Robbie Keane

[Colbert Report]

Keane should leave but we all know he is going nowhere. How much money is he on? Would he get anything close to that if he played for anyone else? What is his next stop? The only other EPL teams he can play for:

Aston Villa
Fulham
West Ham
Newcastle
Portsmouth
Middlesbrough
Blackburn

all the others are either too good, can't afford him, or are names Spurs or Everton. At least one of these teams above WILL go down this season. My pick to go down is Portsmouth. Can't see him going to Villa. Blackburn maybe, if they have to sell Santa Cruz?

[irishultra]

robbie keane to real madrid.

[Razors left peg]

robbie keane to real madrid.

well if Pennant can be linked with them anyone can

[Stuttgart88]

On the bench for all of Saturday’s game. Maybe Ferguson is right about Benitez’ psychological condition.

Irish Times ran a piece on Robbie on Saturday.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...515467689.html

Just a few observations:

Berbatov seems to have attracted far less criticism than Keane despite generally being underwhelming to date (3rd - and inconsequential - goal yesterday notwithstanding). Both his goals against Celtic were offside anyway! Berbatov’s output versus Keane’s output are comparable yet Berbatov has had far more pitch time.

The contrast between Ferguson & Benitez is marked: Ferguson keeps his attacking options on the pitch as often as possible, though arguably Tevez has reason to be upset.

The article says that “Keane missed four chances that were shocking by any professional standards” referring to Preston away.

I missed the start of the game and hear he missed an early chance. He made one decent chance for himself which the keeper saved well coming off his line. His miss from Gerrard’s cross was awful. He later laid a ball off instead of taking it on himself, but in fairness it was from a tight angle and the chance was by no means clear cut. Were these all really "shocking by any professional standards"?

I think a lot of commentators are losing perspective when describing Robbie. Just as Berbatov got more of the plaudits at Spurs, Robbie is getting more of the flak this season. I saw bits of MUFC vs Chelsea yesterday. Rooney played Berbatov through one-on-one with Cech and his left footed attempt was dreadful to say the least. I didn’t hear much fuss about it though.

I'd say Robbie is down about 5 or 6 realistic "could haves" and probably no more than 3 "should haves". OK, Bolton away and Preston away were awful misses. A week after Bolton Schwarzer made a super block from Keane - that's what it was though - a decent effort and a better save. He has 2 goals in MOTD's Goal of the Month shortlist for December.

I think some perspective is required.

[lionelhutz]

On the bench for all of Saturday’s game. Maybe Ferguson is right about Benitez’ psychological condition.


Just a few observations:

Berbatov seems to have attracted far less criticism than Keane despite generally being underwhelming to date (3rd - and inconsequential - goal yesterday notwithstanding). Both his goals against Celtic were offside anyway! Berbatov’s output versus Keane’s output are comparable yet Berbatov has had far more pitch time.

The contrast between Ferguson & Benitez is marked: Ferguson keeps his attacking options on the pitch as often as possible, though arguably Tevez has reason to be upset.


I think some perspective is required.

100% agreed. I made a similar comment on another forum comparing the criticism Keane gets with Berbatov's. Berbatov has looked lazy and disinterested in alot of games this season and has a total of 4 league goals in 1395 minutes played this season. Keane has always been lively and has scored 5 league goals in 1180 minutes played.

Yet Keane has been slated by the media and Berbatov has barely been under the spotlight (if at all). it just doesn't add up.

And your point re Ferguson and Benitez is correct too. Benitez pretty much played a 4-6-0 formation against Stoke with 2 defensive midfielders while Ferguson played 4-3-3 against Chelsea with Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov up front. Says it all really.

[Lenny82]

Totally agree with that aswell. Keane got more goals than Berbetov last season and was captain for a good chunk yet people laughed at Keane's £20m price tag but said nothing about Berbetov's £30m move. Any body got stats on the minutes played, games started, goals scored for the 2 this season?
I've slated Keane in the past for some of his international performances but feel sorry for him this season with all this bad press. Fair enogh, he's missed some chances that Gerald Keane would have finished but he works his socks off and has got on the score sheet as much as Rooney and Berbetov this season. He looks genuinely disheartened when he doesn't get a run which proves he's eager to play and not just there to sit back and pick up his massive wages.

[third policeman]

Totally bemused by Benitez's selection policy. If he is trying to demoralise Robbie he couldn'y be doing a better job. It took Benitez most of last season to accomdate Alonso and adopt the formation and selection that most fans had been advocating for the previous three months. The solution looks equally obvious at the minute, but his seemingly homo-erotic fixation with Kuyt is blinding him to the obvious. Keane and Gerrad should both be accomodated as part of a fluid three man formation behind Torres with either Babel or Rierra filling the third position. Kuyt lacks the technique, pace and awareness to play in this style and formation.

[lionelhutz]

Any body got stats on the minutes played, games started, goals scored for the 2 this season?

Premier League statistics

Keane - Games started - 15 / Sub app. - 2 / Goals - 5 / Assists - 3 / Mins palyed - 1180
Berbatov - Games started - 15 / Sub app. - 2 / Goals - 4 / Assists - 8 / Mins palyed - 1395

[Maroon 7]

Not even on the bench today for the FA Cup game.

[carloz]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield

[Colbert Report]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield

I don't blame him. He should sign for Everton!

[rambler14]

An Appeal to Robbie Keane!:

Leave Liverpool for a side who'll won't treat you like crap.

[Razors left peg]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield

David Ngog on bench ahead of him... really cant blame him if he did storm out. Really hard to see what the future holds for him

[Noelys Guitar]

Get out now Robbie. Back to Spurs or off to City. It is a pity as someone mentioned above that Everton don't have the dosh to buy him.

[strangeirish]

"It's always important for us to progress in this competition, it's massively vital to try and win the FA Cup, another trophy. I think Robbie Keane has a future here. I wanted to pick 19 players, but could only have 18."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez....Today.

He needs to get the hell out of there. What a joke the way he's being treated by Benitez. I mean come on, Ngog ahead of him on the bench!

[co. down green]

"It's always important for us to progress in this competition, it's massively vital to try and win the FA Cup, another trophy. I think Robbie Keane has a future here. I wanted to pick 19 players, but could only have 18."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez....Today.

He needs to get the hell out of there. What a joke the way he's being treated by Benitez. I mean come on, Ngog ahead of him on the bench!

Just heard Benitez interviewed on BBC radio 5.

Q. Was Robbie Keane injured today or was there another problem, or was he simply not selected?

A. Not selected.

Q. Is he likely to take part in the game next week?

A. We need to have all our players available.

Clearly something going on behind the scenes, Robbie needs an exit strategy from Liverpool, soon.

[back of the net]

He had a bad game against Everton a few days ago and they have a more important premier league match on Wednesday which I'll assume Rafa intends on starting him in.

His rotation of him is strange but I think Keane should stay, Spurs will be lucky not to be relegated and City aren't going anywhere fast.
He's got a shot at a top team and while yes Rafa isn't treating him fairly its in his own interest to not overreact to this and take his chances when he gets them.

Agreed on all points

[OwlsFan]

Any forward would struggle in that Liverpool team. His one flick apart, Torres was barely in the game. If he was Keane, Benitez would have subbed him. As for Kuyt!!

[tricky_colour]

Runmour, and i repeat its a rumour that i have read on another football forum, that Keane has stormed out of Anfield

Bit more than a rumour (they always are),
I heard something on Sky news, I think they said he stormed out, this is the best I could find. They are doing the sports news now, Will see it they say any more - they didn't.
Not surprising though, as a man manager Benetiz is useless IMO treats people like dirt, surprised it tok so long really.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-Rafa-axe.html

[shaneker]

Totally agree that Benitez is a useless man manager - anyone remember when he took off Gerrard against Everton (whatever your feelings on Gerrard, you don't take off your captain, best player at the time and local legend in a derby). Keane has also been treated like sh!t.

'I decided not to select him, that was all. He is not injured, but Ngog scored two goals for the reserves the other day, so he was a good option.’

- If this is all it takes to get above Robbie Keane in the pecking order, then Rafa is showing (again) that he knows nothing about strikers. A blind man could see Torres was a bitching player, but he has no other successes in this area.

Keano - get the fudge out.