by ConnO'var » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:28 am
On the whole, it was probably the best thing for both parties involved. It has become abundantly clear that Rafa didn't want to use Keane any more, so there was no point in us paying high wages for someone who would have inevitably been no more than a passenger. For Keane, he's likely to get more playing time with Spurs under the tutelage of a manager who actually rates and wants him. At his age, and for someone who has an abundance of passion for the game still, it would have been inconceivable to expect him to be content with just warming the bench and at times not even being on it.
The 20 million figure that seems to be the bone in the throat of most posters is really no fault of Keane's. We won't know for sure until someone comes right out and say it, but apparently it wasn't Rafa's decision either. All around bad investment for us.... one of many in recent times it would seem.
Having said that, I do think that this decision may bite us in the @rse should Torres get injured.... and lets face it, with hamstring injuries, this could become an issue before long. We need another recognized striker and I don't think that Kuyt, Babel and N'gog fits the bill. Perhaps it's time for Nemeth to come to the fore. I'm not best pleased with the decision to go without a replacement.... it's too much of a gamble.
Even though Keane did not score too many goals for us, it would be prudent for us to remember that he had played a part in other ways when we were winning so many early in the season. I was happy with his signing and thought that he could be a very good addition but was mistaken as we don't set up to best utilize his strengths..... for better or worse. He did his best but it just didn't work out.
Keano represents the last in a long line of failed strikers at the club. A list headed by a fair few number of players....... Morientes (the best of the lot), Pongolle, Cisse, Baros and the last return of god. In my opinion, this is just a fact we will have to accept with management under Rafa..... we will play with 1 recognized striker (thank feck that he's about the best in the business) and Stevie playing behind him. I maybe wrong (Sabre, can you confirm?) but in most, if not all, of Rafa's successesful periods in management, he's played with only 1 upfront.
Good luck Keano.
