2025/26 Jarrad Branthwaite

[preposterousvelios]

I know you hate him but he's been very solid.

Zero errors leading to a shot, zero errors leading to a goal, scored to give us a point vs West Ham.

Even if Branthwaite was fit he wouldn't be getting dropped.

Numbers are completely sound:

View attachment 329325

These numbers aren't really actually exceptional for a centre back though are they, those percentiles look good if he was a striker.

For a cb you can look at those and see he's alright in the air, makes a decent amount of blocks in an around the box, but is hopeless at winning the ball on the floor, and fills his keks when asked to control and progress the ball.

The most important stat for a defender - goals conceded with him in the team vs without is telling. We always, always have conceded far more goals when Keane is playing, regardless of the form of the team and who's playing around him.

Can acknowledge the improvement from him this season, but still need him out the first team ASAP. I find the suggestion that he keeps his place when Branthwaite is back pretty insane tbh.

 

[Saint Domingo]

It's been widely reported that the alternative to keeping Keane was to buy Adam Webster, who is absolutely not better than him at all. It was obvious to most of us that someone like him was the alternative, but some weirdos wanted to make out like it was a choice between keeping Keane and signing Saliba.

Not really. What as more accurate were the people claiming he’d hardly be playing because of the players that were ahead of him. Others made the argument that OBrien would be playing right back and we were therefore on injury away from Keane starting every game. That’s proven be the case. It was never about getting a slightly better fourth choice CB who wasn’t called Michael Keane, it was about buying a better centre back, or right back, so we had some genuine depth.

 

[Nymzee]

We’re conceding more than a goal a game and have got 2 clean sheets in 8 games. If he was playing ‘great’ then we’d be defending better as a team. He’s been better than his usual very low standards in my opinion.

Are you blaming him, one of 5 of the defence, for this? He's played by far the best out of the back 4.

 

[rochdaleblue]

Good job Keane is 4th choice though and won’t be playing much.

Keane should be starting over Tarks in any pairing judged on performances this season and I’m not Keane’s biggest fan by any means. But he hasn’t made as many mistakes as Tarks this season.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Are you blaming him, one of 5 of the defence, for this? He's played by far the best out of the back 4.

Not solely blaming him no, it’s a defensive unit, but you said he’s playing great. Is he? Only one game ago he got caught ball watching as Haaland threw him a dummy run so he got a free header in the six yard box. He’s playing ok, for him, he’s nowhere near great.

 

[Moomin]

Keane should be starting over Tarks in any pairing judged on performances this season.and I’m not Keane biggest fan by any means. But he hasn’t made as many mistakes as Tark this season.

This is true.

Tarks has been the weak link of the defence so far this season.

 

[Joey66]

Garner offers more offensively than JOB and Rohl will learn his trade playing alongside Gana. I agree I think it would improve us as a side.

I was impressed with Rohi , but hope he can stay fit .....

 

[davids]

Keane should be starting over Tarks in any pairing judged on performances this season and I’m not Keane’s biggest fan by any means. But he hasn’t made as many mistakes as Tark this season.

That's true,but not the point of his post.

 

[Lanolin]

Not really. What as more accurate were the people claiming he’d hardly be playing because of the players that were ahead of him. Others made the argument that OBrien would be playing right back and we were therefore on injury away from Keane starting every game. That’s proven be the case. It was never about getting a slightly better fourth choice CB who wasn’t called Michael Keane, it was about buying a better centre back, or right back, so we had some genuine depth.

But that wasn't what the club were going to do, that's the point. Most people were able to see what the choice actually boiled down to and so were basing their opinion off that, others were living in a fantasy land where the alternative to re-signing Keane was making a signing who significantly improved the squad. Everybody wanted that, but most were intelligent enough to realise it wasn't on the table. Not all though, sadly.

 

[rochdaleblue]

That's true,but not the point of his post.

We’re talking about centre back options relating to the news of Braithwaite aren’t we.

 

[Joey66]

Hes on the grass - @COYBL25 likes this - so be patient ...

We have missed him no doubts about it ....

 

[Bedfordblue]

So has he suffered a relapse / new injury or what?

Or is this rumour the final nail in the back room moles coffin?

 

[Nymzee]

These numbers aren't really actually exceptional for a centre back though are they, those percentiles look good if he was a striker.

For a cb you can look at those and see he's alright in the air, makes a decent amount of blocks in an around the box, but is hopeless at winning the ball on the floor, and fills his keks when asked to control and progress the ball.

The most important stat for a defender - goals conceded with him in the team vs without is telling. We always, always have conceded far more goals when Keane is playing, regardless of the form of the team and who's playing around him.

Can acknowledge the improvement from him this season, but still need him out the first team ASAP. I find the suggestion that he keeps his place when Branthwaite is back pretty insane tbh.

How is it insane? On form, right now, Tarkowski is out of the team for Branthwaite. If you think otherwise you have an agenda.

I posted stats just for views; they are of course hard to read at face value. Low score for tackles per game doesn't mean he's crap at it, he could only attempt 1 per game. (He's won 4 of 5 defensive third tackles just for ref).

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Oh dear oh dear oh dear

 

[Nymzee]

Not solely blaming him no, it’s a defensive unit, but you said he’s playing great. Is he? Only one game ago he got caught ball watching as Haaland threw him a dummy run so he got a free header in the six yard box. He’s playing ok, for him, he’s nowhere near great.

Ah yeh, my bad, the greatest striker in the world tricked him so he must be terrible.