Dunphy calling him an "old 31" seems accurate. Keane has seemed mentally drained since the Liverpool move and hasn't been the same player, move might do him good.
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Dunphy calling him an "old 31" seems accurate. Keane has seemed mentally drained since the Liverpool move and hasn't been the same player, move might do him good.
He's looked good for Ireland since the Liverpool move, arguably better than he had looked for many a year before but I'll agree at club level he's struggled. Maybe he hasn't got the appetite anymore for games week in, week out and this move would possibly support that assertion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator
With Ireland it's a different situation. He doesn't have to turn up for training everyday and prove himself against an endless assembly line of younger, perhaps hungrier strikers.
Quotes like this about Robbie disappoint me greatly.Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
My mate is a Wolves fan. He brought me to Oxford v Wolves in August 1998, and I remember him telling me about a new Irish youngster playing for Wolves up front. I remember too being delighted to see a new Irish talent performing really well.
Over the last few years the pro-Robbie and anti-Robbie camps have emerged, and my foot has been firmly planted in the former. I suspect I'm not the only one to have spent a lot of time supporting Robbie in post-match discussions in the pub, as his record is untouchable as has been detailed in a previous post. I would continue to play him given his experience, and scoring record.
In relation to Robbie's latest move, I welcome the enthusiasm of well-informed supporters such as irishfan86. Landon Donovan sprung to my mind when I heard of Robbie's impending move, and I would hope that Robbie can maintain the required fitness and sharpness for international football whilst playing in LA. However I don't believe a move to MLS is a positive one. There have been lots of views expressed as to where MLS is held in relation to the English Leagues; I believe it is a negative step. I would have much preferred a move to an English Championship club. The best we can expect now is that Robbie will be a big fish in a small pool, no, a shark in a small pool, and therefore exude confidence in International games.
I can't believe nobody's mentioned the rumours that have been circulating in the past few months about his injunctions and his supposed off-field activities. Claudine has specifically mentioned moving to LA several times over the past couple of years. 2+2 etc.
This might not be such a bad move. The top end of the MLS is a decent standard and it doesn't seem to have affected Landon Donovan's international performances. I would still worry about him making the jump from MLS to facing top-class defenders. He won't be required to have the same amount of sharpness and speed of thought/action in LA.
Also I find it hilarious the lengths people will go to argue that Robbie is anything other than the greatest striker this country has ever produced, and probably ever will.
So assuming he gets called up and plays he will be the first US-based player to appear for Ireland since Joe Lapira...never thought I'd mention those two in the same breath but there you go.
Jaysus, there's some begrudgers on here.
The green-eyed monster perchance?
If he never played for Ireland again, good luck to him in the rest of his career.
I'll admit my initial reaction to this move is that Robbie could have gotten a better move and could have joined a team in a much more competitive league.
However, now that the deal is done I'll be cheering Robbie on no matter where he plays. I bought a ticket today for what I hope will be his first game for the Galaxy (against New York Red Bulls on the 28th). I'll also be in Dublin and Moscow the following week to cheer him on. Having been going to Ireland matches since 1977 I can comfortably say that Robbie has been a superb player for us, our best striker ever and going to LA doesn't change that.
I hoped he would get another club but he didn't. Let him get on with this new stage in his career and, when the day inevitably comes when he's no longer first choice for Ireland then I'll sing my lungs out to thank him for the last 13 years and all the goals he's scored for us.
Yeah, best of luck Robbie. It is disappointing that he is not staying in English or European football but he owes nobody anything. It's entirely predictable that this news attracts nasty and resentful comments but look we had this reaction to Robbie Keane all down the years.
The other big stick used to hit Keane is that he has constantly moved in his career, like that is a crime or makes him a bad player. He moved a lot at the start and end of his career but that ignores the six seasons in a row he spent at Spurs in the prime of his career scoring over 100 EPL goals and becoming the 9th all time scorer for Tottenham Hotspur. We don't even need to talk about where Ireland would be without him.
he is a great player for Ireland.Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
that is all
Never realised how genuinely despised our captain is by so many in this country until today. Listening to many of the calls and texts into various radio shows over the last 2 days, i dont know. Record goal scorer. Does this mean nothing? He seems to be genuinely unpopular in Ireland nowadays.
Mystified
As when McGeady went to Russia, journos were falling over themselves in utter ignorance to condemn the move as money motivated and without reason, British and Irish hacks know nothing outside of the sky leagues (check out the bile int he Indo today) and this ignorance feeds into the "fan". The MLS has improved year on year, with a different type of football and some good south and central americans, not to mention africans, playing there. The most important thing is Robbie will get lots of game time, score lots of goals and do more than playing in some 2nd division side in England or sitting on the bench in the sky league premier.
A fantastic goalscorer for club and country but have seen him play extremely poorly for us, pop up with a goal, and then everybody talk about how brilliant he was!
I do remember Claudine saying in an interview that they planned to move to the US and then she had to back track and say "after Robbie retires". It was obviously their plan all along.
He has taken a pay cut in his gross pay (unsure of tax situation) to go there so don't understand why he wouldn't have taken one to stay playing at a higher level. He could move to LA for the rest of his life as he'll be a long time retired. The recent talk of court injunctions may have played a big part in his final decision but I fear this will affect his international career.
Hopefully he scores a hat full over there and continues to do the same at international level but I still can't help but feel disappointed by this move. Had he gone to Leicester, there was every chance he could be back in the Premier League in 12 months, and that would have been the sign of an ambitious player!!
Paddy the Dog said it, and surprised it hasn't been said more often.
Robbie is the epitome of the "confidence player". He will score a lot more in the MLS than in he would this season in England.
That can only be a good thing for us.
Also the option of a loan spell is still there for him come November. This is as good a move from an Ireland POV as we could have gotten at this stage and I'm delighted it's come to pass.
I think it's a good move for him. As already stated, he'll be the center of attention again and should get his confidence back after the difficulties of the last few seasons.
He's going to retire from Ireland in the next 2-3 years at the latest (presuming he's still good enough/interested then), so why the big surprise?
I can't agree with the comparison to McGeady. Whilst I have no doubt the MLS is improving, I'm pretty sure it's nowhere near the standard of the EPL, therefore Keane is taking a big step down. McGeady was moving from a poor Scottish league to a very competitive Russian league where there is no doubt his game has come on leaps and bounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spudulika
I was hoping that Keane would move to a lower end EPL club where he would be facing top opposition week in, week out rather than semi-retiring from club level. In saying that, he's been a wonderful servant to Irish football and I've no doubt he will be for the rest of this campaign and hopefully the world cup.
If he can get a loan move at christmas then i think his sharpness would be up to speed and his fitness too by the end of it. It might not be that bad a thing if he bangs in a load of goals and comes back revitalised from the easy living america offers.
So long as he doesn't go on the reconstituted/reformed chicken fillets(in everything not just salads or burgers), and the not properly drained beef he should be fine, or that sh1tty streaky greasy dirty bacon.
I wouldnt bank on it. Look at Henry's return since he went. Not great and Robbie is not in his league, even today. Its not the SPL like. And as for him being the centre of attention....are you kidding?Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Henry's game has changed significantly since his Arsenal heydays. He's not about scoring goals.
Keane is. He scored a fair amount on loan at Celtic and this is a similar level (probably a step up in terms of opposition)
He owes nobody here anything. I hope he enjoys himself
Maybe he will divorce his wife and marry Paris Hilton.
Why would he??
Kashima 02 & Bari 09, best moments following Ireland for me by quite a distance. I don't care who he plays for/ sits on the bench for, he's always been consistent in the shirt which matters most.
Good burritos over there.
I reckon Shay Given should think long and hard about any future moves to the MLS so.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Suggestions he's been caught Off-side off the pitch??? I wonder did he wave his hands in the air and point his finger when the missus confronted him???Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Joking aside, best of luck to him. He's been brilliant for us and he'll be sorely missed when he finally retires.
Yugoslavia at home, that goal against Iran in the play off that gave us the edge, Germany in the World Cup, Italy away, that header against Holland in the WC qualifier, converted the pressure kick against Spain in the WC.......................... I can go on and on.
His contribution to the Irish team over the years is immeasurable. Its not just about goals scored.
Over 50 goals for his country, what more needs to be said? Superb record. And he has scored when it mattered in the World Cup and brought us back into the play-off against France.
There is a lot of shyte being talked about in here about MLS as usual. Self proclaimed experts who don't even watch the games in the league. Also, the begrudgery here shamful. Record Irish goalscorer and that's not enough for some people.
Not that's off my chest, here are some of my thought. It is not a given that Keane will score buckets of goals here. In fact most foreign stars struggle. In recent years the likes of Freddie Ljungberg, Claudio Lopez, Denilson have come and gone having failed to get to grips with physicality, travel and yes even shyte refereeing. It has taken Beckham a few years to finally start playing the way everyone expected him to when he came here first. He was poor when he started but this year he is playing much better. Henry struggled last year when he arrived in New York but this year is the top scorer in the league. Travel is a big drag on players e.g. coast to coast to coast to coast trips in successive weeks is not uncommon. Then there is the heat in places like Texas and the humidity when playing in the summer in places like New York. Remember how our team struggled with the heat in 94? I'm sure Keane will get acclimated over time but I wouldn't be surprised if he finds it hard to adapt at the beginning.
As for LA the team, top of the league and they're looking solid. Edson Buddle was their main striker the last few years but he left after last season to play in Germany and they took Juan Pablo Angel who was a free agent when NY didn't renew after last season. JPA was a great player for NY but last year it was clear he lost a step or ten. Arena took a punt on him but struggled. TBH I'm surprised that another MLS team has taken him off LA such has his stock has fallen over the last 15 months. So Keane will automatically be in the first XI for LA. He has the potential of scoring buckets if he can get over the issues in MLS I already mentioned with Beckham pinging in balls from the right and Donovan supporting him and Juninho(a young Brazilian whos quite good but not that Juninho). Donovan's position changes from game to game, sometimes he's on the left, other times he plays more centrally. The other forward they have is Chad Barrett, a clunkly centre forward type.
Also, LA is also involved in the Concacaf Champions League that starts for them tonight so that will mean trips to Central American and the Caribbean.
On the surface a strange move for Robbie but then again maybe not so strange. Robbie was never going to drop down the divisions in England. You always got the impression he felt playing in the championship would be beneath him somehow. A lower half Premier League team would still probably have taken a chance on him but would he really fancy 2 or 3 seasons playing for a side who's main aim was to avoid relegation. I don't think so to be honest. This way he gets to live in LA and still be the main man in a team (well after Beckham and Donovan).
Good luck to him. He'll earn plenty of $ and be hanging out with beauties left, right and centre.
I still think he could have done a job for Everton, Fulham or Villa. Everton are crying out for a striker. Beckham made the England games easy enough so why not Keano?
I can't muster much enthusiasm for Robbie's latest move but I wouldn't begrudge him in the least. So many 'punch the air' (and the occasional, unfortunate bystander) moments served by that guy and I'm sure, a few more to come. All the best to him.
Dunno why people are moaning. He hasn't really even been playing the last 2 years at club level and has been doing the job for us. Now at least he'll be playing week in and week out. Put it this way, it's better than his tottenham predicament where, despite never really playing, he was banging them in for us. Noone here should be giving out about Robbie, he's served his country more than most football players ever have.
Great summary, people tend to forget these things to easily.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
He has given the football fans on this island plenty of joy (well the majority) and has been a great servant to Ireland.
I has hoping he'd stay in England or even Europe but hopefully he'll get plenty of game time, score plenty of goals and maybe pick up the odd winners medal with LAG.
LAG play Saturday night against San Jose, anyone know if Robbie will make his debut? Deferred coverage of the game is on ESPN at 6.30pm Sunday evening
So for my 500th post I'd like to wish Robbie all the best in the MLS :D
Glad to see you're disagreeing with the acknowledged experts - the hacks. It was the 4th estate who were passing comment on AMcG copping out and dropping down levels, or afraid of a challenge, not I! So long as Irish "fans" cannot see beyond the sky leagues and the faltering train wreck that is the sky premier, our footballers are not going to improve and our national team will continue to produce clones of what the other Italian manger has to work with. Robbie's getting a good deal, he's young enough to get a couple of years there while enjoying loan spells in Europe (hopefully not back in dross like the sky leagues), he'll play with and against different types of opponents, get lots of match practice and have new shirts on sale in Lifestyle.Quote:
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
I think the Galaxy are a good club for Keane. He clearly wasn't really waned in the Premiership, a guy like Shane Long is more desirable to managers. I also think that Keane felt the Championship was a bit below him. He really cares about Ireland the most I believe so I don't think it really matters that much where he plays, as long as the standard is sufficient. The MLS is Ok, and the Galaxy are decent. The travel on the other hand, I don't know.
When he hit it past Kahn, ohhhh
So he should just have turned at Goodison and said " I will do ye a favour and play for ye" ........?Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Moyes never wanted him atall and a look on any Everton Forum will tell you when he was linked with them they wanted nothing to do with him
ceanniare if we went off what fans wanted in forums England would be ablaze and all the windows would be smashed. Oh wait.
Keane defies critics with LA move
Interesting take on the transfer....
Great article IMO.
Best I've read. Very well written.
The major issue for me is the travel, the standard is better than SPL, no problem. Had he gone to Celtic it would have been a lesser challenge but probably treated warmly enough in Ireland.
Doubt this negative backlash will ruin his desire to play for Ireland but at some point I could forgive him for retiring after the Euros, but I hope he's stronger mentally than that and plays as long as he can contribute.
US Gossip site TMZ with the real question on everyone's lips:
http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/16/la-gal.../#.TkvgHKjXTQO
:D
Very good article and it really puts into perspective the idiocy of the hacks in this country.
What does that actually mean? Oh Keane you idiot, how dare you accept a lucrative contract with the biggest club in the US where you will score goals, play with decent players, and likely be involved in championship play-offs, play in the Concacaf Champions League all the while increasing your profile instead of mulling away with a mediocre club, like Leicester, in a mediocre albeit competitive league or relegation fodder like Blackburn. Idiot. Don't you know the English game us the only game in town. Idiot.Quote:
"The inescapable conclusion is that Keane's ego has taken the easy option," wrote McDonnell. "The alternative to a stiff challenge in a physical, unforgiving environment, is a league where he is still young enough to be a rising star.
"Most footballers have an ego. It's just that Keane's is more apparent. The suspicion is that, in addition to the money and lifestyle, regaining the feeling of being top dog appealed more than the grind of a season in the second tier of English football.
How does the scrutiny determine your ability as a top-level footballer? Does 13 years at the top of the game not matter anymore?Quote:
"He could become a darling to the Galaxy faithful, but he is miles away from the scrutiny that determines a top-level footballer. Fun, sun and easy money. That's the American dream alright."
We all know that Curtis is a mook but this is incredible altogether.Quote:
"When word filtered through that Keane might be bound for David Beckham's LA Galaxy, the temptation was towards unkindness, to suggest that Tinseltown was the inevitable destination for the lead actor in Ireland's greatest sporting farce," wrote the always colourful Curtis.
"If he doesn't get his dive right the first time, the director can always scream 'cut' and 'take two'! And where better than Los Angeles to apply some Botox to a career that has long been sagging, that now looks wrinkled beyond repair? Let's move beyond the spin: Keane's club career has been a story of lucrative failure.
"Shane Long and Kevin Doyle, Jonathan Walters and Simon Cox - heaven help us, even Leon Best - will play in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Robbie will be eight thousand miles away in the land of the free and the home of the insignificant, coining it as he hangs out with the Beckhams, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Hollywood being Hollywood, they might make a movie out of it: They could call it Tosh and Becks."
Needless and mindless vitriol with little insight and again with the bull of the other strikers playing in the EPL? Who cares!
None of them have scored 51 intl goals and none of them are in the top 10 all-time EPL scorers.
I'm delighted with this move. From an Ireland pov its fine. It shouldn't be that big of an issue.
And its better to have him playing than not coupled with the fact that there were no firm offers for his services anywhere in Ingerland.
I'll continue to cheer him to the rafters as should the rest of us. Roll on September!!
Keano! Keano!