Robbie Keane

[CraftyToePoke]

Seems Sven and Leicester had a good tilt at trying to get him on loan recenty, all kinds of rumours about on on the boards and here http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/news/James-Vaughan-tops-Leicester-City-list-bid-Robbie-Keane-collapses/article-2961963-detail/article.html

[rebelmusic]

I think going to Villa isnt bad at all. Makes 'Wolves and Villa the 'Irish' teams in the PL. Would mean we have 8 players regularly starting or coming off the bench from just 2 teams. Granted one of those 8 is the bald one...

[AlaskaFox]

Redknapp says he's leaving:
http://greenscene.me/2010/12/robbie-keane-set-to-leave-tottenham/

[OwlsFan]

Though call for Robbie. He's getting a LOT of dosh to warm his backside on the bench (when he makes it that far). I suspect he'll have to take a big drop in salary if he moves but perhaps that could be compensated with a "signing on" fee. Perhaps he dreamed of playing for Sheffield Wednesday now that they have a bit of money ;)

[Irish_Praha]

Though call for Robbie. He's getting a LOT of dosh to warm his backside on the bench (when he makes it that far). I suspect he'll have to take a big drop in salary if he moves but perhaps that could be compensated with a "signing on" fee. Perhaps he dreamed of playing for Sheffield Wednesday now that they have a bit of money ;)

I am only making assumpitions about his finincial situation but I reckon after more than 10 years of playing in the top flight and possible cuts of over 40 million spent on his transfers he his is already set for life. He could still earn 25 to 50 grand a week at a different club for the next two years and get to play regularly. That would probably be somewhere from 1/3 to a 1/2 of what he earns now and it's his choice if he is willing to do that. I know if I was a footballer with so much cash already in the bank, I would rather play regularly than letting the last few years of playing at the top level fizzle out as a bit-part player just to earn a bit more cash. I don't know Robbie personally but I'm sure he would have the same attitude and we will see him sign a 2-year-deal with a mid to lower table Premership team in January. If he continues like he is he will also be at risk of losing his place in the Irish team.

[Colbert Report]

The link to the Vancouver Whitecaps is laughable. Harry says that he'll be sold to the highest bidder. The Whitecaps will NOT be able to pay ANY kind of a transfer fee whatsoever.

[dr_peepee]

Not even on the bench today.. Despite Harry naming TWO keeper amongst his subs!!

[Colbert Report]

Good job he did, Gomes is going off now with a fractured penis after taking a ball at full force there.

[rebelmusic]

Something hints that a transfer has already been worked out. Thank fluck

[CraftyToePoke]

Could be Wolves according to this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9266577.stm

Full circle, back to his first side and a link up with Doyle for a side where staving off relegation will be the height of their ambition for the forseeable, and if they fail, we lose both of our strikers from the top level. Surely he isnt this much of a busted flush so soon after costing Liverpool all that money? surely a Villa/Everton stature of club must be achieveable?

[Uncle_Joe]

Robbie could move to Wolves and score 20 goals but they would still concede 25 and go down.

[Colbert Report]

Wolves need to sign a top class defender any way they can

[jbyrne]

also linked with blackburn according to the BBC

[shakermaker1982]

I bet he regrets that xmas party now!!!

[Kingdom]

Could be Wolves according to this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9266577.stm

Full circle, back to his first side and a link up with Doyle for a side where staving off relegation will be the height of their ambition for the forseeable, and if they fail, we lose both of our strikers from the top level. Surely he isnt this much of a busted flush so soon after costing Liverpool all that money? surely a Villa/Everton stature of club must be achieveable?

To be fair, he's cost Spurs more money than Liverpool....

[Hunty's Flatcap]

This could be a massive January for my club, Wolves. Rumours are rife that we are bidding for a return of both Keane and Jolean Lescott. There was also a rumour on one forum that Big Mick wants to sign Damien Duff. Despite needing more obvious reinforcements in defence and central midfield, I don't think we're in a position to turn-down Keane who clearly needs out of White Hart Lane. Equally, I don't think we've ever had a better chance of signing him, even if it's just until the end of the season. Incidently, we were reportedly after him last January transfer window when he went to Celtic.
If we do sign him, I imagine a big factor would have been his appearance at Molineux a couple of months ago. His good friend Matt Murray had just announced his retirement and went out on the pitch at half-time with a microphone and a pre-prepared speech. In a nice gesture by the club, it was arranged that a few old team mates including Lescott and Keane would surprise him by joining him out the pitch. They were each greeted with applause as they entered the pitch but Keane was greeted with "Sign him up" chants as well the odd "Messiah" gesture.

[Sullivinho]

Wolves need to sign a top class defender any way they can

Exactly. Robbie ain't the dressing their particular gaping wound needs right now.

[CraftyToePoke]

To be fair, he's cost Spurs more money than Liverpool....

This is true, it must be his relationship with Redknapp and that Christmas knees up in Dublin, I hope so anyway because we need him for another campaign at least.

[dr_peepee]

I'm not a big fan of Redknapp at the best of times. But to be fair I don't think Keanes done enough when given the oppertunity to warrant selction ahead of other options. There's more to it than just the Christmas doo or relationship with Harry. It's totally different to the Benitez thing where even when he did perform he was bombed!!... Villa would be the best he could hope for at this stage of his career. I hope it materialises.

[EalingGreen]

I'm not a big fan of Redknapp at the best of times. But to be fair I don't think Keanes done enough when given the oppertunity to warrant selction ahead of other options. There's more to it than just the Christmas doo or relationship with Harry. It's totally different to the Benitez thing where even when he did perform he was bombed!!... Villa would be the best he could hope for at this stage of his career. I hope it materialises.When Jol was at Spurs, he usually favoured a Big Man-Little Man combination up front. Berbatov was his first choice "big man" (with Mido as back up) and initially Defoe was his first choice "little man", with Keane as back-up.
However, when Defoe got a bad injury and Keane was in for a good spell, he so impressed Jol (and the fans) that he kept his place even after Defoe's return to fitness.
Meanwhile, when Harry took over at WHL from the floundering Ramos, he restored the same "big man-little man" formation. Of course, Defoe was always likely to be his 1st choice (previous history etc), alongside Crouch (another favourite).
But instead of remembering the lesson from Jol, keeping his head down and awaiting his chance should Defoe get injured (which he regularly does), Keane seems to have got 'above himself' - hence the Xmas Party business etc.
Worse, not only did he alienate Harry on a personal basis, but professionally he was swimming against the tide, too. For he was 30 in July past i.e. not likely to get any better. Whereas Defoe has only just turned 28, so approaching his peak.
And quite honestly, whilst I was always a big fan of Robbie's, he has done nothing this last season or two to justify for me why he should be in the team.
Therefore it's probably best for all concerned if Spurs can get £5-6m for him from some other Premier League club outside the Top Six.

P.S. James Olley, a writer I quite like, had this commentary on Keane in yesterday's London Evening Standard. I think it is fair:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23904894-robbie-keane-might-be-beginning-to-lose-his-appeal.do

[geysir]

After 340 epl games, 100 lower division games, 100 caps and over 200 goals scored, sure his best days are behind him.
What a career so far, though. May he have a long twilight.

[alfs]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23904894-robbie-keane-might-be-beginning-to-lose-his-appeal.do[/QUOTE]

good read but this quote is as big an insult as ive seen from a small minded reporter

"He looks like a scally from an Irish council estate more suited to the world of flyweight boxing or perhaps a cameo in Snatch, with a cartwheel and gunfire celebration that is presumably a bizarre fusion of schoolboy gymnastics and Wild West cowboy."

[BonnieShels]

Word is he's heading to West Ham. Oh lord.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm sure he'll be linked with a dozen clubs between now and February. I wouldn't put much stock in any specific rumour.

[BonnieShels]

Funny you should say that as soon as I posted that there was another rumour floating that he's be going to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Oooooooooooh LORD!

[Sullivinho]

He'll end up at the one club he wasn't linked with. Probably these chaps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportivo_Wanka) then.

[Nedser]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23904894-robbie-keane-might-be-beginning-to-lose-his-appeal.do

good read but this quote is as big an insult as ive seen from a small minded reporter

"He looks like a scally from an Irish council estate more suited to the world of flyweight boxing or perhaps a cameo in Snatch, with a cartwheel and gunfire celebration that is presumably a bizarre fusion of schoolboy gymnastics and Wild West cowboy."

Have to agree - quite a bizarre thing to say in an article that is supposedly reviewing his capability as a footballer.

I also thought the following is a bit of a strange comment "he has cost various clubs nearly £75m and has only one League Cup medal to show for his undeniable talent".

A lot of very good players win few, if any, medals. The reality now is that unless you play for Man U or Chelsea, trophies are a rarity. For example, Jermain Defoe has never won a medal of any description. In fact, the current Arsenal and Liverpool squads (supposedly 2 of the big 4) have very few medals between them.

[geysir]

The article is quite poor really, includes an amount of edging towards cynical surmises,
in order to support the Journo's viewpoint.
No wonder EG likes the journalist James Olley :rolleyes:


'Twice he was given an opportunity to enter the stratosphere occupied only by the game's elite — Inter Milan and Liverpool saw greatness in him and yet on both occasions he faltered.'

Marco's account
Within seven months of arriving, Keane was gone. Tardelli himself didn't survive until the end of that season. Tardelli was asked about it his time with Keane
The former Italian World Cup winner answered with a straight bat. "I did say to Robbie Keane that he had a great future and it turned out he did," Tardelli said.
"It didnt happen with Inter, but unfortunately I wasn't the only one making decisions at Inter and I wasn't the one handling the money.
"I stand by my words, he did have a future and he is a good international player."



'The impact he made was negligible; judging by his second-half appearance as a substitute in Spurs' 4-3 defeat in the San Siro, the Nerazzurri faithful barely even remember him.'

Why should they remember him? after a few games as a teenager 11 years ago.
Robbie's career moved on, fulfilling Tardelli's confidence that he would have a great future.

[Dodge]

Why should they remember him? after a few games as a teenager 11 years ago.
Robbie's career moved on, fulfilling Tardelli's confidence that he would have a great future.

They all remembered him but only heroes and villains get vocal receptions from fans. Blokes who played a few games for clubs wil have fans chattering, but not screaming about it

Pathetic stuff IMO

[elroy]

I think the failure at either Liverpool at Inter is very harsh. Yes it didnt work out at Inter, but mainly because a change of manager who was not willing to give him time. The failure at Liverpool is certainly invalid. In fact, in my opinion he performed well there considering his opportunities were very limited by a manager who was determined to use the lad as a pawn in his internal battles with the club.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree with Elroy but I can't help thinking Keane's flippant and careless attempt at backheeling the ball in at Atletico Madrid (attempting to get his first for Liverpool?) infuriated Benitez. It was all downhill from there.

[geysir]

'I think far too much value is rested on speculations about isolated incidents, blown up out of all proportion, in order to explain a managererial cold shouldering'

Andy Reid :D

[jbyrne]

I bet he regrets that xmas party now!!!

double standards...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1340302/Spurs-skipper-Ledley-King-escapes-punishment-Christmas-party-photograph.html

[Kingdom]

It sure is double standards by Redknapp, but Keano would be foolish to use it as an excuse. Maybe Redknapp needed an excuse to offload him, but the point is Robbie gave him that excuse.

You'd have to feel for Robbie, he's been excellent for us more often than not, and he has put his country first when he could have been grieving. He's another player I reckon that still would have plenty to offer on the continent, but with a young wife and new child he probably doesn't want the upheaval. There was a decent rumour doing the rounds that he turned down Besiktas in the summer, a move that would have suited him well I would have thought, and given that his wife is both glamourous and smart, she could have ecked out a decent career too.
He still is good enough for decent EPL teams, but West Ham are not one of these. This move needs to be a good one Robbie, it will be tough to get a decent move in the summer if you go to West Ham and they go through the trapdoor.

[EalingGreen]

double standards...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1340302/Spurs-skipper-Ledley-King-escapes-punishment-Christmas-party-photograph.htmlHardly.

Last time out, Redknapp gave specific instructions that there was to be no Spurs players Christmas Party (there had been a whole load of sh1t about the one at Man U etc, inc. false rape allegations). Yet (Team Captain) Keane invited 15 other players to Dublin, under the guise of a "Golfing Trip", without Redknapp's knowledge. This was three days before a home game with Wolves, which Spurs lost.

Whereas this time, it was an officially sanctioned party, four days before their next game (which was always a good bet to be cancelled, since Blackpool do not have undersoil heating). Moreover, King is injured for another few weeks anyhow, so was hardly making himself "unfit" through boozing.

That said, whilst King is a player whom Harry admires (when fit, the best Centre Back in the entire EPL imo), Harry is no mug, either. With Keane, he has continued to involve him whilst he has no other option, but will offload him as soon as he can get enough money for a replacement.

Therefore I suspect similar with Ledley - if/when Harry can find a suitable replacement, he'll do so, which will mean he's no longer dependent on Ledley. As it was, signing Willie Gallas was a (rather inspired) stopgap.

In the end, Harry's something of a pragmatist, in which regard he will also be aware that Ledley is a real legend at Spurs, immensely popular with the fans, and whose career has essentially been blighted through no fault of his own (injury), unlike others who've been the architect of their own downfall.

But Harry's no soft touch, either. In the circumstances, it may be that he has decided not to humiliate the guy publicly but still bollocked him in private.

[EalingGreen]

The article is quite poor really, includes an amount of edging towards cynical surmises,
in order to support the Journo's viewpoint.
No wonder EG likes the journalist James Olley :rolleyes:
I said I "quite liked" him i.e qualified approval, and on the basis of regular reading of his stuff. Had you even heard of Olley before I posted the link?


Marco's account
Within seven months of arriving, Keane was gone. Tardelli himself didn't survive until the end of that season. Tardelli was asked about it his time with Keane
The former Italian World Cup winner answered with a straight bat. "I did say to Robbie Keane that he had a great future and it turned out he did," Tardelli said.
"It didnt happen with Inter, but unfortunately I wasn't the only one making decisions at Inter and I wasn't the one handling the money.
"I stand by my words, he did have a future and he is a good international player."

Robbie's career moved on, fulfilling Tardelli's confidence that he would have a great future.Hmmm. What exactly is Tardelli trying to say? That Keane's exit from Inter was nothing to do with him? On the basis that club coaches in Italy have little or none of the say over transfers which their counterparts usually do in England, that would appear very plausible.
Yet the club did not actually sell Keane straightaway; rather he was sent out on loan - something which a coach should have more say over. And if it is any guide (OK, it's probably not!), Keane's wiki entry states: "However, Keane's dream move to Italy soon soured when Lippi was sacked. Lippi's successor, Marco Tardelli, deemed Keane to be surplus to requirements"
My guess is that for whatever reason, Tardelli didn't rate Keane at Inter, so agitated to move him on. But now when he finds the player is his star striker for ROI, he has to finesse that earlier episode, hence the "straight bat".

On a more general note, Keane has always been one of my favourite players at WHL, both for his style of play, and his ability. But I have to say that I have had to revise my opinion of his true ability somewhat since Spurs signed Van Der Vaart. For VDV is a very similar type of player, but also so much better, that maybe I overrated Robbie somewhat?

Tbf, it is not just with Keane that I've had cause to reappraise my opinions. In fact, when I look at how competitive* the present Spurs team is, compared with what it was like even a couple of seasons ago, I now begin to appreciate why we were never real contenders then, rather we just "flattered to deceive". I suspect that Redknapp spotted the difference straightaway, including that players of Robbie's calibre may be very good, but aren't quite top quality?


* - Still not making any predictions, mind!

[jbyrne]

four days before their next game (which was always a good bet to be cancelled, since Blackpool do not have undersoil heating). .


not sure thats a risk harry would take to be honest.

would ledleys hangover not affect his rehab?
not an identical situation to robbie but not far from it so I stand by my assertion

[ifk101]

Of course it is double standards. Harry Redknapp said before that drinking at WHL was a no-no.

"I'll implement a strong rule next season that drinking is a no-no here. Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids. We wouldn't get these problems if the players weren't drinking. There's still too much of a drinking culture in English football but it's not as bad as it used to be. At Tottenham we do a lot with kids, a lot of them underprivileged. We have to set an example. Too much drinking goes on in this country. Too many people are not happy unless they have had a drink.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8045213.stm

[EalingGreen]

not sure thats a risk harry would take to be honest.

would ledleys hangover not affect his rehab? Alcohol and fitness certainly don't mix generally, but in King's particular situation, he is still weeks away from returning, so his midweek p1ss-up will NOT have affected his availability for the Blackpool game in any way.


not an identical situation to robbie but not far from it so I stand by my assertionThe difference that Xmas parties were specifically banned by HR last year, but permitted this year. However, we can be certain that "permission" to attend a party is not the same as permission to get p1ssed at one.

And we can be quite certain that had other Spurs players been similarly p1ssed, we'd have heard about it, therefore we must assume that none was.

Anyhow, I suspect HR's reasoning this time was that by permitting an official party, a degree of scrutiny could be maintained, for in the end, if players really want to sneak off for a sly session, even at home, that can always be arranged.

As for his treatment of Robbie and Ledley, if you look at the facts, they are not so different. When HR heard about Robbie's episode, he initially "hit the roof" - I suspect it was sprung upon him in an interview. But when next interviewed, he was much more conciliatory ("it's sorted", "he's still our Captain" etc etc).

Yet as subsequent experience shows, "Robbie's cards were marked" from that day on. I suspect that the same may apply in Ledley's case i.e. officially it's "not a problem", but behind-the-scenes it's entirely different.

In fact, thinking about it, you can add David Bentley to the list of "problems" Harry has had to deal with at Spurs. DB is known for having an "attitude" (Wenger didn't stick with him for long, for instance). Tbf, he's not a complete wrong 'un like Joey Barton, say, but he has his moments. But when i saw it was DB who tipped a big bin of water over HR on live TV (after the Man city game last season which clinched CL qualification), thereby drenching his smart suit, I wondered how HR might react. Publicly, at least, HR has never slagged off DB or his ability and he made a joke about auctioning the suit for charity etc. But neither is he the sort to accept a player questioning his authority, even in jest. Therefore I think it not coincidental that he hasn't picked him since, other than in an emergency or for a "dead" game.

Therefore if Harry can persuade Levy to stump up the necessary cash in January, I can easily see him signing a striker as back-up to VDV, a right-sided midfielder* as back-up to Lennon and a Centre-back, as back-up to Dawson/Gallas. In which case, that would be three more blows to the prospects at WHL of Keane, Bentley and King (though Ledley will probably be retained out of respect for what he's done for the club).

* - David Beckham on loan from LA Galaxy, perhaps?

[EalingGreen]

Of course it is double standards. Harry Redknapp said before that drinking at WHL was a no-no.

"I'll implement a strong rule next season that drinking is a no-no here. Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids. We wouldn't get these problems if the players weren't drinking. There's still too much of a drinking culture in English football but it's not as bad as it used to be. At Tottenham we do a lot with kids, a lot of them underprivileged. We have to set an example. Too much drinking goes on in this country. Too many people are not happy unless they have had a drink.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8045213.stmAs I said above, permitting a party is not the same as granting "carte blanche" to get p1ssed.

Some of the Spurs players are teetotal and it seems certain that Ledley was the only one of the remainder who overdid it at the party, otherwise the papers would at least have hinted at it.

But as I've tried to argue, just because Harry hasn't slagged off Ledley publicly, we should not assume that he's not taking further action privately.

I've seen a little of what goes on at football clubs, including Spurs, for myself. Which is why I don't always take what I read in the papers at face value.

[SkStu]

my initial thoughts when reading about this was that it smacked of double standards but its not really. The difference is in the deception that Keane employed in organising the Dublin trip. Im with Ealing Green on this one (crikey).

[jbyrne]

my initial thoughts when reading about this was that it smacked of double standards but its not really. The difference is in the deception that Keane employed in organising the Dublin trip. Im with Ealing Green on this one (crikey).

he banned the party last year as he doesnt want his players drinking. He has come out many times complaining about the drinking culture in football and says he doesnt want his players drinking. Yet his club captain falls around the place drunk this year and unlike last year when keane got major grief he lets king off the hook. double standards to most id say.

king has a glass knee / knees. i would have thought the chances of him doing further damage to his injury would increase hugely while stumbling around drunk.

[SkStu]

king has a glass knee / knees. i would have thought the chances of him doing further damage to his injury would increase hugely while stumbling around drunk.

careful jbyrne, you'll take someones eye out with that post!

[Drumcondra 69er]

Of course it is double standards. Harry Redknapp said before that drinking at WHL was a no-no.

"I'll implement a strong rule next season that drinking is a no-no here. Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids. We wouldn't get these problems if the players weren't drinking. There's still too much of a drinking culture in English football but it's not as bad as it used to be. At Tottenham we do a lot with kids, a lot of them underprivileged. We have to set an example. Too much drinking goes on in this country. Too many people are not happy unless they have had a drink.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8045213.stm

This is of course the same Harry Redknapp who once mused about the difficulty of bonding woth foreign players....
"With the foreigners it's more difficult. Most of them don't even bother with the golf, they don't want to go racing. They don't even drink."

There is no comparison with King being drunk this year though, Robbie took it upon himself to go directly against instructions last year re their Christmas Party, EG is right on this (never thought I'd type those words....).

I think a Villa is the best he can hope for now, West Ham would be a graveyard. Shame he didn't tough it out at Liverpool, he'd be playing regulalry there now no doubt and would probably be doing alright. Even under Benetiz I reckon he'd have got back in the way their injury and general squad issues went in Benetiz's last year in charge.

[ifk101]

Robbie took it upon himself to go directly against instructions last year re their Christmas Party.

He brought 16 players to Dublin on a golfing trip in December :bigsmile:. What exactly did Redknapp think a golfing trip to Dublin in December would entail? Strolls along frosty fairways with cups of tea and biscuits afterwards?

[Junior]

The 'golfing' trip wasnt sanctioned either though - so not sure what your point is ifk?

[ifk101]

The 'golfing' trip wasnt sanctioned either though - so not sure what your point is ifk?

It was "sanctioned". The other 15 players went on the golfing trip of their own accord knowing full well what they were buying into.

[EalingGreen]

Those who consider Harry is employing double standards are going by what he is quoted as saying in the Press. So that when King was reported to be drunk in midweek and Harry didn't "slam" him, they contrast this with what occurred with Keane.

My point is to judge HR not by his (reported) words, but by his actions, for with RK, though his initial reaction was to give out against him, he almost immediately retracted this, claiming that his "fitness" (both senses of the word) to play was not impaired by the Dublin trip, so that he picked Keane to play the next game (against Wolves), including retaining the captaincy.

On the face of it, therefore, there is not that much difference between the (public) treatment of the two players. However, whilst HR was soon conciliatory towards RK in the Press, in practice, RK's "cards were marked" at WHL from that moment. As such, I have no doubt whatever that if HR could have got rid of him in January for a suitable replacement, he would have gone. He couldn't (no doubt because the figures didn't suit Levy), so instead he "exiled" him to Celtic for a period on loan. And since then he has only ever featured when it has suited Harry.

I suggest that we wait and see how HR deals with Ledley over the next year or two, to see his real (as opposed to newspaper) reaction. On which point, it may not be entirely coincidental that Dawson (CB and occasional captain) has just come back after 3 months out and it was announced today that Woodgate (CB) might even make a surprise comeback "soon".

It's all a bit reminiscent of when Ferguson took over at MU. They had a reputation of being a "drinking club" under Atkinson, led by the "Three MustGetBeers", Robson, Whiteside and McGrath. Although it was nothing personal, Fergie soon got rid of the last two, but kept Robson. I'm sure this was purely from pragmatism i.e. he needed Robson, despite his excesses.

I suspect (hope, actually) that HR will take "the Robson approach" with Ledley, since on his day, he is up there with VDV & Modric (and eventually Bale?) as being arguably world-class.

[ifk101]

Those who consider Harry is employing double standards are going by what he is quoted as saying in the Press. So that when King was reported to be drunk in midweek and Harry didn't "slam" him, they contrast this with what occurred with Keane.

Forget the press. The facts that matter are;
Harry took issue with the drinking on the golfing trip.
Harry took issue with King getting hammered at the Christmas party.


I suspect (hope, actually) that HR will take "the Robson approach" with Ledley, since on his day, he is up there with VDV & Modric (and eventually Bale?) as being arguably world-class.

There's your double standard.

You don't need to suspect or hope anything. Spurs won't get rid of King for the reason you state (plus his popularity with Spurs and Glentoran fans alike). Robbie isn't world-class (and with the Liverpool episode no longer a fan favourite) i.e. expendable.

Btw There's nothing unusual here. Double standards are applied at other clubs. Certain players will always be more expendable than others.

[BonnieShels]

Move to West Ham is being held up by bonus demands.