spillane etc.

Or maybe you just think everybody's out to get the Dubs!!

[irishfan86]

Huge fan of Robbie Keane. Have his name on the back of my Ireland jersey.

But I've watched 2 or 3 Spurs game this season and he still wags his fingers and throws his arms up in the air when decisions don't go his way, and that's just a fact.

So Scram, instead of taking this hardline approach where Robbie must be perfect or we hate him, accept that supporters can like a player while still disliking aspects of his personality or decision making.

It doesn't rile me up when Robbie waves his finger at a linesman or throws his arms up in the air, but at the same time it doesn't make me want to show off the name on the back of my jersey either.

[SkStu]

well said IF86, what a hero, what a player but infuriating to watch at times!!

[SkStu]

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has emerged as a transfer target for Celtic boss Tony Mowbray.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Leaving aside the fact that its nothing more than a rumour, what would peoples views be on this? Personally, when players prove themselves in the premiership i have no problem with them moving to Celtic as they are proven, its when players are good for Celtic but have yet to test themselves at a higher level that i think a move away from Celtic is best.

I think this would be a very interesting move, good for Robbie etc but i doubt it is going to happen.

[Royal rover]

could not see this happening - his wages for starters - he would be looking at 25-30K at celtic , a massive decrease - in saying that he would be a great signing

[Noelys Guitar]

No chance of Keane going to Celtic at this stage of his career. Maybe in another 2 years or so. If he was to leave Spurs in the next window then Villa or Everton would come calling.

[Murfinator]

I wouldn't worry about it, the british tabloids have been on a propaganda warpath against keane for a few months now to help springboard crouch and defoe into the starting positions which is important for England in a world cup year.

[Razors left peg]

was reading that rumour on the Teamtalk gossip page earlier and even though I know that most of the people that comment on that site are beyond morons I was surprised to see a few Spurs fans thinking it was great news that might leave. I was under the impression that he was loved there. Was it just a few muppets or is there a sizeable Spurs following that would go along with that opinion?

[aidz1]

I wouldn't worry about it, the british tabloids have been on a propaganda warpath against keane for a few months now to help springboard crouch and defoe into the starting positions which is important for England in a world cup year.

That makes sense alright..
Would be very surprised if he moved on again..

[dr_peepee]

Can't see it happening. He may loose his place in the Spurs team short term alright. But Spurs need that level of depth to push on. I wouldn't wish an injury on any player. Except Defoe. So when Defoe's out Keane will come back in.... And I believe him and Crouch will be an excellent partnership. There'll be more of a level of reciprocation with him and Crouch to pressure defenses.

Some harsh comments about Keane on F365s weekend Review yesterday too. I really wonder how many so called Journalists are actually interested in the game.


Redknapp's pre-match dilemma was the identity of Luca Modric's replacement and his selection of Robbie Keane proved a critical error of judgement. Whether or not Keane's deployment was, as pondered by this column two weeks ago, 'too aggressive' remains an unknown because Keane was such a flawed performer on Saturday that it could just as easily be stated that he was too passive. Offering nothing offensively, he was also guilty of failing to jump when Ryan Giggs' free-kick passed just above him.

The Spurs captain's dreadful form began last season and it is only his status of captain that can be keeping him in the team. 19 games into his second stint at Spurs, Redknapp must surely be close to making the same resigned conclusion that Rafa Benitez made after Keane's 19 games at Liverpool. He isn't short of options either: Spurs' bench this weekend included both David Bentley and new signing Niko Kranjcar. Time for change

Say what you want about his flailing his arms and bitching and moaning. But he's a very selfless forward player, often to the detriment of his reputation. Keane will tailor his game for the sake of the team. Defoe won't. I'll even say Gerard won't. Maybe I'm too quick to make allowances cos he's Irish..

[an_ceannaire]

"Maybe I'm too quick to make allowances cos he's Irish.."

Ya.........maybe!!! Robbie has been very poor for Spurs lately and Defoe, like it or not is way ahead of him right now. The Spurs fans also prefer Defoe and that goes in his favour also. Truth is, Robbie's form has been muck for 12 months now. Be honest. If Defoe were Irish and Robbie english, can u imagine the orgasms people on here would be having, and imagine the uproar if someone suggested that Keane were better......

[Stuttgart88]

Robbie would be a star at Celtic and would get lots of goals. Only problem is that he may be too similar to Scott McDonald?

Robbie has nothing to prove in my eyes. His form for us is good and I think a goalscoring habit at club level spills over into international football too.

I wouldn't be disappointed from an Irish perspective.

I don't see it happening though.

[Murfinator]

To be fair Defoe has had 5 good games, he did nothing all last season so I wouldn't start revising the spurs hierarchy or anything.

Robbie hasn't been scoring for fun like he was previously but he's still been playing well, a lot of clever link up play. Needs to be finding the back of the net more though.

[tetsujin1979]

Some harsh comments about Keane on F365s weekend Review yesterday too. I really wonder how many so called Journalists are actually interested in the game.
football365 put time and effort into defending Heskey's place in the England starting XI over Defoe based on the fact that the team score more when he's on the pitch
from http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_5542421,00.html

In the 501 minutes that Heskey and Rooney have played as a partnership under Capello, England have scored 18 goals - a goal every 28 minutes with Rooney bagging five of those goals. The Manchester United man also contributed three assists so was directly involved in almost half of England's goals.

In the 205 minutes that Defoe and Rooney have played as a partnership under Capello, England have scored five goals - a goal every 41 minutes with Rooney claiming no goals and no assists.

Only a fool could argue against statistics that clearly prove that Rooney flourishes in partnership with Heskey, while there is no evidence that he can form an effective partnership with Defoe.

No sign of the same defence of Robbie, even though he has 2 assists this season, and Defoe has none. In fact Pavlyuchenko is the only other striker at Spurs with an assist in the league this season!

[dr_peepee]

"Maybe I'm too quick to make allowances cos he's Irish.."

Ya.........maybe!!! Robbie has been very poor for Spurs lately and Defoe, like it or not is way ahead of him right now. The Spurs fans also prefer Defoe and that goes in his favour also. Truth is, Robbie's form has been muck for 12 months now. Be honest. If Defoe were Irish and Robbie english, can u imagine the orgasms people on here would be having, and imagine the uproar if someone suggested that Keane were better......


Man, Did ye even read the post?? I said Defoe is playing better and Keane would most likely be dropped in the short term.

Defoe is more clinical than Keane. Nothing else. Offered a straight swap now for Ireland I wouldn't touch Defoe. I think Keane is a better all round player. This isn't the first time Defoe has been flavour of the month ahead of Keane at Spurs. Hell it's not even the first time Keane's form means he's third or 4th in line at Spurs. He's always been kept on his toes at spurs with the Defoes, Midos, Kanoutes (even Postigas and Zamoras of this world). Wasn't too long ago he had his hissy fit at Jol and stormed down the tunnel when he didn't come off the bench. His partnership with Berbatov aside I seldom recall feeling 100% secure in Keanes status as a definite starter at Spurs. (I'm not a Spurs fan. Some may argue differently)

I just think he ticks more box's than Defoe in what is required from a forward player and History will judge Keane more favourably..

[SkStu]

I just think he ticks more box's than Defoe in what is required from a forward player and History will judge Keane more favourably..

kind of like Collins and DeValera :)

[Colbert Report]

Hat trick for Robbie today against Burnley. Good to have him build up his confidence ahead of our two big qualifiers.

[Colbert Report]

Make it four for Robbie!

[EastTerracer]

Make it four for Robbie!

Delighted for Robbie - he's been getting a lot of grief in the English press so glad to see him remind them all how good he is.

[tricky_colour]

LOL 4!!!!

Looks like he has used up the first half of the seasons quota in one game!!! :p

That must be some sort of record?

[The Legend]

he badly needed that, Crouch was knocking on his door, surprised he even got the start to be honest.

[FarBeag]

Excellent. Really happy for Robbie.

[NeilMcD]

"I've never had more problems picking a team.

"To leave Peter Crouch out after his hat-trick in midweek wasn't easy but I went with the two little ones and their movement was fantastic.

"With their big centre-halves I thought we would give them more problems than with a big man up there. That was a key factor.

"Robbie is important, he's one of the few voices we have in the dressing room. He's a great player, has been for years, and he takes his chances so well."

[Murfinator]

Looks like Crouch will have moved back to knocking on Defoe's door now. :rolleyes:

[centre mid]

Its great that Keane has such competition for his place at spurs at the moment, he looks really sharp and it can only benefit Ireland.

[shakermaker1982]

watch the Spurs fan who reviews Tottenahm games in the Observer (Sunday paper in the UK) give Keane a 5 out of 10 after bagging four goals. Looking forward to watching the goals tonight on MOTD.