Everton ace Nathan Patterson to replace Seamus Coleman – Chris Beesley
Chris Beesley has suggested Everton defender Nathan Patterson could be in line for more game time after Seamus Coleman’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur last night (March 7).
It was a night to forget for the Blues as they suffered a massive 5-0 loss in north London.
The Liverpool ECHO journalist has hinted at retirement for the Toffees veteran with desperate changes needed in this Everton team.
He said as per Liverpool ECHO: “Gary Neville, one of the greatest right-backs of the Premier League era decided to hang up his boots on the spot after one particular chasing at West Bromwich Albion.
“Blues captain Seamus Coleman isn’t close to anything as drastic as that yet but the club’s failure to sign a long-term successor for him is catching up with them.
“They finally found a candidate for that role in the January transfer window but Nathan Patterson still has only 45 minutes of action – at home to non-league opponents – so far.
“You wonder if the young Scot might see his game time increasing now though after what was a tough night for the captain, and indeed the whole backline.”
Time up?
Coleman is a club legend, there is no doubt about that, but he is getting on a bit now.
If he was maintaining the levels, he has shown throughout his Goodison career then there would be no complaints at all. But, as expected when you near the end of your career, there has been a massive drop off.
He can still do a job for Everton and is a massively important figure within the dressing room, but he can’t be the Blues’ first choice right back. They need to start integrating Patterson into the team as soon as possible and allow the 33-year-old to take a step down.
That doesn’t mean he has to retire, far from it. He can be used essentially as a fringe player in the squad, a player with great experience who can come in whenever called upon.
This team full of youngsters already look lost so completely axing the most experienced player in the squad wouldn’t end well. He could even do a job among the coaching staff if Lampard lets him but he needs replacing at right-back for the team to reach that next level.
In other Everton news, Jamie Carragher destroys the players after the Tottenham Hotspur defeat.
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