Coleman sent off again as Irish lose to Swiss

Coincidence, lost a yard and diving in, or over keen / this is my last hurrah... all the above – the choice is yours.

The lad needs dropping urgently and given a rest.

He should never have been given the armband. I would have had no issues with it going to Digne.

I could cry for Seamus. A great Evertonian, he's struggled to get back to his peak since the leg break, and it's starting to look like he never will. Possibly my favourite player of the past 10 years, he owes us nothing, but he is contracted til 2022 which does make me think we might be looking at selling him at the end of the season?

I'm not sure Seamus is done yet. He still has some great games in him (was great against City) but he is certainly moving further away from his peak. Has never looked quite as consistent (understandably) since that bad injury and crucially that yard of pace lost is telling.

A hugely likeable player and surely one of the greatest bargains in the modern era. But we must not let sentiment get the better of us. He will need replacing as a first team player sooner rather than later. Though RB is probably not the priority!

I tend to agree with Derek Thomas, but without being contradictory over last night's dismissal, I watched the game, and the referee was a little eager to brandish cards for 'handbag offences'.

Another observation was the state of the pitch, which was in my opinion a disgrace for an International qualifier, how they could let the game go ahead in the first place with that pitch defies belief. I've seen Sunday teams in the depth of winter play on better pitches than that.

Seamus is suspended for the West Ham match, but if stories are to be believed, there was an article I read the other day saying Sidibe has been a massive disappointment in Marco Silva's eyes and may well return to his parent Club in January. Will be interesting to see who plays right back then on Saturday.

I like Sidibe from what I have seen of him, and he his deemed good enough to still make the squad for France, yet again ANOTHER player who is rarely played by the manager who is a massive disappointment in my eyes.

This is like the Baines situation, I loved Seamus attitude over the years, but like Leighton best years are gone and still contracted to the club. The lack of pace sadly now shows for both.

It's the sentimentality thing again here, at the end of the day both have had good livings from the club and really should have both been moved on.

If Man City can move Vincent Kompany on (defenders don't come much better) then surely we need to learn from this?

Brilliantly work there, Derek. Turning it all around to suit your agenda against the manager with an unsubstantiated rumour as the springboard. Let's see who lines up at right-back on Saturday. If it's Holgate then there may be some truth to it, if it's Sidibe then it's a load of crap. Don't forget Sidibe has had a nasty injury and is on loan with us as he looks to work his way back to fitness.

Joe, does Coleman start because he has the armband? The lack of leaders on the pitch requires the best of a bad lot? As for Kompany, didn't he leave against Man City's wishes to be player-manager? It's been going wrong for him and supposedly City have offered for him to comeback. Not sure the full story there, but I wouldn't be so quick to commend City for getting rid.

Derek, care to provide a link to the story you mention regarding Sidibe?

Steven, it's HITC. One of the less reputable websites. Their story is that Monaco want to recall him to sell him to Milan as he's not playing. No mention of the Marco Silva dig that Derek threw in. Just that he's not played and they can see a January sale.

I was going to post something very similar to Joe#6.

Nobody can dispute the man's desire, but he is not as good as he was. It does have similarities to the Baines's decline from his former status as one of the league's best full-backs... Saying that Marco Silva must believe even a 90% Coleman is better than Sid otherwise he would have given Sid more games.

What concerns me is that Coleman is now targeted by opponents. Crosses are fired in to the far post where Seamus finds it very difficult to defend. Sometimes this is exacerbated by opponents putting 2 players on him. More than a few times a header won by an opposition player at that far post will lead to a goal or chance. All teams know it.

I am hoping Sidibe can have a great game on Saturday and stake a claim. We need quality and proper competition for that spot.

Steven, it was on NewsNow Everton, earlier in the week or last week I can't exactly remember, but I did add "if stories are to believed". (No smoke without fire may apply.)

If I had the premonition, I was to be later cross-examined I would have copied the link. :-)

Seamus has become a lot mouthier since getting both armbands. He seems to feel obliged to question every decision and get involved in arguments with opposition players, which cost him his first yellow last night.

Talk of him being finished are way off though, in my opinion.

I don't see anyone pushing for his place from within the club, hopefully Kenny will come back a stronger player after his loan.

I don't see many better right backs in the prem regardless of his age.

I thought he was very unlucky getting sent off last night. The first booking was a joke. The ref gave him the foul but the Swiss player fronted Coleman up who just gave the same back.

It doesn't take a genius to point out that age and injuries catch up with every footballer.

I think he is far from finished. Silva should rotate his players better but can't because he is flogging his only tactic to death. If any position needs rotation it's the full-back position. Sidibe hasn't looked great defensively but he's hardly played. Let's see how he does against West Ham and if he's an able deputy. Ideally, the players and manager wouldn't be under so much pressure for this upcoming match... but they are.

And who says there's no rest for the wicked, (excellent)?

Unfortunate night for Coleman and Ireland but hopefully he can have a rest over the next few weeks and come back hungry and desperate to help Everton continue their new found form and winning ways.. Fingers +

He's picked up a few silly yellow cards so no complaint about the red cards. He shouldn't be getting involved in scuffles end of, just laugh and walk away.

As captain he's let team mates, the club and fans down. It's not the first time and probably not the last. I only hope referees with the help of technology improve the consistency of these decisions, that's what frustrates everyone.

Tony @10,

Having watched more or less all games this year. I can honestly say I haven't seen any team target Coleman as if he is some kind of weak link.

The weak link is sitting in the dugout. Both full-back positions get over-exposed with the obsession of attacking only down the wings.

Seamus was harshly sent off last night, and some of the comments are very premature, as he's not ready for the scrap heap yet.

Questioning his defensive attributes, he was outstanding against City, considering Digne was roasted, on the other side, and very little said of his defensive qualities. It's hard to know how good Sidibe is, especially defensively, but hopefully West Ham will suit his game.

Ron Dolby #10. Spot on.

I also watched the match and the booking for the altercation with Xhaka was just one of those where a player tries to assert himself and take no shit from an aggressive opponent. The second one is just one of those that can happen anyone in football these days, trying to block a shot and ball hitting your arm.

Seamus did have a poor enough game last night and looked mentally out of sorts. He raged at Randolph at one stage, where he got into a muddle near the corner flag. I don't want to see back passes to the keeper from the corner flag on a muddy 1970's pitch. He also tried to take on Embolo three times and lost the ball, seeming intent on having a running battle with him, also with the Swiss defender Akanji in the 1st half.

He has had a great career with Everton but I fear this is possibly his last season as an automatic first choice. Let's just appreciate what he was and what he gave and that he continues to do his very best and support him. I don't see anything better in Sidibe when he has played. Hopefully Jonjoe Kenny will be better placed to replace him next season as per the Brands Masterplan.

Coleman is still our best right back. He still a good Premier League player. He may have lost a yard but probably still our fastest defender.

Being targeted... isn't that what the opposition are supposed to do? Isolate and exploit gaps in our defence. This is also down to tactics, formation and lack of cover from team mates.

Giving away 5 inches to taller opponents isn't the man's fault. It's an obvious plan at set-pieces, especially against our static zonal marking. It's Silva's tactics at fault.

It's a shame Silva hasn't figured it out and demands the same for our own set-piece routines. We should mix it up. Keane at the front post on the edge of the keeper's box to flick on. Mina at the back post starting on the edge of the box, running in. Instead, we defend and attack like statues.

As for Holgate, he's no attacking full-back but maybe that's what we need. Someone who can stay back to defend letting our attacking players attack. Light bulb moment, I know!

I like Holgate but not yet good enough. I'd have him in a back 3 but not good enough as an attacking right-back or trustworthy as one of two central defenders.

If we are righting this season off, I'd put him in for Keane and hope he improves quickly ready for next season. Same upfront. Give Kean more game time playing with Richarlison, Bernard and Iwobi to learn for next season.

Shane- many have been calling for a gobby skipper for years. As for Coleman, he has lost his speed but can still do his job. He was unlucky to get two yellows for us but I haven't seen the Republic game.

Without commenting on Seamus' mixed performances at club level this season (and he isn't unique in that), I actually think he has been a very good captain.

He is clearly focused in the tunnel before KO. No laughing or joking or fraternising with the opposition for SC. He stands up to other players trying to give him one-on-one grief. He is invariably first on the scene to protect his team mates if something kicks off. He is not shy in challenging and questioning the officials as skipper. He will bollock his team mates if they are culpable in something. After we score (and sadly, that has been so infrequent this season there is not a huge body of evidence here), he is seen talking to players (or the manager) to re-focus minds to the task at hand.

All positives to me. There really aren't any outstanding candidates to contest the arm band with him IMO.

Steve and Derek, the Sidibe story originated two days ago on Fox Sports Italia, from a solid reporter. What Andrea Bracco writes is usually credible.

If you read any Italian, enjoy: https://www.foxsports.it/2019/10/14/calciomercato-milan-due-idee-low-cost-sidibe-elneny/

We have a €14m option to buy Sidibe at the end of the season. If Milan is willing to pay more in January, there's no reason in the world for Monaco not to recall him, refund the loan fee we paid, and cash in on him.

I like Sidibe a lot and would consider this report to be significant reason for concern.

Coleman is on a downward slope for sure, at best on the very edge of his plateau. The game itself and the game Silva wants him to play are beyond him now.
His ability to cross a ball, and live the other teams half just isn't there. He could still be a regular full back, but the evolution of the game has gone beyond his best days.
He has little to no chemistry with his right sided forward for some time now. I look Richarlison when he plays there and feel he protects Coleman and it inhibits his own game at the same time.
Let's be fair to him though, he, like several others have been played until they are bang out of form. Thats on the manager to rotate until he finds combinations across the team that click.
I think the red card against Burnley, for which he was lucky just to get yellow in the first instance, will be a blessing. I'd hope Sidibe gets a chance to win the shirt and isn't dropped immediately once Coleman is available as that sends the wrong message regardless if he is captain.

Mike/Steve/Derek

I am wondering if the Sidibe story is being pushed by his camp as he hasn't had much game time. Even if as suggested Silva is disappointed with him, I don't think we are able to proactively push to cancel a loan unless the other parties (player/club) want to.

Presumably Silva signed Sidibe hoping he would be better than what we have. If he isn't playing that suggests he is seen as worse than or equal to Seamus, even if that's just because of fitness issues after injury. It's not much of a leap to suggest Silva is "disappointed" therefore but factoring in the rumor mill process and translation from Italian, it's not necessarily a "dig" at player or coach.

Kieran #25, Bracco is a Milan reporter. I would presume the story came from there. If it was Sidibe's camp it would more likely have come out in the French or British press.

AC Milan's right-back situation is a big story there right now. I believe the incumbent has been red-carded twice already this season, and they've been rumored in the hunt for several RBs just this past week. So this all makes some sense.

I don't think he is finished as an individual player but I do think that, as footy is a team game, he needs the right support ahead of him and the right cover behind him when he goes forward. He seems to lack both at the moment.

Keane has a terrible game for England, Sigurdsson misses a penalty for Iceland and Coleman gets sent off playing for Ireland. Anyone see a pattern forming here?

I thought Sidibe looked comfortable on the ball when he came on against Burnley.

The Sidibe story is odd, since it seemed like Silva was talking him up just a few weeks ago, noting how he was pushing Coleman in training. He looked solid in the two League Cup games, admittedly against lesser competition. With Seamus suspended for the West Ham match, that will presumably be his opportunity to stake a claim.

As for Coleman, he's struggled to bring his best week in and week out (who hasn't?), but he was excellent against City. I wouldn't jam a fork in him just yet.

Very harsh on Seamus. Been a great captain and was really the only option.

Colemans needs a rest. I don't see Sidibe being a soultion to the that problem and would not mind Holgate coming it for Keane who I also think needs a break. Who knows what may be the results of changing things in defence.

Even without his extra sprint pace he's still fast enough for the prem, we've just got used to him beating his man so often, this isn't happening because of injuries and the way the team is playing.

Beat his man and cross the ball? The way we're playing at the moment he's lucky if he can see a blue shirt in the box.

That fact that Shea has come back to perform at the level he is at speaks volumes of the character and mental strenght of the lad ( never in question ) some of the others (McCarthy, Bolaise ) have not been so lucky

He has all the good attributes of a captain but none of the bad ones which are unfortuately needed in the modern game playing or influencing the refs (see Gerrard,Keane etc) is one good example, he prefers to get up and get in the opponents faces when they commit a bad foul on him instead of rolling about in agony (thereby giving the ref a row to break up as opposed to just having a guilty looking player to book or send off)

As discussed previous at least 90% of our issues are coming from the dugout, A team without a plan is a team without a plan, its hard for any player to perform well in such circumstances his effort and endevour will never be questioned and he has played better than most, I mean Dignes crossing last game was the worst I have seen from him since arriving

Regards City "letting go" Kompany, if thats what they did it was the dumbest sporting decision in living memory his performance/influence made all the difference last year and is lacking in them this season, and will most likely hand the league to the RS