Robbie Keane - loan now confirmed

[Eigentor]

I don't agree with the OP that it's a big mistake, but I can't see Keane making much of an impact. The signing does add to the feeling that we're a little unimaginative in the transfer market, thouigh.

[QBVILLA]

I saw him last season when he was at West Ham on loan and to me it looked like his legs had gone.Prior to his switch to Anfield i'd have loved to have signed Keane but now i'd rather see us taking a punt on a lower division striker who has something to prove ie Rhodes or Maynard than whacking 750k for two months on a player who is two years past his best.

[Ian.]

Well he is not as old as I thought. Before we were linked with him I thought he must be around 34 or 35. But at 31  I can not believe the above statement that his legs have gone?
I have already said I like him, but what he will be like now Iv'e no idea but I do hope QBVilla you are mistaken on his general fitness as this will be a mistake.

[Legion]

Perhaps 'big mistake' was not the best choice of words.

[Greg N'Ash]

not so much a mistake as a why bother? when you need players all over the pitch then it seems a bit odd to start in the one position we have got some depth in. Okay so Heskey's out but we still have fonz and the other kidas back-up. In other areas of the team we haven't even got a decent 1st choice.

[philthebar]

Can't see any logic to it

[darren woolley]

I will back him while he plays for the Villa.

[olaftab]

How about, let's give him a chance. Back up for 2 months, hardly the end of the world.

Except that about  half a million pounds of supporters money down the drain for someone who is unlikely to play and if he does unlikely to contribute anything at all. I remember his last appearance at VP playing for Liverpool.

[Merv]

I can't really understand the consternation surrounding this deal, unless it really is a pre-cursor to Bent being sold, which I doubt.

For two months, we get the opportunity to use an international-quality striker with proven Premier League experience; I don't know if his sharp edges have been dulled since being with LA Galaxy but, as has been said, Keane's still only 31 and his game has never been about pace.

We don't have another striker like him in the squad, Heskey is out for another month, and at times - recently, especially - our bench has looked pretty thin. I expect a series of 20-30 min cameos from Keane in the next two months, maybe the odd start. He'd allow us to play a slightly different formation from time to time, a genuine slightly deeper-lying striker behind a centre-forward.

[PaulTheVillan]

Anyone would think he's signed for 3 years, on £60k a week in replace of Gabby.

[pedro25]

Keane at 31 must be preferable to Pires at 37 and Heskey at 33.  It makes sense to me with Heskey being out for at least a month that leaves us with only 2 senior strikers and Gabby is likely to be required out wide for certain matches as we only have 2 wide players for those 2 spots as well.

[Rick_avfc]

I wasn't keen on this deal at first but having taken some time to think about it, I think this will be a good bit of business in the short term.  He has a lot of experience and will do better than Fonz and Weimann.  At the moment, we do need some experience in the side and he clearly brings it.  Everyone keeps saying lets play the youth but say if that doesn't work and we find ourselves in deep trouble fighting relegation?  Then we would have a lot of fans starting to get on the backs of the youth players and dent their confidence. 

With Heskey injured, we only have Bent and Gabby as our only experienced forwards so bringing Keane in is a no brainer even if its for 6 games.  He may possibly score some important goals for us which get us to the "magic" 40 point mark which will most likely see us playing PL football again next season.  He is only 31 so cant really call him a journey man.  He will be giving 110% especially with the Euro's coming up.

Good Luck Robbie!  You definitely have my support now!

[Legion]

I wasn't keen on this deal at first but having taken some time to think about it, I think this will be a good bit of business in the short term.  He has a lot of experience and will do better than Fonz and Weimann.  At the moment, we do need some experience in the side and he clearly brings it.  Everyone keeps saying lets play the youth but say if that doesn't work and we find ourselves in deep trouble fighting relegation?  Then we would have a lot of fans starting to get on the backs of the youth players and dent their confidence. 

With Heskey injured, we only have Bent and Gabby as our only experienced forwards so bringing Keane in is a no brainer even if its for 6 games.  He may possibly score some important goals for us which get us to the "magic" 40 point mark which will most likely see us playing PL football again next season.  He is only 31 so cant really call him a journey man.  He will be giving 110% especially with the Euro's coming up.

Good Luck Robbie!  You definitely have my support now!

Food for thought...

[Chris Smith]

How about, let's give him a chance. Back up for 2 months, hardly the end of the world.

Except that about  half a million pounds of supporters money down the drain for someone who is unlikely to play and if he does unlikely to contribute anything at all. I remember his last appearance at VP playing for Liverpool.

As Ozz points out above if his contribution helps us win a few points and finish a couple of places higher than we would have without him then we'll make a profit on the move.

[N'ZMAV]

Robbie Keane > Pires