Coleman could be fit to face to Chelsea

, 28 December, 23comments  |  Jump to most recent
Seamus Coleman has "a chance" of being included in the squad to face Chelsea on Sunday after getting over his most recent injury.

With Tony HIbbert recovering from surgery, the Irishman's absence left David Moyes a little exposed at right back against West Ham where Phil Jagielka had to deputise.

But Moyes hinted that he has "a chance" of making it but refused to clarify further.

Darron Gibson is more doubtful after suffering a thigh strain against Wigan on Boxing Day and he will be assessed before the manager names his squad.

Kevin Mirallas remains sidelined with the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the side for the bulk of the last month and will not be in contention.

The Belgian traveled to Germany last week to have the injury assessed by a specialist but there has been no word from Everton regarding a prognosis.

Quotes or other material sourced from Everton FC



Reader Comments (23)

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Jon Ferguson
1 Posted 28/12/2012 at 17:55:37
I hope Coleman is fit. We are very one dimensional without him. A team like Chelsea will shut down our left flank knowing there is no threat from the right.

I read somewhere that Gibson was going to be fit for tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Shane Corcoran
2 Posted 28/12/2012 at 18:00:29
What is wrong with him exactly? Did the club every clarify this?
Paul Hughes
3 Posted 28/12/2012 at 18:33:20
I'd still prefer Neville at right-back against Chelsea. Coleman is good going forward when given the space against weaker teams, but is seriously exposed defensively when stretched.

I fear that against Chelsea we'll need the best available defensive back four at the top of their game, in order to get a result.

John Ford
4 Posted 28/12/2012 at 18:39:07
I agree Paul. Coleman is well worth investing in as a future right back, and much of what he needs will come with match experience. He's out of position too often and under pressure he just jumped on the reading attacker and lost us the game. Chelsea would surely exploit him. I'd love to be proved wrong of course.
Jay Harris
5 Posted 28/12/2012 at 18:43:28
If fit I would play Coleman in front of Neville in a MF role as in the good old days especially in the absence of Fellaini and Mirallas.
Sam Hoare
6 Posted 28/12/2012 at 19:23:51
Chelsea have oodles of pace and I think Coleman's speed could be useful both in attack and defense. Gibson though is crucial. If he is out then I think we will do well to maintain our unbeaten record at Goodison.
Phil Sammon
7 Posted 28/12/2012 at 19:32:06
Neville will get murdered at right back. At least Coleman has a chance of keeping pace with Hazard.
Phil Walling
8 Posted 28/12/2012 at 19:28:25
Coleman in front of Neville but please not at fuul-back.Gibson is the perennial sick-note and Mirallis looks likely to be a fellow sufferer. Guess that`s why we got them both on the cheap.Almost certain to be only one up front on Sunday and I`d go with Anichebe rather than the waning Jelavic.Guess it will be a return to KITAHTNO against the Spanish Waiter`s side,
Anthony Jaras
9 Posted 28/12/2012 at 20:43:19
I'd stick Coleman right wing. I remembered him ripping Cole apart last season in the home cup tie.
John Keating
10 Posted 28/12/2012 at 20:43:34
Phil

I cannot think of one game when Neville has let us down playing at right back. Remember when he took the piss out of Bale?

What Neville lacks in pace, he more than makes up with experience and nous.
Anthony Jaras
11 Posted 28/12/2012 at 21:14:07
Portsmouth at home, we got beat 0-3.

Yakubu had his penalty saved by David James.

We were woeful and Neville was atrocious.

That was his last shite performance at RB. He's been steady there since then in my opinion.

Peter Askins
12 Posted 28/12/2012 at 21:19:06
I deliberately watched Neville at close quarters from the Park End in the recent Wigan game. I was concerned that Beausejour, a quick and tricky wide player, would rip him to pieces, but more than any player I can recall, it's what Neville does WITHOUT the ball which is hugely impressive.

His positional sense is excellent ; when to get tight, and when to drop off, when to drift wide, and when to close up into the middle. As is often pointed out on here, his distribution and ability with the ball is usually poor, but this other part of the game, often overlooked, is exceptional. Hopefully, this crucial part of the game can be passed on to Seamus, and he will emerge into our best right back since Gary Stevens.

Paul David
13 Posted 28/12/2012 at 21:32:23
Really, his positional sense is excellent?

I deliberately watched Neville against Wigan as well; while I can't remember him being beaten one-on-one, he was out of position at least three times.

Phil Sammon
14 Posted 28/12/2012 at 21:43:09
I agree he has in the past done great jobs on the likes of Bale. He does relish the big matches. However he cannot get up and down. If he does venture forward then he can't get back quick enough. This leaves us, once again, attacking solely from the left.

Our best bet would be Hibbo, but it seems that wont be an option.

Peter Askins
15 Posted 28/12/2012 at 21:47:38
Yes, you're both right to some degree, Paul and Phil.

Neville does err on the side of caution, and certainly doesn't get up and down as quickly, or often, as either Hibbert or Coleman. As that great philosopher Clint Eastwood said though, "A man's got to know his limitations", and I contend that this enables Neville to be in the right position to defend better than either of our other two options. It's no coincidence that even as the slowest of the three, he doesn't get burnt for pace as often, or caught on the wrong side of his attacker.

I'm not saying that Neville is my preferred option at right back if all three are fit, as the modern game dictates that the right back be used as an attacking option, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good he still. Oh, and he did get an assist for the winning goal, with his trademark floaty chippy cross !!

Barry Granton
16 Posted 28/12/2012 at 22:55:47
The way Chelsea are playing, it might be wise to play six at the back with a sweeper. Chelsea will single Coleman out at RB, I think it's a little unfair he be exposed, I don't think he has the tools needed just yet to survive at RB... A great outlet for Neville to pass 2 yards to and attack.

I'm hoping Vic plays, he's deserved his place in the team recently and this game's a great opportunity for him to test his skills. If he gives it his very best and delivers, then he can stay and be a hero.

We win 2 - 1: Vic scores the winner in the 89th minute.

Mark Tanton
17 Posted 29/12/2012 at 08:46:02
I have actually, to my surprise, quite liked Neville in centre midfield this season (he was immense against Man Utd there) and has been very steady.

As a right-back he annoys me no end, everytime he gets the ball he slows play down and turns backwards, he cannot pick a pass to save his life – even the most simple of balls. He seems aware of his own limitations to the point of not even trying anything other than going backwards.

Phil Sammon
18 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:03:13
Exactly right, Mark. Even a threaded ball down the line is off limits.
Steven Telford
19 Posted 29/12/2012 at 17:13:47
I wish Fellani was not missing this one.
Si Cooper
20 Posted 29/12/2012 at 17:28:58
Phil Neville was immense against Man Utd. Really? I thought Fellaini was immense, Ossie was creative, and Gibson pulled the strings of a very good team performance.

Phil Neville did what he can be relied upon to do. Played solidly and willingly in a very limited role, which he will do wherever he is selected. He is a water-carrier and no more, but practically every team needs a few of them to be successful.

Unless DM puts a quick player at right midfield we will be relying on keeping it tight on the right and moving it down the left all game. Has worked for us in the past and could do again as Chelsea are by no means invulnerable.

Mark Tanton
21 Posted 29/12/2012 at 18:18:53
Si he was excellent, he was perfect in his role of sitting deep, breaking upa
Si Cooper
22 Posted 29/12/2012 at 18:31:31
Mark, I suspect you are in the process of posting a list of purely defensive attributes, which I feel he does just as well at right-back. In defensive midfield he just has more options of who he can play a five-yard pass to.

I am not knocking the bloke, but to call his performance in that game 'immense' is over-praising doing the simple things well, and ignoring the fact that he brings the same qualities most time he plays.

Assuming Gibson is unavailable, I would go with Hitzlberger and Osman in central midfield with Coleman on the wide right backed up by Neville.

Trevor Lynes
23 Posted 29/12/2012 at 20:51:27
Neville never gets really exposed against speedy wingers and when he played against Bale and Ronaldo he played well and we doubled up to compensate. I've never seen Bale have a really outstanding game against us as we organize well compared to other teams. Defensively we have been better than our attack until fairly recently and it's no coincidence that Baines, Distin and Jags have been our top players until this season.

Now we have more balance when everyone is fit and it's a shame that Mirallas has been out for so long as he has made a big difference to our attack. So far, Naismith has just been pretty average and has done nothing to really lift the crowd. Mirallas is an exciting player and with him, Fellaini and Osman in good form, we have shown attacking threat down both wings.

Unless Naismith starts to take on fullbacks in the way that Mirallas does, we will just be a one-trick pony relying on Pienaar and Baines to supply real threat. If Coleman is fit, I would try him in Mirallas's position with Neville at fullback as he is a player who will try to pass the fullback.

Hitzlsperger is not the answer, let's face it, he was released by lesser clubs than ours. I just wish Oviedo could play somewhere else other than the left side...???

Why does the club not give us progress reports on injured players? Nothing has been heard about Mirallas since he supposedly went for specialist examination in Germany. Surely we should be kept in the picture.


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