I couldn't give a hoot about Shane Long's goals to starts ratio. I have seen with my own eyes how he gives up presentable chances that a more clinical striker would take. He has other essential attributes though which go a long way to compensating. I'd start him myself, and I think Hunt is largely right above.
Some fairly unnecessary comments by Hunt as well to cause a stir. A bit disappointing to be honest, and that's not just being pro-Robbie, I think he could have made his point, which is probably the general consensus at this stage, without resorting to that.
Last edited by DeLorean; 07/04/2015 at 9:44 AM.
There is no doubt that Robbie, at 34, is nearing the end of his brilliant career for Ireland, although the likes of Shearer went on at club level until he was 36 but retired earlier from international football. I think Hunt's comments about Robbie not trying are totally unwarranted. Sure he probably complained when he wasn't fed the right ball (what striker doesn't), but I have never seen him not try and I would have seen nearly all his games live. Even against Poland he still, dare I say it, worked his socks off in a lone role up front.
I haven't seen one voice in the media standing up for him now (Paul McGrath being the latest to come down on the drop Robbie brigade side) but I was still delighted that the fans at the game gave him the reception he deserved last week and continue to remain loyal. The media are as usual like wolves: once they sense blood, they go in for the kill. Personally, I think he still has a lot to offer (is he once again our leading scorer this campaign - haven't checked the stats).
As for Shane Long, his goals per appearance should matter because he is a striker whose job it is to score. However, he is what he is and when Robbie goes, that is who we have to look to as I don't believe that any of our other forwards on the bench (Stokes, Murphy etc) are of international standard. At least Shane has pace and is good in the air and can survive at international level along with Walters but unless someone with a proven eye for goal comes through, Keane's imminent departure will create a huge void. I was hoping Eoin Doyle might make an impact but the signs at Cardiff aren't so good at the moment.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
To be fair to McGrath's piece, he said Robbie should be dropped because he is not suited to the lone striker role the system demands.
And he's right. Long is much better suited to that role.
Would love to see Robbie and McClean both used as impact subs with half an hour, twenty mins to go
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Foot.ie v TOWK, ex Ireland players, media & non Ireland supporters.
Shane Long gets criticised for scoring (just like Serbia). Keane gets unconditional support, despite touching the ball about 7 times.
Keane has showed commitment but his words also speak for themselves without needing to be cherry picked by either side.
Though I would say remaining on the bench for the Poland game would have shown more strength of resolve than being immediately reinstated.
I'd say playing in America has actually given Robbie a greater taste for International football and made him appreciate it even more - if possible - than playing at the top level in England.
Last edited by TheOneWhoKnocks; 26/04/2015 at 9:39 PM.
And we don't have another Keane coming through. Like Don Henley said, get over it. He is one of a kind but his powers are really on the wane.
Just look to Northern Ireland. David Healy was a bang average player at any level, let alone Premier League level. Kyle Lafferty is a bang average player at any level.
They have scored and performed regularly at Intl. level.
Anthony Stokes & Daryl Murphy have never really got a push at this level. Shane Long has only made about 20 starts at this level, and in spits and spurts.
Who is to say that players like Eoin Doyle couldn't make some kind of impact at this level? It might suit them.
Get over yourself, you're not standing alone with your opinions, neither is the entire board against you
there's plenty of criticism of Keane in the match thread, both in the live posts while the game was in progress, and in the post match reviews
Why was this even brought up now? Tets bumped the thread to bring us up to date on Robbie's fitness and all of a sudden we're being steered back into the most tired, boring and soul-destroying boring argument on THE. ENTIRE. INTERNET.
Robbie missed last night's game for LA Galaxy against Real Salt Lake, and won't play their weekend game against FC Dallas.
Targeting return to training within 2 weeks.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ble-return-sti
Keane says he'll “be back” in training within two weeks. He's “not even focusing” on Ireland's June 7 friendly against England and June 13 European Championship qualifier against Scotland. He was included Tuesday on manager Martin O'Neill's 33-man preliminary roster for those matches.
“I'm focusing on getting myself playing for the Galaxy first, and then as soon as I get fit for that, then I can worry about [Ireland],” he said. “For me, most important is focusing on getting back training by the end of this week or the start of next week, and then just seeing how I am.
“I'm not going [to guarantee] I'll be back next week, because I thought I would be back 2-3 weeks ago, and I wasn't, so you start saying that, and you don't really know. So I want to concentrate on hopefully getting back next week training and just take it from there.”
Unavailable for last night's game. Surely he won't start against Scotland? McGeady is another player really lacking in match practice/sharpness. Two good options off the bench but I would be disappointed if we go back to the well and start them again.
Resting a groin strain according to LA Galaxy. Their game last night was against New England Revolution, in Boston, and it was felt it wasn't worth the risk to fly to the other side of the country if he was only going to be a sub
Where were you when Robbie Keane stuck the ball in the back of the German net 13 years ago?
http://www.joe.ie/sport/pic-irish-pe...y-in-02/498500
Pub in Limerick. Older brother was doing the Junior Cert and watched it in school. Invigilator makes politically incorrect comment while watching France match.
Last edited by TheOneWhoKnocks; 05/06/2015 at 11:18 PM.
I was living in London and working in a market research company - was on lunch for the last fifteen minutes of the first half and first 30 of the second half and watched it in the building security guard's office but had to go to work before the end. But I had to know what was happening so I took a "toilet break" two minutes from time and took my Walkman with me and heard something like this "Finnan...krsdhsdhhh...Quinn knocks it down to KEANE! SURELY THIS TIME!!! KRSHRJSHSHSHSHHSH!!!!" Took me a few more seconds to confirm that he had scored but if someone had seen me my reaction, waving my arms wildly in that bathroom stall, they would have seriously questioned my sanity.
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