Exclusive: Campbell ‘surprised’ by Ancelotti decision to bench Keane before Everton v West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell claims there would have been a good reason for Carlo Ancelotti to bench Michael Keane ahead of Everton’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham last Friday.
Keane, 27, had started every Premier League game this season before David Moyes’ side won at Goodison Park on New Year’s Day.
According to stats by Wyscout, the former Burnley centre-back ranks 11th in the Premier League this term for his success in defensive duels [71.43%] while he also ranks eighth for the number of aerial duels won inside his own penalty area [20].
Keane has been a force to be reckoned with for attackers this season but Ancelotti’s decision to bench him against West Ham left a lot of fans wondering why he was dropped.
Ex-Everton striker Campbell believes the decision was more than likely due to the defender’s fitness.
“I was surprised to see him on the bench,” Campbell told Goodison News.
“He’s been the star man back there [in the defence] but maybe he needed a rest. There were a lot of games, maybe he had a little niggle and Carlo Ancelotti’s thought: ‘I’ll rest him for this one’.
“Let’s have it right, Everton would have fancied their chances against West Ham no matter who’s playing. But, for whatever reason, the performance wasn’t quite right, it wasn’t quite there. They just didn’t have that spark on the day and West Ham ended up nicking a goal and coming out as winners.
“It happens in the Premier League. The league is crazy at the moment.
“Look at the teams Everton have beaten and then, against a West Ham team they fancy their chances, they go and lose to them.
“You can’t put your finger on it this season. It’s been a topsy-turvy season.”
Keane has been one of the stand-out players at Everton this season.
BBC Sport pundit Gareth Crooks hailed Keane as an unsung hero for the Toffees last month while Campbell himself has dubbed the defender as “awesome“.
Ancelotti won’t have left Keane out without a good reason because – to put it quite simply – the team is worse when he’s not there.
Yerry Mina has had a good season and so has Mason Holgate but we’d much prefer to see Keane in the back-line over either of those two.
Everton welcome Rotherham to Goodison Park in the FA Cup on Saturday and it’s likely that Ancelotti will make a host of changes to his team to give fringe players and youngsters a chance.
It also means that Keane might get another weekend off in preparation for an away trip to Wolves next Tuesday in the Premier League.
In other Everton news, here’s why the Toffees are the Premier League’s kings of the air.