Michael Keane

[Kerryblueboy]

It’s not even up for debate branthwaite is levels above both tark and Keane and walks back into the team

[NomadskiEFC]

This'll be a good pub quiz question - Keane became the first player to score at all three of Everton's stadiums

And also the only two Everton players to have an altercation with a teammate that led to a red card at Old Trafford!

[Bumble]

It’s not even up for debate branthwaite is levels above both tark and Keane and walks back into the team

True. However I'm not that bothered about his absence at the minute, Keane and Tarks look to have formed a decent partnership.

[NomadskiEFC]

Without delving in to the incident itself I think Keane deserve huge credit for his performance after.

Could easily have put him off his game but he was absolutely immense. KDH is getting a lot of plaudits but for me Keane was the best player on the pitch last night.

I don't want to say he's unflappable these days, but dunno... You'd think if his head was going to go at some point that'd have been the moment for it to happen.

I know there's a clamour for Branthwaite to be put straight back in once fit, and some will never trust Keane, but right now he's undroppable.

No way he keeps Branthwaite out once Jarrad is match fit and gone through a bedding in period (I hope) but I totally agree with your first point. A lot of players heads would have gone after what happened (and had Idrissa just got a yellow I think he would have almost certainly put in a sub par performance afterwards), but Keane was rock solid for the rest of the game, so fair play to him.

[AjaxAndy]

Thing is if a player is maybe top 2-3 performers over half a season what message does that send to the team if you drop them?

Most managers will want to show that if you play well you keep your spot. Pretty destructive to just say 'yeah well played but you're out'. Also doesn't give that player any motivation to play well in future.

Just don't think you drop Keane if you're a manager with the way he's playing, sends out all the wrong messages.

Branthwaite will need to bide his time and take his opportunity if and when it comes imo.

[TheRam]

Brathwaite obviously comes back in.

He make us a much better team and allows us to move up the pitch.

I think he could come back in at left back but there should be no complaints if he comes back in for Keane.

Defensively we haven’t been that good this season so it would be mad to have a player like branthwaite on the bench when he’s available.

[Gary1878]

Branthwaite doesn’t come straight back in for 2 main reasons

1. He has had a significant injury and will require phasing in. He won’t just suddenly replace Keane and be playing 90 minutes and every game.

2. Keane has been fantastic, and so Branthwaite not only needs to get up to fitness but also Keane needs to drop off in form.

I am a big believer in if a player has excellent form and continues to play well, you don’t drop them. Branthwaite has now been out for months and needs to come back and prove himself all over again. That’s what a proper and competitive squad looks like and we shouldn’t just have players waltzing back into the team after months out because of past form.

[AjaxAndy]

Branthwaite doesn’t come straight back in for 2 main reasons

1. He has had a significant injury and will require phasing in. He won’t just suddenly replace Keane and be playing 90 minutes and every game.

2. Keane has been fantastic, and so Branthwaite not only needs to get up to fitness but also Keane needs to drop off in form.

I am a big believer in if a player has excellent form and continues to play well, you don’t drop them. Branthwaite has now been out for months and needs to come back and prove himself all over again. That’s what a proper and competitive squad looks like and we shouldn’t just have players waltzing back into the team after months out because of past form.

100% agree... If you want a competitive squad you need competition for places. You don't get that by dropping in form players.

One of the things probably pushing Keane to these levels is the manager telling him that if he maintains it he keeps his place.

Sends out the complete wrong message to players if you ignore performances, especially over an extended period and drop players who are excelling for someone who's been injured all season.

What motivation does that give the likes of Dibling, Tim, Rohl etc if they know regardless of how they perform they won't be rewarded? Let alone Keane if Branthwaite picks up a niggle in his first game back and misses the next few?

A good manager rewards players who perform because it has a bigger impact on the team than ditching them the moment someone else is available.

[NickNack]

Branthwaite defo comes in when fit, the good thing being as things stand there’s no need to rush him back. Currently not bothered whether he comes in for Tarks or Keane, but that could change when the time comes

[NickNack]

Considering Keane is reputed to suffer on the psychological side of things, he did very well after what happened last night. We’ve seen him have meltdowns for far less in the past

[Gash]

I thought he was terrific last night, many a player, himself included, could have gone to pieces after what happened but if anything it seemed to spur him on. But all the players were great and you could see there's a really strong team spirit within the group, especially how they were with him at the end.

[Toddacelli]

It will be a phasing back from injury for Branthwaite, building up his minutes. It’s a huge credit to Keane that he’s played so well that this is even a discussion.

But as Branthwaite’s minutes on the pitch and fitness build, we will start to see more and more why it is right for him to start.

Then he’ll be picked ahead of Keane for the very reason some of you say he can’t - because when he gets a chance he’s the form player. He can do everything Keane can do and more, and he can do it faster.

[brap2]

Branthwaite doesn’t come straight back in for 2 main reasons

1. He has had a significant injury and will require phasing in. He won’t just suddenly replace Keane and be playing 90 minutes and every game.

2. Keane has been fantastic, and so Branthwaite not only needs to get up to fitness but also Keane needs to drop off in form.

I am a big believer in if a player has excellent form and continues to play well, you don’t drop them. Branthwaite has now been out for months and needs to come back and prove himself all over again. That’s what a proper and competitive squad looks like and we shouldn’t just have players waltzing back into the team after months out because of past form.

1. Goes without saying, I don't think anyone would say throw him in and let him break down.

2. Couldn't disagree more. Branthwaite on a bad day is better than Keane on his best. It's no slight, they're just different players with different levels. He comes back in. No manager in his right mind has it any other way. Might be a few weeks and a few conferences where Moyes talks about it in these terms, but he comes back in and our level improves immediately because he's a much, much better player.

[blueToffee]

I'm just happy right now it's even a mild-ish debate, there is no meltdown on the match thread if he's on the team sheet anymore. Which is quite some turnaround given the contract talk this summer.

He's done well since Moyes came in really so credit to the work off the field too I think. I'm sure Moyes will ease Branthwaite in when the time comes.

[Audrey Horne]

I thought he was terrific last night, many a player, himself included, could have gone to pieces after what happened but if anything it seemed to spur him on. But all the players were great and you could see there's a really strong team spirit within the group, especially how they were with him at the end.

I really loved hearing the fans chanting Keano at him, he looks so happy