I think yesterday proves my point.
Yesterday proves O'Brien should be starting ahead of Keane. As did the Tottenham and Brighton losses.
The back four for each of these games was identical to that which served very well last year EXCEPT for Keane playing instead of Branthwaite.
So either that entire group of defenders is awful and Branthwaite did the work of four players every time he played, or Keane is abysmal and completely undermines the entire defensive structure because he can't run, turn or jump, nor can be position himself correctly or play with any composure. Much as I rate Branthwaite, I don't think he's quite that good.
As I watched Keane give up free header after free header yesterday (just as he did against Brighton and Tottenham) I couldn't help but think that maybe an experienced Prem centre back shouldn't be QUITE that useless. Every time he plays we need to score three just to have a chance of a draw - who would you have spent £17m (the O'Brien fee) on this summer who would guarantee three goals a game?
It's utterly laughable that anyone can suggest that we're okay conceding three a game, we just messed up by not signing some kind of Maradonna/Henry/Haaland hybrid for less than £20m. That type of player doesn't exist, and if they did they'd cost about £140m.
If O'Brien (and Ndiaye) started against Brighton we'd have got a draw. Possibly a win.
Against Tottenham okay probably still a loss, but maybe 2-1.
Against Bournemouth Ndiaye started and we looked good... Until they started slinging in crosses, which Keane is allergic to. O'Brien playing alongside Tarkowski and we win that game 2-0, maybe 3-0.
We're losing games by conceding 3+ goals every week. Aiming to score four in each match isn't the solution - ask Roberto Martinez if you don't believe me.