Quote:
Originally Posted by shanekerins
But yet when Robbie scores 2 goals in a league game against Stoke he got dropped for the next game
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shanekerins
But yet when Robbie scores 2 goals in a league game against Stoke he got dropped for the next game
In fairness to Torres I think he wants Keane as a strike partner, he came out a week or so ago and more or less said that. Keane has not been given a chance to establish a worthwhile partnership at united, yes he's missed a few chances and hasnt set the world alight but every striker needs time to settle in at a new club and Benitez hasnt given him a chance. Look at Berbatov, he had a very mediocre first half of the season but Ferguson persisted with him and is slowly starting to get rewards.Quote:
Originally Posted by shanekerins
Judging by the treatment he has got from RB, it looks to me that Keane wasnt Benitez's choice. Delighted to see the pool make a mess of things with Keane not in the team. Think there is a good chance Rafa wont be at anfield by the start of next season.
At least Robbie will be over as fresh as daisy for the Georgia game, hopefully will bang in a few goals.
He really needs the international break right now.. Also the sooner the better the Window closes too. Put to bed any questions about leaving in the imediate future. There's still alot of games to be played and say what you will Liverpool are hardly top heavy with fowards so he'll get his chance again.
In Keanes defense, he's not being utilised in a way that suits him. In Rafa's defense, for 20m you should be getting a more versatile player, plus you can't argue with some of his performances thus far either... Rafa's man managment leaves alot to be desired. However Keane is not the first player to be treated like this by a manager, and it will be a measure of the player and the man, how he deals with this.
Crouch and arguably even Alonso And Gerard have been shabbily treated by Benitez in the past. It's how you respond. Imagine how Tevez (at the start) and Mascherano felt under Curbishly at West Ham given their profiles.
As a captain of his country he should to get through this with some dignity, even if he ends up Leaving Anfeild later on (though not this Window). The ball's firmly in his court in how he deals with this. Assuming the "storm out" is true that is...
exactly, would love to see him bang in a few against Georgia and really stick it to BenitezQuote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
Very true re Alonso at least, imo Keane is a better all round striker than Crouch. Alonso was very close to the exit door last season and funny how he arguably is liverpool's most influential player this year after Gerrard.
I would just be happy to see him bang in a few goals against Georgia. He needs a really good performance for himself as well I think. Either a good all round performance or a couple of high quality goals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba
It's not actually an international break though. Our match with Georgia is thrown on the Wednesday with no break in Premier Lge matches. Expect injuries.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
On the Keane situation....Benitez wanted 18m for Garreth Barry in the summer and the board wouldn't give it to him saying that they would give him €20m for Keane. In a sense this makes it the boards signing and I wonder is Rafa just trying to stick it to them now. I do honestly believe he is that thick minded and the only surprsing thing for me is that Alonso is playing week-in week-out, seeing as he tried to shaft him in the summer.
I can see him rotting away in the scouse reserves just as we approach three critical qualifiers. Rust never sleeps. I just hope another PL team comes in for him, whether Liverpool can recoup a good portion of the 20 million fee is another matter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
good thought out post Dr.
We could possibly reap some benefit alright, if Keane keeps the chin up - a determined Keane with a point to prove is not a bad scenario for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
If Liverpool are relying on Kyut and the very often injured Torres then they sure better hope that nothing happens to Gerard. Torres is a great player but he is so often injured or recovering from injuries that I would be really worried if my team was relying on him. Kyut has a great attitude and a good team player but he will just never get enough goals.
If I was the chairman that gave Benitez the money to buy Keane then I would expect him to get more out of the player.
I still believe that Benitez is more suited to a medium/big club but just does not have that xtra factor needed to manage a great club like Liverpool. If Benitez does move on in the summer it will be interesting to see if the Barcelona's or Real Madrids think that he can handle clubs in their league.
All in all Rafa has done a rubbish job at Liverpool I think. The miracle Champions Lge win in his first season has covered up an enormous amount of frustration inflicted on Liverpool supporters in the majority of his time there. If Stevie G's late winner against Olympiakos hit the post or went narrowly wide that night at Anfield there's no way Benitez would have the backing of the local Liverpool support which he seems to have. He's an utter hypocrite as well talking about Everton's spoiling tactics when Liverpool themselves have been a very negative side since Houlier arrived and continued to be under Rafa.
Totally agree with you Wolfie.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
Robbie has shown throughout his career that he is no quitter. He has been through tought times with Spurs and Leeds and was always prepared to tought it out and prove himself.
He will be reved up for the game against Georgia - and I believe if he leaves Liverpool now it will not be his choice. If he stays at Liverpool and is given a chance he will eventually establish himself. If he goes elsewhere then hopefully it is to a club with a manager who appreciates him.
I didn't mean a break in the strictest sense. I meant some time in an environment were he's comfortable and valued more. Recharge the oul confidense. I firmly believe international football should provide an outlet for players seperate to that from Club football. It's something I feel Steven Ireland will rue in the long term.... Not being cheezy but at this point in time Robbie Keane needs a roar of support from 60 odd thousand paddies on Feb 11th........ (as well as a kick in the arse from a valued confidant for being such a li'l b1tch if the report of him storming out of Anfield is true.)Quote:
Originally Posted by BarelyLegal
Ironically, I believe that only in the absence of Gerard will Liverpool see the best of Robbie Keane. Not saying it's a seamless exchange of personnel by any stretch. Gerard is due an oul' hammer strain soon. I think Keane will come in to his own a bit then.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
There's no guarantees that even in Gerrards absence Keane would get a game. He was left out of plenty matches when Torres was injured when it seemed almost impossible to leave him out.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
rednapp interested in robbie...
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/...anerobbie.html
Wouldn't that just make Jermain Defoe's day? :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Keane would be going from one rotation system to another by moving to Tottenham in my view, unless Redknapp would be willing to do the unthinkable- a Keane/Defoe combination.
If that's going to be the case, rotating at a team that can compete for trophies is probably the better option.
Benitez would have no problem getting a big job after Liverpool. He'll almost certainly get the Real Madrid job sooner or later. In his defence he has won plenty in his career. 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup, 2 Spanish league titles, 1 FA Cup. He's undoubtably stubborn in his methods but it's hard to argue that he doesn't know what he's doing. The whole Keane situation is odd though. It almost looks like he wasn't a Benitez signing at all. Granted Robbie hasn't helped his own cause at times with some poor displays/bad misses but you have to feel sorry for him. Berbatov has hardly been pulling up trees at United either but Ferguson kept playing him for 90 minutes every game and he's started scoring a few vital goals for them lately.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
I think Benitez is good at organizing defences, and seems to make teams fairly solid; however, I think he's totally inept when it comes to getting the best out of offensive players.
Okay, any idiot can have Gerrard and Torres bang them in for you, but a lot of offensive players have failed to impress at Liverpool under Benitez over the past few years.
Can't argue with pretty much all of that but it still has to be said that he has not been sucessful or even nearly successful with Liverpool in the league.Maybe that will change this year, time will tell.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maroon 7
Its hard to believe that Liverpool would sign a player for what they payed for Robbie without Benitez giving his blessing.
Benitez still has to prove that he can win the league in England which is no easy task considering the financial strength of both Man utd and Chelsea(remains to be seen if this is going to continue. Has Abramovitch got bored and fed up paying for his plaything)
A somewhat amusing thing is that according to 'my bible' the Actim index Robbie Keane is the 31st best player in the Premiership amd the 5th best Liverpool player, despite the fact that he has not been playing much of late.
I don't know exactly how points are allocated but you certaintly don't get points for not playing.
Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else in the top 100 was not getting a game for his club, I am not going to do the leg work myself, but I am sure those of you who follow a particular team will be able to spot a player who is in the top 100 but not getting a game (and is fit/not suspended).
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Ac...,12306,00.html
I mean does Benitez really think he is not good enough to play or is he just 'resting' him?
Benitez said, as quoted by the Sun: “We have a good squad and Keane was not selected. I have not seen him, so I don’t know how he has reacted.
Oh I think you do know how he reacted Mr Benitez, he reacted by not turning up :D
It seems like Benitez is not the brightest crayon in the box. (or should I say manager's dugout?).
Could Robbie really end up back at Spurs? Would the fans take him? It is kind of a slap in the face to leave and then beg back when it doesn't work out for you at the bigger club.
He should have never left Spurs. After years wondering around clubs he found a home. He was loved by the crowd, won a trophy, 2 top 5 finishes and Europe most seasons. It was never going to get any better for Robbie. I don't think Harry Redknapp would sign him, after signing Defoe.
I wonder who'll leave Anfield first, Robbie or Benitez? Benitez is playing hardball with the owners of the club over his contract and having total control of footballing matters and I'm not sure he'll win in the end.
In an odd way, I think that if Ireland duty offers him a sanctuary from his troubles we'll get the benefit. During the latter part of Kerr's tenure I think our bigger players felt Irish duty was an unwelcome distraction from their bubble-like existence in England. Now I think they'll look to Irish duty as an escape from the slog of their day jobs.
The more I consider Benitez the more I think that the only thing he has brought to the English game is a touch of dignity and even that is fading away now. His tactics are miserable and couldn't contrast more with United or Arsenal - and Scolari's Chelsea too I suppose - who in their own different ways play attractive attacking football. Over the course of a season United's approach will win more marginal games than Liverpool's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drummerboy
its easy to say that now but to be fair to him he's been given a chance of actually winning things while in his prime so who could begrudge him taking that chance?
i've not always sung Robbie's praises on here but to be fair to him he's just never been given a fair go of it at the top clubs he's played at. Inter - signed by Lippi who was subsequently sacked a few months later only to be replaced by a manager (ironically Tardelli) who obviously just didn't like him.
And now Liverpool, seemingly signed by the board for a manager who just doesn't seem to know where to play him...
The above point was very relevant in the latter end of the McCarthy era, there were a number of players (Kilbane, Breen, McAteer) who werent having the best of times at their own clubs but when it came to playing for ireland they were given a welcome distraction and a new lease of life and overall played very well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...rafael-benitez
Keane/Benitez article with some interesting comments within the blog. Worth a read.
I have it from a good source that Robbie will be loaned out to Cowdenbeath.
A step above Sheffield Wednesday but cmon!! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...e-1516827.html
Interesting article
http://www.independent.co.uk/multime...e5_119802t.jpg
No Carlsberg on Benitez's shirt I see:confused:.
Knowing Benitez though, Robbie could start the next 3 games, score a rake of goals and find himself warming the bench for the 4th game. Strange system he operates.
James Lawton quoteQuote:
Originally Posted by carloz
"A huge part of the problem, no doubt, is that just as Keane and Torres failed to establish a natural rapport, the one struck up between the Spaniard and Gerrard is at times nothing less than sublime."
How many games have Keane and Torres played together this season? Torres has either been injured or Bentiez didn't have the balls to play 4-4-2. To call it a failure is OTT.
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=110669
Eirebhoy, we don't all spend our days shuffling through random loony websites :)
And how dare you accuse me of plagiarism! The Bullsh!t rumour actually came from Talksport. :D
According to this[/url] - http://www.footballanorak.com/custom_team_performance.html?team_id=3&players[starts][617]=on&players[starts][1766]=on - they've started only 7 games in the Premiership out of 22Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Won 3, Drawn 4, Lost 0
Just as comparison, Torres and Gerrard have started 6, won 4, drawn 2, lost 0 - http://www.footballanorak.com/custom_team_performance.html?team_id=3&players[starts][43]=on&players[starts][1766]=on
Keane and Gerrard have started 13, won 8, drawn 4, lost 1 - http://www.footballanorak.com/custom_team_performance.html?team_id=3&players[starts][617]=on&players[starts][43]=on
starts on the bench tonight for Liverpool.
Gerrard and Torres up front
I thought for a while Benitez was just trying to motivate him in some old school coach psych thing but no, he just plain thinks Robbie cant help. (Or thinks he stinks, I mean lets be honest.)
Not a good sign for Robbie at LFC in my opinion.
Torres off with 20 minutes to go and..........Riera on.
Wigan got penalty as Robbie was warming up.
They scored 1:1
Robbie on now.
Delighted they got pegged back again, some strange substitutions by Benitez. Unless they beat Chelsea on sun that is the end of their challenge and unless they win the CL this season, i think Benitez will be gone during the summer. They have not won a single game since his "outburst", good man rafa!!Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Rafa out i think is keanes best chance at pool at this stage.