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Keane Yet to Make Keeper Choice for Swansea Clash
Keane Yet to Make Keeper Choice for Swansea Clash
Friday, 16th Oct 2009 12:05

Roy Keane says he will decide later today whether to give new loan keeper Asmir Begovic his debut against Swansea on Saturday or whether to stick with Richard Wright. Portsmouth keeper Begovic joined the Blues on a three-month loan yesterday in the wake of Wright making a number of errors.

Keane said: “The boy’s come in and he’ll be looking to come in as quickly as possible. He trained yesterday, he’ll train today and I’ll make a decision on him later today.”

Bosnian international Begovic could get the nod over Wright with the former England keeper having made one or two significant mistakes in recent games and with the Blues continuing their habit of leaking goals.

Town have no new injury worries after the week’s internationals, although Tamás Priskin and Gareth McAuley only returned last night and Carlos Edwards won’t be back at the club until later today and will probably miss training.

Their condition will be assessed before a decision is made on whether to play them with Edwards the biggest concern after playing the whole of both games for Trinidad and Tobago and having flown back from the Caribbean overnight.

Skipper Alex Bruce is available again after his groin injury and could come into the side for Tommy Smith alongside McAuley with Jaime Peters and Liam Rosenior likely to continue in the full-back roles.

Keane says Edwards may be rested until Tuesday’s game against Watford, so Lee Martin could come in as his replacement on the right of midfield, with Grant Leadbitter and Liam Trotter likely to continue in the centre.

Alan Quinn will probably keep his place on the left, particularly if Martin comes in for Edwards on the right. Keane has been impressed with Colin Healy’s performances in the reserves and the Irishman could come into the squad with Jack Colback also likely to be amongst the subs.

Up front, Jon Walters is likely to be partnered by either Tamás Priskin or Pablo Couñago.


Luciano Civelli and David Norris are Town’s only two long-term absentees due to their knee ligament injuries, but Keane says both are making good progress: “Civelli’s doing really well, and Norris. They’ve been on the training pitch this week.

“Luca’s due to see the specialist in two weeks, we’ll probably give him a week off so he can go home next week, but he’s back on the training pitch kicking a ball. I’m delighted with him, he’s shown a great, great attitude, same with David Norris. They’ll both probably be back in December.”

Keane admits that a victory of any kind is sorely needed after 11 matches without a win: “The fans will be desperate to see a home win, any sort of win, whether it’s home or away, a scrappy one or otherwise. We need to get that win under our belts, we’ve been saying that for four or five weeks.

“Swansea have been on a good little run themselves and clearly they play football in the right way. As much as we respect all the opposition we play, I think it’s about what we can do and we have been guilty of being sluggish in the way we’ve started some of the home games.

“We need to be ready from the first whistle and make sure we’ve got the preparation right – that’s certainly gone well this week – and trust the players to go out and perform.”

Swans boss Paulo Sousa comes up against Keane as a manager for the first time but says he always came out on the winning side in their battles as players: "It is a pleasure to have played against Roy Keane in our national teams and in the Champions League. He was a very competitive player who understood the game well.

"He had good technique and he was very aggressive without the ball. He was a clever player.

"He played with important players and with important clubs and he worked hard to develop himself.

"I'm pleased to have played against him because of all that – and also because I think I won every time!"

Sousa doesn’t think it will take too long for Town to start moving in the right direction: "When you change the manager you have to give time to the new people.

"It's not an easy job and it's important to have the protection and help that you need to get through difficult moments. I know results are very important, but sometimes people take decisions too quickly.

"One of the good things in English football is that managers are usually given more time to do a good job – more than in other countries – and I hope Roy Keane can turn things round at Ipswich.”

Swansea currently sit in 14th place on 14 points with an away record of won one, drawn two and lost two.

The Swans have a number of injury worries, striker Gorka Pintado is a doubt with a thigh injury and midfielder Joe Allen is a concern with a hamstring problem.

Defender Federico Bessone is expected to be OK despite a groin injury, however, striker Guillam Bauza (knee) and full-back Albert Serran (ankle) are expected to miss out. Midfielder Ferrie Bodde is out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Over the years the results between the sides are neatly balanced, Town having won nine (seven in the league), Swansea also having been victorious on nine (nine) occasions, with seven (six) matches ending in draws.

Last season, the game at Portman Road ended in a 2-2 draw with Pablo Couñago netting twice for Town and Ferrie Bodde and Jordi Gomez for the Swans.

At the Liberty Stadium in February, Gomez added Swansea’s third goal in a 3-0 victory after Jason Scotland had netted the first two.

No current member of the Town squad has played for Swansea, although Pablo Couñago held talks with the Welsh club in the summer after the Blues and Swans agreed a fee before deciding against the move. None of Paulo Sousa’s squad has played for the Blues.

Saturday’s referee is Kevin Wright from Cambridgeshire, who has shown 20 yellow and two red cards in seven games so far this season. Coincidentally, Wright’s last Town game was the 3-0 defeat at Swansea last season in which he yellow-carded David Norris and Alan Quinn from Town and Swans defender Alan Tate.

Squad from: Begovic, R Wright, Rosenior, Peters. D Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Bruce, Smith, Balkestein, Leadbitter, Trotter, Colback, Healy, Edwards, Quinn, Martin, Walters, Couñago, Priskin, Stead, Wickham.


Photo: Action Images



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TedTurnip added 12:22 - Oct 16
So just to be clear - when has anyone at the club seen this guy play?
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Franzgumm added 12:23 - Oct 16
Roy MUST stick by Wright. What will it do for his confidence if he decides to drop him, on the basis of seeing this new guy in one, maybe two, training sessions? Wrighty will still be here in January. Begovic won't be.
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superblueflude added 12:26 - Oct 16
Fravz get reall - all wrighty can do is safe certain shots, thats not good enough
i remember craig forrest brilliant shot stopper but never ever came off his line, same thing with wright except he cant stay on it!. he has no confidence coming out of his box and hesitates and makes rash decisions. I think a new goal keeper full of confience will help our leaky defence, they must fear through balls thinking that wright isn't going to be able to do anything - now that can relax a bit.
also Wrights distribution is awful - at the newcastle game i counted 9 times in the first half when he could./should have thrown it to delaney but kicked it to walters over and over again. I say start this new guy - and who says he wont be here after january - depends where the town are!
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cracko82 added 12:32 - Oct 16
Agree Franzgumm - not sure what dropping Wright will do for his confidence. Yes he has made some blunders, but who in the team hasn't so far this season!
Goalkeeping mistakes are always highlighted over outfield players. On the other foot maybe it will give him a kick up the backside to cut out those mistakes!?
Optimistic for 2moro though, hoping we click after the international break, good to see Wickham back in the squad - he's banging them in for fun at the moment with the U18's/ressies....

COYB
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Mark added 12:37 - Oct 16
I thought we had been asked to wait for the team to gel? What is changing the goalkeeper going to do for that?! Add to it Bruce coming back and other changes that will probably be made ahead of the defence and we are back to square 1 with the gelling process.

Wright has made mistakes and is not perfect, but it has also been brilliant at times and is one of the better keepers in the Championship to say the least. I am uncomfortable about changing him for a 22-year-old loanee who we know little about, when the games are just so crucial!
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Surco72 added 12:53 - Oct 16
Wright
Rosenoir,Smith,McCauley,Wright
Walters,Leadbitter,Garvan,Peters
Stead,Counago
Subs Begowicz,Bruce,Balkenstein,Colbaek,Martin,Priskin,Wickham
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Keanos_Barmy added 13:07 - Oct 16
Keane must bury the hatchet and bring Garvan back into the squad for all our sakes.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:11 - Oct 16
Thing is with a keeper coming in, when IS the right time to play him , if Wright plays and we lose people will say he should not have played , if Begovic plays and we lose ,the other camp will be baying for blood,not easy, i agree Wright has had some moments of brilliance,but is not on song at present,i would rest him and go with Begovic,[thats my cards on table ]anyway,we are going to win,with our strikers in current form i reckon 2-0 ,[2 own goals ]joking but i'd take that result.
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BlueBoots added 13:18 - Oct 16
My teamsheet for tomorrow night...

-------------------Wright--------------
Rosenior - McAuley - Smith - Peters
-------------------Trotter--------------
----------Leadbitter - Quinn----------
Walters-------------------------Martin
-------------------Priskin---------------
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BrightBlue added 13:22 - Oct 16
BlueBoots - I'm with you on that selection.

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TedTurnip added 13:25 - Oct 16
Don't you want to see Bruce at the back with Smith? I would
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macauleyisuseless added 13:34 - Oct 16
I would play:
Wright
Rosenior Bruce Balkestein Peters
Edwards Leadbitter Garvan Martin
Wickham Walters

As long as macauley isnt in that back four we wont leak as many goals. He has been nothing but horrific since he has played for us. Smith is no where near first team quality in my opinion so therefore a central defeneder is crucial if we are to bring someone in on loan.
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cracko82 added 13:35 - Oct 16
Not personally a fan of 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3) at home, rather see 4-4-2 with the same team as above but Pablo or Wickham in for Trotter/Quinn alongside Tamas......

COYB
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TedTurnip added 13:41 - Oct 16
So long as there is no mention of Delaney - What a terrible player that man is
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macauleyisuseless added 13:43 - Oct 16
Definatley agree about Delaney^^^^^ an absoluter liability
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StowTractorBoy added 13:47 - Oct 16
I personally don't think it matters too much what team or what formation we use as the players collectively that we have are not good enough under this Manager. The back four whichever permutation you use leaks goals for fun and the midfield creates nothing. The strikers are all much of a muchness - you can deduce I am not at all optimistic about tomorrow but hope and pray I am wrong otherwise the writing really is on the wall. See the MaCauley bashers are out again I personally find that appalling I would put him in before anyone else in the centre of the defence but my opinion only.
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SouperJim added 13:49 - Oct 16
Imho our best team from the players available:-

R Wright
D Wright - Bruce - McAuley - Thatcher
Walters - Leadbitter - Garvan - Quinn
Priskin - Counago

Of course theres no chance of that happening, as three of that team have been frozen out and two others are well on the way to having their conifdence completely ruined (McA and Plug). I am behind Keane all the way, but his man management so far has left a lot to be desired.

Please can someone wave a magic wand and give us back Norris and Civelli by tomorrow?
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Bluetone added 13:51 - Oct 16
Begovic plays which unsettles Plug who requests a transfer Keane, being Keane, accepts and lets him go for peanuts. In the new year we are stuck with a unproven keeper and start to ship in even more goals.

Keane leaves blaming everyone else as is his wont. We get a new manager with little time to turn the season round.
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superblueflude added 13:53 - Oct 16
actually i disagre
Delaney is actually very good defensively he just cant pass or attach
so id go with this team
Begovic
Rosenior Bruce McCAULEY Delaney
Peters Leadbitter Quinn Martin
Walters
Priskin
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Jambo added 13:58 - Oct 16
This could be the difference between wins instead of draws. Remember the difference the defence played when Mike Politt came in. They seemed much more assured and were getting some direction from the keeper. This is what the current lot need.
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TedTurnip added 13:59 - Oct 16
Superblueflude I dont agree with you I am afraid. I can't think of one decent match that he may have had for us.

And to the guy who has Thatcher in his back four - please turn the lights off on the way out. He has never wanted to play for Town and it was always very clear.
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macauleyisuseless added 14:03 - Oct 16
mccauley is AWAFUL
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FormerlyCGS added 14:05 - Oct 16
If he takes wright out the team it will confirm my theory that Keane is a useless C**T! Our team 2mo should be

Wright
Rosenior MAcualey Thatcher Wright
Edwards Garvan Leadbitter Walters
Priskin Stead

Try thatcher at CB he will def be better than any of the others, No nonsense aggression is what we may need at the back!
Walters would be good dutting inside onto his right foot!
Garvan holdin with leadbitter moving forward
Stead and priskin - two big goys waiting for the crosses from edwards and walter with leadbitter waiting on the edge of the box for a screamer - it would be nice anyway!

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superblueflude added 14:05 - Oct 16
Ted - no ones does when it comes to him - prob with him is that attaching wise he is useless and becasue the way town try to play - attacking hes constantly out of posistion and looks dreadful but i still like his defensive side -but having said that im not a fan of heres and i am enjoying watching peters at left back - i just wish he was left footed.

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SouperJim added 14:06 - Oct 16
Please provide evidence for your claim that Thatcher has never wanted to play for Town.
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