Liverpool FC Forum

[bigmick]

So now you have finally come out of the closet Mick, does that mean that all we can expect from you is flaming anti Raffa rhetoric?    Deary me

You really are a very strange individual.

[access]

Hi as a newbie I had to join the debate about the Keane affair this has caused a huge amount of interest.

During the 2007 season because of my job I occasionally got complimentary tickets for a number of Premier matches and on 3 occasions saw Robbie Keane in action and actually rated him working behind Berbatov ... and when we signed him I actually could see a postive role for Robbie working behind Torres and was fairly excited of the new prospect.

But we could argue all day on this forum about 'what went on' and 'why' he wasnt played and didnt get a good run out.

My two concerns are not really record science 'could' he have made an impact IF he was used correctly in that position behind Torres? thats down to the manager he picks the team no-one else .... was Rafa at fault there?

my second concern and this is being picked up by many a supporter and the press ... what IF god forbid - Torres gets injured again what are are real options?

I am sure we can 'do it' this season, I dare not mention the word only for fear of it not working out.

Thanks

[supersub]

Robbie Keane looked like a little boy lost on the field and showed an occassional glimpse of how he used to be when supporting Berbatov...He was a persistant flop where ever he played but for the 2 sesons with the manu player.Never worth £20 million, not even the £15 million he was reportedly sold back for.I hope he does well at Spurs and he picks up a League champions medal when they are presented at Anfield come May, because he played his part, even if it was only minor.

[GYBS]

As a paddy I try to follow the Irish players in the premiership. I'm not an out and out Liverpool fan but I love the city and the people of Liv. I've always admired the way the club approached the game of football, on and off the field. In regards to Robbie Keane, I don't understand how you can bench a player, who will run himself and defenders ragged. If you don't have heart you are cheating the fans. I think Torres and Benitez conspired to keep him out. He must be gutted at what has happened.

Club before player every single time .

And Redtilldead - Spanish waiter is something the Wums from the mancs and chelsea used to call Rafa all the time !

[stmichael]

To be honest I'm not happy or sad to see him go. I feel more or less the same emotion I did when he signed. Slightly bemused and wondering what the hell is going on. On the one hand I think about Peter Crouch who came in and took half a season to get his first goal but was supported thoughout it all by the manager, the team and the fans.

Fast forward three years and you have another forward brought in who is struggling but here you have a completely different complexion. Rafa hasn't wanted him more or less since the season began. Why he was signed bemused me anyway. Rafa made no secret that he wanted Barry in the Summer and wanted the 18m raised. He was told no and (what felt like) immediately after we were announcing the signing of Keane for 2m more than we had offered for Barry.

It's clear that Keane was keen to join and also clear that either the pressure, a dip in form or something has got to him and he is not playing to the standard you would expect of a seasoned premiership striker.

My main concern now is the lack of options upfront. Torres is just coming back into form but it concerns me that his backup is Dirk, Babel and N'Gog. Two are off form and the other is untested in a consistent run of games (although the same could be said of Babel). If Nando stays fit and the team clicks and goes on to mount a real challenge then Rafa's gamble pays off. If Torres gets injured then we are screwed.

[access]

Thanks supersub for your reply and I fully agree but I am trying to stay as positive as I can with the implications of Rafa and his obvious wrangle, but what do I think when I read the press?

While The Times has expressed its bafflement at Benitez's 'willingness to freeze Keane out as a means of illustrating his dissatisfaction at the vetoing of a move for Gareth Barry', The Guardian states that 'Keane's exit marks a significant political victory for Benítez, the Liverpool manager who is seeking greater autonomy over transfers at Anfield'.

The striker is described as being 'a pawn in the power struggle between Benítez and the club's hierarchy' with Benitez as 'the main force behind Keane's departure. His success indicates he now has the backing of at least Hicks over the club's transfer business'.

Yet it is the club's failure to become a buyer in the transfer market yesterday even when it became clear that Keane would return to Spurs that is perhaps the most baffling aspect of the saga.

Torres has only recently returned to first-team action after an injury-plagued few months and on Sunday, for the top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea, the only striker on Liverpool substitutes' bench was David Ngog. To date, the youngster's Premier League career consists of six appearances and no goals. While Keane's form at Liverpool may have been patchy, his record is that of a proven goalscorer and he would have represented viable cover for Torres during what is likely to be a frenetic few months before the season's conclusion.

Perhaps I should not read any negative press?

[Judge]

Did we go backwards when Rafa became manager? answer the question please?? 

Now your just being a soft lad. Why do you think he has

Nanny, I'm just trying to get GYBS to admit that we wouldn't necessarily have to go on a massive 5 year rebuilding plan if we got a new manager.

And your new manager is???

Mourinho

 

[GYBS]

Did we go backwards when Rafa became manager? answer the question please?? 

Now your just being a soft lad. Why do you think he has

Nanny, I'm just trying to get GYBS to admit that we wouldn't necessarily have to go on a massive 5 year rebuilding plan if we got a new manager.

And your new manager is???

Mourinho

 

and chances of maureen joining a club where there is no money and the owners are at war and seemly dictate a lot of things including transfers


NIL imo

[Judge]

it was a tongue in cheek quote GYBS, you thick yank

[GYBS]

it was a tongue in cheek quote GYBS, you thick yank

yank !!!! YANK !!!!!!

thats the worst insult i have ever had on a forum 

for that you should be banned

disclaiming - no disrepct to the yanks that post on here 

[devaney]

Hi as a newbie I had to join the debate about the Keane affair this has caused a huge amount of interest.

During the 2007 season because of my job I occasionally got complimentary tickets for a number of Premier matches and on 3 occasions saw Robbie Keane in action and actually rated him working behind Berbatov ... and when we signed him I actually could see a postive role for Robbie working behind Torres and was fairly excited of the new prospect.

But we could argue all day on this forum about 'what went on' and 'why' he wasnt played and didnt get a good run out.

My two concerns are not really record science 'could' he have made an impact IF he was used correctly in that position behind Torres? thats down to the manager he picks the team no-one else .... was Rafa at fault there?

my second concern and this is being picked up by many a supporter and the press ... what IF god forbid - Torres gets injured again what are are real options?

I am sure we can 'do it' this season, I dare not mention the word only for fear of it not working out.

Thanks

N'Gawd !!!!!!!!!

[devaney]

Why do we keep mentioning this 20 Million figure, there have been numerous articles posted saying we had only paid 9 Million of it, we sold him back for 12 Million so we made 3 Million. If thats true, apart from the fact we are a bit short up front now then thats a good piece of business ?

i dont think it'll work like that somehow.

it was £20.3 million including add-ons based on appearances, goals etc.

The actual fee was more like £18m - of which we've apparently paid £9m... with £9m of the fee yet to be paid.

Spurs bid of £12 (plus add-ons) is more than likely to include (imo) the £9m that we still owe them + £3m cash

So, the £9m is wiped from both payments. We've paid them £9m, they've paid us £3m.

A loss of £6m .... (though there will be more money coming in with add-ons depending on appearances, goals, and that sort of thing)


essentially its cost us £6m to have robbie keane on loan for 6 months

Don't forget his wages! I think Robbie's goals cost nearly £1.5m a pop!

[Ciggy]

A Spurs fan said yesterday just feckin great Keane & berbatov where like a ham & cheese sandwitch, now we have just the ham and no cheese its a terrible decision from spurs.

[stmichael]

A Spurs fan said yesterday just feckin great Keane & berbatov where like a ham & cheese sandwitch, now we have just the ham and no cheese its a terrible decision from spurs.

apparently they made a last minute bid to sign lineker and klinsmann back aswell.

chimbonda will last a year and then he'll be off again.

[JamCar05]

I would just like this opportunity to wish Keane well back at Spurs (just not in the last game of the season of course!). For various reasons it just didn't work out for him here, and I think it's for the better that he's off again (though I really do wish we had brought in another striker on loan for the remainder of the season). IMO he just didn't suit our way of playing and so wasn't good enough for us. That doesn't mean he isn't a good player though. I just hope he doesn't come out with his dirty laundry in the public now, which he really shouldn't if it's true he's always been a red. Anyway, best of luck to you Robbie, and thanks for the goal against Arsenal in particular.