Robbie Keane

It has been confirmed. Irish captain Robbie Keane has signed for Liverpool FC. See here. One thing I would like to know other people's opinions on is whether they think this move will be good or bad for the Irish national side. Here are my opinions.


Positives:

• He has just signed for one of the best clubs in the world with top class coaching, training etc.. which improve him as a player.
• European football at Liverpool is a positive for Keane
• He will be playing with some of the best players in the world which will be excellent for his confidence and should improve him as a player as he nears close to his peak years.
• It will improve the profile of our country's captain and the profile of the Irish national side.

Negatives:

• He will be playing under Rafa "Rotational" Benitez and he may not get as much match time as his spell at Spurs.
• Keane will be in a squad with two of the best strikers in Europe in Torres and Kuyt so it will be hard to cement his place as a first team regular and this may effect his confidence and therefore his performances for Ireland
• Liverpool's players have a poor record of pulling out of international friendly etc.. and this will have a poor effect on the national side as he is our captain.

Discuss... :ball:

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Originally Posted by gustavo

He played in a 3rd round qualifier for Inter , was therefore ineligible to play in it for Leeds the same season , so yes it would be his debut in the competition proper trusting that Liverpool qualify

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if its the same game im thinkin of - was it against helsingborgs - he had a stormer of a game and created a peno - he went to take but alvaro recoba took the ball off him , recoba took the peno and missed and out inter went...... i think

Hopefully Liverpool's CL games don't clash with Celtic's to give me something to look forward to now each night. I loved watching Duff in the CL for Chelsea and it should be the same now with Keane.

Levy:
"I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself wanted to go and submitted a transfer request to this effect.

"I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction.

"I don't regard it as a transfer deal - that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade - this is very much an enforced sale, for which we have agreed a sum of £19m as compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional compensation."

Kuyt one of the best strikers in Europe, you must be having a laugh

Can I laugh too at that comment?

Why is this deserving of a new thread? Surely it's redundant.

Also, Kuijt one of the best in Europe. He-he.

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Originally Posted by John83

Why is this deserving of a new thread? Surely it's redundant.

Also, Kuijt one of the best in Europe. He-he.

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Different topic.

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Originally Posted by L37Ultra

Different topic.

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Nah-ah.

I don't know how he'll get on.

He's never really been firing on all cylinders at a top club, though I'm open to correction re: his time at Leeds (when they were good).

Unfortunately, I think Liverpool shirt sales will go up. :(

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Originally Posted by John83

Why is this deserving of a new thread? Surely it's redundant.

Also, Kuijt one of the best in Europe. He-he.

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Becaus ei t is the posters disgression as to whether to start a new thread
or post in an esisting one.

Hence my "Liverpool replace bean pole-striker with diminutive dwarf" will also be a new thread.

One player moving club will have no impact on Irish football

If there is a % of the transfer fee to be paid to Crumlin, there will be some difference.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

One player moving club will have no impact on Irish football

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It might to the Irish national side. Then again it might not which is why I asked people'e opinions on it. But of course it won't have any impact on the domestic game if thats what you are getting at.

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Originally Posted by L37Ultra

It might to the Irish national side. Then again it might not which is why I asked people'e opinions on it. But of course I won't have any impact on the domestic game if thats what you are getting at.

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Well I wasn't but how can you seperate the two

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Well I wasn't but how can you seperate the two

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Well unfortunately they are seperated which is another days disscusion and a major problem but in my opinion Keane's move is good for Irish football because Liverpool play regular Champions League football and this wiill improve Keane as a player.

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Originally Posted by L37Ultra

Well unfortunately they are seperated which is another days disscusion and a major problem but in my opinion Keane's move is good for Irish football because Liverpool play regular Champions League football and this wiill improve Keane as a player.

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HOw mcuh do you think a 28 year old player can improve? Can you give examples of other 28 year olds who have improved dramatically?

Its a good move for Keane as he's with better players and playing on a higher level. But he won't be improving

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Originally Posted by Dodge

HOw mcuh do you think a 28 year old player can improve? Can you give examples of other 28 year olds who have improved dramatically?

Its a good move for Keane as he's with better players and playing on a higher level. But he won't be improving

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Point taken there are not many 28 year olds who have improved but it may help with his confidence etc... and improve his performances for Ireland. Do you not think this move is good for the Irish national side, Dodge

I don't think it will much if any effect on the national side.

They didn't spend 18 million on him to have him sit on the bench. I think he'll play his fair share of games. Not sure he'll get any better at this stage of his career though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dodge

HOw mcuh do you think a 28 year old player can improve? Can you give examples of other 28 year olds who have improved dramatically?

Its a good move for Keane as he's with better players and playing on a higher level. But he won't be improving

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Ability wise he probably won't improve, but he can still learn things under a new coach and in what is probably one of the best set ups in Europe. It could lead to him improving his movement and game intelligence, and seeing as Rafa has more of a rotation policy than Tottenham (as far as I'm aware) and likes to keep players fresher, it may help Keane to prolong his career in his twilight years.

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Originally Posted by back of the net

if its the same game im thinkin of - was it against helsingborgs - he had a stormer of a game and created a peno - he went to take but alvaro recoba took the ball off him , recoba took the peno and missed and out inter went...... i think

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Yep, that's the game, think he came on as a sub.

L37 Ultra put up a good topic for discussion. Ssave for an assessment of Kuyt his points were all good.

But you have to introduce the domestic game into the discussion (with the international team). How it connects to Robbie Keane and Liverpool is anyone's guess.

There is life outside the EL, get over it.

I don't think he's going to get rotated that much, only Gerrard and Torres got into double figures for Liverpool in the Premiership last season. Kuyt only got 3 in the Premiership, and 12 overall in the season.
Keane has scored consistently wherever he's played, with a variety of strike partners.

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Originally Posted by mark12345

L37 Ultra put up a good topic for discussion. Ssave for an assessment of Kuyt his points were all good.

But you have to introduce the domestic game into the discussion (with the international team). How it connects to Robbie Keane and Liverpool is anyone's guess.

There is life outside the EL, get over it.

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I think you must have 2 threads open at once? :confused: Read dodge's posts again if you think he mentioned the LOI.

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Originally Posted by mark12345

L37 Ultra put up a good topic for discussion. Ssave for an assessment of Kuyt his points were all good.

But you have to introduce the domestic game into the discussion (with the international team). How it connects to Robbie Keane and Liverpool is anyone's guess.

There is life outside the EL, get over it.

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what impact will Keanes move to Liverpool have on Irish football? None, nada, zip.

It will benefit Liverpools irish profits more than Irish football.

Great move for him though.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

what impact will Keanes move to Liverpool have on Irish football? None, nada, zip.

It will benefit Liverpools irish profits more than Irish football.

Great move for him though.

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When I said Irish football I meant the Republic of Irish national side. If I wanted to discuss the benifits the move would have on the domestic League I would have put this thread in the Eircom League section. Obviously it will have no impact on the LOi, but in my opinion it will have a positive impact on the Republic of Ireland squad as a whole. Why? Because our captain has just moved to one of the biggest clubs in the world. Surely the benifts of this are self explanitory. :ball:

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Originally Posted by Bunny Kelly

Can I laugh too at that comment?

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I would never, in good conscience, come between a Kilkenny City fan and a bit of enjoyment on their behalf. :D

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Levy:
[I]"I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield.

"I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction.

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This the same bloke who undermined Martin Jol behind the scenes 12 months ago, in order to replace him with Ramos? :confused:

Pot..kettle...black :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Becaus ei t is the posters disgression as to whether to start a new thread or post in an esisting one.

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Is this spelling a wind up :eek: ?

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Originally Posted by mark12345

L37 Ultra put up a good topic for discussion. Ssave for an assessment of Kuyt his points were all good.

But you have to introduce the domestic game into the discussion (with the international team). How it connects to Robbie Keane and Liverpool is anyone's guess.

There is life outside the EL, get over it.

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Maybe if the thread title didnt mention "Irish football" he wouldn't have to

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Originally Posted by mark12345

But you have to introduce the domestic game into the discussion (with the international team). How it connects to Robbie Keane and Liverpool is anyone's guess.

There is life outside the EL, get over it.

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Please point out where I mentioned the LOI. Or point out any posts where I didn't answer either a question posed to me or the original question.

Get off you own ****ing soapbox and realisee that all LOI fans have an onterest in most areas of the game.

There is no way a 28 year old seasoned international moving clubs can help either Irish football, or the international team. If he was a kid, absolutely.

As I said good move for Keane, good move for Liverpool. No affect whatsoever on the national side. Did the national side improve when Duff joined Chelsea? Did it improve when Liam Miller joined Man U?

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Originally Posted by Dodge

There is no way a 28 year old seasoned international moving clubs can help either Irish football, or the international team. If he was a kid, absolutely.

As I said good move for Keane, good move for Liverpool. No affect whatsoever on the national side. Did the national side improve when Duff joined Chelsea? Did it improve when Liam Miller joined Man U?

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That's not to say it CAN'T improve the National side because it didn't with the other examples Dodge. I agree that, at 28 it is unlikely to have any impact but I fully expect Keane to play a lot of games (Benitez doesn't rotate as much as people think any more) and who knows, maybe playing in the Champions League regularly as well as crunch League games can take his game up another notch??

If it did then that will obviously be good for the National team.

Liverpool have made it to two Champions League Finals in the last four years and one Semi. Playing at that level for a sustained period will improve anybody. Dodge - based on your argument players would only ever do fitness training once they reached a certain age; Niall Quinn at Arsenal was tall gangly and nowhere near the player he became by the time he retired playing for Sunderland. In his book he talks about how much time he spent working on his skills throughout his career - of course players can improve when they are 28.

The big questions are will Keane actually play or will he be back-up for Torres and - if he is to be given a regular starting place - will it be in his preferred position? Liverpool have had issues at right-midfield for a while now ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gustavo

He played in a 3rd round qualifier for Inter , was therefore ineligible to play in it for Leeds the same season , so yes it would be his debut in the competition proper trusting that Liverpool qualify

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It was a UEFA Cup qualifier for Inter, wasn't even Champions League, the rules back then were if you'd played in Europe in any competition you were ineligible to play in Europe period for another club. Was a shame, could have been the difference between Leeds winning it and going out in the semi, he was on fire in the league at the time....

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Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

It was a UEFA Cup qualifier for Inter, wasn't even Champions League, the rules back then were if you'd played in Europe in any competition you were ineligible to play in Europe period for another club. Was a shame, could have been the difference between Leeds winning it and going out in the semi, he was on fire in the league at the time....

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it was definitely Champion's League, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._In...ano#Dark_Times

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What followed was another embarrassment, as they were eliminated in the preliminary round of the Champions League by Swedish club Helsingborgs IF. Alvaro Recoba was given the opportunity to draw the sides level with a last-minute penalty, yet he missed

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Originally Posted by Emmet

of course players can improve when they are 28

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I said improve dramatically. And none of the examples Ciaran used have changed my mind. All of them were playing at a very high level throughout their careers (and I'd argue with most of his "peaks" if I was arsed what he thought)

Keane's game may seem improved while playing with liverpool because he's playing with better players, but when he goes back to play for his country, he'll still be dealing with the same level as he is now.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

I said improve dramatically. And none of the examples Ciaran used have changed my mind. All of them were playing at a very high level throughout their careers (and I'd argue with most of his "peaks" if I was arsed what he thought)

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I agree that the players and their ages that Ciaran references as examples of footballers peaking at later ages are very suspect at best and the talk of a crazy man at worst. Klose at 30? Del Piero at 33 - just because he scored a few goals last year. Did you even watch him play? C'mon ffs.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

we have agreed a sum of £19m as compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional compensation." [/I]

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Basically an admission by Liverpool that they tapped up Keane. For Liverpool to pay extra "compensation" they must have felt there was a good case against them. Spurs did something similar when Chelsea took their sporting Director.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

it was definitely Champion's League, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._In...ano#Dark_Times

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Fair enough, must've got it mixed up with something else! ;)

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

Totti (only peaked at 30)
Del Piero (peak was at worst last season, 33)
Zidane (peaked at about 31, 32)
Trezeguet (peak now, 31)
Cannavaro (peaked at 33)
Toni (peak at 31 at worst)
Crespo (peak at 30)
Ayala (peak at 33)
Ze Roberto (peak at 32)
Scholes (peak at 32)
Klose (peak at 30)

It's hardly a rare thing, different players have different life cycles. Keane is a player who's skills are technique, positioning, link up play and intelligence. Torres is a player who depends on speed and reaction. Torres will likely decline once he reaches 30, Keane? There's no reason he would, physicality isn't a big part of his game.

It's a very English outlook on the game to say that a player will decline once they hit 30, hence why they lost Scholes, Carragher, continue to omit Beckham and why they won't win anything in our lifetime. Their players are given a much shorter lifespan than they should.

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this is probably the stupidest post iv ever seen. Do you even know what "peak" means???

anyway...Keane great signin for Liverpool and good for Ireland that now we wont only have O Shea and Finnan playing TOP level footy. The more players we have playing CL and challenging the better.
Ofcourse players can improve when 28,how much he improves remains to be seen...

KEANOOOOOOOOO!!

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Originally Posted by pete

Basically an admission by Liverpool that they tapped up Keane. For Liverpool to pay extra "compensation" they must have felt there was a good case against them. Spurs did something similar when Chelsea took their sporting Director.

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this is a cop out by Levy. If he didnt want to sell then he didnt have to. hes trying to get the Spurs fans to beleive that Liverpool "made" Spurs sell rather than Ramos wanting rid of last seasons stars for some reason. The "compensation" he talks of is just trying to spin the same bull. Lots of clubs have add-ons in transfer fees where they rise depending on appearances,trophies won,goals etc etc.
Sure United paid Everton extra money last season after they won the CL. Does that count as "compensation"?