Doubts over Barry and Coleman for Sunderland trip

, 7 November, 35comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton decide against surgery for Alcaraz
Seamus Coleman and Gareth Barry will both have foot injuries assessed before the Sunderland match on Sunday before Roberto Martinez finalises his team.

Coleman was omitted from the team that beat Lille with a cut to the area around his Achilles that he picked up during the 0-0 draw with Swansea last weekend.

Barry, meanwhile, sustained a gash and bruising to his ankle last night in a heavy challenge with Lille's Sebastien Corchia.

“Seamus had a little cut to his Achilles tendon against Swansea and he needed some stitches," Martinez told the media at Finch Farm today.

“He couldn't make it yesterday but I wouldn't consider it as a real issue. It's about taking the doctor's view ... and making a decision based on that.

“We came through the game last night with just a knock to Gareth Barry.

"This morning he was showing a long cut on his shin which is nothing to worry about, but he got a massive knock on the ankle and we need to give it another 24 hours."

Meanwhile, the club have opted not to operate on Antolin Alcaraz's injured shoulder, with Martinez predicting he could be back sooner than expected.

The Paraguayan came off against Swansea after dislocating a joint and had an initial prognosis of 12 weeks out if he needed to undergo surgery, but his manager is optimistic that he could be fit by the middle of December.

"The specialist feels that [not operating] is the best way to approach the injury, which is great news," Martinez explained. "It reduces the period that he is going to be out.

"We will find out over the next few days how he responds but we are talking about a period of three, four and five weeks which is fantastic news from what we first feared."

The Catalan also provided an update on Kevin Mirallas whose recovery continues apace and who could be available for the start of next month:

“The international break is going to be a great period for Kevin and he has stepped up his work. As I have said before, it's a soft tissue injury and in a sprinter it is difficult to put a timescale on that.

"But it is looking really good for Kevin to start playing before the turn of the year.”

 

Reader Comments (35)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Tony J Williams
1 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:18:40
Why does it seem worse this year?

Probably isn't but feels it.

Jay Rollinson
2 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:42:11
Good news about Alcaraz at least.
Chris Fisher
3 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:57:51
Oh no, if we have to play Hibbert we totally lose the whole of our right side attack, teams then focus on Baines and the left side and we become predictable and boring.
Steve Guy
4 Posted 07/11/2014 at 16:04:33
Lay off the Hibbmeister. Clean sheet and he played well last night.
John Daley
5 Posted 07/11/2014 at 16:11:01
Hibbert played well last night, as he has done in all his appearances this season.

He certainly didn't seem to impede McGeady's threat on the right (probably his best game for us so far, by the way). He's not going to be bombing on but he gets the basics right, sticks to his defensive duties and provides a solid platform for an attacking winger to perform without fear of leaving wide open gaps behind them.

Obviously, Coleman is a big miss but I think yesterday's game demonstrated that others can still step in and combine to do a decent job in his abscence

Andrew Ellams
6 Posted 07/11/2014 at 16:19:01
Hibbert doing OK this season and Besic a more than able understudy for Barry. Would love to see him go head to head with Cattermole.
Jeff Beaumont
7 Posted 07/11/2014 at 16:46:47
Just wish Barry hadn't gone into that 50/50 tackle especially as we were 3-0 up at the time - but there again it shows his total commitment to team.
Ray Roche
8 Posted 07/11/2014 at 16:53:03
The fact that Hibbo DOESN'T go bombing forward as much as Coleman may be the reason McGeady has played better, without the worry of tracking back all the time. Both Hibbo and McGeady had good games alst night, as did Osman.
Christ, that must be hard for some people on here to take...
Mike Childs
9 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:04:52
Yeah that was real boring yesterday Chris. Coleman does give us better offensive but in the final third defensively he makes mistakes every game he's out there. Hibbert doesn't.
Steven Jones
10 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:23:06
Impressive bench last night ...

Hope Barry is given a rest .. would love to see the creative passing of Gibson, Eto, Barkley and Pienaar ..... with Coleman and Baines ... bombing on ....

Anto Byrne
11 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:29:15
The reality is that Tony Hibbert is a very good player and we should acknowledge that. Just how many times has he let us down over the years.

He looks fit and is playing with confidence in a team playing expansive football. I think he needs a goal to take his game to the next level though.

Ian Bennett
12 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:14:53
If Coleman is out, I'd like Browning given his chance rather than play Hibbert twice in a week. We are struggling on the right so I guess Oviedo could be a remote option if fit.
Mike Corcoran
13 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:23:03
With Hibbo I think it looked like a back 3 with geads and Baines working the wings. Seemed to work, always loved Hibbos defending but I think he has added a bit of nous to forward play and passing too.
Lyndon Lloyd
14 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:29:48
"Would love to see him go head to head with Cattermole."

Not surprisingly, Cattermole is suspended for this one.

Trevor Lynes
15 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:27:35
Hibbert surprised me by keeping up with the pacy wide man and his positional sense is really good. Stones could learn from him defensively.

I am so pleased that Osman and Hibbert both played well as it is a kick in the teeth for the boo boys!

Denis Richardson
16 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:51:32
Friday today - worry about Sunday on Sunday.

Am still smiling after yesterdays result....

Kevin Rowlands
17 Posted 07/11/2014 at 19:43:59
Probably a good time to give Barry a rest anyway plus Besic is a more than adequate replacement, that Browning situation is hard to figure out as well, he looked excellent in the derby in his cameo and we haven't seen him since, in fact I'm not sure he's even made the subs bench since.

3 points on Sunday, international break coming up, it's all good.

Phil Walling
18 Posted 07/11/2014 at 20:31:32
Because it's what all managers do these days, I suspect there will be three or four changes at Sunderland. Barkley and Eto'o will return and ,hopefully, Coleman too.

What we shall never know is whether the team that looked so good on Thursday could do as well against Sunderland.

Believe me, I'm not having a pre-match pop at Roberto, just bemoaning the compulsion all managers seem to have about rotation. As I said, it's what they do.

James Stewart
19 Posted 07/11/2014 at 20:43:13
Coleman is a massive loss if he's not fit. Barry we can cover well enough with Besic or Gibson
Jay Harris
20 Posted 07/11/2014 at 21:08:13
As long as we only play two of the following four: Barkley, Eto'o, Lukaku and Naismith, I will be happy.

I would also like to see Besic in addition to Barry and McCarthy to beef up the midfield.

Last night was a long-ball game that I do not see being repeated at Sunderland.

Kevin Rowlands
21 Posted 07/11/2014 at 21:33:44
It's the way the game is these days Phil, huge ego's sitting on the bench and never getting a game is going to cause problems, it's a delicate balancing act.

On another note, I'm watching this Bolton/Wigan game, have to say this Callum McManaman is a real talent: he's hit the bar, hit the post, scored a beauty, is supposed to be a big Evertonian, we should go in for him in January, surely he would offer us more than Atsu (thank god RM didn't guarantee Chelsea playing time), and for anyone saying "It's the Championship" – don't forget, he ripped Man City a new one in the FA Cup Final.

Gavin Ramejkis
22 Posted 07/11/2014 at 21:46:21
How many cards is Barry on at the moment? The reason Hibbert doesnt go bombing down the wing is and always has been that he is a traditional right back and not a wing back. The left hand side was missing a winger last night, fortunately Lille were garbage in the final third and for the so called meanest defence in France at the moment didnt offer too much beyond their very decent keeper anything in defence of our attacks.

Also last night did show the better side of Lukaku which was running onto a ball ahead of him instead of with his back to goal, looked far more comfortable. Steady progress and look to win each game but take each on their own merit and play the strongest players for that opposition. At least confidence will be good going into the weekend.

Fraser Auld
23 Posted 07/11/2014 at 22:18:10
Colin Metcalfe
24 Posted 07/11/2014 at 23:34:53
I thought Barry was suspended for this one? Didn't he pick up his 5th yellow last Saturday?
Colin Malone
25 Posted 07/11/2014 at 23:38:03
I'm going to put money on Tony Hibbert to score, every time he is in the team. It's a new forward running Hibbo under Roberto.
Gavin Johnson
26 Posted 07/11/2014 at 23:56:17
I have total confidence in Hibbert playing on Sunday. He was superb last night, and apart from his performance in the Mickey Mouse cup against Swansea, he's been on fine from.

I'd like Besic to come in for Barry. It's something I'd like to see anyway, irrespective of injury. I think we rely on Barry far too much and Besic needs more game time, and given Barry's age, I think he needs more of a rest than McCarthy.

Eric Myles
27 Posted 08/11/2014 at 00:00:45
Hibbo has usually gotten into forward positions looking to give the right mid an out ball or a 1-2, it's just that nobody ever seems to pass to him, bit like Baines in the England team.
James Flynn
28 Posted 08/11/2014 at 00:53:27
Gibson looks back to full fitness. He's a first-rate, intelligent professional and I'd like to see him back in the squad.

Hope Roberto has him in against Sunderland.

Michael Penley
30 Posted 08/11/2014 at 01:48:05
Could it be the case that whenever McGeady plays, Coleman has to sit out for Hibbert? In the Europa league at least, Hibbert & McGeady seem the better partnership by far, like Baines and Pienaar.
Ajay Gopal
31 Posted 08/11/2014 at 02:54:11
Against Sunderland, assuming Coleman and Barry are unavailable, I would go with:

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Gibson
McGeady Barkley Pienaar
Eto'o

Subs: Robles, Browning, Besic, Atsu, Osman, Naismith, Lukaku

I would love Baines to be given a rest for this game (especially since he would be playing 2 games for England over the next 10 days) and Oviedo coming in, but I am not sure that Martinez will take that gamble, especially if Barry is out.

Brian Furey
32 Posted 08/11/2014 at 09:11:51
I didn't see the game on Thursday but I am delighted to read so many positive posts on Hibbert and McGeady. Finally, some people are man enough to call it as it is and evaluate a players ACTUAL performance on the day rather than the lazy "told you Ossie/McGeady/Also is shite" line.

Players are human and make mistakes and also can change and do good. McGeady for one can be very frustrating and often choose the wrong option or give it away. My outlook is try to keep the head as a fan and remember our groans and negative feedback lead to players becoming fearful and anxious which leads to more mistakes.

I always thought that technology and a manager can get so good that they can brainwash players from the start to play with that feeling they get when 4-0 up and stroking the ball around with such confidence. The power of the mind in sport is massive and read on here how it affects fans perceptions.

If only we could keep our heads when we play well but lose or draw.

Mike Childs
33 Posted 08/11/2014 at 09:50:08
Baines, Barry, Jimmy Mac, the Captain, Coleman and Howard only get a match off if they're injured. I would think Barry and Baines are 1 & 1A on the team sheet. Let Baines get his rest while with England.
Jim Harrison
34 Posted 09/11/2014 at 01:52:49
I maybe the only one who thinks this, but..........

Before Coleman made the right back position his own, Hibbert was first choice, he got injured and spent a lomng time out. Prior to that injury, playing under Moyes, Hibbo was playing very well and actually did get forward quite a bit and play decent crosses into the area

He's not at the level of Coleman now, but a very able understudy who does his job well

Sam Hoare
35 Posted 09/11/2014 at 02:42:13
Hibbert has been solid when coming in for Coleman but no more than that. He offers nowhere near the same threat as Coleman who is arguably one of if not the best full back in the league when on form, capable of creating and scoring goals.

Hibbert is never going to be that but so long as he defends well and retains posession (his passing under pressure has certainly improved) then I don't think we can ask for more.

Gibson or Besic for Barry? Probably go Gibson myself as I thought his passing looked extremely sharp on thurs night though admitedly under little pressure. Besic is more an understudy for McCarthy as he offers more drive and energy than metronomic passing range.

Ian Doyle
36 Posted 09/11/2014 at 09:00:45
I always found it strange anyone moaning about Hibbert..? We all entitled to opinions but heÂ’s been playing 13 years or something for Everton he must be doing something right.

13 games you could probably fool a manager and fans, even 13 months but not 13 years.

As I said, all are entitled to their own opinion — I just find it a bit strange.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb