Robbie Keane

**L37Ultra** · 28/07/2008, 7:14 PM

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...

**back of the net** · 28/07/2008, 7:14 PM

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

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

**eirebhoy** · 28/07/2008, 7:29 PM

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."

**NeilMcD** · 28/07/2008, 7:30 PM

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

**Bunny Kelly** · 28/07/2008, 7:33 PM

Can I laugh too at that comment?

**John83** · 28/07/2008, 7:39 PM

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

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

**L37Ultra** · 28/07/2008, 7:42 PM

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.

Different topic.

**John83** · 28/07/2008, 7:52 PM

Originally Posted by L37Ultra

Different topic.

Nah-ah.

**superfrank** · 28/07/2008, 8:01 PM

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.

**tricky_colour** · 28/07/2008, 8:03 PM

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.

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.

**Dodge** · 28/07/2008, 8:26 PM

One player moving club will have no impact on Irish football

**geysir** · 28/07/2008, 8:45 PM

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

**L37Ultra** · 28/07/2008, 8:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

One player moving club will have no impact on Irish football

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.

**Dodge** · 28/07/2008, 8:51 PM

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.

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

**L37Ultra** · 28/07/2008, 8:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

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

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.

**Dodge** · 28/07/2008, 9:01 PM

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.

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

**L37Ultra** · 28/07/2008, 9:04 PM

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

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

**Maroon 7** · 28/07/2008, 9:40 PM

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.

**jmurphyc** · 28/07/2008, 9:40 PM

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

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.

**tetsujin1979** · 28/07/2008, 9:48 PM

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

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