Robbie Keane

**DeNiro** · 23/08/2006, 4:07 PM

Keane was fantastic last night. He could play a deep role. Is 4-3-1-2 an option? Given - Carr-O'Brien-Dunne-Finnan- McGeady-Reid,S. Kilbane- Keane - Duff - Doyle. I fancy Duff up front as he was always decent enough when he played there and Keane drops so deep sometimes that we need another one up there with the other front man. Like the goal last night Berbatov nodded it down to Jenas. If Keane was knocking balls up to Doyle like that we would need somebody coming onto them.

**NeilMcD** · 23/08/2006, 4:11 PM

Yeahi in that case it would be Reid as he plays in a similar position to Reid. I think Duff should be on the wing.

**Billsthoughts** · 23/08/2006, 4:12 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Back on Thread Robbie was fantastic last night and if Staunton can maximise him he can be our best player in my view.

Not if our midfield keep giving the ball away as cheaply as they have for the last while now.

**NeilMcD** · 23/08/2006, 4:14 PM

Agreed but I try to look on the positive side rather than look at the negatives. the negatives are pretty obvious to me so I try to find the positives.

**Billsthoughts** · 23/08/2006, 4:20 PM

Its nothing to do with being positive or negative. You can have Pele up front but if you never have the ball it wont make any odds. We would all be delighted if robbie ran amok against the Germans but reality of the situation is we keep hoofing the ball back at the opposition.

**NeilMcD** · 23/08/2006, 4:22 PM

I agree with you I am just saying I am trying to remain positive and Robbie is one of the positive. I agree if we dont keep the ball we dont have a chance but thats a given in my view.

**Fergie's Son** · 23/08/2006, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Nothing to do with thread so not going to answer it.

Thank you for that. Nice to see people sticking to the point of the thread.

Watched the highlights also and he looked great. Problem is, Doyle isn't much of a poacher either so Morrisson might be the better choice?

**Fergie's Son** · 23/08/2006, 4:53 PM

Problem is, I don't think Staunton has the wherewithal to actually rearrange his line-up.

**eirebhoy** · 23/08/2006, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Its nothing to do with being positive or negative. You can have Pele up front but if you never have the ball it wont make any odds. We would all be delighted if robbie ran amok against the Germans but reality of the situation is we keep hoofing the ball back at the opposition.

We have 8 players in the team who I'm more than happy with in Given, Dunne, Finnan, Duff, McGeady, Reid, Keane and Doyle. These players have the ability to play a good passing game and its up to the manager to best utilise them. As Neil said, IF Staunton can maximise him. We have the individual players imo to get us to the Euros.

**oconghc2** · 23/08/2006, 5:33 PM

i was brickin it a few times watchin them highlights - thought Robbie had picked up an injury at one stage before coming off -

maybe i'm just being a little dramatic!

**rocketballs7** · 23/08/2006, 6:07 PM

Originally Posted by oconghc2

i was brickin it a few times watchin them highlights - thought Robbie had picked up an injury at one stage before coming off -

maybe i'm just being a little dramatic!

I was a bit anxious myself about RK picking up an injury last nite. we need all the help we can get for the game next week and as we only have a few world class players, we cant afford to be missing them. Given is a bit doubtful i hear also. Cannot afford to be without him either, remember that dreadful game in Cyprus last year. In all fairness to Paddy Kenny though, he did pull off a few good stops last night, and will do a decent job should we need him, but fingers crossed we wont

**fergalr** · 23/08/2006, 8:40 PM

Originally Posted by rocketballs7

I was a bit anxious myself about RK picking up an injury last nite

Why? It appears he can stage a miracle-like recovery from injury whenever it suits him.

**Irish_Praha** · 23/08/2006, 9:06 PM

Originally Posted by fergalr

Why? It appears he can stage a miracle-like recovery from injury whenever it suits him.

Are you Mick McCarthy? It's Robbie not Roy Keane

**fergalr** · 23/08/2006, 9:08 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

Are you Mick McCarthy? It's Robbie not Roy Keane

I think you'll find it was Robbie who didn't turn up in Dublin last Wednesday.

**Closed Account 2** · 23/08/2006, 9:11 PM

If we had a tall striker, like what Quinn was, or what Koller, Jancker or Zigic are now then I think we would really be able to put the pressure on the opposition defenders.

We need someone to hold the ball up and get knockdowns for the likes of Keane and Duff. Sadly our target men (the like of Doc and Alan Lee) are just a bit below the level we need internationally.

**Scram** · 23/08/2006, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Keane was superb in one of the best number 10 performances I have seen in the Premiership in a long time. It was only Sheff Utd he was playing but he ran the show playing beautiful passes and basically controlling the game the way a number 10 can. I think if he can play like this against Germany we have a great chance. The problem sometimes is that with Ireland he is not encouraged to drop deep as we need him to get goals also. But when he is on this form he is almost unplayable.

Yeah, I've said it for years and sorry but it didn't take a tactical genius to see where he is best, witht the ball at his feet running at players...not fcekin sitting in the box waiting for the ball...and I am certainly no tactician....he's been played out of position for years but Muppets like Muckarthy and Kerrful couldn't see that.....they could only mimic whatever the Premiership managers did. Just looking at videos of Keane doing his best work would tell you where he should be utilised.

**endabob1** · 24/08/2006, 7:31 AM

Originally Posted by fergalr

I think you'll find it was Robbie who didn't turn up in Dublin last Wednesday.

And then wasn't fit enough to start for his club on the Saturday.

Don't balme the players for the stupid timing of International Friendly's when they are just finishing pre-season with their clubs. It's the time of the season when more players pick up injurys because they're not 100% fit.

**Sideline** · 24/08/2006, 1:57 PM

I remember being impressed with Robbies workrate a few seasons ago in internationals .
Its not something you can pick up on when watching on tv.

**endabob1** · 24/08/2006, 2:30 PM

I go to White Hart Lane a fair bit and there's not much wrong with his work ethic for Spurs.
Has been 1 of the top 3 most consistent players at Spurs for the last 12 months, well since he got his place back form Defoe.