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Branthwaite comes back in but it's nice that it isn't the massive rush job it could have been. Not going to have the Tarkowski debate again like.

Don't agree Branthwaite at his worst is better than Keane at his best though, that's nonsense.

On current form, our 4th choice CB is our 1st choice. Branthwaite needs to be brought back slowly, and earn his spot.

Did someone say 4th choice?

Pin pulled!!

I wonder if Moyes will be tempted push Branthwaite or Keane to LB so we can have 4 CBs across the back.

blueToffee wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 7:04 pm I wonder if Moyes will be tempted push Branthwaite or Keane to LB so we can have 4 CBs across the back.

Also known as the Ancelotti

Well well, who’d have thought?

Bluebridge wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 6:24 pm Well well, who’d have thought?

I prefer to trust my eyes

brap2 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 7:04 pm I prefer to trust my eyes

Good answer Brapster, good answer

He’s a great FPL asset.

Hits the def con and is a proper threat from set pieces.

Would have had him in from the start if I knew Brathwaite would have been out longer.

TheRam wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 7:49 pm He’s a great FPL asset.

Hits the def con and is a proper threat from set pieces.

Would have had him in from the start if I knew Brathwaite would have been out longer.

I went Tarkowski thinking of just games played and it's fucked it for me.

Silas wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 7:52 pm I went Tarkowski thinking of just games played and it's fucked it for me.

Same.

Most of his points have came when I’ve had him on the bench.

Was really looking forward to bombing him out then Gabriel got injured.

He’ll be on my bench again this gameweek so will get another ten points the tit.

The Newcastle game is exactly why he isn’t a good player.

Moyes wanted us on the front foot, pressing high with the defenders being aggressive.

First time Keane comes out to win the ball, he gets turned and they score from the set piece.

Look at the second goal. Both he and tarkowski have pushed up, been done, and once that happens they’re both out the game.

We have two defenders who are ok at clearing the ball in the box, playing deep and winning headers.

We can’t play on the front foot with them because once they get done, they haven’t got the pace to get back in

It hinders us so much. Moyes either has to stick with it, or change the system to have us deeper to protect the centre halves which then means we become a worse team on the counter.

That defence has been terrible all season.

I've kept kind of quiet on this as I'm sick of the repetitive arguments, and also I really like Keane as a person. But yeah he's been really good this season in terms of his tackling and blocking in and around our area, he's made some genuinely great challenges and has been great on that front. But positionally he's been as bad as ever for me - easily drawn out of position by attackers dropping deep, and guilty of ball watching instead of anticipating what's going to happen an awful lot too.

I'd give him a solid 7/10 for his overall performances this season, but I've also laughed at some of the over the top praise he's been getting too. He's probably had his best run since he joined in terms of not making any howlers, and I'd add to that he's actually been really good in terms of his body on the line defensive work this season. But he's really not a very good defender overall and is positionally horrible, and we should be aiming a lot higher.

None of this is a defence of Tarkowski btw who has been worse than Keane overall this season for me.

Both absolute donkeys that wouldn’t look out of place playing for fucking Wolves.

TheRam wrote: ↑Sun Nov 30, 2025 10:25 pm The Newcastle game is exactly why he isn’t a good player.

Moyes wanted us on the front foot, pressing high with the defenders being aggressive.

First time Keane comes out to win the ball, he gets turned and they score from the set piece.

Look at the second goal. Both he and tarkowski have pushed up, been done, and once that happens they’re both out the game.

We have two defenders who are ok at clearing the ball in the box, playing deep and winning headers.

We can’t play on the front foot with them because once they get done, they haven’t got the pace to get back in

It hinders us so much. Moyes either has to stick with it, or change the system to have us deeper to protect the centre halves which then means we become a worse team on the counter.

That defence has been terrible all season.

Hence why I say branthwaite on a bad day is better than Keane on his best.

Having a CB who can turn, who can play forward, who can pushup... It unlocks so much for you that having two grocks don't get near.

Whereas branthwaite is also very good in the air and on the ground, so it's not like you lose anything.