Andros Townsend: Seamus Coleman is the best captain I have played for
Everton winger Andros Townsend says that Seamus Coleman is the best captain that he has played for in his career.
Townsend moved to Goodison Park on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in the summer and has scored five goals in 17 games.
In contrast, Coleman is the club’s longest serving player, having made 362 appearances since signing from Sligo Rovers in 2009.
“He’s been the best captain I’ve ever played for,” Townsend told Sky Sports. “Nowadays the word ‘captain’ doesn’t mean as much as it used to.
“Now it’s more about wearing the armband, shouting a bit on the pitch. But Seamus on and off the pitch, Monday to Friday, really is the captain.
“He’s not worried about upsetting people or making friends. If something needs to be said then he will say it. For me he’s definitely the best captain I’ve ever worked for and Everton are lucky to have a player like him in the ranks.”
True leader
It is easy to see why Coleman is held in such high regard by his teammates and he is a fantastic character for Everton to have in their squad.
The Irishman has all the qualities you want in a leader: He encourages and gives advice to his teammates but also holds them to account when they make mistakes, while also taking on a large chunk of responsibility himself.
It has been a tricky couple of months for Everton with unrest off the pitch combined with an eight-game winless run, but Coleman has held his head high throughout and kept the squad focused on the task at hand.
The 33-year-old was one of a number of players who had poor performances in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, but he responded with a solid display in the 2-1 win over Arsenal – making a crucial late block to deny Martin Odegaard.
Get more Seamus Colemans through the Goodison Park door and Everton will be heading in the right direction.
In other Everton news, Mark Lawrenson has predicted the outcome of Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace.
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