Robbie Keane

**Stuttgart88** · 26/04/2005, 6:42 AM

Bad miss last night but in his defence he was easily the best of the 4 forwards Jol played. His attitude invogorated Spurs' attacking play. Kanoute was all over the place, mixing good skill with unbelievable carelessness. Defoe is a class act but his form has suffered badly from Jol's policy and he didn't play too well.

Reid didn't have one of his better games but he put in a great cross for Robbie's header.

If you think about it, 9 months ago everyone was saying Joe Cole was finished at Chelsea. I wonder is Jol doing something similar with Robbie.

I think Mido is only on loan anyway (?) and Kanoute looks the most obvious candidate for the exits on last night's performance.

**Plastic Paddy** · 26/04/2005, 7:41 AM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Strikers have to put the ball in the net and Robbie can do that.

Agreed, but his conversion ratio just isn't good enough (one-in-three based on a QADA). Robbie, if by some miracle you're reading this... please please please work on your finishing over the summer!

PP

**OwlsFan** · 26/04/2005, 9:01 AM

Robbie did well when he came on and almost scored - takes skill to get into a scoring position. He'll be disappointed though that he didn't at least hit the target.

Kelly was disappointing at full back - seemed to be caught out of position a lot in the first half but did better in the second. Whether that was due to the switch of King and Dawson or better concentration I'm not sure.

Andy Reid wasn't the Reid I watched with Forest. Gave the ball away a lot and still looks overweight. Did some nice things but overall performance was disappointing.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/04/2005, 9:02 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think Mido is only on loan anyway (?) and Kanoute looks the most obvious candidate for the exits on last night's performance.

Mido's on loan until the end of next season AFAIK. It'll still be 2 from Defoe/Keane/Kanoute/Mido next season, and Jol is supposed to be looking at bringing in another striker.

**eirebhoy** · 26/04/2005, 9:03 AM

Some interesting stats here:
http://skysports.planetfootball.com/...Hotspur&cpid=8

Mido has just a 27% shot/goals ratio. Keane has 43%.
Reid has put in more crosses in his 3 months at Spurs than any other player at the club all season. He has the highest cross success rate at the club too, up there with Duff.

BTW - What is Jol talking about saying Keane doesn't score enough goals away from home which is why he prefers Defoe away? They both have 7 away goals each.

Defoe only has 2 away league goals to Keane's 3.

**Stuttgart88** · 26/04/2005, 9:29 AM

Stats are all well & good but I turned the telly off last night with a tinge of regret that Robbie had one chance, no goals. A really great striker tends to take these chances. That's a subjective view that no stats can back-up / disprove.

I'm an Arsenal fan so I wasn't that disappointed!

If being left out makes Robbie as hungry as he looked yesterday that's great, but I feel with Robbie that he's not a goalscoring sub. He tends to need at least 2 good chances for each goal. Do you get 2 good chances in 15 minutes? He had one really good chance as a late sub up at Newcastle recently and hit it straight at Given.

Robbie could be a sensation if his finishing improves. I can think of at least half a dozen Premiership goals that only slightly better finishing could have yielded this year.

**tonycuna** · 26/04/2005, 10:01 AM

I'm a gooner, so I thank Jol for Keane started on the bench yesterday evening...

But thinking about Robbie, and about him with our national team, I'll always support him.. He's a wonderful forward, he deserve a place in every team, and he's so much important for BK's11..

**Stuttgart88** · 26/04/2005, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

I think Robbie needs support at the moment and not the kind of criticism he gets from some on here.

There's always room for constructive criticism which by and large is what's written above. The guy came off the bench, played well and missed one good chance. Hardly damning criticism.

I think the guy needs time on the pitch, not a bunch of lads typing their support for him on a website! But if some time on the bench makes him fresh and hungry for Ireland in June then great. Likewise, if he reacts the same way to being a sub as Joe Cole did, then even better.

**Peadar** · 26/04/2005, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think the guy needs time on the pitch.

I think he needs time on the pitch without Defoe or Kanoute.
The spurs team revolves around Defoe and he's nowhere near good enough a player for that.

**Peadar** · 26/04/2005, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

(I wouldn't play for them anyway)

Fair play to you, TP.
Great to see that there are still some people around here with a bit of self respect.

**hudhastings** · 30/04/2005, 3:25 AM

hes fu** know defoe has signed a new deal 4.5 years/ he has to go'

**TerryPhelan** · 18/05/2005, 1:35 PM

From http://www.football365.co.uk/news/pr...y_152735.shtml

Aston Villa are reported to have had a �6m bid accepted for Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy - with Robbie Keane lined up as his replacement.

Villa have apparently been given permission to speak to the Welsh international, currently on loan at Celtic after a bust-up with Toon boss Graeme Souness.

Bellamy is also likely to attract bids from Blackburn and Birmingham, who failed with a move for the striker in January.

Aston Villa are showning ambition in the transfer market already this summer, with a free transfer for Patrik Berger already sealed and rumours of a move for Newcastle defender Aaron Hughes spreading.

Newcastle are thought to be lining up a bid for Tottenham's unsettled striker Keane to fill the gap left by Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert - who also leaves Tyneside this summer - and are also being strongly linked once again with a move for Luis Boa Morte.
----------------------------------------------

A step up or a step down? Spurs are a team very definitely on the up and have a strong, resourceful manager with vision in Martin Jol. The core of their first XI is so young and relatively unproven that they should be around together for a few years before being pilfered - a cup and/or Europe beckons next season. However, Robbie (once again) is struggling to nail down a regular place in the side (despite being good for them this season with the goals he's chipped in). So, is it better that Robbie sticks it out not playing regularly at an improving side and so continue his patchy, rusty form for Ireland, or make yet another move to a wretched-looking team where he'd be surrounded by a few players in whose company his quality and temperament would stand to deteriorate? Thoughts?

**drummerboy** · 18/05/2005, 1:56 PM

Robbie Keane will be linked with almost every club in the Premiership bar the top 3 during the close season. I'm not sure Spurs want him to leave. It will be interesting to see what type of contract they offer him, as he can leave next year on a Bossman if he sticks around. Jol has tried playing both he and Defoe on many occassions with no success. Defoe has just signed a new contract so if Robbie stays it will mean playing less games.

**4tothefloor** · 18/05/2005, 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by TerryPhelan

Spurs are a team very definitely on the up...........a cup and/or Europe beckons next season.

What cup? Maybe the League Cup, or a longshot would be the FA Cup. I think the furthest Spurs can go in the premiership is the top 5, and that's pushing it. They are investing shedloads of money on young, unproven players. They've been linked this week with Aaron Lennon from Leeds, a rookie player. They've already signed Derby's best young player for next season, I think Tom Huddleston is his name, not sure. They want Wayne Routeledge. They've got the likes of Calum Davenport out on loan. We haven't heard of Dean Marney since his cameo against Everton. If you look at their squad, it's all inexperienced young players.

What they need now is some experienced guys, yet they seem intent on continuing to buy players barely out of nappies. One of the most experienced players they've got is Robbie Keane, yet Jol doesn't seem to value him all that much. If I was Keane I would get out of there. He would be the main man at Newcastle as Kluivert, Bellamy and Shearer are finished up there. Jol may have vision, but does he actually know what he is doing? Out of all the players he is signing, he'll be doing well if a third of them come good - it's the nature of dealing with young players.

But in terms of the premiership, if Newcastle get their act together they are capable of finishing higher than Spurs, so I wouldn't say it's a step back, rather a move sideways. Chelsea will just reinforce this summer, as will Arsenal, Liverpool will do major squad surgery while Man U would be expected to strenghten as well. Everton will have a pot of cash if they make it into the CL proper, so I don't see Spurs moving any higher than 6th anytime soon. Keane should move for first team football.

**NeilMcD** · 18/05/2005, 2:18 PM

I agree they need an experienced midfielder and an experienced centre back too but Robbie going to Newcastle will be a disaster. Just look at Stephen Carr. Lots of people on these boards said going up there was a move up for Carr and that he needed to geet out of Spurs. Spurs are the last ones lauhing with Kelly coming on leaps and bounds and Carr going backwards at Newcasltle and been the worst players so far for ireland in the qualifiers. Souness could be gone if they have a bad start next season, whilst Spurs is a much more solid base. This idea that Jol does not rate Keane is rubbish. Keane has had his best season so far, and I think that Both Keane and Defoe can be back up for each other and make them play even better.

**eirebhoy** · 18/05/2005, 2:19 PM

I'd love to see him at Newcastle. First team football week in week out partnering one of the premierships all time greats.

**Donal81** · 18/05/2005, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by TerryPhelan

A step up or a step down? Spurs are a team very definitely on the up and have a strong, resourceful manager with vision in Martin Jol. The core of their first XI is so young and relatively unproven that they should be around together for a few years before being pilfered - a cup and/or Europe beckons next season. However, Robbie (once again) is struggling to nail down a regular place in the side (despite being good for them this season with the goals he's chipped in). So, is it better that Robbie sticks it out not playing regularly at an improving side and so continue his patchy, rusty form for Ireland, or make yet another move to a wretched-looking team where he'd be surrounded by a few players in whose company his quality and temperament would stand to deteriorate? Thoughts?

I reckon he should stay with Spurs. Defoe mightn't be there for too much longer but either way, he has to stay with a good manager and play his way into the team. Leaving now would just start the whole process again and we'll be back here in 12 months talking about where Keaneo should go to next!

He's a great player but he needs stabilitity to grow and mature as a footballer.

**tetsujin1979** · 18/05/2005, 2:48 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I'd love to see him at Newcastle. First team football week in week out partnering one of the premierships all time greats.

I'd imagine he'd learn loads from playing next to Shearer, but would he be a definite starter in every game ahead of Ameobi? Also Chopra has been highly rated for years, but is yet to make a real impact for Newcastle. He went out on loan in 2003/2004 and scored 4 in his first game!

**eirebhoy** · 18/05/2005, 2:53 PM

Yeah, I'm sure he would. Bellamy was and Keane has much better strike rate than him. I don't rate Ameobi tbh and I'm sure Souness is looking for someone to replace Bellamy.