Coleman Comes Good

I agree that he has been the best RB since the 80s and with possibly another 10 years football to go, I hope he succeeds in becoming an Everton legend like Stevens and Tommy Wright, along with a similar amount of trophies to his name

If memory serves he only got back in because of injury to Hibbo I suspect he might be back in Ireland otherwise.

The poor kid appeared decimated when binned and the odd chance he got he was slagged off rotten on here.

Good to see he made it - well done Seamus.

I still remember the shame and embarrassment I felt from Evertonians when he gave the late penalty away against Reading. The abuse he received was a disgrace, that abuse might have destroyed weaker minded players, thankfully others gave him some encouragement and he was able to come through and used it to make himself stronger. The short sightedness of some fans was also an embarrassment, writing such a young inexperienced player off because of a couple of mistakes, forgetting other players like Baines, Pienaar, Jaggs and Arteta had all took some time to settle into life at Everton.

He is definitely one of Moyes best buys and still nowhere near his prime. If his improvement continues at the same rate like Baines then in another 3 or 4 years we could have another world class full back, he just needs to get practising his free kicks. I think Coleman, £60k Nigel Martyn, £500k and Marcus Bent £600k are three of Moyes's best but least praised signings.

If I could pick one player to really succeed it would be him. Seems really humble and appreciative of his fortunes off the pitch too.

"Best right back since the late '80's"? Sorry, I don't agree, at least not yet. He's certainly the best ATTACKING right back we've had in decades, but what we saw last weekend was a return to the bad habits that crippled his defending when he first came to Everton -- ballwatching, poor marking, poor positioning -- which don't show up in the statistics. Benteke literally waltzed past him three times in the first half, and he played Wiemann onside with his inattention.

Coleman has clearly worked very hard on his defense, and I give Moyes and his staff significant credit for Coleman's obvious improvement over the past year. But the young man isn't quite there yet, and I still consider Hibbert the best Everton right back I've seen in the past 25 years.

Neville was a huge improvement but Moyes preferred him in midfield, where he was ineffective. Watson was a decent RB but again, Moyes preferred square pegs in round holes, even playing him as a striker!!! And probably the best RB we've had in the last decade was Jacobsen. When Hibbert was hooked at half-time in the FA Cup Final after being ragged by Malouda for 45 mins. Jacobsen showed his class by shackling him so well, he was replaced himself, but sadly the damage had already been done. A lot of Blues expected Jacobsen's loan to turn permanent in the summer but Moyes told him he wouldn't be 1st choice; preferring his pet.

If, like me Mike Gaynes you have some DVDs of our previous campaigns, watch them thoroughly and spot your hero's ineffective "Kung-fu" kick defending. He was as useful as an ashtray on a parachute.

Yes, Hibbo was guilty of all those offenses early in his career. But over his last four seasons as a starter, he was virtually unbeatable -- positionally immaculate, secure in the tackle and absolutely worry-free. Granted, his crosses and dribbles were often downright hilarious, but at his best he was the safest right back in the Prem.

And the Cup mention is way below the belt. Hibbert was playing still hurt after an injury layoff.. didn't really belong on the pitch... and was further hamstrung by the bullshit yellow card.

I've got to agree with Mike Gaynes, I thought Hibbert was a great righr-back. I had a particular soft spot for him mainly because he is a local lad but also I felt sorry for him because he used to get so much abuse.

I've also got to agree we have a had some appalling right-backs in the last 20 years, which is the polar opposite to the left back position, a position where we have had some exceptional talent. One player left off the list of right back donkeys was John O'Kane. Anybody remember him? He was as bad a player you could imagine in a blue shirt.

Keep it up Seamus.

Under Moyes we often had to rely on 1-0's with lots of defending. Hibbert was an ever present throughout that period. I recall one game he kept Ronaldo at his pomp quiet. Neville was an ok right back but lacked Hibbert's pace.

The FA Cup final was a tragedy for a life long Evertonian. He gets unfairly booked early doors against a diving winger in the form of his life and has to walk on eggshells. I would have actually kept him on the field because he had earned the right but Moyes bottled it.

Jacobsen? My word. For me that comparison is akin to saying Segundo Castillo was better than Lee Carsley!!!

To say Hibbert is our best RB for 25 years is insulting to Coleman. Modern day fullbacks are expected to do much more than defend and watching Hibbert over the years going forward has been an absolute joke.

I guess I'm just an old fart, but I still believe that while today's fullbacks do have major attacking responsibilities, a defender's first job is to defend, and nobody did that better for us than Hibbert.

As for the comparison being "insulting" to Coleman... I would bet my mortgage that after 21 games as a starter (he took over the job against Norwich in February), Coleman would be flattered, not insulted, to be compared to a club legend with 300 appearances.

Coleman can defend though, it hasn't come easy to him but he's progressively got better over time and he's actually become a decent defender.

Baines isn't as good as Hibbert at defending but like Coleman he is decent at defending but offers so much more going forward than Hibbert. Just being a good defender nowadays doesn't cut it at fullback.

Ross - Do you think I am inaccurate in anything I said about Coleman?

Why am I getting carried away?

That's like saying that Ross Barkley is the best midfielder we've had since Kevin Sheedy.

Coleman has come a long way since then, and personally I have no doubt that within a couple of years, if he stays here and stays healthy, he will be exactly what you and Ger say he is.

I'm just saying that 21 games is way, way too early to crown him as our best. Especially after the Villa.game.

As Mike said, 2 years ago, he was playing on loan at Blackpool, nowhere near the first team, he got a lucky break and has taken it.

We cannot possibly know who is better than who, it's like comparing Messi to Pele, totally different eras, players and tactics.

It's impossible to compare really, that's why I said your claim was premature.

I think defensively, he still has a lot of work to do, he has looked very shaky in recent games.

With Coleman we have more of a wing back who can charge forwards, he's a bit one trick pony running direct at times rather than tricky footwork but it works for him so no complaints, defensively which was his weakness tracking back as he's played more games he has strengthened that side of his game. He has improved through playing and making mistakes but thats how you learn, you won't learn from catching splinters up your backside and watching from the touchline or watching videos; you have to put the theory into practice.

Parker and Wilson were brilliant defenders and that remained the way the game was played right through until quite recently. The wing-halves and inside forwards were the engine room of teams and I never saw Alex Young tackle anyone!!! Nowadays the game is more about pace and fitness; hard tackling is a forgotten art. Goalkeepers are much better protected and even the kit worn by the players has changed.

It is really difficult to compare today's players with those from earlier generations. I rate Coleman as a quick learning, potentially great right wing-back. Hibbert is definitely a fine defender but lacks the pace and ball control of Coleman, but Hibbo is much more dependable than some of the cart horses mentioned above.

The best two left backs I have seen wearing Everton shirts are Wilson and Baines. Both have pace and Baines is better going forward but Wilson was a better defender. My best right full-backs would include Alex Parker, Tommy Wright and Coleman. Difficult to choose between any of them.

I've seen better Sunday Leaguers and I have been watching the blues since my boys pen days, so please, watch season review videos and you'll be amazed how many times he kicks out at crosses with his back turned and loses his man by ball watching; nice guy, terrible player

No good in the air - what about when he had to fill in at centre back when we played in eastern Europe a couple of years ago.

To be honest, it's posts like yours that make me despair of football supporters - you should be ashamed (but you won't even have a clue what I'm talking about)

Coleman is an excellent player. I'd trade him for no one. His work rate is superb. He gets up the wing and attacks beautifully. He's prone to an occasional clumsy challenge but I'll take him in our side any day of the week.

And considering what we paid for him? Please...

Gold.

This almost makes Jimmy Sorheim's views on Leighton's contract seem legitimate.

Seamus Coleman 78 appearances as right back for Everton in three seasons 2010-13 - with injuries - by far more than any other right back at the club over that stretch of time in that position.

Gotta love the upper case FOURTH. Consistently, Mike Gaynes seemingly speaking you might think from let's call it Everton footie nous is only outclassed in misinformation and lack of understanding by our Norwegian Blue and one or two more.

A far from accurate view of perhaps our most improved player these last two years or so and you can sense Gaynes getting excited when he first posted because it so happened that Seamus had a very rare howler for much of the game at Villa.

Echoing what Paul said and please mind I'm not picking a fight here...

Coleman being 4th pick at RB - possibly down to OFM's seeming insistence of playing experienced favorites and not giving kids much of a run out? Especially after an "error"?

Coleman not playing as much was more down to the stubborn Gingy. I seem to remember many TWers calling for Coleman to start and being downright pissed when he didn't. I know I preferred Seamus above Pip.

Coleman being 4th on the pecking list wasn't a "Seamus problem" - it was a "Davey problem".

By the way the match tomorrow is on some flakey NBC channel on dire t-tv, 355 or something like that.

CNBC - 355. Found it thanks to Michael and Lyndon.

Correct Paul OFM did have Seamus as first pick last season. But it took a while to get there IMO.

At the point in time Mike was referencing I believe Seamus not starting was down to Dithering Dave's selection ways.

No kid events tomorrow morning. Full attention on DTv 355!

Full credit and enormous heaps of praise to David Moyes for finding an unknown Irish kid and signing him for a mere 60 thousand.

unreal piece of business.

Until last season he simply did not consistently perform well enough to hold a position down. Hibbert had been a more consistent player and better defensively, he even started to contribute more further up the pitch. So he got injured, and Coleman took his chance with style, cementing his place. Until that point he hadnt done enough, now he undoubtably is doing enough and his recent performance was a rare off day. Good on the lad, long may he be a star in Blue.

There seems to be lots of misinformation going on in this thread just to suit peoples arguments. Mike Gaynes being the biggest guilty party by saying Coleman was fourth choice RB behind Jags, Hibbert and Neville. If my memory serves me correctly, when Hibbert got injured, Jags and Neville were fit but they weren't moved to RB from their respective CM and CB positions to cover Hibbert, Coleman was brought straight in. Mike was just bending the facts to suit his argument.

Ross Edwards also bended the facts of Coleman's age, and when I asked him a simple question about naming a better RB, he came back with some bullshit about different era's. You can bet your bottom dollar, if I asked him the same question about a different position to RB, he would of came back with a whole stack of names.

I also think you are guilty of misinformation Paul, the 78 appearances you refer to were not all played at RB. Coleman started off playing right wing - which in his first season playing there he did okay, but it became increasingly obvious his future position was RB or nowhere.

I got his age wrong. God, this isn't a bleeding Gestapo interrogation Mark.

Have you ever said anything wrong in your life? I can bet my bottom dollar that you have mate.

"I asked him a simple question about naming a better RB, he came back with some bullshit about different eras."

Your question was ridiculous Mark.

I gave it a serious, and correct answer.

As for picking on Everton players, Andy Crooks and Gary Poole, I believe in our motto and if you would just look back at how bad he has been for years, you'll wonder - like I did - how he ever got to play as long as he did. In over a decade, what other club ever shown an interest in him? When was he even hinted at being capped? Is that the type of player our motto refers to?

The right side has been a huge problem for as long as I can remember, but most blues seem to be satisfied with Coleman there now, and our defence had been outstanding for the last 2 or 3 seasons

Also, I cannot believe that people - anyone, in the universe - is saying that Hibbert is our best RB in the last 25 years, 15 years, or even five years. I think in all the time I've watched Everton, I can probably remember four or five games where I've thought Hibbo played well. I even remember watching a Uefa Cup game (may have been Europa League by then) when the commentators were practically laughing at him at half-time.

Not sure if Coleman is our best in 25 years either, as I, fortunately missed the '90s, but he was definitely better than Hibbo, Pip, and Krøldrup, and has lasted longer than Jacobsen (who I did hope would be our RB saviour). So, at least 10 years.

I haven't "bent" anything. Provable facts. Just read through our lineups last year, as I did. You'll see Hibbo, Pip and even Jags stationed at right back before Coleman finally started getting the call full time in the Norwich game in February. And that only happened when Hibbo, Pip and Heitinga were all unavailable, so Jags had to move back to the middle.

Up until then, Coleman had maybe four starts at right back. He spent most of the season either at right midfield or on the bench.

Bench your memory and try reading.

I guess I shared what you describe as the "Davey problem"... last year I absolutely cringed when I saw Coleman on the team sheet at right back. I thought – and frequently wrote here – that he was a defensive disaster just waiting to happen. And I was right a few times. So what you saw as Moyes's bias against youth, I saw as a correct assessment that the young man wasn't ready. Guess we were in disagreement back then.

We agree now. As I said earlier in this string, he has clearly come a long, long way since then. He has the potential to be one of our best ever at the position.

Moyes needs to take some credit for bringing him to the club and giving him a chance, but it just goes to show that he only sprang to prominence due to injuries to almost any other player who could've played there leaving Moyes with little option.

I think the game changer was his loan spell at blackpool which gave him a chance to play in his natural position for an extended period.

If I'm honest I'm more of the opinion that we need to throw a few more young players in at the deep end and see how they do, rather than expecting always to buy the ready made article. We simply don't have the cash. Our results will likely suffer in the short term, but we'll be better off in the long run.