Purchase of Robbie Keane

[Kenneth]

When will the 'he'll come good' people decide that he probably won't? 20 million quid. Scandalous waste of money.

[Scratch]

When will the 'he'll come good' people decide that he probably won't? 20 million quid. Scandalous waste of money.

When he's had a chance to forge a partnership with Torres and then, IF he fails, he'll be considered a waste. However, as Torres has spent the majority of the season injured, then i don't expect an instant partnership as they need time to learn each others game...however, just before Torres picked up his first injury, it was starting to look like they could play together.

[Craig_H]

Invisible last night, looking a terrible waste of money. I'd take £10m for him now.

[Woobus]

This is what happens when you leave a clown like Parry in charge of transfers. Mind you from reports he has only cost us 5 million, would love to know how the 20 million is broken down.

[tomasjj]

Sell him back to Spurs. I hear arry is looking for a new striker.

[dww]

To be fair to Parry he was clearly on Rafa's shopping list.

[Kenneth]

When he's had a chance to forge a partnership with Torres and then, IF he fails, he'll be considered a waste. However, as Torres has spent the majority of the season injured, then i don't expect an instant partnership as they need time to learn each others game...however, just before Torres picked up his first injury, it was starting to look like they could play together.

So Keane can only not look utter ****e if he plays with Torres? Don't buy it.

[ntto]

To be fair to Parry he was clearly on Rafa's shopping list.

which begs the question where did rafa see keane fit into his 4-2-3-1 formation?

Or did it declare his intent to change back to a 4-4-2?

[Woobus]

To be fair to Parry he was clearly on Rafa's shopping list.

As long as he got Barry. Maybe he knew Keane would thrive from the system he would have used if Barry was bought.

[Kenneth]

As long as he got Barry. Maybe he knew Keane would thrive from the system he would have used if Barry was bought.

Maybe. Or maybe that's grasping at straws.

[dww]

which begs the question where did rafa see keane fit into his 4-2-3-1 formation?

Or did it declare his intent to change back to a 4-4-2?

The thing is I think that he saw him as a versatile player who could play in a variety of ways successfully. Unfortunately he has not really sparked with any of our other players and has always been a player who depends on combination play to be at his best.

As long as he got Barry. Maybe he knew Keane would thrive from the system he would have used if Barry was bought.

That is another possibility (one I have suggested before). While I think it is reasonable there are a lot of assumptions involved and it is very easy to make the argument starting a priori with the idea that Parry buggered everything and less so if you assume he has any level of competence.

[Kenneth]

That is another possibility (one I have suggested before). While I think it is reasonable there are a lot of assumptions involved and it is very easy to make the argument starting a priori with the idea that Parry buggered everything and less so if you assume he has any level of competence.

From an a posteriori perspective, I don't know of many players, or indeed any, who have relied on a specific rigid formation that was so specific as to require the abilities of a player like Barry over that of Xabi in order to look remotely good. I see no reason to think that this explanation can mitigate Kean's form. He has not looked a like a slightly off circular peg in a round hole, he's been utterly pish; air shots, running in to dead ends a la Baros etc.

[Woobus]

From an a posteriori perspective, I don't know of many players, or indeed any, who have relied on a specific rigid formation that was so specific as to require the abilities of a player like Barry over that of Xabi in order to look remotely good. I see no reason to think that this explanation can mitigate Kean's form. He has not looked a like a slightly off circular peg in a round hole, he's been utterly pish; air shots, running in to dead ends a la Baros etc.

Take Torres for example. The reason he thinks he has been such a big success is due to the way we play and the formation we use. When playing for Spain he doesnt seem to be the same player.

[dww]

From an a posteriori perspective, I don't know of many players, or indeed any, who have relied on a specific rigid formation that was so specific as to require the abilities of a player like Barry over that of Xabi in order to look remotely good. I see no reason to think that this explanation can mitigate Kean's form. He has not looked a like a slightly off circular peg in a round hole, he's been utterly pish; air shots, running in to dead ends a la Baros etc.

I don't agree with the fact that Keane has been as bad as you make out. He has had some games where he has but a lot of the time he has looked to be just slightly off to me. I think his assists and goals record would be close to the likes of Rooney and Tevez in the first half of last season.

[Kenneth]

Take Torres for example. The reason he thinks he has been such a big success is due to the way we play and the formation we use. When playing for Spain he doesnt seem to be the same player.

He still looks like a pretty good player to me. Seriously, the idea that Gareth Barry opens the door to Keane playing like a 20mill striker just doesn't work, however contrived we want to get.