Lee Dixon On Keane

[Imy]

Now we've signed Reira i wonder where Keane is going to play now?

Until Gerrard returns i'd say fairly centrally but what then?

[Johnny]

Now we've signed Reira i wonder where Keane is going to play now?

Until Gerrard returns i'd say fairly centrally but what then?

Beside Torres in a 4-4-2

[Red_Polo]

People become members of that group based on what they post. I can't control that.

I'm assuming I will be afforded the same degree of vehmence in my defence of the club as the naysayers are in their denigration of the club and players?

You said we under-performed when Keane was on the left. The match thread said that was our best performance this year!!!! I don't know what else I can say.

People are drawing conclusions based on a 30min max cameo. I say that's premature, you don't think so.

Mate, at the most basic level fans, support. You don't need a judge and jury.

I didn't say that though.

I said I thought we were worse off playing him out wide. That is not based on a 30min cameo, it's based on the type of player I think Keane is having watched him play since he was at Coventry.

Do you really not think it's possible to support the team whilst having a different opinion on even the most minor of issues?

[Imy]

Beside Torres in a 4-4-2

I dunno, Rafa seems settled with his two holding midfielders (xabi and Mascherano) in the 4-2-3-1 formation and Gerrard who should do a bang up job in a deeper position doesn't seem to have the discipline to play there.

[Woobus]

I presumed we played Keane there as he was the best option at the time, thats why Rafa had been trying all pre season to get Barry or a left sided player. Babel didnt look fully fit during mid week and I doubt he was up for playing 90 minutes against Villa. With Riera and Babel back I doubt we will see him out there to much in the future.

[Johnny]

I dunno, Rafa seems settled with his two holding midfielders (xabi and Mascherano) in the 4-2-3-1 formation and Gerrard who should do a bang up job in a deeper position doesn't seem to have the discipline to play there.

Buying Keane also means that Torres and Gerrard can be rested as Keane can play in both their positions.We`ll have endless possibilities when everyone is fit.

[Johnny]

I presumed we played Keane there as he was the best option at the time, thats why Rafa had been trying all pre season to get Barry or a left sided player. Babel didnt look fully fit during mid week and I doubt he was up for playing 90 minutes against Villa. With Riera and Babel back I doubt we will see him out there to much in the future.

That`s how I see it.

[barnes10]

he should play gerrard instead of alonso and keane in place of gerrard behind torres . torres & keane just swap who is the spearhead throughout the game. torres was a great foil for villa and keane was a great finisher when played as the frontman.

so riera left, kuyt right, masher and stevie in the middle. stevie bombs forward and masher destroys any opposition attacks that venture past the half way line. full backs overlap and occasionally, agger steps forward to act sweeper like and we're laughing.

if rafa's saying keane is a genuine option out wide for say, half a season, then i'd tell him he's a fool. if he's saying that in extenuating circumstances or if we're chasing a game and want 4 strikers on the pitch then for sure thats a possibility. nothing wrong with that.

however, to get the best out of Keane over a season, he has to be one of 2 central front men. simple as that.

[Parm]

Sad thing is that it's so bleedin obvious that even Lee Dixon can see it.

very true

[Sarb]

Even worse, Rafa has probably seen that article and will probably go the opposite way even more just to try and prove he knows best, when quite clearly he's shown that he doesn't.

Reira will probably play right wing or somewhere else except his favoured position

[El Jefecito]

he should play gerrard instead of alonso and keane in place of gerrard behind torres . torres & keane just swap who is the spearhead throughout the game. torres was a great foil for villa and keane was a great finisher when played as the frontman.

so riera left, kuyt right, masher and stevie in the middle. stevie bombs forward and masher destroys any opposition attacks that venture past the half way line. full backs overlap and occasionally, agger steps forward to act sweeper like and we're laughing.

if rafa's saying keane is a genuine option out wide for say, half a season, then i'd tell him he's a fool. if he's saying that in extenuating circumstances or if we're chasing a game and want 4 strikers on the pitch then for sure thats a possibility. nothing wrong with that.

however, to get the best out of Keane over a season, he has to be one of 2 central front men. simple as that.

1 DM is not enough to cover 2 opponent midfielders and the zones of 2 overlapping FBs.

SG is a force of nature in the final 3rd moving him away from there so he can do some defending and zone covering is insane IMO. You don't have your 20/20 player hanging back to cover for a FB who has gone forward, let the more limited players do that, that is bread and butter football. 20/20, geez, there are about 3-4 players in the whole world who can give you that. Why would you waste it?

Can you imagine Ronaldo playing as a DM?

[rage]

if our left and right midfielders knew what they were doing we wouldn't have this over reliance on attacking full backs. come on attacking fullbacks is only one strategy we should have more in our locker

[El Jefecito]

if our left and right midfielders knew what they were doing we wouldn't have this over reliance on attacking full backs. come on attacking fullbacks is only one strategy we should have more in our locker

Mate we don't have the wingers to not have to rely on the FBs. Simple pragmatism. It's the cards we've been dealt. Now how to get the best out of them.

[rage]

Mate we don't have the wingers to not have to rely on the FBs. Simple pragmatism. It's the cards we've been dealt. Now how to get the best out of them.

easy play our players in their best positions. oh and its not the cards we've been dealt but the ones we picked. keane on the left whatever next masch as attacking midfielder?

[Red_Polo]

Even worse, Rafa has probably seen that article and will probably go the opposite way even more just to try and prove he knows best, when quite clearly he's shown that he doesn't.

Reira will probably play right wing or somewhere else except his favoured position

What's your basis for any of that though?