Didn't see a thread for this; apologies mods if this is contained within another one. What do you guys think of this story from the Bent Musket? Far out.... Anyway, happy almost-turkey-day.
Yeah, I remember the talk about him. IIRC it was more of a player being "rumored" for us, and no real info about whether any talks had happened or what kind of salary he was looking for (and if the Revs would consider it). Then the whole Irish thing, figuring that he'd be a gate attraction. Oh what might have been.... I wish Frank would elaborate on what happened. Apparently Keane's people did contact the Revs, but what happened after that? I get that a lot of deals fall through, and it wouldn't bother me so much if they had discussions and couldn't come to terms. That happens all the time. But this just reinforces the perception of the Revs FO being totally and completely clueless, so far out to luch that they stayed for dinner. To have a player like this want to fall into your lap, and yet, somehow, the message doesn't even get to someone who has the dexterity to use a phone and return the call... And yes, I did say "perception," but if this did happen anywhere close to what Frank says (that's why we need more details), it is a stunning indictment on everything that is wrong with the Revs. Perception = Reality.
His agent had come out at that point and said there were two offers, and one was "laughable." It was pretty easy to figure out which team was the laughable one.
But if no one even told Kraft about his interest, we wouldn't have even gotten to the point of being able to make a "laughable" offer... Kinda like the rumor of them offering some big-time star $250,000 and he initially assumed it was per week.
Robbie immediately joins the Best XI of All-Time Almost Revs that includes Alain Sutter, Samuel Caballero, Emilio Izaguirre, DaMarcus Beasley, and the immortal Semih Senturk, among others.
Actually, there weren't just two Joao Pintos. There were four, all in the pre-launch, Big Frank mix. Per my decaying copy of Pictures of Chairman Mao #1 (May '96!), they were: Joao Pinto, 23, D from Porto Joao Pinto, 34, D from Porto Joao Pinto, no age given, M from Gil Vincente Joao Pinto, no age given, M from Benfica
Not bringing in Keane was a bungle of seismic proportions. Seriously, you run a soccer team in Boston and the greatest Irish player ever (deal with it Roy) goes to Los Angeles? It's never not going to bug me.