Andy Keogh cut a sorry figure as the substitute himself was substituted off against Stoke.
In happier times, after scoring the winner against Derby
On Saturday, Keogh came on for Fletcher only to be pulled off again with a few minutes left. Swapping a defender for a forward at a critical time seems fair, but this will have done nothing for Keogh’s confidence – nor will the crowd’s reaction to his exit. The switch, however, was justified if only on the basis of his clear lack of ability to focus, given the slender lead, on keeping the ball away from the Stoke players. Even without this he had failed to have any real impact (positive that is) on the game. This is pretty much where he left off last season.
Mick McCarthy signalled before the start of the season that Keogh was likely to be in a group of players who could find themselves surplus to requirements when the squad of 25 is announced at the end of the month (story on official site). He may have had time, and probably enough ability, to rehabilitate himself before that deadline, but that looks unlikely after Saturday. In stark contrast to Halford, the man who replaced him on Saturday, Keogh looks to have taken McCarthy’s comments as a death sentence rather than a challenge.
Keogh has had some great moments, as well as some lows, at Wolves and has shown time and again his willingness to run himself into the ground for the team. At times he has shown intelligent play, but after Saturday I find myself writing in the past tense. Keogh has always seemed, in a slightly patchy Wolves career, to be a confidence player, but increasingly tends to play like a no-confidence player. Without confidence his intelligence, and even his previously undoubted application, seem to evaporate, and without intelligence and application to counterbalance his undoubted tendency to panic in front of goal, Keogh can have no place even as a fourth-choice striker. It looks likely to be a long hard struggle to regain that confidence at Wolves – time that no one has – but a fresh start at a new club could be what’s needed to reawaken the Keogh of old.
That is why I won’t be surprised to see Keogh make a fresh start and carving out a creditable career at a good Championship side. It’s beginning to look like he owes a change to himself as well as to us.
For everyone’s sake lets hope for a decent offer from somewhere, and a decent replacement.
Well put comments Wolfie!
Keogh was barely good enough for us as a striker in the Championship but in the Premier League he is a liability!
Dropping down a league to a club such as Norwich or Leicester could see him find some form again but the big question is…. will he ever be a consistent goalscorer?
This is his weakness and could also be the reason why his confidence is rock-bottom.
Still, that is not a Wolves problem, we have more than enough strength in the strikers department to worry about Keogh’s lack of confidence.
He has served us well enough but now is the time for him to go – and soon!
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Thanks for the comments wolfhound. I agree goalscoring is always likely to be the big problem. He’s scored some important and some good goals, but never consistently. Although the misses are perhaps partly confidence, it often looked more like dodgy decision making or sheer panic. I can’t help thinking he’d do better playing behind the strikers that up front as the pressure to score would be less.
With Vokes injured I do think we need a 4th striker still. Don’t know if any of the youngsters are ready for that (Hemmings?)
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I agree Keogh is not and never will be a goalscorer, but his movement and ability to create openings and chances for others is up there with some of the best in the premier league.
Thinking back to the start of last season when he had a run in the team, he was a real handful and was key in the wins over Wigan and Fulham. I think having a run in the team is the reason why he could produce that form – he is a confidence player.
I think its best for all if he were to move on (as much as I think he still has a lot of potential – but will not realise this without playing week in week out) as it makes a space for a different striker – someone young and quick who could be used as an impact player in the final minutes of games and would thrive when comming up againt tired defenders.
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Totally agree with Pauls comments – Keogh is a very useful player who`s strengths lie in his ability to create chances for others to score.
He did this for SEB in the Championship and for Billy Sharp before coming to Wolves.
It is clear that he would need a run in the team to recapture his best form which is not going to happen here.
However I think the club need to reduce the asking price of £2.5M to perhaps a more realistic £1.5M then I am sure there would be interest from some Championship clubs.
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Happy days! I agree with everyone
I think in terms of price that we probably should and probably will accept a lower offer more in the £1.5-2m mark given the fact it’s in everyone’s best interests.
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