James Keatings

[smithy_hibees]

So me and my hibs mates have split opinions on this young lad..

10 goals in 39 games for me isn't the best return especially when in the championship, I know he has decent set pieces etc but we didn't just sign him to take corners and free kicks I hope..

What's others thoughts on him??

[Hibee Mac]

The goals he scores are almost always class and he's obviously a good finisher.

However I agree the goals to games doesn't make for great viewing and he seems to have a knack for completing disappearing during games.

[500miles]

40 games and I doubt he's played up front in half of them. Usually wide or top of the diamond.

Although lone striker against Aye was baffling.

[B.H.F.C]

Has ability but must do more IMO.

[hibby6270]

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So me and my hibs mates have split opinions on this young lad..

10 goals in 39 games for me isn't the best return especially when in the championship, I know he has decent set pieces etc but we didn't just sign him to take corners and free kicks I hope..

What's others thoughts on him??

You're right. A proven goalscorer taking corners and free kicks is a waste, no matter how good the delivery is. Used to do the same with Leigh when he was with us. He did make up fir it by scoring more goals from open play though, so we probably didn't mind as much but I still thought most of the time it was a waste not having him in the box to receive the ball coming in.

Even without the hoo-ha of Liam's magical deliveries in the Cup Final, if we need a player to be a dead ball specialist, we should have tried harder to get him back.

Anyway. I digress. I like Keatings. He can score goals - when given the opportunity. He just never gets a prolonged run in the team, either by Lennon's tinkering with formations or sadly because he is prone to injury. When fit he would be straight in the team imo, either up front with support from the likes of Cummings, Holt or even Graham. Or play just off a front two to pick up scraps which I think is his forte. We just don't see it often enough unfortunately.

[QMU-1875]

Been unlucky with injuries, I think he is the man to take the role that Shinnie is currently supposed to be playing in. Can see him making a major contribution from there, very creative, his assists in recent weeks shows delivery is pin point.

[Nicho87]

He was coming on to a real game before his injury at dunfermline imo

[Elephant Stone]

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So me and my hibs mates have split opinions on this young lad..

10 goals in 39 games for me isn't the best return especially when in the championship, I know he has decent set pieces etc but we didn't just sign him to take corners and free kicks I hope..

What's others thoughts on him??

He'll have been a sub in the vast majority of those games, and he normally gets quite a shan amount of time at that if my memory serves me correctly, so I wouldn't be judging him too much on his goals return.

[lord bunberry]

There always seems to be someone better than him in every position he can play. He's never been a regular starter in the time he's been here, but he did play his part in the cup final. I can see him being released at the end of the season.

[pacoluna]

championship player, players like him, boyle, graham etc aren't spl quality and when we do go up I expect them to move on.

[JDHibs]

Never been a starter here and never will be.

Dont think hes good enough for the SPL hence why hes never played there. Doesnt even stand out in the championship.

Good for set pieces but doesnt offer enough, often enough in open play.

[rotherhamrob]

I think he is underrated,given a decent run upfront I think he'd score regularly.

[jonny]

I like him. I think he's quick and direct, he might be an option for the wide left position with Boyle on the right - I'm still far from convinced about Humphrey.
I think if Keats is played up top he needs a partner to feed off, I don't think he's suited to the lone striker role.

[snooky]

He's a thinker and he can play a bit.

[BOB MARLEYS DUG]

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I think he is underrated,given a decent run upfront I think he'd score regularly.

This

[Swedish hibee]

Meh.

[J-C]

Plays best when allowed to just float around behind the main striker, he takes up good positions and has an eye for goal but either gets injured when he starts coming into form or just loses form and is inconsistent, has the ability but I fear he's at his level and we'll need better next season when we go up.

[Steve20]

Decent player.

[The Harp Awakes]

An intelligent player who's been unlucky with injuries just at times when he'd broken into the team as a regular starter. As good a finisher as we have at the Club and I still think there's better to come from him if he can steer clear of injuries. I do agree with others who say that he can be quiet in some games, so I think he needs to work on consistency, however his ability is not in question, and I think he would not be out of place placing at a higher level.

[scooby]

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This

100% this

[Sproule Three]

Went missing completely at Ipox last year in game we lost 4-2 -completely bottled it!
No doubt has ability but that's unfortunately my abiding memory of him !
Not good enough if we get promoted !

[blackpoolhibs]

He's ok, some good some not so good. There's normally a reason why players are not picked as often as they themselves would like, it's normally because there's someone better.

Flatters to deceive for me, with the odd decent performance. Squad player at the very most in my opinion.

[Smartie]

I like him.

2 things struck me about him on Saturday - I thought he played really badly and he is not remotely suited to playing up front on his own, but fair play to him, he kept going and even when he was not playing well he managed to put in a great ball and create a goal. Our deliveries are all too often substandard.

He's been unlucky with injuries, in that he's been hampered just as he's been getting into a bit of decent form at least twice.

His versatility will help his cause - it is always good to have a player who can be shuffled into 2 or 3 positions and put in a shift.

If Cummings were to leave I wouldn't be against him getting a chance in his place. I don't think he's quite as good as Cummings but he's not far off it. Just because Eoin Doyle wasn't as good as Griffiths didn't mean he wasn't good enough to play for us.

I'd be in no rush to get rid of him if we went up. Most of the Premier League teams are no better than 7 or 8 Championship teams, and I do think he'd do fine if we went up.

He has to play up front with a strike partner though, or in a slightly withdrawn role. He was hung out to dry on Saturday.

[Jones28]

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This

Ditto

[Golden Bear]

He's a good football player but I still don't know what his best position is. I think the Manager is of the same opinion.

[Geo_1875]

Top scorer for hertz when they got promoted. Obviously revelled in their fast, direct style of play. More likely to score from our third pass than our thirtieth.

[TRC]

Scores absolute worldies then misses the easier chances break away against Hearts springs to mind

[Zazu62]

As a striker he's no bad. Tip of the diamond/playmaker it's a no from me.

[CMurdoch]

Takes a good free kick and corner which is important as other than Jason I am struggling to think of any other Hibs player who can.

Think his best position is just behind the strikers putting away the scraps.

Only 24 so will continue to improve.

Would make a decision on him after next season.

May eventually end up moving to an SPL club outside the top 5.

[matty_f]

I like him, would keep him if we could.