Stephen Kenny defends Everton defender Seamus Coleman
Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has provided a sharp riposte to criticisms aimed at Everton defender Seamus Coleman by Jamie Carragher.
With the Toffees battling for survival, every performance has come under the microscope and the players have received big criticisms lately.
Everton played out a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur away from home last month. Carragher said on Sky Sports after the game that the defence was Championship level, before brutally criticising Coleman for his positioning and how he is being beaten at pace.
Kenny has stood up for the right-back, highlighting his consistency, and doesn’t believe that the comments made were fair.
He said, as relayed by Balls.ie: “I thought Seamus actually was in really good form when Frank Lampard came in first, and then just to have a bad game that was live on TV, he obviously got a lot of criticism and people then believed that’s how he’s been playing for six or eight weeks when he hadn’t, he’d actually been playing very well up to that.
“So he got criticism, but the issue with Seamus is not that he’s not at the level. He is at the level, it’s just sometimes he’s put himself out there when he’s not been 100 per cent, putting the team first, and he’s not one to speak up, it’s ‘if you want me out there and the physio says I’m right, I’ll play’, so he’s come back very quickly from injury and probably when he wasn’t right.
“And I’ve seen him in some matches when he knew he wasn’t right. He’s so selfless that way.”
Long term future
Coleman has been a great asset to the club.
While his agility may have slowed down due to his age, his commitment to the game and the club can never be questioned.
He is one of those players who try to give everything on the pitch.
Coleman has made 23 appearances in the Premier League this season, and he is a true leader at the club.
Having said that, the Toffees must look forward to giving more opportunities to young Nathan Patterson in the next season.
The youngster picked up an injury after the international break and he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The former Rangers right-back has the potential to be a regular first-team player next season. In that case, Coleman will play a second fiddle which actually could suit him.
He will get more time to keep himself fit and give his best shot.
In other Everton news, Michael Ball thinks this out-of-sorts Toffee needs a lot of work at Finch Farm before he’s ready to start games again.
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