Revived Keane shows benefit of Allardyce’s simple set-up
SAM ALLARDYCE was trying to show what had changed at Everton when, over his shoulder, a prime example of the improvement came into view. There, clutching two bottles of man-of-thematch champagne, was Michael Keane, who had just been instrumental in helping Everton secure their most impressive clean sheet of the season against Chelsea. Keane arrived at Goodison Park for £30million and was touted as one of the signings of the summer but, within a few weeks, former manager Ronald Koeman was talking about a crisis of confidence as Everton’s results spiralled out of control. To see Keane play against Chelsea, though, you had to wonder why things had gone askew. True, Antonio Conte may have played without a recognised No 9 but the manner in which the centre back went about his business in front of England boss Gareth Southgate was striking. In the way Everton are starting to look like a top-seven team again, Keane looked like an England international in waiting and Allardyce, whose side travel to West Brom today, colourfully explained why the change had been so stark. ‘It’s a Phil Schofield isn’t it?’ said Allardyce. ‘You’ve watched The Cube haven’t you? Simplify. It’s as simple as that. I show them (clips) and say, “Why risk doing that if it might fail?” Play safe and play the right ball at the right time, do the right thing. It makes all the difference.’ There has been a little more to it than that. Keane has benefited from pep talks away from the group, Allardyce having observed a few tweaks here and there would set him right and he hopes the performance against Chelsea will be a sign of things to come. ‘Being a central defender myself and having so much information from coaches and managers over many years, I can pass on that to Michael Keane and Mason Holgate,’ said Allardyce. ‘I can remind Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka because we all need a little reminding. ‘Michael I spoke to — what to do to put it right. You use your experience and that of your staff to lift the atmosphere. Get the players to come in with a smile on their face.’