Written by Lauren Coupe
I remember when Spurs first signed Robbie Keane all those years ago under the Glenda era. I was so excited! I think a lot of Spurs fanatics were. He was a brilliant little footballer with great technique and pace.
Then a few years/managers later, Keane left Tottenham for his boyhood club Liverpool. But then things started to go wrong for the lad as he was being subbed off the field on a regular basis and towards the end he was more or less dropped from the team entirely. I thought Liverpool had been rather harsh on Keano by not really giving him a chance. Then in came the new Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp to bring Keane ‘home’. Keane wasn’t back at White Hart Lane long though before being loaned out to Celtic towards the end of last season. The performances he pulled off their were sometimes a joy to behold, and it looked like his sharpness and enthusiasm was back. After a lot of transfer rumours during the summer about Keane leaving White Hart Lane for good, a lot of fans were rather relieved to see him staying at the club following his great form at Celtic.
Keane still has a lot to prove since his return to Tottenhamfrom Liverpool. Many would argue that his passing has been poor, his runs have been out of place and I unfortunately I have to agree. I ask myself ‘what have Liverpool done to him?!’ but then I think hang on, he was having the time of his life at Celtic banging the balls in the net…what’s changed? What is so different at Tottenham to Celtic? Then I came to the conclusion that he may feel a little left out at Spurs. A bit like a ‘spare part’ – someone who is just thrown in when needed to be. Maybe that is the reason as to why Robbie Keane has lost his form for Tottenham.
I get the impression Robbie dislikes being on the bench week in week out, and for him to regain his form, Tottenham are going to have to start giving him some starting chances. Maybe with Defoe injured he will get that opportunity to shine, but based on the Champion’s League performance against Bremen, I am still not convinced.
