Keane' Emergence from his Comfort Zone One of Ancelotti' Early Everton Triumphs

Bravo!

He still is poor with the ball, nothing will change that but he has tried to use it more productively and because we are dominating games I think he's realized he can step out. It really is a funny thing watching him do it. It's a proper cartoon double take!

His goal prowess is remarkable and totally out of nowhere. Is it James dropping it on his head, perhaps, but that desire to score was never evidence, say like Lescott who just rampaged his way to goals. Possibly that we simply are making more chances, because Mina has kinda seen a lesser but similar evolution. They both look better with the new guys in the team.

The test of course is when we have a set back will he shrink back? He is a player who thrives on continuity and a settled surrounding. Does he have the strength of character to stay the course? I've gone from a nope to a maybe.

I still believe we will evolve to a Holgate/Godfrey partnership, with Keane used for a more defensive game plan. However it's a good story and worth the plaudits.

One Yerry Mina should be looking nervously over his shoulder. He looks like the odd man out when the music stops. Will bring James' minder be enough to keep him in the side?

Cannot agree with some of Matt's observations.

"one of the most dynamic defenders in the division alongside him in Kurt Zouma". Oh boy!

"He was snug between lads who could do his running, pressing and passing for him." Indrissa and Zouma doing his passing for him? Of the three of them he was always a better passer.

"when others were ready to go all in on the Holgate-Mina axis" Hmmm, can't recall too many of those "others" on ToffeeWeb.

What I think is missing here is some reference to Michael's character. His playing with that still-injured foot and taking pain-killers. Getting slaughtered for his poor play, which it was, and not a a peep out of him until the next season when his foot was completely healed. His getting concussed on a head collision and when coming back immediately throwing his body and head at anything he could reach.

Character to burn.

A good lad. A good player. And good for us. And good for him getting some positive play in the press. He's earned it.

You can see his confidence has grown, as he is chipping in with goals again as well as doing a decent job at the other end, where he is expected to.

Carlo obviously sees and knows a lot more than we do, and I say the same for Southgate who has stuck by him. It was noticeable in the recent Internationals when he wasn't played, just hoiw much he was missed.

I'm not really bothered about England generally, but it's a mystery why he wasn't a regular in the recent internationals, since he's head and shoulders above any other centre-back choice for England at the moment.

He is not only now showing the qualities they praise. He has always displayed them. It just appears some have been slower, or reluctant, to see and acknowledge them.

When he first joined the club he was a constant 7-8-9 out of 10 player. Then as the season unravelled under Koeman, Michael's form fell off a cliff and he looked a 3-4-5 out of 10 player.

It wasn't until well into the following season that we discovered the considerable mitigating circumstances as to why that was the case. He continued to play with a serious foot wound. Indeed, he almost lost his foot, damn it!

In Silva's first season, Michael again excelled until fracturing his skull and needing time out. On recall, there was no flinching, no hesitation. He continued to put his head and body on the line. No one can question his commitment or bravery, then.

Much is made of his lack of speed, being slow on the turn and not tracking a man. His positioning and astuteness in cutting off the running lines of attackers often compensates for the first two. Of goals attributed to his 'failings' on the third, oft times it is much more about the quality of the delivery than something directly attributable to Michael.

He has ALWAYS been excellent on the ball, with the gift to carry the ball out of defence and play an incisive ball forward. I'm astonished that Blue watchers are only acknowledging that now.

He has consistently been the best defensive header and blocker during his time at the club.

He should have scored more from the positions he has been in from corners and free kicks in the opposition area. He seems to be addressing that this season.

People have bandied around buzz phrases about him being exposed in a 'high block' game (one we've used very effectively this season), believing him to be more suited to a 'low block' game.

He has shown he is more than capable of playing both. And recently in his run out for England he was possibly the best central defender of all Southgate played in the 3 games.

Michael Keane is back to being a solid 7-8-9 out of 10 player and he will not be the first centre back to be switched out if Carlo wants to shuffle the pack.

He is the standard the club's other centre backs have to better to make the starting XI.

I disagree on just one point: "prosperous partnership" between Mina and Holgate. I would say, Mina, Holgate, and of course Keane have all had games and spells where they have done really well. But I don't think we've ever seen the forming of a great partnership between any two of the three. It's usually one of them plays a blinder while the other is OK, then next week it's the reverse. But in terms of cohesion, understanding, communication etc I don't think we've seen a really good pairing among these guys yet. Partly, injuries have hindered that, as have managerial changes. I wonder now who among these three plus Godfrey will form the primary pairing?

Could see us ending the season with a back 4 of Holgate, Keane, Godfrey and Digne.

Despite my love for Seamus we do need to transition to a new model and Holgate is no stranger to the RB slot. Looks like it won't happen for JJK.

And I'm excited about Godfrey.

Not a fan of Mina.

"He still is poor with the ball, nothing will change that..."

I strongly disagree. He certainly isn't a fancy dribbler, but he is competent on the ball and, more to the point, he is capable of some truly superior passing. He has startled me repeatedly with beautifully crafted and weighted balls with both feet this season.

He does have the unfortunate habit of giving away one horrendous pass per game, straight to an attacker. THAT needs work. But given how much he has improved, who's to say the improvement won't continue?

However his ability to control it, kill it and move smoothly amongst the back line is poor. He often treats regular passes as grenades. He ain't alone though.

Passing makes up a fraction of his ball skills. It dictates how quickly we play and recycle the ball. We often need to start again because he can't do it. Look Mina and Coleman all have the same problem, yet we have Digne who exemplifies what a modern defender in a team who has the ball the majority of time needs to have in his locker.

He has improved no doubt but he ain't the answer if we are to step up. Let's be fair against an agile forward in an open system he's toast.

Let's not go overboard, improved yes, better than Mina, yes, durable, hell yes. If we are going places just a squad player for me.

I was convinced Ancelotti would want his team playing a high line, but it seems to be working as it is and he doesnt seem in a hurry to fix what isn't broke. If Kean is more comfortable defending deep then why make him push up ?

I think he has looked better under Ancelotti, which is more than can be said for Mina.

Miracles apparently take a little longer. If we are to progress and become a top side, We need to replace Mina and Pickford.

The Barcodes, and United will soon come up, after Soton, so collectively the squads for these games must keep working hard for each over.

On to the next game and Everton move on from the hysteria of the one sided media perspective of the match last Saturday.

Soton will be as tough as the RS, but I'm looking forward to this match.

All stay safe and well.

Some credit must also go to Ancelotti in recognising the player's limitations and organising around them. Our back line sits five to ten yards deeper than is ideal partly because Keane lacks pace. That leaves the two central midfielders with more ground to cover but fortunately Allan and Doucouré have the wherewithal to do that. A problem arises when we face the stronger sides who are more effective at exploiting space through midfield. We saw that at times last Saturday.

What we really need is a speedier defender alongside Keane, someone who can mop up behind him. That would allow Keane and the team to push up and reduce the workload for Allan and Doucouré. Ben Godfrey, perhaps?

He looks like he is versatile as well,but I think it will be in the centre of defence where he will make his mark for the Blues.

This is a kid who's transformed. He's playing rock-solid and with a confidence we've not seen from him ever before.

That said, I hope he's on an upward curve because as welcome as it is his form is it's still short of greatness in my humble opinion. Carry on Keano though, you make have become a great by May!

Just asking..........for a blind friend.

Keane is steady and reliable. You know what you can get from him when he's on the pitch. Mina maybe faster with better strength but tends to do erratic moves like "diving block" or "heel flick clearance".
Happy with Keane and I think he should have displaced McGuire in the England team.

Also JR to establish another right side route to reach DCL while Richie from the left DCL blossoms...

Bravo.. Carlo & Brand addressed defense & midfield & attack woes with three signings...

What I have not seen in him since he joined the club is that he is the sort of player who can step up and help drag the team out of a rut. If we see that at some point this season then we really will know that Ancelotti dragging the entire squad up by their bootstraps.

As for Mina, I think he'll be replaced next summer along with Pickford.

If we manage to take anything down there on Sunday, it will be a bonus, because I can't see Iwobi et al doing anything much going forward.

On another note, Jose Enriquez a former Newcastle and Liverpool player says “I still believe Newcastle is a top-six team. Look, Everton is there, and it's not because I'm a Liverpool fan, but Newcastle is bigger than Everton for history, for everything. It should be a top-six team. I believe that.

Really Jose? On what basis has he made that flawed judgement?

They landed these men because they were prepared to offer more than anybody else.

Just as Silva did when he was signing his former player.

Its the time honoured tradition. Big Joe paid more for Big Dunc and Kanchelskis and landed them. Catterick paid the big bucks for Bally and he came too.

Still happening today, only a new term was invented for it in the summer. Its called pulling power now.

Apparently

For me, Lukaku and maybe Vlasic. Problem was, big Rom didn't want to be here.