I heard he died after the match. I knew he was sick for a while. My deepest sympathies to him and his family. It puts a game of football into perspective when something like this happens. I fully understand if he can't play for Ireland. Frank
From BBC Keane likely to miss Irish game Robbie Keane played for Spurs at Bolton on Monday night Robbie Keane looks likely to be the latest withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland for the Euro 2004 qualifier in Georgia because of the death of his father. The Tottenham striker's father Robert died late on Monday evening after a long battle against cancer. Keane has not yet officially withdrawn from the Irish squad but a Football Association of Ireland official said on Tuesday morning that it was "safe to assume" that the player would not travel to Georgia. The Dubliner was set to make his international return after several weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury which forced him to miss Brian Kerr's opening game against Scotland. A statement released by Keane on Tuesday morning said his father had been "inspirational in every part of my life". "He fought a very brave and long fight against cancer, but always remained in good spirits," said Keane. "I considered him more like a brother to me than a father. "It fills me with pride to remember that the last match he saw me play in was against Everton when I was lucky enough to score a hat-trick. Irish boss Brian Kerr has lost several players "I would be very grateful if my family and I could be allowed our privacy to grieve for a wonderful man." Brian Kerr's Irish squad has already been hit by a number of withdrawals. Rotherham striker Alan Lee has been added to the panel along with Leeds' Stephen McPhail and Manchester City defender Richard Dunne for the games in Georgia and Albania. The call-ups became necessary after Leeds defender Ian Harte joined injured trio Clinton Morrison, Jason McAteer and Gary Kelly on the absentee list. Harte has withdrawn from the Irish squad because his wife has given birth to the couple's first child. Kerr has already called up Sheffield Wednesday's Alan Quinn. Lee, who has played for the Irish U21s, has scored 14 goals for Rotherham in Division One of the Nationwide League. Finnan MRI scan He was brought up in Dublin and played rugby alongside Brian O'Driscoll at Blackrock College before moving to England. McPhail and Dunne were in Kerr's squad for his opening game against Scotland but a lack of recent first team football led to them being left out of the original squad for the Georgia and Albania contests. Kerr also may have to plan without John O'Shea and Steve Finnan who are troubled by hamstring and rib injuries. Finnan will go for an MRI scan on Tuesday. Revised squad: Given (Newcastle United), Kiely (Charlton Athletic), Colgan (Hibernian), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Finnan (Fulham), Dunne (Manchester City), Breen (West Ham United), Cunningham (Wimbledon), O'Brien (Newcastle United), O'Shea (Manchester United), Reid (Millwall), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Holland (Ipswich Town), Carsley (Everton), Healy (Celtic), McPhail (Leeds United), Kilbane (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Connolly (Wimbledon), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee (Rotherham).
If Robbie is out, the spine of our team is beginning to look pretty weak to me. With Cunningham,Breen,Holland,Kinsella/Healy,Connolly & Doherty/Lee down the middle I think we'll be quite vulnerable. The flanks are stronger, but my optimism is waning.
It certainly doesn't look too promising for us at the moment. I'd venture that Duff is going to have be used as a central striker now. Certainly, if he's playing out on the wing, he'll be drifting in a little more frequently.
Focus, people. It's just a game. My deepest sympathies go out to Robbie and his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Wouldn't say that it is 'just a game', but I know where you're coming from. Don't get me wrong it's terribly sad that Robbie Keane's father has died and God rest him. But there's still a game on Saturday and I think Sausagepump and myself were only stating the obvious.
Sorry, I just didn't want this thread to degenerate into another discussion of players/tactics/chances, when it's about something that I think we'll all agree is more important.