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2021/22 Michael Keane

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BigDuncTributeBand said:
People keep parroting this and it’s rubbish. So no player who is slow can play in a high line? Like Keane’s the only reason we don’t play a high line. Rubbish. It’s obviously a massive plus to have recovery pace but the point, if you play a high line, is that the midfield and forwards, press and pressure the opposition, as soon as you lose the ball and stop the opposition playing balls in behind the defence. If they can’t do that, they drop, regroup and get in front of the defence to cut out passing lanes.

If you’re going to play a high line, with a midfield/forwards who don’t press, don’t pressure the opposition, are wide open every time we lose the ball and let them have all the time in the world to play balls over the top, down the side then any defender in the world is going to look stupid playing a high line, particularly slow ones. That shouldn’t be happening though if the midfield/forwards are functioning effectively.

The truth is we’ve not had a midfield or forward line working effectively enough with enough mobility to play high line without massively exposing the defence - whoever’s playing in it. Keane was fine with Zouma when Marco Silva was here, he didn’t play a low block. Had gana closing down everything and pressuring as soon as we lost the ball though. You can’t play a high line with the likes of Schenederlin, Gomes, Siggi, James etc suicide.

All of that said, Keane isn’t an ideal defender to play a high line, I get it but the narrative that we’re playing a certain way purely to accommodate him is bollocks, frankly.
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Southgate sussed him out early and binned him for that very reason.
 
COYBL25 said:
Southgate sussed him out early and binned him for that very reason.
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Gareth’s not renowned for playing a high line. More to do with his passing limitations and just generally not being good enough to play for England.

It’s the suggestion we don’t have our defence sat on the half way line purely to accommodate Keane that I object to. It ignores all the other issues in the team that stop us from playing like that.
 
BigDuncTributeBand said:
Gareth’s not renowned for playing a high line. More to do with his passing limitations and just generally not being good enough to play for England.

It’s the suggestion we don’t have our defence sat on the half way line purely to accommodate Keane that I object to. It ignores all the other issues in the team that stop us from playing like that.
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I think we can both agree, that he’s a big lunk head, who’s a bomb scare waiting to happen and needs big Yerry to hold his hand all game.
 

Would've thought Moyes would've been in for Tarkowski more given he's on a free.

Would've suggested him for here but little worried he'd have same vibes of struggling in higher line and 29 himself so one of those coming here on big money etc.

He's been really good for Burnley in last few weeks so in a certain system is a very effective CB.

Moyes did take Craig Dawson in similar circumstances, was a laughing stock when Watford went down in 2020 but been great for West Ham and think he's been playing through a broken nose given all other CBs are injured for them.
 

Has admitted to mental health issues when injured and out of form and I have always held back giving him stick at the match ,but he does still take his big wedge every week. Maybe a few weeks on a building site with me might make him feel better.
 
A confidence defender who suits a low lowblock who runs like the tin man, he was never the right signing. If we go back three tomorrow I'm guessing he plays mind you.
 

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