Robbie Keane

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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...

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.

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Condex

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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!!!

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

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/foo...t-signing.html
Carragher Source: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...l-in-the-cards

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

.... 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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aidz1

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

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)

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 ****.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

Maybe you could now name me all of Robbies goals against top tier international sides since the 2002 world cup? No friendlies now! :D

---

I not sure of the relevance of your RK pre2002 v RK post2002 argument. Are his vital goals prior to 2002 now invalid cos he hasn't scored an important goal against what u see as an outstanding football nation in recent times. Is it like the penalty points system where if your clean for 3 yrs they'll erase the points from your licence? Or is it that u are saying that Robbie Keane isn't now the player he was preWC02. How then though could u explain his remarkable scoring rate for Tottenham in recent times against quality teams. In fact he scored aginst all of the Big 4 last season, I'm open to correction but I would suggest that he was the only player last season to score against them all.

I would be more inclined to believe that the reason he hasn't scored as many goals against outstanding football nations is because Ireland have been rubbish since 02 and the supply has been brutal. Ireland themselves only scored one goal against the stand out nations in the last campaign. ie Germany and Czechs. In the previous campaign we only scored one goal against the stand out nations ie. France and Switzerland. He did score a superb goal in this campaign against Isreal, who actually finished ahead of us in the group so surely they must be seen as reasonable enough opposition. His performances for Ireland have been poor enough but it has been a very difficult load to carry imo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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.

---

so what exactly are you on here for then??
this is an irish football site, in a section talking about the irish international team.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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

---

Doesn't look like this holds any water and we all know Rafa just deals with FACTS!!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...891025,00.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aidz1

so what exactly are you on here for then??
this is an irish football site, in a section talking about the irish international team.

---

I was saying in the context of me being a Liverpool fan and also being Irish, I wouldn't be backing Keane just for the sake of it because he's Irish as well. Has shag all to do with posting here or anywhere else for that matter. And I know exactly where I'm posting by the way, and am also entitled to have whatever opinion I like on Robbie Keane ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Doesn't look like this holds any water and we all know Rafa just deals with FACTS!!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...891025,00.html

---

Benitez is basically saying he was sold because the 'situation' was not good, i.e. what I've been saying regarding Keane's sulking rubbing off on others at the club. And Rafa always praises players when they leave, even Bellamy the Golfer got it :D (another who was shipped out in quick time due to his attitude)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

Benitez is basically saying he was sold because the 'situation' was not good, i.e. what I've been saying regarding Keane's sulking rubbing off on others at the club. And Rafa always praises players when they leave, even Bellamy the Golfer got it :D (another who was shipped out in quick time due to his attitude)

---

Suppose Stevie Me will be the next to go, he's clearly a disruptive influence with his off field activities. Anything's possible with Rafa;)

:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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.

---

Be careful, you'll have some Muppet accusing you of being a Jackeen if you show empathy with Robbie!

Feel exactly the same (assuming you mean "cringe" and not that you fart lillies!). Benitez IS appalling.

[1. Crinch def:
The Crystal that stole Christmas. The darling dictator whose farts smell like lillies. This comes from the word "crinch-a-saurous".
Oh look! There goes the Crinch! ]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

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.

---

As I keep saying until I am blue in the face, if Robbie doesn't score against the so-called "cr@p sides", who will? Well done Robbie. Without you, we're screwed.

[QUOTE=4tothefloor;1097553]

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


Aldriges's only international goal against top class oppposition was against Mexico

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seano

Aldriges's only international goal against top class oppposition was against Mexico

---

Shh! All retired players were supremely consistent, magical world beaters and the current crop are useless wasters who should be scoring a goal every game.

ok, he is frustrating sometimes, but by the time hes done he will have over 50 international goals and our top scorer in a world cup. IF you dont think he will go down as Ireland's greatest ever striker (to date) you need ur head examined.