The Robbie Keane debate continues...
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 1:40PM Harry has re-visited prior sound-bites relating to Robert Keane and his future. It's just a repeat of what has been outlined before. Keane plays well, he'll have a job to do but if Keane is unhappy then perhaps a move away is for the best. Harry never says anything close to 'Keane is imperative to Spurs'.
Now I know it's been done to death and people have opinions based on what the player has achieved for us in the past. And that he could, if focused, repeat past glory. Whilst others are not so forgiving (i.e. his move to Anfield) and simply do not see the player as anything more than a spent force. Had his time, its now time to move on.
The crux is - if he stays, would you consider the following strike-force good enough to compete in the EPL and the CL (yes, yes, we still need to qualify):
Keane. Defoe. Crouch. Pav.
I'd say no. Too much of a risk IMO.
We finally make it into the top 4, we have to consolidate our position by strengthening the squad. Considering the riches spent (wasted) in the past on players pre-season, we can't not be looking to improve key positions - and the forward position is key.
Has he played well in our tour of the US? Well, sort of okay. Looked decent against Sporting, if you go on the fact he scored and assisted. But after the Ramos pre-season that resulted in 2 points 8 games, I've decided to completely discount form and results until the season starts. So I guess the answer is floating around in Harry's head. He must know for certain who or what he wants for us. And at the moment, it seems to me like he'd be happy to keep Robbie as a squad player - but if Robbie starts sulking - then it's goodbye.
It just doesn't sound like the player is being backed 100%, so anything less than that fuels reason to believe that Harry will have to be content if we somehow manage to fail in signing a top drawer striker. I don't even get the impression Keane believes in staying at the Lane.
We sent him out on loan last season. I can't quite figure out how perception has changed based on pretty much nothing.
Reader Comments (45)
Please can we sort this Keno situation out, quickly, personally id like Arry to bring in Huntelaar and send Keane packing
He was awful against Lisbon, simply not good enough!
Perception has changed based on hope and blind optimism! Keane would be a good squad player for us, but it doesn't seem to be something he will happy with. There's a lack of serious targets though. I mean Raul...c'mon! Fabiano would be a bad move too. If we can get a season of top form out of Pav, it will make a massive difference as we haven't seen his full potential.
Why should Arry back him 100%- Keano has wrong attitude- you can only regularly play if you show yourself an effective front man. Last season he was poor & also he's not been able to connect well with others in the team on the pitch- which has been most alarming problem. The team is better without him- he is at best a squad player & worst a player to go out on loan.
Yeah, maybe Huntelaar would be the best option.
Keane offers way more than Crouch and works way harder than Defoe. His failing has been adapting to the 09/10 gameplan, his loss of finishing confidence and the fact that 'Arry has a hard on for his favourites. The Crouch Defoe partnership brings a predictability that a well organised Sunday League team could stop. Defoe is far more lethal in the box, but the ball has to be in the box for him to be lethal with it. If it's not the guy goes missing.
I think Spurs need a few players this transfer window including another striker but Keane isn't the one I would be offloading. As an aside Liverpool are HIS boyhood club, EVERY Irish guy dreams of Celtic - the 2 things are not the same.
Keane and Pav to stay, Crouch and Defoe to move on or remain as squad players only.
I agree with Deadly, the targets that we've been linked to have all been the wrong side of 29. Do we really need another striker in the twilight of their career?
Why aren't we being linked with younger (and, in wages terms, cheaper) players?
Keane. Defoe. Crouch. Pav. No
Fabiano. Defoe. Crouch. Pav?
Keane. Defoe. Crouch. Fabiano?
Fabiano. Keane. Defoe. Crouch?
Gudjohnsen. Defoe. Crouch. Pav.
Gudjohnsen. Defoe. Crouch. Fabiano?
Gudjohnsen. Defoe. Crouch. Huntelaar?
Gudjohnsen. Defoe. Pav. Huntelaar?
Fabiano. Defoe. Pav. Huntelaar?
What is the code to crack this safe?
Is Gudjohnsen back on our books then?
on the radar or at least screen blur.
Huntelaar Defoe Gudjohnsen Keane
The Milner situation will determine everything.
If he goes to City, suddenly Villa are a midfielder down and £25m richer. Villa need a striker, different to what they have at the moment and I think Keane would fit in really well there. They would also need a midfielder so someone like JJ or Bentley might also be on thier shopping list.
With thoses guys moved on, we will look to replace with our trio of targets.
City are also key because they keep buying and almost rendering half of their existing squad surpluss to requirements.....Ireland, Bellamy, Cruz, Bridge, SWP. They will have a lot of players to off load as the 25 squad limit will mean they have to get rid. Redknapp seems to be banking on this, holding out for a super cheap deal or loan deal for a quality player who doesn't fit into their squad of 25.
So again, Harry is wheeling & dealing and although this maybe the way to get the best bargains, it means that new players miss out on th chance to gell with the squad....although having said that, our squad is, for once, very sound and we can afford to give some new talent a bit of time to settle in.
MO'N is meeting Milner today, apparently, so all will become clear over the next couple weeks.
Crouch. Pav. Keane. Defoe. Fabiano.
Doesn't sound so bad to me gents.
My previous comment should crack the code Trembly.
Harry has just told skysports he isn't interested in milner, young or jagielka. Personally I think Jagielka would be a decent target (although expensive) considering our defensive injuries. But back on topic, my heart wants keane to stay and prove himself, but my head thinks we need a younger, taller, stronger striker who is more clinical and can play up top on his own. Mind you though, I have just described the perfect striker and I don't see too many of them on the market right now. I think the problem at the moment is that there aren't too many top draw strikers looking to move on at the moment (that we can afford) and the ones that are, aren't quite what we need, but they are options none the less. I think our best bet is fabiano, if he can make up his mind. The things that worry me are his attitude and the fact he is unproven in the prem, but few of our options are. This springs true for huntelaar too, but he'd be my second priority should we miss out on fabiano. I think we should be more worried about the RB/CB situation too though, because it looks as if woody is finished and as good as he is we can't sustain king if we are fighting on 4 different fronts and only have a 25 man first team (over 21) squad.
He's quoted on SSN saying he is not going fro MIlner/Young or Jagielka.
Robbie Would be good to have around the squad if he is prepared to accept a squad role. He works his socks and can be a threat both creatively and in front of goal (albeit he should score more). If we get a Mark viduka/berbatov shaped striker in then I believe Keane could absolutley re find his pre liverpool form.
Unfortunately for me as an Irish spur I don't believe he would be happy with that situation and Redknapp will look to cash in with Villa the most likely destination.
I hope I am wrong.
Thanks and so long Robbie
Harry keeps changing his tune every couple of days and its pissing me off - although to be fair, he is probably being misquoted a lot of the time.
One day he says we can compete for the league with three signings, the next its that a couple of loan deals is all we can hope for. He keeps commenting on everyone else's players which seems odd if he has no intention to try and buy them. He also says trhat every decent player is out of our league financially.
Not sure if he's just trying to pressurise Levy into spending some dosh or has verbal diarrhoea.
Meanwhile we are playing Bale all the time (surely there is a risk of injury/burnout), two of our four strikers dont know if theyre coming or going (but neither feel loved), Gudjohnsen is in limbo and we appear to have a centre back crisis on our hands.
I think we will struggle to compete in the league and CL without some fresh blood.
I'm sure there is a cunning plan somewhere and we will all realise Harry was just teasing us when a couple of big signings are revealed (even though I'm sure I read somewhere that we wanted to get our business done early and not leave it too late, like some previous years).
Anyway, in Harry and Levy we trust, dont we??
Interesting stuff from Devonshirespur and Sheffspur. Really don't think Fabiano is our man though. Crouch, Keane and Defoe are all very good players on their day, but I don't think they can quite make the step up to the top level and none of them can be a "main man". I agree that it would be fantastic to have a player who could play up top on his own when required. Can Pav do this job for us? We haven't seen the best of him, i'm sure. Can Huntelaar do this job for us? One of the best things Spurs are doing IMO is creating a nucleus of English players. Wouldn't it be marvelous if there was an English option out there?
By the way, at the back end of last season, I couldn't believe how many times I said "well done Kaboul" when watching matches when he was covering at right back.
If he goes to Villa then he's not a definite starter there either.
Lets not forget we could have been down without him coming back. I also thought he had a good start to last season and only dipped after the Ireland Henry situation. All of a sudden he didnt play for a few games and Harry shipped him out.
Lets get behind him. Stop asking questions and over analyzing everything.
I think like Jenas they are more accepting to fight for their places now.
COYS
Anyone seen this bbc article taking a pop at premier league clubs, but Spurs in particular......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8848630.stm
I seem to remember arry was in for santa cruz before he went to city...what with the never-ending influx of players now at city, would it be a shock if we went back in for him? He has champions league experience and a decent goal rate in the prem. Not sure he would be for me but an interesting thought none the less.
Raul says England or Germany but deal not done.
Dont compare Defoe to Keane. The former wants the ball at his feet ( like Les Ferdinand) and would not make an effort to win back a "lost " ball. You would find Keane at defensive positions on many occasions - a perfect athlete.
Defoe enjoys capitalising on other players hard efforts just to muck things up because he goes for glory & rarely passes to the one in an advantaged position. Take heed of this blatent comment Harry - I don't normally resort to this behaviour.