Friday, September 19, 2008

Smith Tips Keane To Be An Anfield Success


While midfielder Steven Gerrard anticipates his next goal for Liverpool - which will be his 100th for the club, striker Robbie Keane is still waiting to open his account for the Reds. But former Arsenal and England centre-forward Alan Smith is sure Keane will become a huge hit at Anfield.

Robbie Keane joined Liverpool - the club he supported as a boy - for £20million in the summer from Tottenham, but his Anfield career has yet to ignite properly.

Keane gives the impression of trying just a little too hard at the moment, which is understandable from a player whose game is based on enthusiasm and endeavour.

But Alan Smith, a highly-respected striker in a prolific career with Leicester City, Arsenal and England, reckons that if Keane can just relax a bit more he will make a big impression at his new club.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Smith knows from experience that every striker just needs a goal to kick-start any fallow period in his fortunes.

“Only then will he begin to loosen up and start showing his new public what he can really do. At the moment, there's a bit of tension to his game, especially when the goal comes within range,” said Smith.

“You could see it at the weekend in the way he snatched at one chance before reacting too slowly when Javier Mascherano’s pulled shot headed his way - nothing too serious, merely evidence of a player tightening up slightly.”

Smith continued: “As always with strikers starting out at new clubs, Keane just needs a break of the ball, a bit of luck in the penalty box, then the Republic of Ireland captain can start doing himself justice, whilst developing a better understanding with Fernando Torres.

“As yet, we haven't seen the pair click. A combination billed as potentially lethal has lain largely dormant over the first few weeks of the season.

“We can put that down to a few things. For a start, the early season internationals certainly haven't helped. With the best players disappearing to all four corners of the globe, the top club managers struggle for continuity.

“The Irishman and the Spaniard should dovetail beautifully to form the kind of potent attacking partnership Anfield hasn't seen in years.”

Keane has been working prodigiously, chasing lost causes and closing down opponents, excellent qualities in a team player that will endear him to the Liverpool fans - and impress manager Rafael Benitez.

Smith is sure Keane is a perfect fit for Liverpool, adding: “Just like the classy [Dimitar] Berbatov looks a perfect match for Manchester United, so the intelligent Keane seems made for the red half of Merseyside.

“In fact, I'd go as far to say that the famous No 7 shirt worn by Keegan and Dalglish rests in pretty safe hands. He's going to succeed - it's just a matter of time - and that moment, I'd guess, isn't too far away.”

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