Seamus Coleman must take back seat in Everton rebuild
When you think of Everton Football Club, there are certain things that come to mind instantly – Goodison Park, the colour blue and Seamus Coleman.
But that is something that should be on the list of change when it comes to the new season for Frank Lampard, as the Toffees look to rebuild their squad and move away from the relegation battle that plagued them during the 2021/22 campaign.
It’s undoubtedly a major decision for the boss to make, but it’s one that absolutely needs to be made.
Coleman is the captain of the football club and is a stalwart in the side at right-back, with his energy and determination making him one of the best in the division when he was in his prime.
But his form during the 21/22 campaign made it very evident that those days are long gone. He’s lost a yard or two of pace, he’s less durable than he used to be and while he’s still an influence with his presence he’s more of an issue when it comes to actually playing.
Rafa Benitez had clearly noticed it, bringing in Rangers youngster Nathan Patterson before being sacked before he was able to give him a debut.
Lampard didn’t take too well to the Scot, playing him for just 45 minutes against Boreham Wood since his arrival before an injury curtailed his season early.
But while the manager coped with Coleman’s failures by moving into a back three as a centre-back and using Alex Iwobi as a wing-back during the run-in, it’s time to start phasing him out.
The legendary Irishman should remain part of the squad and should undoubtedly keep the armband, but he can’t and shouldn’t be expected to play every game anymore. He’s just not as good as he once was.
If Lampard doesn’t fancy using Patterson more regularly that’s his own prerogative, but then a new right-back must be brought in.
The club are looking to rebuild to avoid the issues of the most recent season, and that doesn’t just mean getting rid of the players who don’t deserve to be in the squad. It also means making tough decisions on phasing people out, even if they have something to offer.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are battling a European giant for a potential new signing
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