Robbie Keane

[yanno]

Ben is always open to interpretation. :wink:

You're all correct that Ben could mean Ramos intends to use Keane as a squad player.

If that's the right interpretation, I can't imagine Keano will be very happy. He's fought off Defoe and Bent, and made himself a first team regular. He's captain of his country, and we all know how much he hates being substituted.

My suspicion is that if we sign a top striker (eg David Villa) and Keano thinks he'll be a squad player, then he may well choose to leave for somewhere that will guarantee him first team football.

But you all think I interpreted Ben incorrectly, so I'm probably wrong about Keano's willingness to be a squad player as well.. :grin:

 

[mill]

I dont think keane will be too worried about competition for his place, he's already seen off defoe and bent can't get his place. Plus football's a squad game now with lots of games to be played and besides he had a lot of time on the bench a few years back when defoe and fredi seemed to be the 1st choice pairing, he didn't kick up too much fuss then

 

[Yid-ol]

I am not sure that it would work out that way and I am even less sure that Keane would accept such an arrangement. If he was told that he was going to start the season as a sub he would not be happy and there would be plenty of clubs happy to pay 10-12 million to take him from us. He is at the peak of his powers and will want to play.

In reality, Ramos will have a system in his mind and players he feels will make that system work but like all good managers he will also make changes to that system and players depending on form, injuries, opposition etc.

Bent is the player most likely to make way for another striker, assuming that Berbs stays, which I think he will.

i agree, but if we do get a better striker in, i can see him trying to get one that is Better, or pushing Keane, which would then Drop him down to where Bent is, which again would mean he isnt used as much as he has been in the last season or two when he has been fit.

Just have to wait and see who coems in, could easly still be Keane and Berbatov up frount next season, which wont be a bad thing as they did do well for most the season

 

[mill]

i agree, but if we do get a better striker in, i can see him trying to get one that is Better, or pushing Keane, which would then Drop him down to where Bent is, which again would mean he isnt used as much as he has been in the last season or two when he has been fit.

Just have to wait and see who coems in, could easly still be Keane and Berbatov up frount next season, which wont be a bad thing as they did do well for most the season

Agree with this, and tbh a new striker better than keane would represent progress which is what we all want for our beloved spurs.

got to keep posting I'm Ramon f*cking Vega

 

[BringBack_leGin]

when ramos first arrived i got the impression that keano wasn't quite his cup of tea. keane always comes off, not berba. keane was usually the one sacrificed positionally when the formation was tinkered with, not berba. i think since then ramos has been won over to an extent, but if berba stays and a new striker is still brought in i think keane will be made to work for his place that little bit more. who knows, the thinking behind giovanni (if it is in fact true) could be that he is put on the left while he develops and when he is more of premiership class and comes of age put him up front with berbatov (while i can see berbatov being class well in to his 30's, i don't think keane will last much more than 30. he's already lost all pace and isn't the most naturally fit).

 

[dirtydave]

this is the kind of chat that starts undermining keanes importance in the first team. A player voted spurs player of the season. Personally I don't think there is anywhere near enough evidence to suggest ramos wants a keano replacement. It is still much more likely that we are looking for a replacement for the outgoing berbatov.

 

[spurs]

Well said DD. Transfer speculation is all fun but surely we should keep it realistic. Keane scored 23 goals this year and was the player of the year + embodies a lot of the team spirit and quite alot of the leadership. I'm sure Ramos can see the worth in him. He may not be the very very best striker in the world but he's consistent + proven in EPL and scores more goals with each year he is here. There are many areas of the team we should improve before we try and improve on Keane. During the season he is a legend, and in the close-season people are happy to see him not play.

 

[Paxtonite]

Well said DD. Transfer speculation is all fun but surely we should keep it realistic. Keane scored 23 goals this year and was the player of the year + embodies a lot of the team spirit and quite alot of the leadership. I'm sure Ramos can see the worth in him. He may not be the very very best striker in the world but he's consistent + proven in EPL and scores more goals with each year he is here. There are many areas of the team we should improve before we try and improve on Keane. During the season he is a legend, and in the close-season people are happy to see him not play.

That's as maybe, but the Telegraph have run a "Top 30 list of Top Performing EPL Players 2007/8" based on Opta stats.

There are only three Spurs players in the list. Berba is at 12; Chimbonda at 17 and Jenas at 27. Keane is not in the list.

He has had a great couple of seasons, and i know stats can be interpereted in many ways, but as fans our prejudices influence our judgement. I for one am not a Jenas fan, yet he seems to be doing something right. This is the stuff that managers/coaches are paid to recognise and assess. Ramos will know what he needs to do and we'll have to wait and see.

 

[nicdic]

Well said DD. Transfer speculation is all fun but surely we should keep it realistic. Keane scored 23 goals this year and was the player of the year + embodies a lot of the team spirit and quite alot of the leadership. I'm sure Ramos can see the worth in him. He may not be the very very best striker in the world but he's consistent + proven in EPL and scores more goals with each year he is here. There are many areas of the team we should improve before we try and improve on Keane. During the season he is a legend, and in the close-season people are happy to see him not play.

This exactly the type of allegiance to player before club I think fans should avoid. Yes Keane has been fantastic for us for the past few seasons. But to not improve if there is the chance to because of an allegiance to Keane is ridiculous. We are Tottenham fans after all, and I would hope most of us want the club to improve and push on? But it does seem as if some are happy to possibly hinder that, as long as we can keep Keane in the starting line.

If the opportunity arises for Ramos to strengthen our forward line, then so be it. People will say i'm just saying this because the player in question is Robbie Keane, but i'd be the same for anyone. My love for a player would never get in the way of my want for Spurs to improve.

 

[van_Pommel]

This exactly the type of allegiance to player before club I think fans should avoid. Yes Keane has been fantastic for us for the past few seasons. But to not improve if there is the chance to because of an allegiance to Keane is ridiculous. We are Tottenham fans after all, and I would hope most of us want the club to improve and push on? But it does seem as if some are happy to possibly hinder that, as long as we can keep Keane in the starting line.

If the opportunity arises for Ramos to strengthen our forward line, then so be it. People will say i'm just saying this because the player in question is Robbie Keane, but i'd be the same for anyone. My love for a player would never get in the way of my want for Spurs to improve.

Good post. I honestly think Dos Santos could disslodge Keane as Berbas partner. Lots of people seem to think he'll play on the wing but I reckon he'd be much more affective playing off Berba, with Modric and Lennon/newbie on the wings.

 

[RogerTCB]

That's as maybe, but the Telegraph have run a "Top 30 list of Top Performing EPL Players 2007/8" based on Opta stats.

There are only three Spurs players in the list. Berba is at 12; Chimbonda at 17 and Jenas at 27. Keane is not in the list.

He has had a great couple of seasons, and i know stats can be interpereted in many ways...

Ah, and the Times 'Fink Tank' has had him placed top ten for a few seasons in a row and certainly as our best player this year:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article3905009.ece

 

[Dougal]

This exactly the type of allegiance to player before club I think fans should avoid. Yes Keane has been fantastic for us for the past few seasons. But to not improve if there is the chance to because of an allegiance to Keane is ridiculous. We are Tottenham fans after all, and I would hope most of us want the club to improve and push on? But it does seem as if some are happy to possibly hinder that, as long as we can keep Keane in the starting line.

If the opportunity arises for Ramos to strengthen our forward line, then so be it. People will say i'm just saying this because the player in question is Robbie Keane, but i'd be the same for anyone. My love for a player would never get in the way of my want for Spurs to improve.

I'm not against Keane losing his place to a better player for the good of the club but there is always a need for some connection between the fans and the players for the good of football. Some of the players are heroes in spurs shirts. You could replace them all with better players tomorrow and while it would be exciting you instantly lose a bit of history with the team. But as we know, you don't feel a connection with the history of the team as you stood there singing Ramos' name while most of us were thanking Jol for his contribution. It's not for me, thanks.

But as this isn't ITK discussion let's move on...

 

[spurs]

Nicdic,
RE:Keane; we all want Spurs to improve. But Keane is far from the weak point in the chain. Other areas are more urgent. We have already spent £16mil and need 3-4 more players. Funds must have some limit. And how much instability do we need? Any transfer is a gamble, especially young kids from another league. They won't all work. If we are linked with a striker at the moment, i think it is more likely to replace berbs, bent (or defoe). If he happens to be good enough and adjust wellenough to push Robbie for his place then great

 

[johnmc]

I cannot really see the point of replacing a player that is at the top of his game and doing the business every season, and wants to stay at the club. We have much more pressing concerns than Keane. If the Berby Saga drags on what damage will that do to the club, it needs to be resolved as soon as possible. A new keeper possibly as well. And what about that new DM. player we are all looking out for. I haven't even mentioned our left sided problems, or a new Center half. Blimey so much to do.

 

[SpursMadDave]

Its not just the goals that Keane scores, he plays with such enthusiasm and commitment... i still laugh when he throws his arms around like a spoilt kid in a supermarket when a decision goes against him!!
Every summer there a rumours that Keane either isnt happy or isnt wanted at Spurs yet he just gets on with the job and to me gets better and better...
I personally also love it when a player is obviously gutted to be substituted which Keane ALWAYS is!!
There are a lot more positions and individuals within the team that need attention FAR more urgently that Robbie Keane...

 

[lukespurs7]

KEANEO IS THE MAN! If Ramos makes him a squad player i'll squad his face in!

 

[Sbix]

If the opportunity arises for Ramos to strengthen our forward line, then so be it. People will say i'm just saying this because the player in question is Robbie Keane, but i'd be the same for anyone. My love for a player would never get in the way of my want for Spurs to improve.

Well I agree that Spurs come before the players themselves as individuals... but you must realize that the need to improve on our forward line is much smaller if not minimal compared to our need to improve on other areas. Goalkeepers and a bunch of midfielders and even another CB goes ahead of improving on the players already in our forward line. Another young un, to compete and develop as fourth striker wouldn't go amiss thou..

But if say Eto'o actually wanted to come here, and we could afford him... then of course we should get him! After we improved the rest.. otherwise a Eto'o in our forward line won't matter that much.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Well said DD. Transfer speculation is all fun but surely we should keep it realistic. Keane scored 23 goals this year and was the player of the year + embodies a lot of the team spirit and quite alot of the leadership. I'm sure Ramos can see the worth in him. He may not be the very very best striker in the world but he's consistent + proven in EPL and scores more goals with each year he is here. There are many areas of the team we should improve before we try and improve on Keane. During the season he is a legend, and in the close-season people are happy to see him not play.

If the example you like your leader to set is one of cowardice and effort for half a game then he is a shining beacon.

To be honest, I won't be heartbroken if we see a little less of keane jumping under headers and out the way of tackles.
In a shit spurs sides of a few years ago Keane was vital and I respect him for his constant ability to score. But as we have improved imensely along with the rest of the premiership and you apply the same filter to keane that you apply to other players like Zokora, Jenas etc (ie good but compared to the top 4 not good enough) then you must realise that if we want to progress we must have a player who not only can score goals, make assists but works for the team as well.

I know we owe Keane, and it is a tough stance when the fella has always scored his 15 or so goals a season. But great teams attack and defend as teams. So many times opponents goals can be traced all the way back to keane ceding possesion needlessly because he was to scared to keep it or put their defender under pressure. he forces our midfield to work harder further out leaving gaps behind.

How can ManU play with Carrick and Scholes in CM and concede so few chances ? Because they have Tevez and Rooney when not scoring and creating are working their nuts off for the team defending from the front.

You can maybe carry one player like this if, and I mean if, he is suprememly gifted - like Ronaldo - but even he sees so much of the ball and is far braver than Keane.

Keane. Thanks for the memories but it's time to improve.

 

[davids88]

i actually cannot believe some people are not bothered about robbie keane. He has been immense for us especially the last two or 3 seasons. Who cares about opta stats, keano is one of the best premiership stikers and if anything probably deserves to be playing for a so called big four side so i think we should all just be grateful that he loves the club and wants to play for us.
Dos Santos is not even striker, hes more of an attacking midfielder or wide player so he wont be dislodging keano anyway.

 

[Dougal]

B-C, I couldn't disagree more. I could try, but I would fail. But we never get anywhere with this and I have better things to do than spend all afternoon pointing out how wrong you are. Good day to you.