Michael Keane - new CB?

[mark1975]

I think he might be ideal for Matip, he needs someone a bit nippy alongside him. Lovren is aggressive but he isn't quick and he turns slow, they're a bit too similar in that respect.

 

[Insignificance]

I've said it before but one of the stand-out statistics for Keane is blocks and clearances. He is a proper defender and by all accounts, a leader of the defence and that's what we need. We give away far too many

His long range passing is good as well.

As Rosco has pointed out, Van Dijk's injury makes him a huge risk at that money

We give away too many, but it is also Down to how we play. Against a lot of teams this season we have had CLyne and Milner pushing Down flanks and aspiring to be our players highest in the pitch in the same time. And then we want 2 of the midfielders to man up the Box, leaving not a lot defence to protect ourself. So being a CD in these circumstances is difficult.

The last two games we have kept clean sheets, and people are frustrated cause we don't create much. It is a balance there.

 

[ILD]

I just want a defender who plays the percentages. Who understands defending. Who doesn't allow the blood rush to his brain and commit himself on the half way line. Who is good in the air. Who leads by his actions. So a little less Dejan Lovren and a little more John Terry (*spits*)

I've no idea if Keane is that kind of player. I've never really noticed him nor do I watch many Burnley games.

 

[Ryan]

How does Keane compare to the other English centre backs around his age.

Stephens at Southampton or Gibson at Boro.

Right now, he's a much stronger prospect. Better with the ball at his feet, and more commanding than the other two, but shit changes I guess.

My main concern is how used he is to playing in a deep-lying defence, which is effectively the opposite to what we do. He'd get far more exposed with us, with less full-back support.

 

[manwithnoname]

I just want a defender who plays the percentages. Who understands defending. Who doesn't allow the blood rush to his brain and commit himself on the half way line. Who is good in the air. Who leads by his actions. So a little less Dejan Lovren and a little more John Terry (*spits*)

I've no idea if Keane is that kind of player. I've never really noticed him nor do I watch many Burnley games.

Well, he shares a few attributes with Terry: good in the air and he can pass well, and he's unlikely to commit himself on the halfway line given how he's played at Burnley

He's also a bit quicker.

 

[ILD]

Well, he shares a few attributes with Terry: good in the air and he can pass well, and he's unlikely to commit himself on the halfway line given how he's played at Burnley

He's also a bit quicker.

That's good to hear. We'd just have to see how he adapts to playing in a much larger space as alluded to in that article above. John Terry found it hard playing a higher line in the Villa Boas Chelsea team. He was a lot older and less mobile than Keane is now. Keane will be a lot more exposed in our side than a well structured Burnley side.

In conclusion, I've no idea if we should sign him. Is there any other options? Or players currently playing in a similar system to ours?

That's to anyone obviously.

 

[Judge Jules]

Well, he shares a few attributes with Terry: good in the air and he can pass well, and he's unlikely to commit himself on the halfway line given how he's played at Burnley

He's also a bit quicker.

If he's only a bit quicker than Terry that would worry me. Top defender though he was at his best, Terry's lack of pace was always his Achilles heel, not just as he entered his thirties. From that point of view he was lucky to have Carvalho alongside him (and Makelele sweeping up in front of them both) during his best years.

 

[manwithnoname]

If he's only a bit quicker than Terry that would worry me. Top defender though he was at his best, Terry's lack of pace was always his Achilles heel, not just as he entered his thirties. From that point of view he was lucky to have Carvalho alongside him (and Makelele sweeping up in front of them both) during his best years.

Well, I dunno. I haven't done any Glock speed tests.

It's sometimes hard to work out ow good a player is when the team they're in aren't great, or set up in a way that compliments their playing style.

Harry Maguire is another that the big clubs are watching, but you could argue that he can't be that good if his team are at the bottom and have conceded 69 goals. Which probably wouldn't be fair, but you get the point.

 

[keniget]

On a semi-related (but not quite) note, Sakho is apparently up for Crystal Palace's player of the year award, which is kinda crazy.

Defenders and goalkeepers can sometimes look pretty heroic when they're given loads to do.

 

[manwithnoname]

On a semi-related (but not quite) note, Sakho is apparently up for Crystal Palace's player of the year award, which is kinda crazy.

Defenders and goalkeepers can sometimes look pretty heroic when they're given loads to do.

Yep, goalkeepers are the hardest. cf Kirkland, Mignolet.

On the flip side, sometimes taking a player out of a very good team, where they have a clearly defined role can also be problematic. Like Kagawa or Sahin.

 

[hmmmmm1]

He looks decent in an ultra defensive Burnley with defence midfielders. Difficult to know how he would fare with our attacking style.

 

[Brizzle]

swagmonster.

 

[SummerOnions]

Nope. Shawcross-lite. Literally always the mistake we make. I'll be super fucking surprised if we actually get him

Sent from my FP2 using Tapatalk

 

[HC]

They way Burnley line up is to first off protect the back four, who knows just how capable he is playing in a system like ours.

£25m is the kind of fee id expect to assign to a player who would immediately improve the first xi, i'm not sure keane is that player

 

[the count]

Apparently James Pearce says that Van Dyke, Koulibaly and a few other centre halves will be targeted before Keane who is a backup option.
So yea, I guess he is nailed on to sign

 

[Hansern]

Apparently James Pearce says that Van Dyke, Koulibaly and a few other centre halves will be targeted before Keane who is a backup option.
So yea, I guess he is nailed on to sign

Koulibaly would be an excellent signing though, if we have any chance mind.

 

[Hansern]

Just a great defender and pretty good on the ball. 6'5 and a beast.

 

[manwithnoname]

Carra has been quoted on Sky or his Daily Mail column or somewhere saying we should "aim our sights higher than Michael Keane"

 

[Best Believe It]

Carra has been quoted on Sky or his Daily Mail column or somewhere saying we should "aim our sights higher than Michael Keane"

I suspect Keane might be a 'if we can't get Virgil Van Dijk then he might do' option.

 

[manwithnoname]

I suspect Keane might be a 'if we can't get Virgil Van Dijk then he might do' option.

Yeah, maybe. He'd be about half the price, too.

 

[Rosco]

Koulibaly might be the safest option - based purely on the way Napoli set themselves up. If he's playing well in that set up he'd be fine in ours.

Now, youtube scout alert, if you watch videos of Keane you'll see that there are times when he has had to defend higher up the pitch without any protection from full backs or midfielders and in his highlights he is able to cope well. I'd love to see videos of the times he gets skinned as well to be able to make a better call but it probably isn't a stretch to say he'd improve us immediately ( but Lovren being shit is a big part of that)

 

[ILD]

Maybe there is a gap in the market for Honest You Tube reels. Get the guy who does the Honest Movie Trailers to do the voice over.