Sky Sports pundit backs Everton captain Seamus Coleman not to be weak link
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Seamus Coleman is not going to be a problem for Everton while he fills in for Nathan Patterson even if he isn’t as quick or energetic says Kevin Campbell.
With the young Scot out for a few weeks after injury on international duty club captain Coleman has stepped in, seeing his first Premier League action of the season in the 2-1 win at Southampton (1 October), but while the home side struggled to get through waves of committed blocks that afternoon they were afford a lot of space around the Toffees’ area.
Campbell, a Sky Sports pundit, doesn’t believe that was anything to do with the veteran Irishman and feels the league-leading defence’s only issues come from good moves by opposition players rather than deficiencies in their own ranks.
On the question of whether the skipper’s lack of pace might be an issue he said, speaking exclusively to Goodison News: “You can talk about that, but Seamus Coleman’s done alright on Saturday and it was a win.
“And it was away from home which is always more difficult, but it’s not as if they’re getting exposed by speed.
“I think a lot of Everton’s issues, if they have any issues, are just good play by the opposition which can happen.
“So I’m not worried about Seamus Coleman. He’s going to be doing his job there until Patterson’s ready to come back in.
“And I don’t see it being a problem.”
Patterson has been a revelation this year, in a hugely-improved back four alongside summer signings James Tarkowski and Conor Coady, with Vitalii Mykolenko on the other side, so him missing brought some fears that the solidity at the back could slip.
While there were some concerning signs at St Mary’s, with opposition players getting too much room in attack or possession being lost, it is difficult to say off one game whether Coleman was having a negative effect.
Nobody can accuse him or any of the Everton defenders of not giving their all, as even when most under pressure they were lining up to throw themselves in the way of shots, but against stronger offensive set ups it could be harder to repel if they play in the same way.
Manchester United on paper represent a different threat but they were kept out entirely in the same fixture last season, so this campaign’s upgrade is sure to be a stern test, even with one quarter of the first choice line up missing.