THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND: Robbie Keane at Liverpool or Dimitar Berbatov at Manchester United, who is the bigger flop of the two and why?
April 24, 2009
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Bigger flop is Robbie Keane definitely. Liverpool are out in all Cup competitions except Premiership. If Keane were not to join Liverpool, they would be in pole position right now. Look at life without Robbie. They beat MU at Old Trafford, they gave Chelsea a run for their money in the Champions League, they score more goals and most importantly, they are hell-bent to protect their most League titles.
Robbie disrupted the Liverpool style of play. Rafa bought him to play as the hole behind the striker. Yeah a hole. A big hole called zero. Keane losing possessions in the final 3rd of the pitch brought Liverpool’s attack all came to waste.
Now Berbatov is a different issue. Sure the Bulgarian doesn’t score much but his ASSISTS are commendable. Berbatov shielding the ball, let defenders draw to him and releasing the ball for Rooney to score is as magnificent as Totti’s style. MU maybe winning two more trophies is partly because of Berbatov’s brilliant hold-up play.
Comparing these two is like comparing tomato sauce with chilli sauce. I think Dimitar Berbatov is a better player than Robbie Keane.
Qyaerus-Syahrein, 27, Chelsea fan
Comment by Alex Hart — April 24, 2009 @ 9:50 am
Berbatov is the bigger flop. He has started most of the matches United have played since joining the club, 13 goals scored and an assist record that rivals Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Yet this has not justified his price tag. 30.75 million pounds cannot be justified by 13 goals! Shevchenko came with a similar price and although he had a greater record than Berbatov , scored 14 goals and was branded a flop.
This would mean that Berbatov is overpriced plus he has forced Carlos Tevez, part of the Champions League winning team out of the first team. Now Tevez wants out, and with United needing to spend 32 million to get him, they’ll be losing an important member of the team.
Keane was never really given a chance under Rafa Benitez, either on the bench or forced to play out of his favoured position behind the striker so as to accomadate Gerrard. He was never accepted by Benitez. This destroyed his confidence which left him a hollow shell of his former self.
This and combined with his smaller price tag of 20 million means that Berbatov is the bigger flop.
Comment by Dinesh Bora — April 24, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Both Berbatov and Keane are striker but did they fulfil their own roles!Firstly,Keane can’t really take pressure at such a big club and can only remian at an average club but his potential is only half seen as he can only play second fiddle to the better Torres.Next,Berbatov was a bought to score and not to assist,he can score lots of goal but you see he always position himself so far away from where a targetman should be,so in other words,he did not fulfil his roles but he did inspire Man Utd to victory in some games.Lastly,just take a look at their price,Berbatov is definitely more pricey while Keane have been sold and at least some money have been recouped,so in my opinion,Berbatov is the biggger flop as as Liverpool have managed to recouped some of their cash back but Man Utd none.
Norman Ng,14,Liverpool fan
Comment by norman — April 24, 2009 @ 10:28 pm
Robbie Keane is the greater disappointment of the two. He has to be since he was shipped back to Spurs after spending only half a season with the Reds! Robbie Keane came to Liverpool at a time when Steven Gerrard found his second spring in a second striker role behind Fernando Torres – a position that the Irishman was supposed to revel in. Keane disrupted the flow of football that Liverpool got so used to in the 4-2-3-1 system. The harder he tried to fit into the system, the worse it got as his form declined and his confidence was severely dented. Having played a starring role as captain of Spurs and Republic of Ireland, it must have been hard for him to play second fiddle to Steven Gerrard. It was a simple case of wrong player for the wrong club at the wrong time.
Although Dimitar Berbatov flattered to deceive during his Man United stint so far, he might yet come good. As long as Ferguson can sort out the problem of how to play both Rooney and Berbatov effectively without getting into each other’s way, the Bulgarian hitman still has a future at United.
Desmond Goh, 26, civil servant, Liverpool fan
Comment by Desmond Goh — April 25, 2009 @ 10:08 am
I would say Berbatov is a bigger flop as we all can see that SAF wanted Berbatov but Berbatov is a lazy player yet talented just like anelka, most of the time Berbatov is tracking back to defend but when it comes to counter attacking you can see him jog his lazy butt over by then ronaldo, rooney, tevez and yes even giggs would have been done counter attacking. Berbatov is clearly a fish out of water now as he should be playing as a target man instead, do no fix what is not broken. He can’t run or tackle but he can hold up the play, distribute and score that makings of a great target man. Whereas Benetiz had keane forced onto him, he didn;t want keane, keane did not fit into liverpools formation of 4-2-3-1 where the rightful player behind the lone striker – Torres would be either gerrard or xabi alonso. Gerrard is by far the best player in the world and with him behind torres we have seen one of the best combinations in the world and should gerrard be injured xabi would be good as he is clearly one of the best passers if not the best passer of the ball from mid to the wings and long distance shots are great but his defending is a suspect. With Keane in, liverpool had to play 4-4-2 thus making gerrard defend more and less effective. Berbatov was bought by SAF, Keane was forced onto benetiz. Clearly berbatov who starts so frequently is a bad buy unless SAF lets him be a target man instead, there lies his greatness.
Comment by KC — April 25, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Liverpool and Manchester United. Both great clubs with great history. With the past reputation of Keane and Berbatov, they arrive at Liverpool and Manchester United respectively with great hopes pinned on them. However, let’s not forget that both clubs have employed them in different positions. Both clubs have different ambitions. Both clubs have given them different instructions. Most importantly, the manager and the players around them are different. The skills of the players around them will contribute differently. When the two players play at Spurs, they are surrounded by the same team on the field, hence, when one perform, the other performs as well, as long as both are on form. And vice versa. Ultimately, it’s unfair to say who is the bigger flop as there are too many variables to compare players.
Comment by Jordan (Spurs Supporter) — April 26, 2009 @ 2:13 am
Berbatov has scored against his old club this past midnight and that should refute any opposing views of whether he is worth $30.75m pounds or not. Berbatov scored but Robbie keane did not score and so who is the bigger flop?
Having hit on Tottenham to win first half and Manchester United to win in the end is amazing. Cheers financial liquidation flowing in! Great judgement and great luck. Have a super Sunday!
Comment by Jack — April 26, 2009 @ 2:32 am
Definately, it’ll be Berbatov. Look at his horrible penalty taken at Wembly in the FA cup semis! I guess many don’t know why he costs 30 million pounds!
At least Robbie Keane can score beautiful goals! His ex-Tottenham teammate is doing a 100 times better than him! Give up la Berbatov!
Even Louis Saha is doing better than you! Man United should let Saha stay instead! Berbatov? HE’S JUST A EASY GOAL STEALER!
Daryl Edwards,Arsenal Fan. 🙂
Comment by Daryl — April 26, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
Robbie keane of course because Rafa benitez realised his mistake early and sell him off to cut loss. ‘FACTS’
Comment by James — April 26, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
efbefbebfbhef
Comment by navin — May 2, 2009 @ 9:44 am
liverpool is a lousy team
Comment by haresh — May 2, 2009 @ 9:46 am
i didnt know liverpool being a lousy team is even the question here.
Juana, Liverpool fan
Comment by Juana — May 7, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
i didnt know liverpool being a lousy team is even the question here.
Juana, Liverpool fan
Comment by Juana — May 7, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Relax Juana. Liverpool is never lousy. Oh please punish me Liverpoolgirl for leaving your team in 2002. Oh bring your 4 girlfriends along too. 😉
Qyaerus-Syahrein, 27, student
Comment by Alex Hart — May 7, 2009 @ 7:33 pm