Energy.
Martin O’Neill used the word in both his post-game interview with RTE, and in the post-match press conference, and in both cases it made bad reading for Robbie Keane.
“I didn’t think we’d great energy in the first half,” O’Neill said about his side’s first half display, “and I just thought he (Keane) lacked that bit of energy.”
There was a lot more wrong with Ireland’s first-half performance than Keane, and Shane Long showed in the second-half, when missing a gilt-edge chance, why O’Neill has, so far, persisted with his 35 year old captain.
However, Keane was, with the exception of one shot, anonymous.
One can understand the reasoning behind O’Neill’s decision to start Keane against Georgia. The striker has entered an inevitable physical decline, but his eye for goal, wonderful movement and predatory instincts remain in tact, particularly against minnows.
Keane has been a revelation since moving to MLS, winning league titles, the MVP award and generally exploiting the poor level of defending across the Atlantic.
But, after tonight’s game against Georgia, the quality of Ireland’s opposition raises significantly, and, as sad as it is to say, there’ll be room for passengers. Even first class passengers with 67 international goals.
Ireland face the world champions Germany at the Aviva next month, followed by a trip to Warsaw a few days later to play Poland, and a potential two-leg play-off in November.
Can O’Neill afford to include Keane on the basis that, if he gets a chance, he might score? Recent form would suggest not.
As Ken Early pointed out in The Irish Times, Keane has been something of a flat track for bully since moving to MLS.
“Since his debut for LA Galaxy in August 2011, he’s played 32 matches for Ireland, scoring 16 goals. The goals have come against: Estonia (2), Kazakhstan (2), Georgia (2), Faroe Islands (3), Latvia, Sweden, and Gibraltar (5).”
“He has failed to score in 23 of the 32 matches, drawing blanks against opponents including Spain, England, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Austria, Russia and Croatia.”
Despite these stats, O’Neill’s summation of his captain’s contribution is perhaps the most damning of all.
“(It was) a difficult decision (substituting Keane at half-time), because it wasn’t the very obvious,” O’Neill said following the game.
“We still had to get a goal, and our best goalscorer was going to be for the next 10 minutes sitting in the dressing room. Robbie has been terrific, but he’s not getting any younger.”
“The last thing you want to do, when you’re still searching for a goal, is to remove your specialist goalscorer.”
However, that’s exactly what happened, and while Long missed a chance Keane would’ve scored with his eyes closed, with both hands tied behind his back, Ireland were the better for their record goalscorer’s absence.
There’ll be some reading this that feel Keane should’ve been dropped from the Ireland starting XI some time ago, but his record, commitment and eye for goal has earned him the benefit of the doubt. Not to mention the lack of alternatives.
There’ll also be some who would argue that Keane has always been a flat track bully, and that his record is more a reflection on his status as an undisputed starter, than as a top class player.
However, this just isn’t the case. Keane has scored goals against The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy and France in the past, and his goalscoring record isn’t a by-product of being the first name on the team sheet, but rather the result of Keane’s fantastic movement and finishing ability, as well as an unquestionable commitment to the cause.
Keane has been an incredible player for Ireland over three decades, providing Irish football fans with some fantastic memories. His goalscoring, and appearance records, will never be bettered, and there’s an argument to be made that he hasn’t received the credit his career should warrant, but there’s no escape from the reality facing both the player and the Ireland team.
Long provides that much needed energy O’Neill spoke of, if not the goal threat Keane once offered. While both Long and Jon Walters can play through the middle, and out wide if a tactical tweak is needed.
In Ireland’s decisive games against Germany and Poland, and the potential November play-offs, there should be no place for Keane in the starting XI.
