Great keane article

[TURKISH]

This is my thoughts on the whole situation great read.


Metro's chief sportswriter Danny Griffiths believes Robbie Keane has badly tarnished his image as Tottenham's golden boy.



Ferguson has previous form in this matter - just ask Jaap Stam for starters - while Rafa won't be getting any Christmas cards from Martin O'Neill this year for the way he has attempted to entice Gareth Barry away from Aston Villa.

But what is the most saddening aspect of the whole sorry saga is the way Robbie Keane appears to have acted.

Until the dust settles the true version of events are unlikely to be accurately portrayed in the media but it seems that everyone's favourite Irish sportsman not named Padraig Harrington has done significant damage to his image.

Keano is something of an icon at White Hart Lane after six tremendous years of service since his £7million move from Inter Milan.

His game has matured since then, especially in the last two years when his 45 goals in all competitions have marked him down as one of the elite forwards in the Premier League.

But what set him apart from the Drogbas, Adebayors and other marksmen eager to pack up their bags for fresh pastures at the drop of a shilling was his self-professed love for his club.

Keane was handed the captain's armband in the absence of injured Ledley King and his joy at winning the first significant silverware of his career when Spurs lifted the Carling Cup in February was a joy to behold.

Keane finished the season by declaring he wanted to stay at White Hart Lane until it was time to hang up his boots - and yet as soon as one of the so-called Big Four state their intentions to sign him he's off quicker than a rat up a drainpipe.

Loyalty is thin on the ground these days when it comes to football. In fact the only ones to be counted on are the guys and gals next to you in the stands.

Gary Neville, Ryan and Giggs and Paul Scholes at United are different, maybe Steven Gerrard at Liverpool and, at a pinch, John Terry at Chelsea but that's about your lot.

King and Keane are from the same mould. Or rather Keane appeared to be but apparently appearances can be deceptive.

What a shame. He was set to become an icon at the Lane - taking a deserved seat alongside Gary Mabbutt, Steve Perryman, Graham Roberts and Glenn Hoddle in the relatively modern era.

Now he can expect a rough reception if he returns to the Lane with Liverpool on Saturday, November 1. It's live on Setanta Sports so tune in as long as you don't think you will be watching the return of the prodigal son.

Spurs fans expected more of Keano and this is a real kick in the teeth - just like taking the beloved out for an expensive meal and then having her tell you that at the end of a wonderful night that she doesn't really love you. Gutted.

So instead of being hailed a hero every time his name is mentioned, Robbie Keane will always be remembered as being just one notch down from Sol Campbell in the list of players regarded as traitors by the Spurs faithful. And that's the biggest shame of all from this wretched state of affairs.

[Baleinho]

Untill a week ago I would of probably punched you in the face if something even CLOSE to that was said about Keano.

But now, after all this shit has settled down... Im going back on what i said about 'dont boo him blah blah' because hes gone WAY down in my estimations.

Let him ****ing rot on the bench at the scouseland.

Very good article there mate.

[Lilywhite Lad]

Keano is something of an icon at White Hart Lane after six tremendous years of service since his £7million move from Inter Milan.

Eh? D'you know i could've sworn we got him from Leeds:rolleyes: . Fantastic article though, and as more and more of stories and articles like these are printed, i hope Keane is taking note and having good hard reads of them. They might make him think then, how unloyal he has recently become,a dn reconsider his actions.

[Ioang]

Leeds owned him but he was on loan out in italy. You're more correct I believe, as is the article. This is a proper back-stabbing, and as the Berb situation shows, we mind far less if you just LET US KNOW in advance that champions league football is what you're after.

[olly27]

Does anyone think that if Berba had stayed it might of influenced Keane? I mean does anyone think that Keane is thinking that we would be moving back a step as a result of Berba's departure from the club? Dont get me wrong I am not sympathising with Keane at all, just trying to look at it from another angle.

[wayne wonder]

I cant wait for him to respond to levy's comments apparently he's due to undertake his medical on thursday when theliverpool club doctors return.

If he leaves then as the guy says he's one notch down from sol campbell it hurts a lot but these footballers dotn give a **** about the fans anymore

[Gino Ginelli]

Woah woah WOAH!! Hypocritical he may prove to be, but he's no where near Sol Campbell's level of treason!

[Mattyboii]

I Admit yeah it is a big act of betrayal
but as gino said
No where neeeear Sol
he went to out of all teams
scum

[wayne wonder]

Woah woah WOAH!! Hypocritical he may prove to be, but he's no where near Sol Campbell's level of treason!

LOL i can just imagine you as you wrote this eyes bulging at the thought of comparing keane to the biggest judas ever

[Gino Ginelli]

LOL i can just imagine you as you wrote this eyes bulging at the thought of comparing keane to the biggest judas ever

Ha ha. It was more an exasperated frown... :D

[wayne wonder]

Ha ha. It was more an exasperated frown... :D

hahaha!!

I've come to the conclusion that keane's not going anywhere for less than 20mil and rafa the fat spanish coach drievr wont pay that if barry would have gone to liverpool we wouldn't be talking about keane going anywhere!!

[Gino Ginelli]

True enough. Unless Liverpool are able to stump up the readies for him in the first place, then this all just academic, right?

But what then? We all eat our words until next pre-season when Liverpool can afford him?

[Mattyboii]

what do you recon everyones reaction this season would be if keano didnt go?
I'd Be glad but i would still be kinda pissed.
He said he would stay till he hung up his boots
but at a drop of a hat he wants to go

[Baleinho]

If i was in Ramos shoes; just flog him on loan till the scousers can stump up the cash in full.

[Gino Ginelli]

what do you recon everyones reaction this season would be if keano didnt go?
I'd Be glad but i would still be kinda pissed.
He said he would stay till he hung up his boots
but at a drop of a hat he wants to go

To be fair, all we know for sure is that Keane must have expressed to Levy (directly or through his agent, who knows?) that if Liverpool wanted him, he'd be interested in going. Robbie's played in a World Cup, I'm not too suprised he'd want to keep going upwards in the football hierarchy. But he's not said anything to the fans or made a statement at all.

So I'll reserve any condemning judgement on him until I know more truths then hearsay.

[bocayid]

Berby was being put in the prem shop window when he signed for us..don't think there is any doubt about that.All we could hope for was that he would perform,bang in some goals and during the course of his stay we might have some success....whether or not another 5th place and the Carling Cup is seen as a fair return is a matter of opinion but I was resigned to losing him unless we had stumbled into a CL spot....we had to make hay while the sun shines until such time we can establish ourselves in that top 3 or 4..so names like Berby will come and go until that happens...they have no loyalty to us beyond the seasons they wear the shirt.

As for Keane..well ..yeah I am disapointed by his silence but again not surprised so much speculation abounds every day about transfers etc a player would be plain daft to say anything until a deal is done and contract signed.

the most important thing is we have some kind of plan to replace one or both of them as and when they move....we have to hit the ground running this year can't afford a slow start with uncertainty and rumour hanging around.

Financially we are ok...we have risen again in the football money table nad can afford to hang out for a more than decent price for these players.

Besides there are no guarantees in footy...Keano might not carry on banging in the goals for us or anyone else and berby might not spark either.....

it wouldnt surprise me if raffa in particular is trying to scupper us by approaching keane,not so much cos he fancies the player but he knows how close we could get to the pool with robbie and the new signings firing on all fronts....

if they go they go...i aint getting vexed about it...thats modern footy....

I cant wait to that first game at the Lane...walking out in Park Lane and looking out at pitch..heart pumping.....I reckon we will be ok....and remember liverpool aint getting the partnership just keane...Man Utd will do better with Berby than Pool with Robbie....I still think we can take on Pool and the Scum to get into top 3/4...



COYS

[spurs61]

Can I just point out that the only reason Keane has not made a statement regarding his future is that he would lose his "loyalty" bonus if he did. Clubs pay a certain amount of money to players upon their transfer out if the player has not requested the move. That is why Robbie has not publicly stated that he is off not because he's having second thoughts.

[jrio]

Leeds owned him but he was on loan out in italy. You're more correct I believe, as is the article. This is a proper back-stabbing, and as the Berb situation shows, we mind far less if you just LET US KNOW in advance that champions league football is what you're after.

No, Leeds bought him from Inter for 11m and then sold him to us for 7m.

it wouldnt surprise me if raffa in particular is trying to scupper us by approaching keane,not so much cos he fancies the player but he knows how close we could get to the pool with robbie and the new signings firing on all fronts....
Struggling to fund his targets and you think he's going to waste at least 15m on "scuppering" Spurs? I've seen a number of people post that idea and they clearly haven't thought it through. Liverpool don't see us as a threat to their position, nor Everton, Villa etc either. Their focus is on closing the gap with United and Chelsea. What would Rafa be afraid of? We've signed some promising players but it's not as if we've had a body of world beaters signed and primed to atomize the competition.

[choda]

No, Leeds bought him from Inter for 11m and then sold him to us for 7m.

Struggling to fund his targets and you think he's going to waste at least 15m on "scuppering" Spurs? I've seen a number of people post that idea and they clearly haven't thought it through. Liverpool don't see us as a threat to their position, nor Everton, Villa etc either. Their focus is on closing the gap with United and Chelsea. What would Rafa be afraid of? We've signed some promising players but it's not as if we've had a body of world beaters signed and primed to atomize the competition.

But it is an added bonus. There is no doubt they fear a Ramos Levy funded challenge. You'd be a fool not to consider it a threat to what you have right now with the cl places basically there as a safety net should you fail in your pursuit of the prem.

[bocayid]

Find it a bit patronising jrio to say I havn't thought something through....I don't post a lot on here so actually do think things through a bit.

Also Rafa is under huge pressure to deliver,his lived on the back of Istanbul for a while now and I still don't believe he as a manager has a hope in hell of winning the Prem or closing the ''gap''...

Of course he isn't just going to waste money on ''scuppering'' us or any other team but I believe,after much thought,that we are the club capable of pushing on and whether it's us or someone else....he as a man ( and I admit I don't know him) is looking over his shoulder in more ways than one...

[gazzaG8]

I've missed something here? I've been on the piss all weekend, has Keane said he wants to go?

[Neil_Vaughan]

It's mentioned in Levy's statement.

[jrio]

Find it a bit patronising jrio to say I havn't thought something through....I don't post a lot on here so actually do think things through a bit.

Also Rafa is under huge pressure to deliver,his lived on the back of Istanbul for a while now and I still don't believe he as a manager has a hope in hell of winning the Prem or closing the ''gap''...

Of course he isn't just going to waste money on ''scuppering'' us or any other team but I believe,after much thought,that we are the club capable of pushing on and whether it's us or someone else....he as a man ( and I admit I don't know him) is looking over his shoulder in more ways than one...
Rafa's pressure to deliver is the title, not out-performing Spurs. The idea he's mainly trying to curb our threat is just incredibly vain and doesn't relate to recent history. Do you think targeting Barry is also just a ploy to scupper Villa's threat? Maybe Benitez's targets aren't the one anyone thinks will bring him the title, but it's an insult to him to think he hasn't a clue what he's doing and is resorting to just making sure Liverpool stay in a CL place.

Even if Keane and Berba hadn't been targeted, there are still too many unknowns to be confident Spurs will be a major threat. We don't know how quickly Gomes will adapt, how fit King will be, who will partner Woody in King's absence, what midfield formation we'll be using, what other players will be joining. With only 4 weeks to go before the first game, we're only looking at potential based on Ramos's record at Sevilla and winning the LC last season.

[choda]

At spurs we must make sure we are first better equipt than Blackburn, Pompey, Villa, Citeh and Everton to hold onto our fifth best team tag. Jol didn't do that last year and we were left in big trouble until we won a cup, a situation you can't afford to be in and we were just lucky the hedged bet came in.

It is just as important to consolidate your position as it is to pursue the next level. That is the name of the game and it is especially important for the top four because the drop in revenue for being overtaken out of the cl is enormous.

To think that they never look at the competition is silly. I doubt they ever buy players on the basis of weakening a rival but you can be sure it is seen as a bonus.

I'm sure Rafa is not buying Keane for any other reason than he thinks it will improve their chances to win the league. You won't hear any pool fans saying any different either, but he will be pleased that the big spending Ramos revolution has been hampered too.

To put it this way, if you had a choice between one player and another of similar ability, if you could buy one off a rival (above or below) you would do that, but of course you normally just want a player that improves your team the most possible.

[Doddy]

We are going after Robbie Keane to improve our team, not to de-stablise Tottenham. I heard similar comments from Aston Villa fans about our pursuit of Gareth Barry.

I don't know how many of you know, but back in 2000 , our current manager at the time Gerard Houllier, went after Robbie Keane whilst he was at Leeds but Keane wanted to settle at Leeds as he had moved clubs so many times in his short career. Fowler confirms all this in his book. We knew he was a fan at that time and I wish we would of got him them to be honest.

The lastest around here is that he is having a medical today and will sign for £23m.

The fee for Keane is an interesting one. On the face of it, it looks overpriced to me, but then again it's probably worth noting that it doesn't represent too much of a gamble based on what I've seen. Same with Barry. You are getting proven Premiership quality and for that you've got to pay. You are buying two players who are arguably the best players at their respective clubs, two lads who aren't going to go missing Away at Hull, and two blokes who in all probably won't get involved in trying to smash one of their teammates heads in with a seven iron. Based on what we've seen from them previously, neither give you the impression they'll be blinging it up in the Newz bar on a Tuesday night, giving it the "Westside" with the inverted "V" signs and no doubt sporting a skew-whiff baseball cap complete with some indecipherable diamante logo.

No, with these two blokes you are buying proven quality and maturity. Proven good porfessionals, who almost certainly would and will improve our team overnight. Neither have won much so you are buying hunger, blokes who would rightly consider this their first last and only chance to win the Premiership for example. You are buying players who you absolutely know will be able to aclimatise, to fit in with the dressing room from day one, players who are in all likelyhood right at their peak.

Its a bit disapointing the way the transfers have caused ill feeling between the clubs but I cannot see what Rafa has done wrong in the Keane transfer, he mentioned his would be interested in signing him, how is that tapping up? They haven't met in a restaurant, he hasn't wined and dined him on some fancy ship, he has simply told the press he would improve our team hasn't he? When did that become a crime?

[spurs61]

£23 mil for Keane, TBH I'd bite the scouser's hand off!!!

[Baleinho]

*sigh* I just dont know what to think anymore.

[choda]

£23 mil for Keane, TBH I'd bite the scouser's hand off!!!

Me too. He's unreal but he's 28 and that is a pile of money you could spend on a younger player of the same top drawer quality. Villa for example.

[Keanoldinho]

We are going after Robbie Keane to improve our team, not to de-stablise Tottenham. I heard similar comments from Aston Villa fans about our pursuit of Gareth Barry.

I don't know how many of you know, but back in 2000 , our current manager at the time Gerard Houllier, went after Robbie Keane whilst he was at Leeds but Keane wanted to settle at Leeds as he had moved clubs so many times in his short career. Fowler confirms all this in his book. We knew he was a fan at that time and I wish we would of got him them to be honest.

The lastest around here is that he is having a medical today and will sign for £23m.

The fee for Keane is an interesting one. On the face of it, it looks overpriced to me, but then again it's probably worth noting that it doesn't represent too much of a gamble based on what I've seen. Same with Barry. You are getting proven Premiership quality and for that you've got to pay. You are buying two players who are arguably the best players at their respective clubs, two lads who aren't going to go missing Away at Hull, and two blokes who in all probably won't get involved in trying to smash one of their teammates heads in with a seven iron. Based on what we've seen from them previously, neither give you the impression they'll be blinging it up in the Newz bar on a Tuesday night, giving it the "Westside" with the inverted "V" signs and no doubt sporting a skew-whiff baseball cap complete with some indecipherable diamante logo.

No, with these two blokes you are buying proven quality and maturity. Proven good porfessionals, who almost certainly would and will improve our team overnight. Neither have won much so you are buying hunger, blokes who would rightly consider this their first last and only chance to win the Premiership for example. You are buying players who you absolutely know will be able to aclimatise, to fit in with the dressing room from day one, players who are in all likelyhood right at their peak.

Its a bit disapointing the way the transfers have caused ill feeling between the clubs but I cannot see what Rafa has done wrong in the Keane transfer, he mentioned his would be interested in signing him, how is that tapping up? They haven't met in a restaurant, he hasn't wined and dined him on some fancy ship, he has simply told the press he would improve our team hasn't he? When did that become a crime?


well rafas a ****, scousers are ****s and you're a **** so feck off take keane with ya and be sure to leave 23 fecking ****y million behind so we can buy Arshavin and Bentley and kick the seven shades of shite outta you ugly football playing ******s this season now feck off. Were the **** did the scouse ****s get 23 mil from they're broke aint they.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Were the **** did the scouse ****s get 23 mil from they're broke aint they.

"Mind ya car for ya mista"

Either that or the entire populations of Toxteth and Croxteth went out on the rob (a given) and donated the proceeds to the only half decent institution to base itself in Liverpool since the Beatles.

Doesn't matter anyway, Liverpool will fail again, and again, and again, until they actually have to sack Benitez, who, in my honest opinion is nowhere near good enough to take on Ferguson, Wenger, Scolari or Ramos.

[wayne wonder]

Liverpol will finishe 15-20 behind the mancs/chelsea as they always do when will they wake up and realise the glory days of winning the league time and time again are over they're shit bar 2 players gerrard and torres!

I hope the mancs go on to equal their league record and the european one too

[choda]

"Mind ya car for ya mista"

Either that or the entire populations of Toxteth and Croxteth went out on the rob (a given) and donated the proceeds to the only half decent institution to base itself in Liverpool since the Beatles.

Doesn't matter anyway, Liverpool will fail again, and again, and again, until they actually have to sack Benitez, who, in my honest opinion is nowhere near good enough to take on Ferguson, Wenger, Scolari or Ramos.

I agree, he doesn't know how to buy the right players. He may eventually realise he doesn't have the wingers and full backs to really compete. He's only just realised he needs another top striker.

His valencia success now seems largely due to his ability to set up a team as dogged, that the players were bought for him and since he had so many spainards or south americans they would automatically play enough football to get by.

[MiloMinderbinder]

I agree, he doesn't know how to buy the right players. He may eventually realise he doesn't have the wingers and full backs to really compete. He's only just realised he needs another top striker.

His valencia success now seems largely due to his ability to set up a team as dogged, that the players were bought for him and since he had so many spainards or south americans they would automatically play enough football to get by.

his Valencia success was already a forgone conclusion when he arrived. He inherited the best group of players they had since the 70's and at a time when Barca and Los Merengues were in a rebuilding stage or obssesed with buying stars rather than a team.

The best manager (other than Jaunde) to come out of Spain for a long time I reckon is Laudrup, look at what he's achieved with Getafe.

[choda]

his Valencia success was already a forgone conclusion when he arrived. He inherited the best group of players they had since the 70's and at a time when Barca and Los Merengues were in a rebuilding stage or obssesed with buying stars rather than a team.

The best manager (other than Jaunde) to come out of Spain for a long time I reckon is Laudrup, look at what he's achieved with Getafe.

Yes, Laudrup strikes me as a bit of a Cryuff, in that he was the rare commodity of being like a manager on the pitch to add to a wonderful football brain. I think he might do very well.

Roy Keane was like that as well. Sheringham too. I think they may all do well. Well Keane and Laudrup have already started.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Yes, Laudrup strikes me as a bit of a Cryuff, in that he was the rare commodity of being like a manager on the pitch to add to a wonderful football brain. I think he might do very well.

Roy Keane was like that as well. Sheringham too. I think they may all do well. Well Keane and Laudrup have already started.

Keane won't make it to the top, mark my words. His tactical nouse is second to Mick McCarthy, plus he rules his playes by fear, not a good way to squeeze every last ounce from a limited squad. IF they stay up this year it will be by virtue of the fact there are 3 worse sides than them.

Sheringham is pursuing a career in professional poker (although he was already a pro at poke her).

[choda]

Keane won't make it to the top, mark my words. His tactical nouse is second to Mick McCarthy, plus he rules his playes by fear, not a good way to squeeze every last ounce from a limited squad. IF they stay up this year it will be by virtue of the fact there are 3 worse sides than them.

Sheringham is pursuing a career in professional poker (although he was already a pro at poke her).

Remember the arguement we had at the start of this year where you said 'mark my words, Sunderland will go back down'.

You wrote him off before.

It seems your arguement is more based on some kind of assumption about his intelligence and character, which you have not changed at all and was never backed up by facts to those who know more about him.

He may or may not make it to the top, I don't know, but he deserves credit for what he has done so far. It has been terrific. Little he has done so far deserves the dismissive attitude you have. In fact what he has done marks him out as one of the managers with the most potential to make it to the top.

I don't know anyone that would argue he hasn't done at least a good job at Sunderland. They were heading for league one when he took over.

The club was in bits, totally depressed and so shattered was their confidence that even if they got back to the premier league there was this cloud of what happened before hanging over them.

Do you really think McCarthy or anything less than a very good manager would have kept sunderland up last year. Name me an average coach that would have kept them up last year.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Remember the arguement we had at the start of this year where you said 'mark my words, Sunderland will go back down'.

You wrote him off before.

It seems your arguement is more based on some kind of assumption about his intelligence and character, which you have not changed at all and was never backed up by facts to those who know more about him.

He may or may not make it to the top, I don't know, but he deserves credit for what he has done so far. It has been terrific. Little he has done so far deserves the dismissive attitude you have. In fact what he has done marks him out as one of the managers with the most potential to make it to the top.

I don't know anyone that would argue he hasn't done at least a good job at Sunderland. They were heading for league one when he took over.

The club was in bits, totally depressed and so shattered was their confidence that even if they got back to the premier league there was this cloud of what happened before hanging over them.

Do you really think McCarthy or anything less than a very good manager would have kept sunderland up last year. Name me an average coach that would have kept them up last year.

Peter Taylor!

[choda]

Peter Taylor!

**** off, Taylor couldn't keep up a stable established prem team that he inherited at Leicester.

[MiloMinderbinder]

**** off, Taylor couldn't keep up a stable established prem team that he inherited at Leicester.

It's all opinions. I like Keane as a person, he seems upfront and honest. I just don't think he's a great manager, good maybe, great no way. Probably be an awesome assistant though.

[olly27]

I think its to early to guage how far he will go, but has done very well to date. Interestingly the bookies have him as second favourite to take over after Fergie, with Oneil ahead and Hughes behind him.

[singapore spur]

think sunderland will do ok this season , 12-14 , and you couldnt ask too much more of them .
dont think you can be dismissive of keane or his hard line style after all he has learnt from 2 of the best , clough and fergie , and so far he has done what he set out to do , save them from relegation , got em promoted , and then kept them up.
tbh i thought he was gonna crash and burn when 1st appointed but ive been wrong so far .