2019/20 Michael Keane

[Lanolin]

He's usually a victim, but is currently a beneficiary, of people's tendency to have extreme opinions of players. People talk about him as if he's a League One player half the time, and then when he puts a decent run together suddenly it's like he's Baresi. He is, and always has been, a decent Premier League centre half. This current run is no surprise, he's always been capable of playing well in patches. He's perfectly fine, good even, if you play in a certain way. He also has some pretty serious flaws which mean that as soon as you deviate away from that, he can become a bit of a liability. There have been enough indications over recent weeks for me to believe he hasn't magically improved as a player, and is still the same solid but limited centre half he's always been.

 

[Goat]

He's usually a victim, but is currently a beneficiary, of people's tendency to have extreme opinions of players. People talk about him as if he's a League One player half the time, and then when he puts a decent run together suddenly it's like he's Baresi. He is, and always has been, a decent Premier League centre half. This current run is no surprise, he's always been capable of playing well in patches. He's perfectly fine, good even, if you play in a certain way. He also has some pretty serious flaws which mean that as soon as you deviate away from that, he can become a bit of a liability. There have been enough indications over recent weeks for me to believe he hasn't magically improved as a player, and is still the same solid but limited centre half he's always been.

And that's fair.

Im not saying he's Baresi, but I do think its a risk in trying to replace him, cos we can do so much worse.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

He's usually a victim, but is currently a beneficiary, of people's tendency to have extreme opinions of players. People talk about him as if he's a League One player half the time, and then when he puts a decent run together suddenly it's like he's Baresi. He is, and always has been, a decent Premier League centre half. This current run is no surprise, he's always been capable of playing well in patches. He's perfectly fine, good even, if you play in a certain way. He also has some pretty serious flaws which mean that as soon as you deviate away from that, he can become a bit of a liability. There have been enough indications over recent weeks for me to believe he hasn't magically improved as a player, and is still the same solid but limited centre half he's always been.

Think Carlo summed it up when he described him as 'reliable'. He is, as you say, when played relatively deep and asked to do a particular job. Which he has clearly clocked on to.

 

[Eggs]

You and Zat both allow your agenda to cloud things with Keane.

You don't like him and nothing he will do will change that.

I can see why, when he's bad, he's very, very bad, but this isn't his first upturn in form, he's done it before.

Im totally all for selling Mina, I think like Keane he's capable of looking very good and very bad, but unlike Keane he's very injury prone and cant be relied upon.

I think Carlo likes him and it can only help when he's getting coached by 1 of the worlds best managers.

But he will probably either be sold or sign a new contract this year.

....I honestly think Keane (and Mina to a lesser extent) restricts the way the team has to play. He was terrific last night, some of the headers he won in the box were absolutely top drawer but he’s a forwards dream to play against.

He’s immobile and so easy to go past in a one-on-one. He’s also very easy to turn. If you‘re a forward you play on his shoulder. Once you’re beyond him he has no power of recovery. He lacks determination and seems to fear players giving him a difficult game. It means he needs protection in front and alongside and also means the back four has to sit deep.

i‘m not sure I have an agenda against him, he seems a very decent lad but I do think we’d be a much better team with a dominating CB who loves to defend and has real pace and power. The emergence of Branthwaite is an interesting factor on the transfer strategy with our CBs.

 

[Bob Elstone]

Majority of blues should be eating humble pie re Keane.

been the best player and defender since the restart. Puts his body on the line and has been very reliable.

hats off to the bloke...

 

[Carlito]

....not sure if you noticed him getting turned near the half-way line late in the 2nd half against Villa. I think it was their big substitute who literally left him in 2 yards of no-man’s land. It was so funny.

There’s no doubt he’s playing very well, I thought he was excellent last night. Indeed, i doubt any CH in the club could’ve dealt with those crosses more effectively than him. We have seen his failings, however, and often it’s best to move a player on when his stock is at its highest.

Another good one was Stuart Armstrong losing him by running around in a circle.

If the plan is to keep defending deep, by all means keep him. It would be stupid to extend his contract if there's a desire to get the team playing higher up the pitch, though.

 

[Goat]

Another good one was Stuart Armstrong losing him by running around in a circle.

If the plan is to keep defending deep, by all means keep him. It would be stupid to extend his contract if there's a desire to get the team playing higher up the pitch, though.

The only desire I'm currently seeing for a high line is from the fans.

 

[Carlito]

The only desire I'm currently seeing for a high line is from the fans.

If that's the case, he'll likely be trousering a fat pay rise in the very near future.

To me, it seems a bit mad to pay out for Ancelotti, the Champions League specialist, and then have him work with players that will never in a million years be good enough to get a team into the Champions League. I do, however, accept that Everton is a very strange and chaotic club, which doesn't really seem to plan ahead.

 

[Lelouch]

If you want to play out from the back and be comfortable under pressure passing it out, This guy is not your man.


If you want to be be defensively tight or they have some big bruiser CF as an outlet and you want to shut him down best as you can, This guy is your man.

Ancelotti is clearly opting for option #1, Unironically he is the perfect man for Sheffield United. I don't mind if we keep or sell but we all know that when a decent player with a bit of pace is on him he does tend to struggle really bad with them.

 

[Goat]

If that's the case, he'll likely be trousering a fat pay rise in the very near future.

To me, it seems a bit mad to pay out for Ancelotti, the Champions League specialist, and then have him work with players that will never in a million years be good enough to get a team into the Champions League. I do, however, accept that Everton is a very strange and chaotic club, which doesn't really seem to plan ahead.

For me its really simple, its the same as I have done when people kept saying sell Walcott he's rubbish.

At the moment Keane is a good first team player, as you say is he good enough to take us to top 4?

I think he could, you arent getting top 4 with a team of players like Michael Keane, but you can certainly do it with Michael Keane and some KDBs.

 

[LocalNative]

Big Mick Kegger will do a good job as a squad player. He's proven he's capable of stringing together good performances - been particularly impressive with ushering young Branthwaite in the past two games.

Shouldn't be classed as a starter, but i'd definitely keep him. As someone mentioned, he'd be hard to replace for the kind of money we'd recoup.

 

[Carlito]

For me its really simple, its the same as I have done when people kept saying sell Walcott he's rubbish.

At the moment Keane is a good first team player, as you say is he good enough to take us to top 4?

I think he could, you arent getting top 4 with a team of players like Michael Keane, but you can certainly do it with Michael Keane and some KDBs.

Makes me wonder why more top teams don't just buy cheap journeymen defenders, rather than waste money on unnecessary quality.

A bit like how Jarg Striker X would definitely score 40 if he was playing for City or Liverpool.

 

[Cameron Manning]

....I honestly think Keane (and Mina to a lesser extent) restricts the way the team has to play. He was terrific last night, some of the headers he won in the box were absolutely top drawer but he’s a forwards dream to play against.

He’s immobile and so easy to go past in a one-on-one. He’s also very easy to turn. If you‘re a forward you play on his shoulder. Once you’re beyond him he has no power of recovery. He lacks determination and seems to fear players giving him a difficult game. It means he needs protection in front and alongside and also means the back four has to sit deep.

i‘m not sure I have an agenda against him, he seems a very decent lad but I do think we’d be a much better team with a dominating CB who loves to defend and has real pace and power. The emergence of Branthwaite is an interesting factor on the transfer strategy with our CBs.

I’d go further, but being honest I don’t rate him at all, and say that while he is getting good reports is the best time to sell him and get a good price for him, he is an accident waiting to happen. He never looks confident, easily bullied, can’t carry the ball, first instinct is to pass the ball back or to the man nearest to him. In the first half he had ten yards of space in front of him but stood still with the ball before finally passing to Sidibé who was covered, Keane then pointed to him to pass the ball back to Pickford, he is a very uninspiring player without a football brain, he’s not going to improve and cannot play in a high line without a disaster not far away. Too nice a lad as Eggs says, not slightest bit of aggression in him, unfortunately, I could go on but I think I’ve said more than enough!!!

 

[Goat]

Makes me wonder why more top teams don't just buy cheap journeymen defenders, rather than waste money on unnecessary quality.

A bit like how Jarg Striker X would definitely score 40 if he was playing for City or Liverpool.

Maybe you missed City winning the Title with keystone cop defenders last season.

Leicester almost got 4th with Johhny Evans and won the Title with Wes Morgan.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

For me its really simple, its the same as I have done when people kept saying sell Walcott he's rubbish.

At the moment Keane is a good first team player, as you say is he good enough to take us to top 4?

I think he could, you arent getting top 4 with a team of players like Michael Keane, but you can certainly do it with Michael Keane and some KDBs.

Precisely. His ‘terribleness‘ has been horribly exaggerated and a lot of top teams do have a Keane or two mixed in with the De Bruynes.

I would like another top option, but people forget we have a good one already in Holgate and a very promising left footer in Branthwaite. We aren’t barren there at all and I don’t think it’s a priority for Carlo.