Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
As a GBP20m striker, failing to make the starting line-up is disappointing. Being repeatedly substituted on the odd occasion that you do is even worse. But the nadir of Robbie Keane's short and unhappy time on Merseyside must surely be the indignity of being kicked off the bench in favour of David N'Gog. No-one deserves that fate. Despite a brace of impressive performances over Christmas and the fact that he started against Everton in the league on Monday, Keane failed to even make it into the 18-man matchday squad for Sunday's FA Cup tie. The Irishman has, it seems, completely lost the confidence of his manager, if indeed he ever had it for long in the first place.
Keane has been hauled off in almost every Premier League game he has played for the Reds, surviving the full 90 minutes on only one occasion. With the exception of just a handful of moments of class, his contributions have been limited to relentless and tireless running, something that has not gone unnoticed by the generous Liverpool fans, but not perhaps an attribute worth such a sizeable sum. When you pay that much money you expect a great player who can take you a step closer to a title, not an above-average one who will vanish into the background.
This always looked like a strange transfer for Liverpool who, stricken by the Gruesome Twosome's self-inflicted debts, could not afford to make costly mistakes in the market. Remember, this deal was struck at the same time that the board were arguing the toss over the odd million in the doomed Gareth Barry transfer. How was a striker approaching his 30th birthday deemed more worthy than the Aston Villa midfielder?
Liverpool had ended last season in the 4-2-3-1 formation that suits them best with Steven Gerrard pushing up in a free role behind Fernando Torres. Keane was not quick enough to play the Gerrard role and, having only scored 15 league goals or more in a season twice in his career, he wasn't prolific enough to take the place of the Spaniard. That meant that he was either a ludicrously expensive and inferior spare part, or that Benitez was reverting back to the unsuccessful 4-4-2 that had the perennial flaw of limiting Gerrard's sphere of influence. The answer was a mixture of the two, an illogical outcome as damaging for Liverpool as it is for the hapless frontman.
"Robbie Keane was not selected," said Benitez after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Everton. "We have a very good squad. He was not injured."
He wasn't tired either, given that he hardly ever gets to finish a game. It's not squad rotation and it's certainly not because Benitez thought he could play a weaker side. Taking a Merseyside derby for granted is football suicide. It's meritocracy. Benitez simply doesn't rate Keane anymore.
If you believe the rumours, there is interest in the Irishman from Everton, Newcastle and interestingly Spurs, who seem to be on a mission to re-unite the Martin Jol team of 2005. If Benitez really doesn't believe that his expensive acquisition is worthy of a place in his first 18, he should cut his losses and sell up now. The longer that Keane lingers in the shadows, the more ridiculous the transaction seems and, with his own future at the club still undetermined, Benitez can ill afford to look ridiculous.
Keane has been hauled off in almost every Premier League game he has played for the Reds, surviving the full 90 minutes on only one occasion. With the exception of just a handful of moments of class, his contributions have been limited to relentless and tireless running, something that has not gone unnoticed by the generous Liverpool fans, but not perhaps an attribute worth such a sizeable sum. When you pay that much money you expect a great player who can take you a step closer to a title, not an above-average one who will vanish into the background.
This always looked like a strange transfer for Liverpool who, stricken by the Gruesome Twosome's self-inflicted debts, could not afford to make costly mistakes in the market. Remember, this deal was struck at the same time that the board were arguing the toss over the odd million in the doomed Gareth Barry transfer. How was a striker approaching his 30th birthday deemed more worthy than the Aston Villa midfielder?
Liverpool had ended last season in the 4-2-3-1 formation that suits them best with Steven Gerrard pushing up in a free role behind Fernando Torres. Keane was not quick enough to play the Gerrard role and, having only scored 15 league goals or more in a season twice in his career, he wasn't prolific enough to take the place of the Spaniard. That meant that he was either a ludicrously expensive and inferior spare part, or that Benitez was reverting back to the unsuccessful 4-4-2 that had the perennial flaw of limiting Gerrard's sphere of influence. The answer was a mixture of the two, an illogical outcome as damaging for Liverpool as it is for the hapless frontman.
"Robbie Keane was not selected," said Benitez after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Everton. "We have a very good squad. He was not injured."
He wasn't tired either, given that he hardly ever gets to finish a game. It's not squad rotation and it's certainly not because Benitez thought he could play a weaker side. Taking a Merseyside derby for granted is football suicide. It's meritocracy. Benitez simply doesn't rate Keane anymore.
If you believe the rumours, there is interest in the Irishman from Everton, Newcastle and interestingly Spurs, who seem to be on a mission to re-unite the Martin Jol team of 2005. If Benitez really doesn't believe that his expensive acquisition is worthy of a place in his first 18, he should cut his losses and sell up now. The longer that Keane lingers in the shadows, the more ridiculous the transaction seems and, with his own future at the club still undetermined, Benitez can ill afford to look ridiculous.
