Purchase of Robbie Keane

[Woobus]

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.

With your opinion on Barry I really didnt think you would agree. Some players bring the best out in other players like Gerrard and Torres.
Berbatov and Keane were a great partnership and both have struggled since it was split up.

[Fan65]

Keane is an enigma, When he was bought in I expect the majority thought at last a decent partner for Torres, £20 mill looks expensive but what the hell if he does for us what he's been doing for Spurs then we're going to have a real strikeforce.

Unfortunately it hasn't happened, Torres injuries haven't helped but it's clear as day that Keane is totally out of form, one missed sitter is not excusable but three ? that's alarming for a player of his supposed quality.

I think Rafa has painted himself into a corner, £20 million striker out of form and on the bench just isn't good enough so he must play him to get some form back, if that doesn't happen soon it won't matter how much was paid for him he'll be gone at a loss.

[Elvoz]

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.

aye dont blame rafa like

[nineteen years]

for some reason **** roses and step in come to mind

[Woobus]

aye dont blame rafa like

Some people on here blame Rafa for walking in dog crap, just trying to give the man some support

[Baldemort]

Keane is a quality player. You don't just suddenly become **** overnight. He's consistently delivered the good in the prem over a fair few seasons prior to this one, sadly. Spurs fans adore him.

The purchase of Keane made no sense at the time and still doesn't. If we stick to 4231, where does he play? Mash and Alonso are the 2 and I really can't see him displacing any of the 3 as Riera was bought specifically for the left and seems to be doing well, Kuyt is Rafa's lovechild and will never be dropped for Keane, which leaves Gerrard who is irreplaceable full stop. He's certainly not replacing Torres.

He can't even provide cover for Torres as he stinks as the lone striker. So it has to be 442. Which means if Nando is not fit, Keane barely gets a game, or when he does, it's in a 4231 as lone striker which he stinks at so either rarelt gets a start of gets pulled off after 60 mins.

His only hope is with Nando up front in a 442. I hope to god Rafa gives the pair a decent run together now as that's what Keane desperately needs. Continuity and confidence. He certainly doesn't need to be benched after scoring in the previous game.

[zimbo]

Keane is a quality player. You don't just suddenly become **** overnight. He's consistently delivered the good in the prem over a fair few seasons prior to this one, sadly. Spurs fans adore him.

The purchase of Keane made no sense at the time and still doesn't. If we stick to 4231, where does he play? Mash and Alonso are the 2 and I really can't see him displacing any of the 3 as Riera was bought specifically for the left and seems to be doing well, Kuyt is Rafa's lovechild and will never be dropped for Keane, which leaves Gerrard who is irreplaceable full stop. He's certainly not replacing Torres.

He can't even provide cover for Torres as he stinks as the lone striker. So it has to be 442. Which means if Nando is not fit, Keane barely gets a game, or when he does, it's in a 4231 as lone striker which he stinks at so either rarelt gets a start of gets pulled off after 60 mins.

His only hope is with Nando up front in a 442. I hope to god Rafa gives the pair a decent run together now as that's what Keane desperately needs. Continuity and confidence. He certainly doesn't need to be benched after scoring in the previous game.

In a sense though, it's irrelevant what Keane needs. All that matters is getting the team functioning as effectively as possible in the shortest amount of time. For me that means reverting to the formation that worked well in the second half of last season, with Gerrard behind Torres, and Alonso and Mascherano anchoring the midfield. The players themselves seemed more comfortable with the formation and it brought the best out of both Gerrard and Torres, which, if we're to regain our momentum, is critical.

I'd be happy to stick with that set-up for the run-in. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to allow Keane the time he would seem to need to play himself into form.

[BFG]

In a sense though, it's irrelevant what Keane needs. All that matters is getting the team functioning as effectively as possible in the shortest amount of time. For me that means reverting to the formation that worked well in the second half of last season, with Gerrard behind Torres, and Alonso and Mascherano anchoring the midfield. The players themselves seemed more comfortable with the formation and it brought the best out of both Gerrard and Torres, which, if we're to regain our momentum, is critical.

I'd be happy to stick with that set-up for the run-in. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to allow Keane the time he would seem to need to play himself into form.

I think that's the best system for our players too.

[dww]

I really think that the system is irrelevant as at the minute in both systems none of our central midfield players take the responsibility to push the team forward. It is a huge disservice in my opinion to most of our attacking players - Benayoun, Keane and Kuyt in particular wherever they play are more effective when the midfield is closer to the forwards. In both the Stoke and Everton game after initial periods of dominance we have fallen too deep in my opinion and failed to apply pressure higher up the pitch. In doing this we minimise the effectiveness of our attacking options and it seems to go against the entire philosophy of Rafa's game plan at least when it was successfully executed earlier in the season and towards the end of last season.

Personally at the minute I feel that Alonso and Gerrard are the most culpable players as they are the two natural leaders in the team in the area we need leaders most.

I also think Rafa should play Agger more as he bring the ball into midfield better than our other defenders and hence pushes us forward from the back.

[Baldemort]

In a sense though, it's irrelevant what Keane needs. All that matters is getting the team functioning as effectively as possible in the shortest amount of time. For me that means reverting to the formation that worked well in the second half of last season, with Gerrard behind Torres, and Alonso and Mascherano anchoring the midfield. The players themselves seemed more comfortable with the formation and it brought the best out of both Gerrard and Torres, which, if we're to regain our momentum, is critical.

I'd be happy to stick with that set-up for the run-in. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to allow Keane the time he would seem to need to play himself into form.

Absolutely. But we've played 4231 most of the season and we've hardly set the world alight. So what does Rafa do? Stick with a formation that we're accustomed to but one that isn't quite enough right now, or one that may take a game or two to get used to but will allow us to make the most of an attacking line up that includes Gerrard, Keane and Torres. Me? I'd try the same squad in a 442 as we used the other night against the bluenoses this weekend. It won't affect our Prem position if it doesn't work and we can just switch back to 4231, but if it does, we can stick with it for the rest of the season and hopefully push on in the Prem.

[zimbo]

Absolutely. But we've played 4231 most of the season and we've hardly set the world alight. So what does Rafa do? Stick with a formation that we're accustomed to but one that isn't quite enough right now, or one that may take a game or two to get used to but will allow us to make the most of an attacking line up that includes Gerrard, Keane and Torres. Me? I'd try the same squad in a 442 as we used the other night against the bluenoses this weekend. It won't affect our Prem position if it doesn't work and we can just switch back to 4231, but if it does, we can stick with it for the rest of the season and hopefully push on in the Prem.

I see your point, but to be fair the 4231 system is reliant on Torres being available. His absence for a hefty chunk of the season has meant that on numerous occasions we've been left with Keane or Kuyt as the lone frontman, neither of whom have shown the capability to flourish in the role. Torres, on the other hand seems to work best when allowed to roam across the front-line alone, although, as dww alluded to, there is an obvious need for the midfield to provide constant support to avoid him being isolated.

Unfortunately I've seen little from Keane to indicate that he can make enough of a contribution to our attacking play to warrant his inclusion. I'd be happy to be proved wrong though.

[Baldemort]

So it would appear that Robbie's purchase was indeed a daft one.

[RedReet]

Absolutely. But we've played 4231 most of the season and we've hardly set the world alight. So what does Rafa do? Stick with a formation that we're accustomed to but one that isn't quite enough right now, or one that may take a game or two to get used to but will allow us to make the most of an attacking line up that includes Gerrard, Keane and Torres. Me? I'd try the same squad in a 442 as we used the other night against the bluenoses this weekend. It won't affect our Prem position if it doesn't work and we can just switch back to 4231, but if it does, we can stick with it for the rest of the season and hopefully push on in the Prem.

We're joint top, and were clear top for the majority.

Off the top of my head from a previous argument we played 442 against Standard, Villa, Stoke (1st), Fulham and West Ham. See a pattern? And just realised now they were all 0-0 too. At least when we drew with Hull we scored twice.

That’s what galls me so much about claiming 4231 is too defensive and Rafa needs to play 442. The same way when we need to score, most people think that Rafa just needs to put another striker and miraculously a goal comes. Wonder why Rafa never thinks of that???

I don’t think 442 should be discounted, I actually like how Rafa when has full options, favours it and home and 4231 away. I just detest when for whatever reason Rafa goes for 4231 he gets slated for it if we don’t win by 5.

[Marky]

He's been treated like ****e.

[Elvoz]

He's been treated like ****e.

and played like it