Not as Keane as first thought

Liverpool fans are once again crowing that this will be their year for title glory after the purchase of Robbie Keane from Tottenham. And, they may be right. Keane is just the kind of signing they need and will partner the effervescent Fernando Torres very effectively. That said, we’ve heard this all before. Wasn’t Crouch supposed to be the answer to Scouse prayers? Or Dirk Kuyt? Or maybe even Andrei Voronin? Perhaps, the less said about the last name, the better.

For all Liverpool’s adulation, Spurs fans, including myself, are understandably disappointed that Keane has left. But, I draw the line at suggestions that Spurs are bitter and angry. To start, we have no reason to be. Robbie Keane is an exceptionally good player and very worthy of being at a top four club. But is he really worth the £20 million pounds splashed out on him? That is none of Tottenham’s concern as they now have the money to go out and buy another striker, one of the same quality as Keane.

Names mentioned? Andrei Arshavin is strongly linked at the moment, with the only thing to be negotiated being a transfer fee with Zenit St Petersburg. If not him, then his Russian colleague Roman Pavlyuchenko, scorer of several Euro 2008 goals. And if both fail, then it is being reported that Spurs will throw every penny and every ounce of persuasion power to tempt Europe’s hottest property, David Villa to join Spurs. Now, as much as I rate Robbie Keane, if we got any of those players as a replacement I wouldn’t be unhappy.

Losing a player of Keane’s ability isn’t the only problem. Keane was vice captain and with Ledley King missing so much football over the last two years, Keane practically captained the side. He was at Spurs for six years and had the respect and adoration of every fan. He was about as Tottenham as you could get, as demonstrated by his post match reaction after winning the Carling Cup last year. How do you replace that kind of dressing room presence? Not easily. All the money in the world couldn’t do it. Well, not straight away.

Keane said in the press that the only team he would have ever left Spurs for was Liverpool. He supported them as a boy and he wasn’t a player walking out on a club for money as we see too often in this modern footballing age. When Keane returns to White Hart Lane, I am confident he will receive a warm reception in the light of all he did for Spurs during his time at the club. The fans still respect him and you get the sense that although Keane is over the moon to be at Liverpool, he still has a soft spot for Tottenham. I don’t think it will stop him scoring at hat-trick past us, but he might not celebrate that enthusiastically!

So Liverpool are once again talking up their title challenge incessantly for the hundredth season in a row. To be honest, they’re my least disliked team out of the whole top four and if anyone should win it, I would want it to be them. But, lets face facts. We have heard it all before, and the signing of one player will not guarantee them the title.

Yes, Spurs have lost arguably their best player. But they’re 20 million quid stronger for it and, as much as I dislike him, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have been laughing all the way to the bank. Now as long as he laughs all the way to St Petersburg for a certain Mr Arshavin or Valencia for a certain Mr Villa then I’m sure we’ll be alright next season. Bottom line - hope you do well Robbie, but I fear Liverpool fans are expecting the world from you.