Robbie Keane

[Crosby87]

2 years 9 million. Done deal.
Wonder if he will retire Intl play after the Euros.

This is going to be very very hard for some people on here to swallow lol.
Our best player....plays in MLS. :bulgy:
Hide the sharp knives.

[Philly]

Daniel McDonnell has confirmed there is something going on with this move via Twitter.

[EastTerracer]

Terrible news of this happens. The MLS isn't the worst league but the season ends in October and doesn't start again until March. He will only be playing half the number of games he would get at an English club (if he could get a decent move).

[Noelys Guitar]

Good move. Loads of MLS players playing international football now and the standard is better than the championship or the SPL. I'm sure he will return to England (or even Italy) on loan come the end of the MLS season. I actually believe it will help him prolong his Ireland career.

[Poor Student]

At this stage anything is better than him rotting on Spurs' bench. I feel his form for Ireland picked up again during his spell at Celtic when he was putting goals away for fun. As John pointed out Keane does relish his international appearances for Ireland and Beckham has proved you can continue your international career in Europe from across the Atlantic.

[Sullivinho]

That "boyhood dream" joke is actually so unfunny that I started facepalming last week.

Too right. In the pantheon of jokes that got old fast, I'd rather be rickrolled at this stage.

[Scooby Doo]

Just out of curiosity, what happens during the European Championships with the MLS season? I assume clubs just get on with it without their European players?

Sorry just to lazy to go trawling the net for the answer.

[Colbert Report]

Yeah, the league just goes on as if there's nothing on in Europe.

Terrible move for Robbie, poor quality league and it ends in November. He could have made this move months ago!

[Noelys Guitar]

Just out of curiosity, what happens during the European Championships with the MLS season? I assume clubs just get on with it without their European players?

Sorry just to lazy to go trawling the net for the answer.

Exactly. The MLS continues with its games even with the US playing internationals. A bit bizarre all right but Robbie will be released for every game including friendlies. First thing on the ESPN sports news this evening here in the US earlier on. Above the NFL and Baseball stories. They are reporting that he is currently still in LA doing a medical.

[Colbert Report]

Was he not on 65-80k a week at Spurs? 9 million US over two years is a whole lot less than 80k sterling a week. This move makes no sense.

[Noelys Guitar]

Was he not on 65-80k a week at Spurs? 9 million US over two years is a whole lot less than 80k sterling a week. This move makes no sense.


Claudine, Claudine, Claudine. In that order.

[Colbert Report]

What, is she like the Janet Gretzky of football? Was he messing around on his wife or something? I heard a rumour online but we don't get that kind of news over here in Canada.

[Charlie Darwin]

Good move. Loads of MLS players playing international football now and the standard is better than the championship or the SPL. I'm sure he will return to England (or even Italy) on loan come the end of the MLS season. I actually believe it will help him prolong his Ireland career.
It's not better than the Championship. The best teams might be upper Championship/lower Premier League standard, but the worst teams are League 1/League 2. It's better than the SPL on balance, I think, but he's not going to face many top-class defenders and you'd worry that would affect him if we had to play a top team in the playoffs.


Was he not on 65-80k a week at Spurs? 9 million US over two years is a whole lot less than 80k sterling a week. This move makes no sense.
He's taxed at 50% in England. I don't know what the tax rates are like in California but I know they take really, really good care of their sports stars. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't on better money than he is at Spurs.

[Colbert Report]

It's not better than the Championship. The best teams might be upper Championship/lower Premier League standard, but the worst teams are League 1/League 2. It's better than the SPL on balance, I think, but he's not going to face many top-class defenders and you'd worry that would affect him if we had to play a top team in the playoffs.


He's taxed at 50% in England. I don't know what the tax rates are like in California but I know they take really, really good care of their sports stars. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't on better money than he is at Spurs.

Fair point on the tax thing, I hadn't thought of that.

No way the best team in the MLS is anywhere near "lower Premiership standard". Lower Championship standard, at best.

[Closed Account 2]

As well as Beckham, Carl Robinson was able to play for Wales while at Toronto, and Folan is playing over there. It looks like Husidic of Chicago Fire will play for Bosnia and Montenegro have players from the Chinese, Korean and Japanese leagues playing in their national team. Years ago there was a Serbian player, Petkovic, playing for Flumeninse in Brazil as well as the national team, so it is possible.

In terms of distance it's the worst MLS team he could play for, a pity its not New York or New England Revs.

[Noelys Guitar]

What, is she like the Janet Gretzky of football? Was he messing around on his wife or something? I heard a rumour online but we don't get that kind of news over here in Canada.
Not sure about the rumours stuff but Claudine suggested Robbie move to LA a year or so ago. I remember reading it and thinking no chance. And direct quotes not makey up stuff. Basically nothing to do with football Colbert. But if he keeps fit this coukld work out very well for Robbie and Ireland (or not). I think it will work out OK.

[Park_Lane]

The lads over on the la galaxy riot squad forum are excited anyway.
Heres one quote:
"I have said time and time again, Keane is the best player MLS could pick up. He's funny as ****, American's love Irish ****, and he can still score some mother****ing goals. Let's do this ****"

http://www.soccerpubs.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=40565&st=30

lol as they say

[Crosby87]

Americans love Irish what?

[Park_Lane]

sh1t apparently

[gastric]

All of a sudden, a move to Leicester seems a good one. While Claudine might think it's a good move, from an international perspective it would be quite disastrous. Claudine needs to put her country before her self!

[Sullivinho]

The lads over on the la galaxy riot squad forum are excited anyway.
Heres one quote:
"I have said time and time again, Keane is the best player MLS could pick up. He's funny as ****, American's love Irish ****, and he can still score some mother****ing goals. Let's do this ****"

http://www.soccerpubs.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=40565&st=30


lol as they say

I was reading similar comments on a Leicester forum earlier today. Feel a bit sorry for them lads now.

Also, Robbie is funny as ****?? I think these fellas are expecting Roy..

[theworm2345]

The lads over on the la galaxy riot squad forum are excited anyway.
Heres one quote:
"I have said time and time again, Keane is the best player MLS could pick up. He's funny as ****, American's love Irish ****, and he can still score some mother****ing goals. Let's do this ****"

http://www.soccerpubs.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=40565&st=30

lol as they say
MLS (and US national team) "fans" are a bunch of clowns, I wouldn't worry too much about what they say. This would probably be a good move for him when he's not scoring at any level and looking for one last pay check. Otherwise, its his own funeral.

[Closed Account]

Not a chance it'll happen.

Robbie is a long time in the transfer market, and sends out a lot of feelers to clubs looking for a deal. A lot of the time, the clubs come off with the impression, rightly so, that Robbie is merely touching base, trying to get the best deal. Feeling jilted, they usually release a scoop that they are close to a deal.

It happens time and time again. A Robbie Keane transfer rumour is about as legimate as a cockney pacifist.

(Although, I reserve the right to be wrong.)

[gastric]

Galaxy's decision to not comment would suggest to me that this is just another rumour only. Hopefully!

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/08/13/SOCCER_Tottenham.html&BID=165

[kennedmc]

don't think it would be a bad move for him.

IMO the standard is better then the SPL similiar to championship or mid European league.

He would be living in a city where he is hardly known so things would be alot more relaxed and stress free for him.

It could boost the longevity of his international career

[Crosby87]

You dont think all those Lakers fans in Compton and Long Beach know who Robert Keane is? ;)

[kennedmc]

You dont think all those Lakers fans in Compton and Long Beach know who Robert Keane is? ;)

Maybe we need a remix to raise his profile?

"Str8 outta Talaght crazy mo'f**ka call Robbie Keane from a gang called......"

Maybe not:D

[Noelys Guitar]

Robbie just been mentioned again on ESPN (US). According to two reporters Juan Pablo Angel is beng sold to make way for Keane or another top goalscorer (so might not be Robbie). The MLS transfer window closes tomorrow night (Sunday) so any deal has to be completed today or tomorrow. Alexei Lalas who works for both ESPN and LA Galaxy would not answer when asked was Keane already in LA. Interesting.

[theworm2345]

Alexei Lalas who works for both ESPN and LA Galaxy would not answer when asked was Keane already in LA. Interesting.
Thats probably because he's a ****ing clown and doesn't know about that or anything else for that matter. You'd be foolish to believe anything ESPN ever says about soccer.

[Crosby87]

Yeah Noel there is some kind of rule about foreign born players in the MLS (actually I SHOULD say prolific players I guess) (But obviously they are always foreign) with regards to payment... It is important, or perhaps pathetic to note that MLS is technically a self run organization, one entity, so all teams have to somewhat absorb the payments of players who come in like Beckham... I think JPA has to leave b/c they are over the quota...

I think each team can have 3 of those players who...go over the salary cap for one individual whatever it may be.

Worm you are better at this than me for sure. I am guessing it means hey, if say the Galaxy want to pay Keane (Lets leave Becks out of it) than they pay him. (As long as they have a spot for him in one of the three.) And if it is say, 100 million, lets say they can convince Messi to come to LA, then it is their business. But the majority of teams are in the pool.

One thing I would ask is, take the Seattle team for example...Drew Carey is the "owner". But since MLS owns all the teams I am not sure how any of that **** works. I know this: All the teams had to agree to Becks contract. Now as far as bringing in Keane, I have no idea. B/C Becks was "Special".
And how do you own a team owned by the league you play in? Drew Carey I gues would tell you he owns the Seattle team, when in fact it is legally owned by MLS. (Like all the franchises.)
And is anyone not snoring who read this? Sorry.

[irishfan86]

It's not about being foreign, it's about how much you make. If it's over $415,000, well you can only have three of those players on the books regardless of where they're from.

The deal has not concluded because LA already have three of those designated players: Beckham, Donovan and Angel.

Angel is the guy they want to move, but if nobody is interested, there's a possibility he will be released/retire or something like that to make way for Robbie.

I wouldn't read into LA Galaxy's lack of comment on the rumour -- their media team is probably the most disciplined/tight arsed in the league.

[Colbert Report]

Any word on this? When does the MLS transfer window close?

[Closed Account]

Any word on this? When does the MLS transfer window close?

5am tonight.

[tetsujin1979]

looks like the transfer could go through, from Sky Sports reporter Bryan Swanson's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/skysports_bryan/status/102851029309202432

We're also told Tottenham have now accepted offer from LA Galaxy for Robbie Keane @SkySportsNews

[paul_oshea]

so no one in england would pay 3mil for keane now?

[tetsujin1979]

think it's wages, rather than the fee, that is the problem

[Colbert Report]

I hope he doesn't leave any money on the table, if he had been willing to take a pay cut he could have gone to lots of Premiership or Championship clubs.

[tetsujin1979]

deal rumoured to be complete

[EastTerracer]

The Galaxy are playing here in New York two weeks tonight. It's allegedly sold out but I'll definitely be getting a ticket for that one. Robbie scored two goals in Red Bull Arena last summer so hope he gets a couple more (and three points against Henry & co.).

[CraftyToePoke]

The boyos on the Leicester forum seem to have given up (http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=75094&st=860) on him too as Galaxy bound, he was probably never Leicester bound anyway, God love them.

[Park_Lane]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/943993/tottenham-striker-robbie-keane-close-to-la-galaxy-switch?cc=5739

fee agreed. £3million

[elroy]

Lads, dont like this move at all. Think it is only inevitable that he will retire from international football at the end of this campaign now. A really unfulfilled career, at club level in any case.

[SwanVsDalton]

Disappointing if it happens. I think he has more to offer, would rather see him drop to the Championship than cash in this golden ticket.

[punkrocket]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/15/football-transfer-rumours
Only £1.8m now, bit of a bargain.
And McCourt to Liverpool???

[an_ceannaire]

The day before we play Russia Red Bulls have a big MLS game.....this will surely be sorted out?
Robbie was not going to get another premiership club in the top 10
18 months ago your Evertons and Villas would have had him, not anymore
So.....a move back to Wolves was prob his most likely premiership move and Mick didnt want him
QPR was mentioned and the QPR Fans Forums almost to a man came out against it as they didnt want him
Fulham and Jol publically didnt want him and Celtic want Bellamy over him, so....really......what was he to do?

He is not a top player anymore ,if he ever was.
Any of ye read Roy Curtis "article" on him Sunday just gone?
Is there bad blood there?

[cullenswood]

Fcek it, good look to him. He obviously wasn't going to get a move to a Premier League club so I know if I was given the chance to work in LA for three years and earn 3 million a year while I was at it, I would jump at the chance.

[Metrostars]

The Galaxy are playing here in New York two weeks tonight. It's allegedly sold out but I'll definitely be getting a ticket for that one. Robbie scored two goals in Red Bull Arena last summer so hope he gets a couple more (and three points against Henry & co.).

I've got tickets for that one. LA will surely be favourites as NY have been ****e since May. It'll be good to Robbie in action again...

About him coming to MLS, yes sure it is a "drop down" for him but it sounds like there weren't a lot of takers for him in the Prem.

A lot of players who come to MLS take a while to adjust to the style of play and the travel involved e.g. as a follower of NY, Henry was poor when he came last year but is much better this year. There is a ton of travel e.g. at one point this year e.g. this was one sequence of games for NY from late May-July this year:

Kansas City home
LAG away
ChivasUSA home
Houston Away
Colorado home
Vancouver away
Columbus home
New England home
Portland away
Seattle away
Chicago away
San Jose away
Toronto home

[brine3]

Born with bags of talent and was miles ahead of everyone when he was 19. But he's still exactly the same player he was when he was 19, minus the pace. Still moaning at the ref when the play is continuing, just like when he was a kid.

If he had put in a bit of effort into learning the game he'd have been a big player. Look at how Richard Dunne improved over the years, for example. Or Kevin Doyle...

Player like Robbie Keane belongs at LA Galaxy, to be honest.

[jbyrne]

Born with bags of talent and was miles ahead of everyone when he was 19. But he's still exactly the same player he was when he was 19, minus the pace. Still moaning at the ref when the play is continuing, just like when he was a kid.

If he had put in a bit of effort into learning the game he'd have been a big player. Look at how Richard Dunne improved over the years, for example. Or Kevin Doyle...

Player like Robbie Keane belongs at LA Galaxy, to be honest.

scoring 50 plus international goals puts him in the big player category for most.

you obviously dont know it now but you will miss him when he stops playing for Ireland.

[Philly]

Born with bags of talent and was miles ahead of everyone when he was 19. But he's still exactly the same player he was when he was 19, minus the pace. Still moaning at the ref when the play is continuing, just like when he was a kid.

If he had put in a bit of effort into learning the game he'd have been a big player. Look at how Richard Dunne improved over the years, for example. Or Kevin Doyle...

Player like Robbie Keane belongs at LA Galaxy, to be honest.

Bit harsh. When you consider he is the 10th highest scorer in the Pemier League ever and has 51 goals for Ireland, I would argue it's pretty clear he has "put in a bit of effort into learning the game".