Michael Keane will stay at Everton for another year

He took his goal at Fulham really well.

For all his faults, I like him. And he will score goals.

“This is good news”?

The bad news is “Keane will likely play”

Has his faults but always gives 100%.

He's had some stinkers but he's had equally as many good games for us which I think people often overlook.

Would I have wanted it? Probably not, but I thought weeks ago, this could happen, so it is expected.

My son hasn't mentioned it to me, nor me to him. He's worse than me. When he sees his name on the team sheet or his number come up on the sub's board, he goes into a proper rant!!

He's an honest guy. Given his all when called upon. He knows he's not first choice, second or even third choice centre-back. I imagine he's a good guy in he dressing room and a good example of how to behave if you're out of favour.

The one gripe I have is, isn't there a centre-back we could bring through, buy at a young age that could match his output?

Will Tarkowski continue at his previous level ? Isn't O'Brien due a run a centre-back? Wouldn't that leave Tarkowski in Keane's current role?

I know there's other positions that need strengthening but thought he'd probably run his course here.

I just hope he doesn't get to play too often.

Filling one open reserve spot with a known quantity, and not having to scout him, compete for him or go through an extended negotiation, saves time and effort that can be directed towards more crucial needs.

Nobody's dancing in the streets about this, but it makes sense.

Keane's 1-year deal makes sort of sense.

Derek 17. If Harrison was right footed I'd have him at the quoted 7m as cover for a decent first choice right winger.

It's not a quick fix transfer window opportunity, but I'd like to think that if decent acquisitions for the above mentioned positions can be sourced then it will be a decent enough start to the rebuild process that's needed for the progress of the club to achieve greater things on the trophy trail home and abroad.

It's a no-brainer given the amount of players we've let go. As for Harrison he's a workhorse but has no end product – who's next, Broja 🤷💙

Love him or hate him, if we let Keane go then that's another pointless chase for a defender to replace him with.

The pressing matters should be striker/s and a right back is absolutely paramount, so too some genuine pace out wide.

Have a look at his last supposedly good game, described by one poster as superb, v Newcastle and the phase where Newcastle had four successive corners and got two good attempts in when Michael and his partner O'Brien stood like dummies when the corners came in.

Newcastle were the team under pressure fighting to get into the Champions League next season and ran out of steam and all Keane and O'Brien had to defend were routine centres. They got away with it, but wait ‘til we are the team under pressure fighting — I can see Keane now, he'll — oh fuck that, it's really not worth thinking about!

Then again, Moyes might work his magic on an aging centre-back; that will be worth watching!

We all assume Mykolenko's going to stay fit most of the season.

Hopefully Gana, Garner, Iroegbunam and Alcaraz? That is so light it's untrue. And if Gana gets injured, God help us.

Doucoure got a lot of stick but he scored goals, and was terrific out of possession. Big boots to fill, I'd be thinking we need to spend there more than any other position.

The goal of getting the next O'Brien or Branthwaite doesn't work out so easily, because if they're young with 1st team potential, you either want them out on loan and playing or at worst 3rd choice in case your top 2 get injured.

But what big prospect wants to come to a club like ours on lowish wages and be 4th choice, yet still be a meaningful asset to us? Maybe other clubs on our level have better options in this type of situation, but I'm skeptical.

Given all of that, and the priorities being elsewhere, this seems like a very sound decision. Harrison, meanwhile, need to go read about those rumblings, will feel very differently if he's being brought back as a starter. If everyone's healthy, I guess you could push Ndiaye out right, McNeil to the left, Alcaraz, Gana and Garner in the middle — but even then, right wing is a position I'd rather buy young for impact sub potential than return to Jack.

He's first choice.

There's no guarantee that Tarkowski is going to be fit for the start of the season, or that he's not going to have a reoccurrence of a hamstring.

Please tell me I am wrong that the current back 4 isn't Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Keane and Obrien as it stands.

This to me is a worry. Coleman cant stay fit, Patterson is garbage, yet we are going into a season with Keane as first choice for the first game of the season.

Yes, we might sign a new right back. But equally we could lose Mykolenko that picks up a knock easily, or we lose Branthwaite or Obrien for a period.

Anyone on the squad you've got to be happy is good enough to play. Not hoping you'll never need them.

I get money is tight, I get we have bigger issues in the side. But let's not kid ourselves hes 4th choice when you need at least 2 centre backs in a side.

I just don't get the continuity, knows the club angle. I would prefer no continuity of the level of performance either offer.

"As many good games as stinkers", how reassuring.

Sure, he's a step up above Tarkowski right now, but you can't plan for a season as if Tarkowski won't get healthy if all signs are that his hamstring recovery are on track. If they are, then at best he's third choice with O'Brien out on the right once Tark is healthy.

As I predicted previously, I think it's time for O'Brien to take over permanently from Tarkowski, and I also think we'll bring in a new starting right back or at least someone they feel can compete for that spot. I think Tarkowski then becomes the new Keane for us, a back-up we're glad to have for a few years who only plays when necessary.

We have only one left back.

We have 4 centre backs, 1 is injured and 1 is clearly not good enough. One might need to play right back.

The club captain played 282 minutes last season with every likelihood he plays the same amount of time next year.

Yes, we might get a new right back. But our first choice signing option played 22 games last season and he turned us down. The liklihood is we are looking for inferior players to Tete.

If we were blessed in good full backs, good full back cover, and 3 fit centre backs, then Keane as 4th wouldn't matter. But that isn't the case.

Its been highlighted we are desperately short in the middle of the park, and it is the same at the back.

A back 4 of Coufal, Obrien Keane & Coleman could be our starters come December and into a busy Christmas period. If thsts the case, youre losing matches.

I think Colin Glassar wrote that nothing is changing at Everton, and commented it was dithering davy if I recall it right. The first part is right. Nothing is changing. Its not the manager, the last 4 odd managers have all found there's no money to spend, the squad is thin and the quality is shite.

No manager can turn that around. You want a good team, performing well, then you need good players. You can talk tactics till the cows come home, but you need players that can play.

Get a grip, give praise when its due, not some pre-conceived nonsense to back up your already stubborn opinion.

I’m sure he appreciated the pause in vitriol whilst we all awaited the outcome of his contract negotiations! 😜

Now when will Dithering start signing some new players? History says we won't get what we really need.

‘Dithering’

Give it a rest

Moyes isn’t in charge of transfers in any case

"Cautious Committee"... just does not cut it in the lazy labelling social media world.

There will be times we need to defense for a lead or draw by sitting deep against piling up pressure. He is good at low block and his long pass is pretty good too.

Let's focus on the Striker and the Left Back/Right Back first.