Peter Beardsley v Robbie Keane

[GWistooshort]

Peter Beardsley: Liverpool number 7 shirt no burden to Robbie Keane

Jan 17 2009 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

 

PETER BEARDSLEY wore Liverpool's prized number seven shirt with a distinction befitting its status. But there was a time when he felt weighed down by it.

 

After signing for the Reds in a British record £1.9m move from Newcastle in the summer of 1987, Beardsley was honoured to be handed the most revered shirt in Liverpool's history, to follow in the footsteps of previous number seven wearers Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan and Ian Callaghan.

 

But, in the first months of his Anfield career, the England man struggled to live up to the exacting standards of his illustrious predecessors and by the turn of the year he had only scored four goals.

 

In his own words, Beardsley felt as if he "could not hit a barn door", but any shortcomings in his own performance levels were masked by the superlative displays of a Liverpool team which was swatting opponents aside with almost contemptuous ease.

 

For this reason, Beardsley knows exactly what Robbie Keane – his latest successor in the number seven shirt – is going through and the Geordie is in no doubt whatsoever that the former Spurs man will come good, just as he himself did 21 years ago.

 

Beardsley said: "Everyone knows about the quality that Robbie has because he has proved it over the years, and I really hope it turns around for him because he can be a fantastic asset for Liverpool.

 

"Don't forget, he already has a few goals to his name and he also played a massive part in the goals Fernando Torres scored against Everton in the last derby, so it's not as if he has been struggling badly.

 

"Another thing that I like about him is how popular he is with his team mates. You only have to look at the way they react to him when he scores to realise that.

 

"I love the kid and I'm really proud and happy that he is wearing the number seven shirt that the likes of myself and Kenny Dalglish wore."

 

Keane's ongoing struggle to cement himself a regular place in Rafa Benitez's starting line- up is well documented and, in recent weeks, he has spent more time on the bench than he has on the pitch.

 

A current tally of seven goals is a disappointing return for a player who cost £20m in the summer but, interestingly, Anfield legend Beardsley only had a single strike more to his name at the exact same stage of the 1987/88 season, having started half a dozen more games.

 

By the end of that campaign, Beardsley had clocked up a more than adequate 18 goals, and he believes Keane is capable of doing the same. What's more, he has already taken the trouble to tell the Irishman so.

 

"I spoke to Robbie when Liverpool came up to the north east to play Newcastle just after Christmas and I told him that he is doing a lot better than I managed in the first few months of my time at Anfield," he revealed.

 

"I told him that I couldn't even hit a barn door most of the time and it was a difficult time for me personally, but that it was covered up because the team was doing so well at the time, and the media focus was nowhere near as strong as it is today.

 

"There are no worries whatsoever about Robbie because he is a great player and a great kid."

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-22711596/

Edited January 17, 2009 by GWistooshort

[smicer07]

Nah, we never used to have any players who struggled. Oh and we never drew.

[Falconhoof]

Nah, we never used to have any players who struggled. Oh and we never drew.

 

Beardsley didn't really struggle, he's being modest.

Its lovely to hear Peter Beardsley talking so warmly about LFC. He very rarely says anything that gets national press attention and he's Newcastle through and through. I thought he'd forgotten us a bit.

[mathewbet1]

Keane has been way below his best level for us so far. For me it is all in his head. He's looked like frightened irish rabbit playing for us this season. 7 goals aint great and his missed at leat 10 stone wall goal chances whilst he's been here and a lot of his misses have been comedy 'air shots'. Which is worrying for a profesional footballer. But here underlays the problem of confidence.

 

Whats annoyed me more about him though is his lack of attacking ambition, creativity and game intelligence - which is what he was purchased for. At spurs he when he would receive the ball ,he would spin round , do a creative fllick or run and commit defenders and beat players with skill and guile to create space, but for us he nearly always takes the safe option and lays it of square or backwards, slowing our attacking down and somtimes even getting in the wrong positions and hindering his teammates.

 

Having said all of this , I am convined given a run in the team , say 10 consecutive games alongside Torres we would see the real robbie keane. The poacher, the trickster who is elusive for defenders to pick up and scores all types of different goals. At times and when at his best he can truly be world class. It's a confidence thing with strikers, and if he goes on a run then i can see him scoring 20 goals this season ,and this would push ud very close for the title. I hope Beardsleys words of encouragement provide some kind of inspiration and self belif for Keane. I hope we see the real Robbir Keane play for Liverpool in 2009.

[eljay]

Beardsley didn't really struggle, he's being modest.

Its lovely to hear Peter Beardsley talking so warmly about LFC. He very rarely says anything that gets national press attention and he's Newcastle through and through. I thought he'd forgotten us a bit.

Beardsley struggled BIG time from August to December in his first season. Fortunately,as the article says, the team as a whole was playing champagne football and John Barnes in particular - another new signing at the time - was unplayable. Although he scored against Everton in the Anfield derby (around October time I think) he really took off with a top performance against Arsenal at Anfield (round about Christmas / New Year time I believe).

 

Hopefully Robbie can take off starting against Everton tomorow (if he plays!)