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MyOnlySolskjaer

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William David Keane
Jan 11, 1993 (23)
Manchester

1.88 m

Goals have always come naturally to Will Keane, who was Manchester United’s top scorer at Academy level before showing similar prowess in the Under-21s and Reserves.

The Stockport-born centre-forward had his progress cruelly interrupted when he was stretchered off with cruciate knee ligament damage during an Under-19 international for England against Switzerland in May 2012 and he ended up missing the entire 2012/13 season.

"I don't think there was a better player at his age in the country at the time he got injured," said Under-21s coach Warren Joyce. "The most important thing was getting him back to that level."

On 8 February, he scored five times in the 7-0 thrashing of Norwich City at Old Trafford – the pick of his efforts, a superb lob at the Stretford End, was later named the Under-21 Premier League Goal of the Season.

Keane’s other reward was to be called into the first-team squad and he made his second senior outing - 1,506 days after his debut – when he appeared as a substitute in the 2-1 league defeat at Sunderland on 13 February.

Football again showed how cruel it can be when he suffered a season-ending injury after coming on for Anthony Martial in the 3-0 FA Cup win at Shrewsbury. Consequently, when Martial was hurt during the warm-up in the very next game at home to Midtjylland in the Europa League, Keane was unable to take his place. A young man called Marcus Rashford stepped up instead and began his own meteoric rise with club and country.
 

Striker10

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Had a good half. Couldn't miss with his goal but his link up play was good. It may take us a while to being firing properly.
 

Acole9

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He had a decent game but he's behind Rashford and Wilson now. I can see him moving on in the summer as he needs regular first team football at his age.
 

khoazany

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Didn't get much of good chances to shoot but didn't do much wrong when he has the ball.Looks quite sharp on it which is at least a good sign on his fitness.
 

Devil may care

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I think he'll get a decent move within the PL this summer, his all round game up top is pretty solid.
 

Perrick Dubois

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He had a decent game but he's behind Rashford and Wilson now. I can see him moving on in the summer as he needs regular first team football at his age.
Personally I think Will Keane is further developed than both of them. Well obviously that makes silly sense because he is four'ish years older than them. But in my opinion, Wilson and Rashford look a lot more comfortable when they can peel off the forward position use their pace. I think Keane has a natural ability to hold up the ball which leads me to have a sneaky feeling that Mourinho might keep him as a backup forward before selling him and maybe he'll loan out Wilson.

Obviously first game back jitters for Wilson but he did not look comfortable playing that lone striker role against Wigan. Keane (maybe buoyed by a dose of confidence from the goal) looked a lot more comfortable battling physically and making smart movements to either hold the ball up or advance the play.

Maybe I am just projecting positivity towards Will Keane but I would absolutely be over the moon for him if he battled back to gain some credible stature from his time at United so far. He's had a couple of very very unlucky injuries that have stunted him. I think he will make a very good striker for some team in the not too distant future if that isn't ours.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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Will Keane's performance in the second half yesterday, was very similar to how I can imagine Ibrahimovic playing for us.

Very rarely does he run in behind like what Wilson was doing, or what Rashford would do, for example. More often than not, he provided a screen for players behind him to work off, and because of that, I felt our approach play was a lot better in the second half. He held up very well, bought people into play, and bagged a goal.

The addition of Ibrahimovic, along with the likes of Rashford, Rooney and Martial will more than likely mean Will Keane will be sold, but I'm hoping he goes to a club where he can progress, because the lads got talent. He's at that age where he needs to play often. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be at United.
 

ti vu

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Will Keane's performance in the second half yesterday, was very similar to how I can imagine Ibrahimovic playing for us.

Very rarely does he run in behind like what Wilson was doing, or what Rashford would do, for example. More often than not, he provided a screen for players behind him to work off, and because of that, I felt our approach play was a lot better in the second half. He held up very well, bought people into play, and bagged a goal.

The addition of Ibrahimovic, along with the likes of Rashford, Rooney and Martial will more than likely mean Will Keane will be sold, but I'm hoping he goes to a club where he can progress, because the lads got talent. He's at that age where he needs to play often. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be at United.
You must not watch Zlatan much?! If anything, Zlatan is both Will Keane and Mata (play making and plays watching ability) then add Fellaini presence and strength.

I don't see him having future with us. Zlatan, Martial, Rashford (age as his advantage) and Rooney are his competitor. Keane neither established nor young enough to afford a role.
 

m1y2

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already better than Rooney and Wilson, shame he lost two years due to a serious injury, he will not make it here let's be honest but think he's got a chance to be decent premier league striker if he avoids injuries from now on
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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You must not watch Zlatan much?! If anything, Zlatan is both Will Keane and Mata (play making and plays watching ability) then add Fellaini presence and strength.

I don't see him having future with us. Zlatan, Martial, Rashford (age as his advantage) and Rooney are his competitor. Keane neither established nor young enough to afford a role.
Did you read my post?
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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Yes. I agree with your last part. Not with your Will Keane would be similar to Zlatan part, if that's not clear.
Similar in the way he dropped off, held it up, bought people into play. That's exactly what Ibrahimovic does, who, by the way, I watch a lot. Don't see where I'm wrong, but fair enough.
 

Mike09

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Before his injury I think he has more talent than Wilson as a finisher. Scoring loads of goals with youth both club and country. There is something with his goal instincts, but he won't get enough playing times in here so it's time to go on loan or sold. Although it will be nice to see the reunion of Lingard, Will Keane, Pogba and Johnstones.
 

Dobbs

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I really like him, good all round game. Maybe needs to toughen up a bit but other than that no glaring weakness. Personally I'd keep him on. Martial will be on the left this season so we have Zlatan and Rashford as strikers. So only two options up front and both are possible gambles with their respective ages.

Wilson I'm just assuming will go out on loan. He's clearly not ready yet.
 

Bwuk

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Last chance saloon going on tour probably. Would imagine if he doesn't impress he'll be sold.
 

Raees

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He looks like he has a better chance of making it in the EPL than Wilson for me, as long as he doesn't get more injuries. Just looks more silky and composed.
 

Russell_eire

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He looks like he has a better chance of making it in the EPL than Wilson for me, as long as he doesn't get more injuries. Just looks more silky and composed.
I'll second that. I think Keane has a little bit more to his all-round game than Wilson, and is perhaps a little bit mentally tougher and more composed. I'd love to see Keane do well, if not at United, then elsewhere, the man has had terrible luck with injuries. I have a feeling that him or Wilson will end up at a team like Hull by the end of the summer.
 

PTSTSL

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I've seen very little of him in fairness, but what I have seen is that he seems the type of forward Jose has gone for previously. In a scenario where Zlatan is unavailable for selection and employing the same formation, I imagine (with the squad as it is) Keane would be a more natural replacement than either Wilson or Rashford. A lot variables to consider but I doubt its nailed on Keane will be out of the door this summer. I think Wilson is the odd one out at the moment.
 

ariel

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I really hope this will be at long last the chance he can take.

Each time Harry Kane scores it makes me think of Keane, as at the time of the injury Keane was the better player. Last year was the first time he looked to be back to his old self (especially when he scored five in one game), only to be injured again when he got the chance. Though that did actually gave the chance for Rashford.
 

ariel

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Sky says that according to the Sun, Moyes wants Keane at Sunderland and will bid £6.5M.
Not sure if that is the best move for him.

Who would have imagined a few years ago that Michael will be valued at more than twice Will's Price. So sad what injuries do to a career.
 

ThanksBoss26

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He'll go permanently this summer. I'm sure he's looking at his brother's career and realising he has to.

Can't see us getting £6.5m for him though, unless there are significant add-ons included in that price.
 

kundalini

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Will Keane's stats, at Championship level, are not just bad, they are atrocious. 4 goals (including 1 penalty) and 0 assists in 2,693 mins. 3 non-penalty goals scored from 44 shots taken inside the area (a conversion rate of 10% is awful. Not sure how to describe 7%). 10 shots taken outside the area, 0 goals. Pass completion rate varies from 79% to 81%. Creates between 1.03 (most recent season) and 1.69 (QPR spell) chances per 90 mins. His stats last season for Preston showed no improvement on the previous season.

It would be a risk for a Championship team to take him on loan for free, given his record to date at that level. As for a Premier League team even considering him, that would be near Bebe level of optimistic recruiting.

Either a Div One loan or a loan to a Championship club with no money, are the common sense options to get his career going. It would be surprising to me if a team would actually want to pay a fee for him at this stage. A free transfer with a high sell-on percentage might make sense.
 
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ThanksBoss26

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Will Keane's stats, at Championship level, are not just bad, they are atrocious. 4 goals (including 1 penalty) and 0 assists in 2,693 mins. 3 non-penalty goals scored from 44 shots taken inside the area (a conversion rate of 10% is awful. Not sure how to describe 7%). 10 shots taken outside the area, 0 goals.
Yep, his career stats are 5 goals in 52 games.

24 in January, he surely needs to go to a club and play. Not convinced Sunderland would be a good move for him if he's not first choice there.
 

Striker10

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Will Keane's stats, at Championship level, are not just bad, they are atrocious. 4 goals (including 1 penalty) and 0 assists in 2,693 mins. 3 non-penalty goals scored from 44 shots taken inside the area (a conversion rate of 10% is awful. Not sure how to describe 7%). 10 shots taken outside the area, 0 goals. Pass completion rate varies from 79% to 81%. Creates between 1.03 (most recent season) and 1.69 (QPR spell) chances per 90 mins. His stats last season for Preston showed no improvement on the previous season.

It would be a risk for a Championship team to take him on loan for free, given his record to date at that level. As for a Premier League team even considering him, that would be near Bebe level of optimistic recruiting.

Either a Div One loan or a loan to a Championship club with no money, are the common sense options to get his career going. It would be surprising to me if a team would actually want to pay a fee for him at this stage. A free transfer with a high sell-on percentage might make sense.
I don't think you can go by his stats personally. He's only looked the player he was a short period before he picked up another injury. So that time when he was playing in the Championship, he wasn't the same player he was before the injury. I don't think we can judge him on those stats. When he came back into our reserve team - it took him good while but eventually it clicked. He's been unfortunate and would have faired better against Dortmund then Depay did to be frank.
 

Speak

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Is he even as good as Nick Powell (who's pretty poor himself)?
If not, he'll be lucky to even manage 50 Premier League games in his full career.
 
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