The Saddlers, who aren't in action this weekend due to their FA Cup - Third Round defeat to Bolton Wanderers, have endured a poor run of form over recent weeks - putting them near the foot of the League One form table and perilously close to the battle to beat the drop.
And after reading some of the comments directed at his players Keates, who has been largely inactive on his own Twitter account since taking the helm at Banks's Stadium, believes his squad deserve credit for how they cope with online abuse as they resist the temptation to fire back at their critics and continue to concentrate on their football.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Dean said; "We are at a point now in football where everything gets dissected and a lot of things get written and said. There is that social media platform now and if I’m honest it’s horrific some of the things that have been said about the players.
"They have to cope with that and they have to manage that. But every week they go out and give everything. They are an honest bunch, they always leave everything out there."