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The title is to be taken literally, Robbie Keane was not wanted back and most of those that did want him back have quickly abandoned him.  Robbie Keane has become the new Jermaine Jenas, a naming that should bring chills down the spine of ANY footballer. With that chalice will come the most intense scrutiny and vilification a footballer can experience, on the side of the yang it brings together the loyalists that can see no wrong in the player such that the player is in fact highlighted or singled out for the leading topic of discussion on any occasion.

How Robbie has fallen into this dungeon is anyone’s guess, but he is there so we might as well address and examine our prisoner.

Robbie Keane has drawn a line through the grass at white hart lane and depending on which side the sun shines that line could be Lilly white or It could be useless dirt, the verdict is determined by the fans that find themselves on opposite sides where once in Keane’s name there was only one.

On the one hand you have the fans that won’t really forgive him for walking out to his dream club, those that could never see why he was chosen over Defoe, those that see him as un-droppable (the JJ trait) and those that see him as an obstruction in striking partnerships. On the other hand you have those that see Keane as a symbol, that remember the service he gave to us, that have faith in his abilities to score goals, that want his leadership, that appreciated his versatility and more complete game than a 1 track minded Jermaine Defoe (of the past), and as a player that is needed to make a system work

So let’s see the possible benefits and penalties from having a Robbie Keane when you look at his game at Face Value

CONS                                                                         PROS

Now let’s take a closer look at what Keane could very possibly be about.

There is every chance that Keane is easily one of the most important ingredients to the results we have been churning out since the turn of the calendar year.  If you were to do a correlation between Robbie Keane’s presence and the turn of results we have had over the past 8 to 9 months you would most likely get a lot closer to that perfect match of 1 than if you correlated with Keane’s absence to the results we got when he wasn’t on the field in our colours. Over 9 months, NINE MONTHS, the likelihood that this cannot possibly be just co-incidence is certainly above average.

Sometimes it isn’t the best player that helps the team get the best results.

Keane: - His Defensive contribution. The Power of 5

·         There is a rumour that we go out there and play with a flat 442. Most of us know this not to be true as we can see our resident magician (Modric) is never shackled to one position, no we line up as a 442 and start our defensive positions as a 442 but that’s probably about as far as it goes in this useless author’s opinion

·         Defensively we tend to protect our weaker links, namely Tom HUDDLESTONE aka The THUDD, by getting more men to press the opposition than the opposition have bodies in midfield. The reason being is that although THUDD is coming good now, he isn’t coming good in isolation, no he is coming good because of the SYSTEM that we play and this system is only made possible for US at this moment by one player in our squad and that is Robbie Keane. I can see eyes rolling and people pointing at Sergeant Wilson Palacious as the reason THUDD is coming into his own but a quick look at the Birmingham game pre and post Keane playing up front in a central role and the man united game should shed some doubt in the capability of ONE MAN making all the difference. This isn’t Night Rider. Looking after THUDD can be a full time job and Wilson hasn’t got time for this. The duty of this has to be shared…but is it enough to do this with just 2 in the centre? Again, no it isn’t. All it takes is a quick pass then move game around Thudd and Wilson is staring down the barrel of multiple opponents and decisions to make.

·         So step up Robbie Keane. In comes the ONLY forward we have with the top class tempered pressing game willing to come from the front lines and get stuck in at the base of the opponent’s midfield. His task is to hustle them into make a quick decision, to track them , to hopefully tackle them but MOST importantly to help the exposed Palacious do his Job more confidently and remove a substantial amount of work or reliance of THUDD to be defensively perfect to make up for his mobility issues and Lack of Lateral movement. By Keane helping defensively one can see Palacious able to make more informed decisions as to where the danger is more than likely going to come from next because either Keane is forcing the ball somewhere or THUDD is preparing to sweep / press any deviation from Wilson’s choice. 5 midfielders against 4 by rule of thumb will make life easier for us defensively, even if we have an immobile tank in the middle. And all this doesn’t even take into account the doubling up he does with Lennon and Modric on a wide player, or when he uses the pressing of both Modric and Lennon to anticipate the next recipient of the ball. What sets Keane apart is that not only does he try to predict the next direction of the ball but he busts lungs to get there and force the opposition into an error or an early ill thought through pass

What’s actually quite remarkable about this player is that to the fans he isn’t seen, much like a ghost, unless he does something that has a direct tangible result from a clearly visible action to the naked eye.  Keane has been doing this for years , he did it under Jol (the lob sided 3-5-3 that had Tainio drift in and lee overlap with Keane playing both deep and on the last line of the defence, sound familiar?) and he is doing it under Redknapp today.

Keane: - His Offensive contribution. The Power of 5

• Tom Huddlestone :-   This isn’t to say that Tom Huddlestone is totally inept, just that you get the best out of him when he’s utilised in a system that gives him more time and space on the ball than the Premiership would allow. How can one accommodate THUDD into the starting line-up and having him be effective enough to dictate a game? Build the team around him! Distract the oppositions’ attention on him by Providing more options for recipients when Tottenham have the ball. As always Keane is that willing volunteer, quite often in a poorer fashion than one would like in this author’s humble opinion. With the space created by having an extra presence in the midfield to receive the ball and keep it (see Keane’s possible pros and cons) Tom HUDDLESTONE now has the time and space to make the most of his rare gifts, VISION AND PASSING. With that our THUDD can get the ball in a “Top 4” manner straight to the attacking players deep within the opposition territory, most notably Aaron Lennon!!! Yes that’s right with the Team formed around THUDD, made possible by Keane’s inclusion; Lennon can look forward to many opportunities to be isolated with his full back. And we all like to see Aaron isolated with his fullback
• Possession: - Keane playing deeper when necessary also allows for a good linkup between Modric and Lennon in order to overload the full backs and to retain possession by being an outlet in enemy surrounded areas. In that last category it may appear to be a bit flippant as Defoe has actually very good at this too, but every little does count. It is very noticeable that Keane’s release of the ball, and timing of it, leaves a lot to be something to be desired but the fact of the matter is as far as looking for a silver lining in that irritating habit we STILL have possession of the ball. The reason why this is not so much as horrific I would assume is because when he does hand over the ball he is giving control over to the likes of Modric. Having 5 people operating in and around each other is the way a not so good passing team can match up with the better passers of the premiership while dominating as best as they can the lower level opposition.
• Two in One :-  With Robbie, though he may not excel in a position of link up forward operating in the hole, he is the only forward we have that can operate there at all in some capacity. Its one thing providing much needed help in the middle but then bodies are needed up font as well up front and somehow Keane is there too. His versatility and willingness to put in a good shift of work is something that shouldn’t be undermined by his lack of goal return on RECENT FORM ALONE. . Mind you if he does stay forward you can expect that the option for BAE to occupy the left mid and make a midfield 5 is still open for service.

There is however another side to the coin; with all the values that can be attributed to having Robbie Keane in the team there is also another way one can view his contribution. Here are some views that come up in some heated discussions on GG (Glory-Glory.co.uk)

·         Robbie Keane :- The Headless Chicken . On very many occasions there is no telling where Robbie Keane will end up on the pitch. The assumption being that he is doing everything according to plan what comes across is a headless horseman that has no sense of direction of where the next victim is. Keane will move into positions already occupied by others and DEMAND the ball, taking hold of it, and while arching those elbows, dribble the ball with nothing happening. When finally he decides to release it he gives it to someone that would have gotten the ball an eternity’s length before from the player that surrendered it.

·         Robbie Keane :- The Ball Hog Followed on from the headless chicken . Keane will be the one player that wants to live out a fantasy by being the Zidane of Tottenham. Only thing is that Zidane was actually best when he passed the ball. With Robbie, an observation has been made, more than once, that when he gets the ball he tries to do something that isn’t second nature to him but worse, refuses to pass the ball until he has attempted to do the task, and even more horrific , might actually end up doing nothing with the ball. This occurs before, during and after the willing receivers have been making their moves anticipating …..something (I have no idea what)

·         Robbie Keane :- The Moaner. Speaks for itself really. He carries a sullen look when substituted, almost like he is above it, some say that this is because he has a desire to play and compete. I call it something else at times. He is normally the first to publicly berate his team mates during a game when something doesn’t come off or you don’t do what he wants. Some people see this as passion, I see this at times as something else…..

·         Robbie Keane :- The Un-droppable:- This whole slumber fest that I am putting you through is entirely the opinions of one individual, so please don’t for one moment think that what’s being said here is considered fact. The reason I mention that is because I am of the personal opinion that at this moment Keane IS un-droppable, and so he should be if we want to keep on employing this winning system we have taken a shine to. In case you didn’t pick up what I am trying to say, it’s that Keane HAS become un-droppable. What else do you call a striker that does not score goals, holds up the play and has actually played poorly but still gets picked irrespective of all this? It’s just that is it THAT MUCH of a problem for you that you would want to break a current winning formula?

·         Robbie Keane :- A Confused, Disloyal and Unwilling repentant :- We’ll keep this one short, no need going over old wound and past transgressions (I know I don’t want to go over them cause they make me seethe ). Keane got the call from big club and treated us like a stepping stone , then as some excrement from the derriere of a well fed rat with the Ebola virus and then apparently (if you are a fan of the “ITK”) caused a bit of a tiny stir behind the scenes to help the Fat Spanish Waiter get his man. The assumption is that if we were that much in the way, why did you return? Did you want to? Or did you have no choice? World cup year and all that.

·         Robbie Keane:- Cannot work with Defoe . This has been a long standing one, brought about some excellent debates too. The main theme, though currently being partially smashed, was that Keane and Defoe could not work in the same team together and you know what, this was true. With no real passers the ball movement of choice was the long ball, NOT deck passing. The thing is though that the direct long ball style STILL is very advantageous and should always be an option for teams, this option though with a Keane and Defoe partnership is blasted to oblivion mainly because they can’t reach the ball (Keane does this thing where he puts in an annoying token gesture of a jump ) and we don’t have players, or rather we didn’t, that go for the second Ariel ball or try to control the ball once it hits the ground. There was also the issue of both players occupying each other’s space, of Defoe being accused of being one track minded and not passing, of Keane’s movement and positioning not suiting Defoe’s etc etc. Was quite lengthy saga.

So what does this all come down to?

We NEED Robbie Keane to be part of the current first team plans because there is no other player currently part of our squad that has the capabilities and willingness / desire to do what Keane does for the team right now. His stats delivery may not be what people want but the results speak for themselves, when he plays we win more than we lose. There is a good rumour that young Ryan Mason is capable and is wiling but let’s groom him in first shall we.

We can all agree that the idea of an un-droppable player is despicable, but do we really want to risk dismantling a winning formation while it’s still WINNING?