Keane happy to be back in the fold

Got too many bad memories of his horrendous performances.

If we are to ever progress (haha) and try to play the more modern way, Keane and his weaknesses will be exposed yet again. Mina could have played instead and the results would have been the same or possibly better, imo.

Michael seems like a nice guy and he has had some very good games for us, but he's not suddenly going to change at his age. Obviously I wish him luck but I gave up on him a while ago, bit like Frank did.

He told those young kids he would die for Everton but he was probably talking about his contract and how he will feel like dying when it's over because he will never get another one like it in his life.

I do believe Michael Keane does give his all to the cause but he's just not good enough for a team that wants to compete effectively in the Premier League.

Given our financial situation, if anyone comes in with £18M plus, I would sell him. Give Branthwaite or Godfrey a go alongside Tarkowskl next season. Coady will be the 4th central defender and that should be enough. Mina's on a free and Holgate can go for £10M plus.

Thank God Frank's moved on; otherwise, we'd have no chance.

Keane is better under Dyche, and hopefully he can contain his error streak. Dyche is on the bench as a replacement for a injuried play, nothing else, with his attitude.

His main problem, apart from playing in a shit team, has been lack of confidence. I think there are definite signs that Sean Dyche knows how to get the best out of him.

See Frank, I only had to think about that for ten seconds, and I’m sure this would have been great advice if you had spoken to Michael Keane, and said that!!!

I think we look more solid now he is partnering Tarkowski, and I hope that partnership will keep enough clean sheets to get us to safety.

He’s now got a bit of confidence with his old mate Tarko playing next to him, and his old boss in charge.

Just shows, though, what a useless man-manager Frank was. Couldn’t understand why not everyone is like him. You can’t treat everyone the same.

Shocking really

the way we are setting up right now, low block, suits Keane much more than it suits Coady.

The number of goals we conceded from set pieces before Dyche came in was criminal, but we have improved greatly, winning headers and getting the ball out of danger most of the time. Keane and Tarkowski are made for this type of defending. The likes of Leicester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds would dream of having such 'solid but limited ' Central defenders.

In the long term, we obviously need better and hopefully we keep hold of Branthwaite as long term central defender.

But there will not be wholesale changes this summer, unless we're relegated, we simply don't have the finances, and we may not be allowed anyway.

I expect Keane and Tarkowski will remain our main central defenders next season, with Godfrey and Branthwaite as reserve. Mina and Holgate will leave.

Watching Keane's assist for our first goal in this game, you could be excused for thinking that he could possibly be the greatest ball playing center half of a generation!

Those highlights will also make you realise that we really could do with a 100% fit and focused Calvert-Lewin playing in our last 10 games...

For Keane or any other millionaire-nobody sucking the very lifeblood from OUR club to openly admit "my legs went during a match" is shameful, whilst also moaning that his Everton career hasn't progressed as he'd hoped.

He and every player all spout how "professional" they are.

Professional?

My arse!!

I don’t see Franks comments as shocking. I see them as sensible. Obviously Frank had seen enough of Keane and the other Chuckle Brother Holgate which is why he signed Tark and Coady. Keane like Davies has been a regular feature in our worst performances that have cost several managers their jobs. He does OK with a tough nut beside him but I don’t trust him not to make a critical mistake again. If you’re 17 or 18 you get pointers. If you’re pushing 30 and have an uncanny ability to
Concede penalties and score own goals then what hope is there for you? Seems like a nice bloke. No doubt he does his best. He’s not a shirker like Doucoure but he’s just not very good.

I can only think of one of our players who is worthy of the title 'Professional' and that's our Captain: the rest could be classed as mercenaries.

At the end of this season we will see some central defenders departing, Mina at the end of his contract and Coady's loan brought to a halt which will leave us with Tarkowski, Keane and Branthwaite with Godfrey and Holgate as cover for all back four places and even that may not be the final position if either P&S and/or relegation demands require further cost cutting.

It isn't an ideal position or possibly the retention of the best players but it must most assuredly come about. It may also mean the departure of some of our better players who, to my mind, would be Pickford and Onana. Whatever, it will most likely be a matter for the almost inevitable new team of Accountants.

Michael Keane might be a millionaire, but he has had a haunted look about him in the past that has genuinely worried me, especially given his (admirably talked about) mental health difficulties. Feeling part of a team at work and feeling valued and respected will undoubtedly boost him, and Dyche strikes me as that sort of leader.

I certainly hope so for Michael but also for the rest of us and the club's Premier League future!

For a 30 year old experienced centre back, he still worries me. He has lapses of concentration, doesn't read or anticipate enough and needs to be led.

However.

Credit where due and I had him tied as our joint best player against Chelsea. He's what we've got so the manager has to make it work and can as he knows him well. Even though not my preferred style, maybe he can operate better under Dyche an with a leader like Tarkowski alongside him.

Alan, I think Tarkowski was bought as Keane’s replacement and that they actually only played a few games together for Burnley. Could be wrong there - relying on memory.

In my opinion, our best centre back is Mina. He just can't last more than about 15 minutes before a lengthy period on the side.

It doesn't mean he isn't a good defender though.

I like Tarkowski. I thought Coady looked promising, but he seemed to fade after a good start. After being exited with Godfrey, the jury is out. I'll be honest, he seems to be a player who I don't know what his best position is.

And, although unlikely under Dyche, I can see Mykolenko better of the left of a back three.

I don't disagree about Mina being our best CB but as you say, he is made of glass and with his injury record you cant build a side round a guy who cant seem to stay fit. Regarding the Keane or Coady debate, for me Keane is better in the air than Coady and since his return already has an assist, and lets not forget it was Keanes goal against Palace that started the comeback.
Also he will carry the ball out of defence something Coady never does, yes sometimes he has lapses of concentration but overall I agree with Dyche given our options I would pick Tarkowski and Keane as our best CB pairing.

I don’t think they did that much: thought Keane kept Tarks out of the side which means Dyche rated Mee & Keane more highly

Happy to be corrected but for now I’m considering all the ‘they played together’ as BS

I think Tarkowski was Keane’s replacement at Burnley. I’m pretty sure he broke into the team once we signed Keane…

My opinion of Keane is that he is not easy on the eye, but I always think back to that season under Silva when we finished the season strongly. We had Keane and Zouma in central defence, and they were a good partnership.

Dyche was a centre half himself, and he is putting his faith in Keane at the minute.

I don’t think he’s a bad player, but the caveat is that he can only play in a defence where he is basically defending his box all game. Any attempt to play a high line exposes him.

While Dyche is in charge, I think Keane will suit his system. I think it’s slightly harsh on Coady, but his form was up and down, and Keane has done ok in the last few games…

I remember thinking after about ten minutes of the Arsenal game, that although Gana Gueye, hadn’t touched the ball, he was holding his position, and everyone else was also playing with discipline and keeping their shape, and if we are going to get anything tonight, I think that’s exactly how we have got to play?

Don't get drawn and pulled out of shape because Kane with "cheat". I don't mean that in the sinister sense, but as you say he will drop deep to entice the centre backs to follow and leave space behind.

In respect to the other three contenders they all have obvious faults and I would expect at least two of them to be moved on in the summer. Let's hope we can keep hold of Branthwaite as he and Tarkowski look like an excellent partnership.

As for tonight both centre backs will need to be at their very best. Here's hoping !!

Can big Virg do that? I don't think so!

Man of the match on Monday and joint man of the match against Chelsea.

World class is reserved for the likes of Cruyff, Maradona and Messi.