Robbie Keane Thread

Discussion in 'Liverpool' started by CCSC_STRIKER20, Jan 21, 2009.

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  1. Grinners89

    Grinners89 BigSoccer Supporter

    Jul 8, 2007
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    True...given that Yossi is really our only back-up to Kuyt at RW (not including Babel or El Zhar) then Yossi and Kuyt should rotate depending on the system that Rafa wants and the tactical circumstances...eg bunkering teams (Yossi) or football playing teams (Kuyt).

    Even though Kuyt works hard...he would work even harder in more important games if Rafa gave him a rest or two...Yossi would also benefit from more starts and better match fitness.

    Another good thing/problem with Kuyt is that he is one of the only players that works hard enough to get into those good positions where no one expects him to be yet he doesnt have the consistent skill to capatalise on his good work.
     
  2. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London
    I disagree about Kuyt. If he has a bad game going forward he always contributes. He never disappears from a game. Contrast this with Babel who if he is having a bad game, he just disappears. Keane has actually been working very hard in a lot of games too. My main gripe with him is that he has missed a lot of sitters. If the keeper makes a great save then fair enough but you cannot accept your strikers missing the ball or missing the target. Plus Gerrard being so good in Keane's ideal position will lessen Robbie's playing time.
     
  3. CCSC_STRIKER20

    CCSC_STRIKER20 New Member

    May 14, 2005
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't really doubt either of those rumors. It's really disappointing to hear about Keane, but it's a good thing to hear about Babel. I hope things can be fixed between Rafa and Keane. :(

    Robbie Keane is starting to remind me of that one girlfriend everyone has at least once in their life. It's that girl that is just smoking hot and just seems good on all levels. But after dating her for some months you realize that it's just not going to work out, despite all indications pointing out that it would. Then you have to accept that you have to break up with her.

    It's hard to accept, but we may have to sell Keane in the summer if things don't turn around. I hope Keane makes me eat my words and lights the EPL and Champions League alight in the second half of the season. It would just be a travesty if we had to get rid of him one year on from buying him.
     
  4. Twenty26Six

    Twenty26Six Feeling Sheepish...

    Jan 2, 2004
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What would I do without you, Dakota? :D
     
  5. CCSC_STRIKER20

    CCSC_STRIKER20 New Member

    May 14, 2005
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know honestly.

    I am pretty sure I provide more accidental humor through my life than anyone on this board.

    I don't know what I would do without BigSoccer. Then I wouldn't have any website that would have people in the computer lab staring at my screen wondering what I am doing...like it's any of their business.
     
  6. Twenty26Six

    Twenty26Six Feeling Sheepish...

    Jan 2, 2004
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I <3 your complete randomness. ;)
     
  7. Fussballer

    Fussballer Member+

    Liverpool FC
    Sep 18, 2002
    In my head
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Judging by Keane's playing time and following Pennant's ill-logic, maybe Rafa doesn't like the Irish either. Of all the gaffers we could've gotten, we had to get one who is anti-English/Irish and pro-Spanish/Scouse to manage our club. I jest of course...I think.
     
  8. Red Bird

    Red Bird Member+

    Sep 30, 2003
    Oxford
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Sometimes, what we need is guile and some craft, rather than just hard work. The last 3 matches highlighted that particularly. Yesterday, it was so obvious at one stage that a quick one-two on the right would have eliminated Baines and exposed Lescot, with Gerrard and Torres, and possibly Babel, steaming into the box and Mascherano and Alonso just outside and the centre-halves just behind them, we should have had the options to break down Everton.

    As for Keane, he seems to pull out 50-50 challenges a might, especially in the box and hence snatches at chances, almost as if he is afraid of getting hurt.
     
  9. Red Bird

    Red Bird Member+

    Sep 30, 2003
    Oxford
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I see Redknapp has just expressed admiration for Keane at a press conference. Funny thing is I recall Benitez's admiration for the same player leading to Levy throwing a paddy, no pun intended.
     
  10. ForeverRed

    ForeverRed Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    NYC
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Yup, Kuyt's workrate ensures that we'll have a player pressing 100% until the very end of the game. Regardless of whether we'll need to defend a lead, chase a game or finish it off. Kuyt is that player and the reason Rafa favors him, and rightfully so IMO, is because he contributes regardless of circumstance.

    And lets face it, we don't really have any better options. Yossi might be a more creative and technical player but he is inconsistent and can easily be taken out of the game, has poor decision making and is prone to the odd error here and there. El Zhar is too inexperienced and still far from being a first teamer and Pennant never had the attitude and mentality to succeed there.

    Fair enough, I respect your opinion but I see it the other way actually.

    I see us dropping points to the likes of Fulham and Stoke as a team failure, not an individual failure. There is no reason a team of our calibre and our ambitions should drop points so consistently to mid table and relegation battling teams. If we do, thats the fault of the team. We should be able to get points off them without even the likes of Torres or Gerrard simply because we're supposed to be a title contending side.
     
  11. Suss

    Suss Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 11, 2003
    New York
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Considering that Rafa has a limited budget you have to wonder what went on when we spent 20 million on a player that does not have a clear role. This idea that Parry paid much more that Rafa would have paid makes sense.

    Looking back, wouldn't it have made more sense to spend 20 million on a top class right sided player who fits into our preferred 4-2-3-1? Then we could have made a more conservative signing (like Heskey) to be a backup to Torres up front.

    Or is it that Rafa doesn't have interest in the right sided player, because even we singed Messi he wouldn't play ahead of Kuyt.

    It was always going to be difficult for Keane to play every game. He hasn't played well enough to justify leaving Mascherano or Alonso out of the team. Then we signed Riera who has been a smashing success and giving Rafa even more options up front. I would prefer to see Keane ahead of Kuyt, especially after seeing us fail to break down stubborn defenses. But we all know that Rafa is reluctant to drop Kuyt under any circumstances.

    I really hope that Keane loses his attitude. He has been caught sulking by the camera every time he is substituted. He also looks miserable anytime he is on the bench. You can't blame him for being frustated, but its a team game. He is on a team that is near the top of the table and still alive in Europe. He came here to win trophies. If he wants to fight relegation he can go back to Spurs. Otherwise, he should accept his role, work harder, and improve his form.
     
  12. Cokane

    Cokane New Member

    Apr 4, 2002
    Derry, Ireland (Resi
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
  13. Cokane

    Cokane New Member

    Apr 4, 2002
    Derry, Ireland (Resi
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    I'm really not sure what to make of it all. I dont think Im willing to say that Benitez is deliberately messing with Robbie as Aldridge has said, but I do think he is managing Robbie extremely poorly. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that benching a striker every time he whacks a few goals in is going to damage his confidence, and Robbie is about as much a 'confidence' player as any player I can think of - you can see it in everything he does: his runs, his shooting, his overall body language.

    He looks really terrible when he's low on confidence (see the preston game and the misses in that one), but looks exceptional when he is confident (see most of his games for Spurs).

    I think his role in the team is so important for getting the most out of him. If you play him right up top, he will be average. If you restrict him to a very limited support role (ie make him stay central), you wont get the most out of him. If you allow him freedom to roam however, like he did at Spurs, then he is clever enough to do an awful lot of damage to good teams. He's also mature enough and professional enough to plug gaps when not in possession.
    He has rarely been allowed this freedom and as a result, he has struggled. Not only is he adapting to a new club, new team-mates, new fans, a new pitch, but he's having to play in new positions too. Now, Im not saying he shouldnt do better than he has done in whatever position, but why, oh why pay £18 mill for a player and then play him in an unusual position? Surely if you are paying that sort of money, you will want this player to do what he has been doing to merit such a huge price tag? I just dont understand the logic - which leads me to believe that a significant part of the above linked article may well have some merit to it.
     
  14. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London
    It is an article that clearly admits that Rafa has been justified in dropping Keane for the Newcastle game and again after his performance against Everton last monday. What do you suggest Rafa should do? Play Keane behind Torres and drop Gerrard? Or drop Alonso or Mascherano and play Gerrard there to accommodate Keane, as happened last monday?

    You are probably Irish and thus likely a big fan of Keane's as he is the Irish Captain. I also like Keane and thought he would be a good buy for us. However the fact is that Gerrard has completely outperformed Keane playing behind the striker. Torres has completely outperformed Keane as the main striker despite being missing for long periods. Rafa always makes tactical subs with his attacking players and also rotates them. Only Torres and Gerrard are usually exempt from this. Keane has not shown enough form yet to be exempt from substitutions or to have a guaranteed starting place. The team has to come first. Keane will play his part this season, just like Riera, Kuyt, Benayoun and Babel will.

    He is not being sold. He is not out of favour. There is no issue with Keane. He is just being subjected to the same rotation of forwards that Rafa has used for years.

    The media are making mischief. When Rafa bought Crouch, the media scoffed at him and the price. They criticised Rafa for continuing to play Crouch who did not score for game after game. Eventually Crouch scored. A few seasons later the media criticised Rafa for not playing Crouch enough, even though Torres was banging them in for fun. All this media fuss about Keane and his form. Where is the media fuss about Jo and his form? He was also a £20 million striker bought in the summer.

    The Irish Press are obviously going to be focussed on Keane and his playing fortunes. They should understand that Keane wanted to go to Liverpool and Rafa chose to buy him. Keane did not think he could outshine Gerrard and Torres at Liverpool. He knew that Rafa rotates his players. He wanted to join, fully aware that he would be rotated. He would be playing for the club he supports and would feature in CL games and would challenge for trophies. All this has come to pass. Keane would have hoped to score more goals by now but otherwise what is all the big deal? Rafa chose to buy Keane because he thought the player could do well with the Liverpool team. Rafa has played Keane in a LOT of matches this season. If Rafa did not fancy him as a player, he would not have been bought and then fielded in those games. Keane should take confidence from the fact that Rafa selected him and paid £20 million for him.
     
  15. liverbird

    liverbird BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 29, 2000
    Mars
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am a huge fan of Robbie Keane all the way back to Wolves, but yesterday's goal shows why our best strike force is Torres and Gerrard. It was a sublime bit of Galactic class skill that brought that ball under control and back heeled it on the half volley perfectly into the world class run by Stevie. Torres is a supreme lead striker. Gerrard made that great read and run, then his left footed goal 12 inches from Timmeh's right foot made a stop impossible. You will watch a lot of football and not see a better one-two punch for a goal. So if you're Rafa who are you going to play?
     
  16. Suss

    Suss Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 11, 2003
    New York
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Yet, it took a sublime bit of skill and some poor goalkeeping to make that goal happen. Sometimes it feels like its Torres and Gerrard against everyone. Especially when Babel is being useless on the left and Kuyt's touch letting him down on the right.

    I still think that there are games that Gerrard should play in the midfield with both Keane and Torres up front. Its much more for the defense to worry about, and both Gerrard and Torres have more space to work in.
     
  17. liverbird

    liverbird BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 29, 2000
    Mars
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You try playing goal and making a stop when a gifted player hits a rocket with his off foot that goes past your foot at speed and about a foot away -- it is nigh onto impossible to stop. That was NOT poor goalkeeping, it was great striking.
     
  18. LiverMorgh

    LiverMorgh Member

    May 29, 2007
    But half the team are doing their job. From Reina+back4+Mascherano you can't really ask them to be a goal threat. And then you have Alonso who is more a passer and keeps the flow going than scoring so it's on the shoulders of 4 players - Gerrard, Forward, Riera and Kuyt. When 1/4th of your usual attackers is not creating anything it's a disadvantage and it's easier to defend IMO.

    I understand what you're saying though and looking at it that I think I share in large part with your idea. The team should still be at fault for not doing anything against those teams. I think maybe the problem is how the team is built. We have a very solid back and a very separated attack. Our attack usually comes from the usual suspects and there is very little surprise - like overlapping fullbacks, etc. Look at Man Utd; they have so many players going forward at times; their attack doesn't seem as disjointed as ours. It just flows.
     
  19. usscouse

    usscouse BigSoccer Supporter

    May 3, 2002
    Orygun coast
    Tell 'em LB. He was 6 yards out when he hit that. How fast are your reflexes.
     
  20. el-capitano

    el-capitano Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 30, 2005
    Sydney
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Meh- you oldies! :D

    If it had been me wouldn't have just deflected it arond the post, I would've caught it two hands, and then as I was falling, threw a pin point pass to Cahill on the halfway line, leading to a counter attack and goal! ;)
     
  21. Red Bird

    Red Bird Member+

    Sep 30, 2003
    Oxford
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Far too many reporters have put it down as goal-keeping gaffe but the velocity of that shot made it very difficult for Howard to go down and stop it in time. Brilliant strike in any circumstances but even better as he was cramped for room with both Hibbert and Lescot breathing down his back and narrowing his angle.
     
  22. LiverMorgh

    LiverMorgh Member

    May 29, 2007
    Rafa speaks on the reasons of Keane's absense:

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD3MFcbndvU"]YouTube - Real reason why Benitez dropped Keane[/ame]
     
  23. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London
  24. Cokane

    Cokane New Member

    Apr 4, 2002
    Derry, Ireland (Resi
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    Haha that's fantastic.
     
  25. liverbird

    liverbird BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 29, 2000
    Mars
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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