Irish stars back Keane’s stripes

THREE of Irish football’s most decorated stars have backed Robbie Keane’s move to the MLS.

Frank Stapleton, Tony Cascarino and Paul McGrath were in Dublin yesterday to help promote ESPN’s coverage of the Premier League and, to a man, they rejected criticism of the Irish captain’s decision to move to LA Galaxy.

Citing the need for Keane to play regularly as a priority, Stapleton said that “from a selfish, Ireland point of view,” he was “delighted” with the striker’s move.

The former Arsenal, Manchester United and Ireland man, who coached the New England Revolution in the States back in 1996, reckons that scoring goals, irrespective of the standard of the opposition, is what it’s all about for a frontman.

“In Robbie’s case, he thrives on scoring regularly as dips in form usually come when he is not scoring,” said Stapleton. “We cannot complain at what he has produced for Ireland, 51 goals is phenomenal. It embarrasses us, it certainly embarrasses me and Tony,” he added, referring to their international tallies of respectively, 20 and 19 goals.

(“It doesn’t embarrass me,” quipped Paul McGrath, who still managed to notch up eight goals in his Irish career.

Stapleton continued: “We thought we were doing great, getting close to 20 and he’s got 51 and still gets criticism. I can’t comprehend that at all. Scoring is scoring. If you get a hat-trick in the Carling Cup and win 6-0 and someone says ‘sure it was only against them’ it still matters because confidence flows into the next game.”

Cascarino even suggests that the move Stateside could prolong Keane’s international career.

“I don’t think Robbie will retire after the Euros, I think he’ll go to next World Cup, that’s why he signed a three-year deal,” said Cascarino. “The MLS is improving fast, attracting more competitive players. I think he’ll love it.”

McGrath agrees. “I thought it was a good move,” he said. “He’ll be scoring goals and still playing for Ireland. And we need him. He’s the type of player who gets people going. And he gives more than most.”

Meanwhile, all three had to admit to sharing the astonishment of so many at Arsenal’s humiliating collapse at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Stapleton, who played for both clubs, thinks it’s an overreaction to say that Arsene Wenger must go. For him, the problem has its roots in the club’s finances.

“I’ve got a feeling that the burden of the stadium is a bit bigger than is let on,” he said. “And Arsene Wenger’s taking all the flak for it.”

Cascarino worries that the troubles at Arsenal run much deeper than just frailties in the first eleven.

“I think what’s really scary for Arsenal is that it wasn’t that long ago that their reserves could go and stuff teams, like in the Carling Cup,” he pointed out. “On Sunday we saw eight players out against United and what happened told me that they need not two signings but a minimum of four or maybe six. And the bigger danger is that if they fail this year then, in the summer, will it be Van Persie or Walcott going?”

McGrath sees still another problem for the embattled Gunners.

“Wenger’s problem now is going to be: are good players going to want to go to that club?” he muses. “He doesn’t seem to know how to fix the problem and that amazes me because I rate him as a manager.”