Sharpshooter
Robbie Keane is restored to Coventry’s team for the premiership
match against West Ham United at Highfield Road. The Irishman has scored
eight goals in nine games for club and country and Coventry will be
hoping he can maintain his rich vein of form. Keane scored two goals
in two matches for Wolverhampton Wanderers, two in two for the Republic
of Ireland and has four in five games for Coventry
Coventrys
citys £6 million striker Robbie Keane has been awarded the Cisco
young player of the month Following his £6 million move from Wolverhampton
Wanderers to Coventry City, Robbie Keane has topped off an amazing August
by winning the first Cisco Young Player of the Month Award. The award
was voted for by newly appointed Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson
and the current England, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland national
team coaches, and is presented to the player with the best performances
over the month. The 19 year old Keane has responded to critics by scoring
three times in two weeks for the Sky Blues and winning the Man of the
Match award in this week's Republic of Ireland game against Yugoslavia.
Chairman of the judges, Bobby Robson, yesterday appointed as the new
Newcastle United manager, said: "Keane scored two goals on his
debut for Coventry and then went up to Sunderland and scored there.
It is a major leap from the Nationwide First Division to the Premiership
but young Robbie seems to have handled it extremely well. There is no
sign that he is in any way overawed and his approach has been very mature.
He seems to be a level-headed lad and I cannot think of a more suitable
nomination." Robbie Keane was a choice that Republic of Ireland
boss, Mick McCarthy, was more than happy to endorse: "There is
always a danger I might be accused of bias since Robbie is already a
valued member of my squad. However, I would say that Robbie's form since
he made his move up to the top division has been outstanding and I believe
he is now playing at the level that suits his talents." Kevin Keegan
described some of the goals Keane has scored in August as "breathtaking."
He added: "I believe the choice was between Robbie and Emile Heskey
but I think Robbie just shaded it because of the way he has handled
his £6 million transfer. He has fitted into his new side almost
instantly and has scored a couple of top-class goals." Others in
the running for the Cisco Award included Michael Bridges and Harry Kewell.
Such is the accolade for the 19 year-old Dubliner who has remained humble
throughout the last month: "My confidence is sky high at the moment
and there is a brilliant team spirit at Coventry which has helped me
settle in. I feel very honoured." Robbie will receive a Stuart
Crystal football on his return from international duty with the Republic
of Ireland. The Young Player of the Month Award, sponsored by Cisco
Systems, will be announced on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday and will culminate
at the end of the year in the Cisco Young Player of the Year Award.
The awards are for all Premiership and Nationwide League footballers
that are eligible for selection in their country's under 21 squad
Robbie
Keane is relishing the chance to play at the highest level, and has
dismissed scepticism over his decision to move to Highfield Road. The
talented Irishman has attracted interest from some of the country's
top clubs, with many surprised that he has chosen to move to Coventry.
But Keane insisted: "I'm delighted to be part of what's going on
at Coventry City. There's a new stadium being built in two-and-a-half
years time and that tells me Coventry are going places. This gives me
the opportunity to prove myself in the Premier League, against teams
like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. That's one thing I'm
really looking forward to."
Coventry
City striker Robbie Keane today refused to be drawn into a war of words
with Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. Ferguson said in the summer
that he would only pay around £500,000 for the 19-year-old who
cost Coventry £6 million from Wolves last week. Keane made a mockery
of that valuation by slamming two goals on his debut for the Sky Blues.
But if Keane had revenge on his mind today, he wasn’t letting it
show as he prepared for his second Highfield Road outing in four days.
He said:"I have tried not to read the papers in the last year or
so because of the speculation over my future. I respect Alex Ferguson
for what he has achieved down the years and don’t want to comment
on this business. It is every young player’s ambition to play against
the likes of Manchester United and I am no different."
John
Gregory denied he had made a mistake by not signing Robbie Keane as
the young Irishman subjected troubled Aston Villa to another defeat.
The 19-year-old Irishman made City’s first goal and scored their
second in the 2-1 home victory – the first for the Sky Blues over
their rivals for seven years. Keane could well have been clad in claret
and blue had Gregory decided to up his £5.5 million bid by just
£500,000 in the summer but he decided Keane was "not the
finished article". Coventry nipped in and the script was prepared
for Keane to embarrass the Villa boss in front of the television cameras.
Gregory said: "There is nothing I can do about it now – Robbie
Keane plays for Coventry. I have no regrets about the decision I made
at the time. It was a decision I felt I had to make and I can’t
change history. Keane has settled in exceptionally well at Coventry
– he might not have done so well if he had come to Aston Villa."
A
wonderful piece of impudence and improvisation in equal measure from
Robbie Keane helped Coventry City to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal - their
first in six years against the Highbury outfit. The former Wolves striker
flicked in an opportunist goal after 72 minutes - the decisive moment
in an absorbing thriller at Highfield Road. Coventry took the lead when
a speculative effort from skipper Gary McAllister after 11 minutes.
Playing in his 100th game for the Sky Blues, he let fly to see his 25-yarder
deflect off Martin Keown past a hapless David Seaman. The second goal
came as Mustapha Hadji only needed a couple of seconds without the hitherto
close attending Keown and Adams to curl a wonderful shot over Seaman
from 20 yards. The North Londoners fought for all they were worth, Ljungberg
pulled a goal back for them, epitomising persistent forward play as
he eventually stabbed home from Hedman's parry. But just as most of
the Highfield Road crowd sensed a Gunners equaliser, Robbie Keane provided
the game with a moment to cherish. The Irish youngster flicked the ball
past David Seaman with his right foot when the angle and close attentions
of Arsenal defenders suggested such a strike would be foolish to attempt.
Game set and match to the Sky Blues, and Keane went off later to a hero's
exit. Davor Suker grabbed a brilliant individual goal three minutes
from time after coming on as a substitute for Gilles Grimandi. He collected
the ball on the left, turned a man, rolled his foot over the ball to
ghost past another and dinked an outside-of-the-foot chip past Hedman
from eight yards.
Sharpshooter
Robbie Keane is restored to Coventry’s team for the premiership
match against West Ham United at Highfield Road. The Irishman has scored
eight goals in nine games for club and country and Coventry will be
hoping he can maintain his rich vein of form. Keane scored two goals
in two matches for Wolverhampton Wanderers, two in two for the Republic
of Ireland and has four in five games for Coventry 
Coventrys
citys £6 million striker Robbie Keane has been awarded the Cisco
young player of the month Following his £6 million move from Wolverhampton
Wanderers to Coventry City, Robbie Keane has topped off an amazing August
by winning the first Cisco Young Player of the Month Award. The award
was voted for by newly appointed Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson
and the current England, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland national
team coaches, and is presented to the player with the best performances
over the month. The 19 year old Keane has responded to critics by scoring
three times in two weeks for the Sky Blues and winning the Man of the
Match award in this week's Republic of Ireland game against Yugoslavia.
Chairman of the judges, Bobby Robson, yesterday appointed as the new
Newcastle United manager, said: "Keane scored two goals on his
debut for Coventry and then went up to Sunderland and scored there.
It is a major leap from the Nationwide First Division to the Premiership
but young Robbie seems to have handled it extremely well. There is no
sign that he is in any way overawed and his approach has been very mature.
He seems to be a level-headed lad and I cannot think of a more suitable
nomination." Robbie Keane was a choice that Republic of Ireland
boss, Mick McCarthy, was more than happy to endorse: "There is
always a danger I might be accused of bias since Robbie is already a
valued member of my squad. However, I would say that Robbie's form since
he made his move up to the top division has been outstanding and I believe
he is now playing at the level that suits his talents." Kevin Keegan
described some of the goals Keane has scored in August as "breathtaking."
He added: "I believe the choice was between Robbie and Emile Heskey
but I think Robbie just shaded it because of the way he has handled
his £6 million transfer. He has fitted into his new side almost
instantly and has scored a couple of top-class goals." Others in
the running for the Cisco Award included Michael Bridges and Harry Kewell.
Such is the accolade for the 19 year-old Dubliner who has remained humble
throughout the last month: "My confidence is sky high at the moment
and there is a brilliant team spirit at Coventry which has helped me
settle in. I feel very honoured." Robbie will receive a Stuart
Crystal football on his return from international duty with the Republic
of Ireland. The Young Player of the Month Award, sponsored by Cisco
Systems, will be announced on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday and will culminate
at the end of the year in the Cisco Young Player of the Year Award.
The awards are for all Premiership and Nationwide League footballers
that are eligible for selection in their country's under 21 squad
Robbie
Keane is relishing the chance to play at the highest level, and has
dismissed scepticism over his decision to move to Highfield Road. The
talented Irishman has attracted interest from some of the country's
top clubs, with many surprised that he has chosen to move to Coventry.
But Keane insisted: "I'm delighted to be part of what's going on
at Coventry City. There's a new stadium being built in two-and-a-half
years time and that tells me Coventry are going places. This gives me
the opportunity to prove myself in the Premier League, against teams
like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. That's one thing I'm
really looking forward to."
Coventry
City striker Robbie Keane today refused to be drawn into a war of words
with Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. Ferguson said in the summer
that he would only pay around £500,000 for the 19-year-old who
cost Coventry £6 million from Wolves last week. Keane made a mockery
of that valuation by slamming two goals on his debut for the Sky Blues.
But if Keane had revenge on his mind today, he wasn’t letting it
show as he prepared for his second Highfield Road outing in four days.
He said:"I have tried not to read the papers in the last year or
so because of the speculation over my future. I respect Alex Ferguson
for what he has achieved down the years and don’t want to comment
on this business. It is every young player’s ambition to play against
the likes of Manchester United and I am no different."
John
Gregory denied he had made a mistake by not signing Robbie Keane as
the young Irishman subjected troubled Aston Villa to another defeat.
The 19-year-old Irishman made City’s first goal and scored their
second in the 2-1 home victory – the first for the Sky Blues over
their rivals for seven years. Keane could well have been clad in claret
and blue had Gregory decided to up his £5.5 million bid by just
£500,000 in the summer but he decided Keane was "not the
finished article". Coventry nipped in and the script was prepared
for Keane to embarrass the Villa boss in front of the television cameras.
Gregory said: "There is nothing I can do about it now – Robbie
Keane plays for Coventry. I have no regrets about the decision I made
at the time. It was a decision I felt I had to make and I can’t
change history. Keane has settled in exceptionally well at Coventry
– he might not have done so well if he had come to Aston Villa."
A
wonderful piece of impudence and improvisation in equal measure from
Robbie Keane helped Coventry City to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal - their
first in six years against the Highbury outfit. The former Wolves striker
flicked in an opportunist goal after 72 minutes - the decisive moment
in an absorbing thriller at Highfield Road. Coventry took the lead when
a speculative effort from skipper Gary McAllister after 11 minutes.
Playing in his 100th game for the Sky Blues, he let fly to see his 25-yarder
deflect off Martin Keown past a hapless David Seaman. The second goal
came as Mustapha Hadji only needed a couple of seconds without the hitherto
close attending Keown and Adams to curl a wonderful shot over Seaman
from 20 yards. The North Londoners fought for all they were worth, Ljungberg
pulled a goal back for them, epitomising persistent forward play as
he eventually stabbed home from Hedman's parry. But just as most of
the Highfield Road crowd sensed a Gunners equaliser, Robbie Keane provided
the game with a moment to cherish. The Irish youngster flicked the ball
past David Seaman with his right foot when the angle and close attentions
of Arsenal defenders suggested such a strike would be foolish to attempt.
Game set and match to the Sky Blues, and Keane went off later to a hero's
exit. Davor Suker grabbed a brilliant individual goal three minutes
from time after coming on as a substitute for Gilles Grimandi. He collected
the ball on the left, turned a man, rolled his foot over the ball to
ghost past another and dinked an outside-of-the-foot chip past Hedman
from eight yards.