brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 11:38 am
The difference between branthwaite and Keane is insurmountable by performance.
That gap isn't the same between young and Coleman or whoever else.
No but it does come down to making people fight for their place... If you need Keane to perform when he comes in you can't really expect him to do so if he knows he'll be dropped next match no matter how he does
I'll never dispute Branthwaite being a far better player, but for me whoever is performing should get the nod until they don't.
AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 12:11 pm
No but it does come down to making people fight for their place... If you need Keane to perform when he comes in you can't really expect him to do so if he knows he'll be dropped next match no matter how he does
I'll never dispute Branthwaite being a far better player, but for me whoever is performing should get the nod until they don't.
I agree to an extend but if it was say Keane up against Isak with a fully fit Branthwaite on the bench, then you would be asking for trouble because of how Keane is against the combination of pace and skill.
AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 12:11 pm
No but it does come down to making people fight for their place... If you need Keane to perform when he comes in you can't really expect him to do so if he knows he'll be dropped next match no matter how he does
I'll never dispute Branthwaite being a far better player, but for me whoever is performing should get the nod until they don't.
It's a wild assumption from me but I think Keane wouldn't mind being benched too much, with the knowledge that he's put in some good displays and isn't currently in the spotlight as a liability.
The Doc wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2024 2:12 pm
It's a wild assumption from me but I think Keane wouldn't mind being benched too much, with the knowledge that he's put in some good displays and isn't currently in the spotlight as a liability.
I suppose going to the bench with good vibes is much better than being sent there because you're dross.
Mouse wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:31 am
Yep, the idea that he'd be happy to be benched (i.e. hide) is as insulting as you could get to pretty much any professional sportsperson.
The law of averages suggests there are some social loafers in the higher leagues. And the reality of it is that they're paid an astronomical amount whether they play or not, and will have a life away from football too, with their families and friends. It's not completely beyond the realms of reason to suggest that some would be happy with the odd period of sitting things out.
The Doc wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:58 pm
The law of averages suggests there are some social loafers in the higher leagues. And the reality of it is that they're paid an astronomical amount whether they play or not, and will have a life away from football too, with their families and friends. It's not completely beyond the realms of reason to suggest that some would be happy with the odd period of sitting things out.
That may be the case but I would imagine it is more about those in the fringes, like that keeper at Chelsea for his whole career and appeared twice or something ridiculous. In which case I would say the adjective “professional”, in its wider sense, doesn’t apply.
In this thread the implication was that Keane would be happy to be dropped when he is in his best form for a long time and that he would be content to hide. I don’t believe that for a moment and think it a cheap shot at an easy target. Even Young gets kudos for his mental strength in rising above the boo boys to turn in good performances. But Keane doesn’t same and it’s he’ll be happy to have had a couple of decent games and get away sharpish.
He also gets given at least three hospital passes a game and usually manages to retain possession.
Maybe he’s finally adjusted to his loss of pace? I feel like a lot of his issues were going for challenges where he would have got there in the past but has no chance now
