Robbie Keane

**rambler14** · 28/07/2009, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by shaneker

Crouch gone to Spurs. I don't like the look of this at all, Harry has a hard-on for Defoe and he likes his target men up top too. Keane is better than Defoe (proven beyond any doubt) but I'd say he certainly won't be first choice come start of the season - most important time for us.

All the Crouch signing means is the end of Pavlychenko. Toward the end of last season Keane played in behind the strikers like he did in Bari. I'd say that will be his new position.

**Razors left peg** · 28/07/2009, 12:12 PM

Robbie is a far better player than Defoe. He kept him out of the team the last time the 2 of them were at Spurs and forced Defoe to look for a move away and I fully expect Robbie to be first choice again. Defoe is an excellent finisher but Robbie adds so much more to the team

**Hibernian** · 28/07/2009, 12:59 PM

I be very surprised if Keane goes and leaves Spurs again after they bought him back in January..

I think he would do a very good job with Crouch imo

**Scram** · 29/07/2009, 8:22 AM

Originally Posted by Hibernian

I be very surprised if Keane goes and leaves Spurs again after they bought him back in January..

I think he would do a very good job with Crouch imo

AGREE and the Muppet, Bent is leaving

**endabob1** · 29/07/2009, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by rambler14

All the Crouch signing means is the end of Pavlychenko. Toward the end of last season Keane played in behind the strikers like he did in Bari. I'd say that will be his new position.

It's the end of Bent, Pav stays as the alternative to Crouch it's Keane v's Defoe for the small man slot.

**Duggie** · 29/07/2009, 9:16 AM

Originally Posted by endabob1

It's the end of Bent, Pav stays as the alternative to Crouch it's Keane v's Defoe for the small man slot.

ya looks that way and with crouch and defoe having played together with harry at pompey im getting a little worried. robbie is ten times better than crouch or defoe but we will have to see.

**endabob1** · 29/07/2009, 9:27 AM

Originally Posted by Duggie

ya looks that way and with crouch and defoe having played together with harry at pompey im getting a little worried. robbie is ten times better than crouch or defoe but we will have to see.

Depending on how Spurs play, If they go to a more direct approach I think Defoe may well work better as an out and out predator, RK tends to drift wide & deep where as Defoe will play on Crouch's knock on's etc.. but if they keep Modric in the side they will be a bit more on the deck & there may be more room for Keane to interchange with Modric & Jenas coming from deep, time will tell though.

If he is out of the team I could see him moving in Jan. There is a rumour that Spurs only wanted him on loan in Jan (because Defoe was out) but Liverpool wanted the sale which is why Spurs are back in the position they were in 2 years ago when defoe ended up leaving.

**shaneker** · 29/07/2009, 10:14 AM

Harry is getting the front two that served him very well at Portsmouth together, Keane will have to play pretty bloody well to split them up in Harry's mind. Hope I'm wrong, but I would bet my house it's Crouch and Defoe who start Spurs first PL game together. Harry loves Defoe - he's managed him at 3 different clubs. This is bad news in World Cup year.

**macdermesser** · 29/07/2009, 2:19 PM

linked with Villa today in the bbc gossip page

**endabob1** · 29/07/2009, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

linked with Villa today in the bbc gossip page

I will 100% guarantee that is not true

**joema** · 29/07/2009, 3:00 PM

Didn't see the match this morning. But by all accounts, Robbie came on as a sub for Spurs and changed the game for them.

Linked up well with Defoe it seems!

**EalingGreen** · 29/07/2009, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

I agree with this, think Crouch would work well with Keane. Its a case of 4 strikers in spurs now, two tall, two small and it will be one from each that will play.

As a Spurs fan, I'd say Robbie can work pretty well with any other player up front, preferably a big guy, but a smaller guy if need be. (I would never play him on his own, or on the wing, or in midfield, btw).

But whilst he would certainly be my first choice striker at the Lane, I fear he might just struggle to start the big games this season. For I hardly think it coincidence that Redknapp has signed Crouch three times now and Defoe twice, in every case for big money. (And whilst I know he re-signed Robbie, he was desperate for players to stave off relegation, whilst the Chairman was happy to make a big turn on the deal off Liverpool)

Originally Posted by elroy

Spurs are in Europe if im not mistaken so he'll probably rotate a bit. .

Spurs just missed out on the Europa League this season, finishing one place to low in the EPL and losing the Carling Cup Final. And from the weakened teams Redknapp put out in the UEFA Cup last season (qualified by winning the Carline Cup in 2008), you can see he was pretty desperate not to qualify this time round!

Originally Posted by elroy

Seeing as Keane was captain last year, would imagine he will start most.

Ledley King is the Spurs captain and has been for several years. Due to prolonged and frequent unavailability through injury, Martin Jol made Robbie his (Vice) Captain in Ledley's absence. Redknapp has effectively inherited that situation.

**DeLorean** · 29/07/2009, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Ledley King is the Spurs captain and has been for several years. Due to prolonged and frequent unavailability through injury, Martin Jol made Robbie his (Vice) Captain in Ledley's absence. Redknapp has effectively inherited that situation.

Wasn't Woodgate the vice captain when Keane returned though? Don't see any reason why Redknapp wouldn't have just left it like this. In fact I'd consider Woodgate a more suitable captain anyway truth be told.

**EalingGreen** · 29/07/2009, 5:41 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Wasn't Woodgate the vice captain when Keane returned though? Don't see any reason why Redknapp wouldn't have just left it like this. In fact I'd consider Woodgate a more suitable captain anyway truth be told.

Yep, but Woody was injured nearly as often as Ledley

, so Robbie was frequently given the armband in his place.
As for who best fills the role, I reckon it doesn't actually mean a great deal, esp with a manager like Redknapp, who's pretty hands-on.
But it generally takes a senior player, who is likely to play and (most importantly) has got the respect of the dressing room and Robbie fits that bill as well as any at the Lane (imo).

**Uncle_Joe** · 29/07/2009, 6:08 PM

It was always my understanding that Robbie is the Captain and Ledley has the token role of Club Captain (not sure about the title, but its the same role Gary Neville has at Man Utd).

Although Robbie Keane now wears the captain's armband, Ledley did get the opportunity to lead the team out at Wembley again in March 2009

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/play...edleyking.html

Robbie is still the captain at Spurs and as such I would expect him to start most games, although maybe in a more withdrawn role.

**Scram** · 30/07/2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Uncle_Joe

It was always my understanding that Robbie is the Captain and Ledley has the token role of Club Captain (not sure about the title, but its the same role Gary Neville has at Man Utd).

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/play...edleyking.html

Robbie is still the captain at Spurs and as such I would expect him to start most games, although maybe in a more withdrawn role.

Harry Redknapp is looking to bring Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in at Spurs, which could see Robbie Keane departing to join Aston Villa.

Robbie played some high quality ball v West Ham and showed why he should be a starter. He will not stay on the bench at Spurs. Redknapp took him back from Anfield but hasn't got the best out of him and I would be happy if Robbie moved to Villa.