Historical Analogue

Michael Keane vs Gary Cahill

The player

Michael Keane

Everton · CD

big aerial CB · deep defending · long distribution

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Historical Analogue

Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill — Bolton 2008-2011

Bolton

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Why is Michael Keane similar to Gary Cahill (Gary Cahill — Bolton 2008-2011)?

Why the comparison works

Adding a defender to the scoring threat

Cahill’s Bolton 2008–11 phase offers a reference for Keane’s set-piece scoring threat. His headed equaliser from a corner against Aston Villa in March 2011 illustrates that additional route to goal from central defence.

Shared qualities

Headed set-piece threat
A centre-back as a finishing option

Where it breaks down

Unknown — a main difference has not been established yet.

A style reference for this phase, not a prediction of Michael Keane’s ceiling.