Coleman withdraws from Ireland squad

On the subject of the England game... surely Calvert-Lewin should now take our annual penalty instead of Sigurdsson...

Calvert-Lewin was excellent tonight. Got to agree he should be taking penalties. Ireland are so so poor.

Shocking how bad Ireland are – they're making England look like world beaters.

Kevin, Sigurdsson won't be on the pitch to take them anyway. Surely times up for him as a starter. Dom looks like he will be taking over, if he can reproduce that, no keeper is saving them.

Wonder if this may mean Holgate at right-back and Godfrey at centre-back. Not sure that Holgate is a better right-back than Kenny but Ancelloti seems to like him – and I'm sure he's a better right-back than Godfrey.

Let's hope that, Seamus aside, there's no further injuries from our squad this week.

Hopefully we can grind out a win at Fulham next week.

I think it's ridiculous. If it was a qualifier, you'd understand, but a Mickey Mouse friendly, and another recurrence of his hamstring... why didn't he rest for the two weeks? The same with Richarlison in the last break, injured and still played for Brazil.

Christy,

Although I agree, I think the opportunity to captain his country against England at Wembley was too tempting for Seamus.

As I'm sure you are aware he is a fiercely proud Irish man and knows his playing days are numbered, probably wants to fit in as much as he can, that is the only defence I can offer!

As for the match, Ireland were absolute shite per usual, England just too good, and to think there were some on here saying it was a mistake to sell Duffy and wanted him back – Jesus wept!

Well, I hope he now returns home to rest up because we need him fit. Seems we have a few carrying knocks. I would like to see Bernard tried in that third midfield spot now.

International friendlies at the present moment are a complete and utter waste of everyone's time and effort. They put our players in danger of injury and exposure to non-secure environments. The international football schedule should be stopped. We've got our best players in every corner of the globe in the middle of a pandemic.

Ridiculous. Friendly in front of no fans, Ireland agreed last minute to replace New Zealand to further kick down their struggling manager.

Three international games in a week, joke League of Nations games that are meaningless. Germany were relegated last year but then they decided to let them stay in the top division. The likes of Northern Ireland failed to make the playoffs but got drafted in anyway as there weren't enough teams left to fill the spots.

Liverpool have lost Gomez now too. This season will be a war of attrition after fatigue-induced injuries. Hopefully Broadhead and Co are up to beating other teams' 3rd tier...

“Would like to see Bernard tried in that third midfield spot now.”

True. There's a real gap in “do a step over, pass straight to the defender, and then fall over” in the current first XI.

As if we didn't seriously know it already, this like the last three games, has exposed how weak our squad is. Feel for Seamus who always gives his all for Club and Country, but another blow, hope it's only minor. We didn't think he'd ever make it back from the horror injury, but he did against the odds.

Surely at this point in his career these injuries no matter how minor will start to take their toll. Over the moon that Scotland have eventually qualified after a huge gap, but feel for N Ireland who also came so close.

Let's get back to winning ways away at Fulham who will be fired up after showing improved performances after looking like relegation fodder for first couple of games. Let's give Spotty Parker and Lookman something to really sulk about.

With Coleman out, will Carlo go for a stand-in right-back or go for 3 at the back with Keane, Mina and Holgate?

Signing a right-back in the winter transfer window must be a priority. It is clear that Carlo does not rate Kenny, Seamus tries gamely whenever he plays, but his days as a regular starter are drawing to a close. A long-term replacement – someone like Aarons from Norwich, could be eased into the team this season and hopefully he becomes the long term player for us that Seamus was.

If Seamus is still recovering, I wouldn't risk him against Fulham, he will get destroyed by Lookman. I like the idea of a back 3 with Holgate on the right, Keane in the centre and Godfrey on the left. I would like Carlo to try Davies as a right-sided wingback – giving added protection to Holgate. Digne as a left wingback, Allan and Doucouré in the middle, James in a free role, and Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin playing up front.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Godfrey
Davies Doucouré Allan Digne
James Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Seamus should have known better. He is 32 and has been struggling with the hamstring and everybody knows that the only cure is rest. Now he has aggravated it again, he will be struggling to be fit in two weeks. It is time he drew the curtains on international football.

Friendly internationals during the English lockdown are unneccesary, creating opportunity for disease and injuries during a congested season.

We now have to hope that our players return undamaged from South America. They will no doubt be jaded after the long trips there and back. Not the best preparation for a team that needs it's best players fully fit and full of beans.

Is Coleman out of the squad completely? Or was it just that game?

Sadly for Seamus now the injuries are always most around the corner.

We seriously need to start looking for a proper top class right back over the next twelve months because Seamus is starting to enter the same twilight years of Baines, the last of the Moyes boys really.

Ajay #15, that's my team too. Tom will give effort and energy and decent cover. About time he was given a chance.

I'm surprised that these internationals are taking place at all given Covid-19. Seems ridiculous.

Christy #7,

That's Colman for you. He will never learn. Lucky he did it before the game. As a committed captain playing in the game, he would have done more damage, trying to get Ireland going.

With the scandal in the FAI, Ireland look as if they have given up. Their manager before the game looked as if he could not have cared less. Never came across such an uncommitted manager before a game. The lack of seriousness and belief was breathtaking.

Routine international break posts on ToffeeWeb.

Seamus loves playing for Ireland. Everton pay his wages but until he's forbidden from playing, he'll try to play for his country.

Irish football has been abused for as long as I've been alive apart from circa 2002 Mick McCarthy era. Staunton, Trappatoni and O'Neill. Hoof it up the field and never mind the work going into the League of Ireland to play a completely different style.

Jerome, Kenny has never been great in front of the camera but you're way off if you think he doesn't care.

I'd prefer to watch Ireland lose 3-0 and try to pass the fucking ball to each other than the tripe we've been served for the best part of three decades.

And finally, friendlies are only meaningless to those with no interest. When are international managers supposed to look at players? As The Nations' League has taken over many of the prior friendly slots, they're even more beneficial.

Rant over... until the next break.

Oliver #8,

Agree completely, Seamus is a proud Irish man, and he did play against Man Utd, but looking at the team we had last night, better that he wasn't there.

To be honest, I blame the Everton medical staff for rushing him back early. He originally did his hamstring against Brighton, was rushed back for the derby, went again, and back again after two weeks last Saturday.

Jerome #21,

Actually Kenny is a very good manager, plays a lovely brand of football. If he was there at the start of the qualifiers instead of McCarthy, who was abysmal, we might have qualified.

Shane #22,

We'll agree to disagree on McCarthy in 2002. No other manager, or FA, would have sent home their best player, who was in his prime. At the same World Cup, Spanish captain Raul called Clemente every name under the sun, but their FA intervened and Raul played.

Christy, with regards to McCarthy, I was speaking only about the brand of football.

McCarthy completely mis-managed Saipan but we managed to bring Spain to penalties in the last 16 without Keane at the same time.

Coleman is a disgrace even thinking about playing pointless Internationals. After what Seamus went through playing for Ireland, he was never the same. Everton have stuck by him, paid his wages, even though he has been sub-standard ever since the injury, we kept him in the frame.

No, sorry, Coleman should retire from international duty and focus on his club now. Pay back the loyalty we've shown him. Running about in Azerbaijan or some other backwater country in a mickey mouse tournament isn't the way forward for an ageing injury-prone player. Time to realize where your bread is buttered now, mate.

If you ever needed proof of the absolute corruption in the world...

A new strain of Coronavirus in Denmark... but it's okay; if you're rich, you get special dispensation to travel!! It's insane... while here you're not allowed to visit your own family or even go out unless essential.

This whole Covid thing has really highlighted the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. It's sickening, the powers that be have taken our freedom from us without a whimper.

We all go about with masks on, isolated, skint and so eager to help combat this disease, whilst being mocked by those in power as they go about making special rules to suit their fucking selves. I am gutted that more of the have-nots do nothing and say nothing about this travesty.

Playing catch-up here, Ireland were woeful but anyone who has seen them play of late would have known that before kick-off!!

David (9), why do you want to see Bernard in a midfield 3? What do you think he can produce in that spot that he hasn't ever shown when he's played previously? There's only so far the odd step-over can get you in the Premier League. Surely you have seen enough of him to see he is not up to the standard we aspire to be?

Shane #25,

I agree, sadly we'll never know how far we would have gone with Keane?

Be interesting to see Kenny vs Lookman.

Recurring hamstring and calf strains are a curse. I was really surprised Seamus returned so quickly on two occasions. Now he needs at least six weeks out for rehabilitation and conditioning. Otherwise he will continue to suffer recurrences and be missing for more games than he plays during the rest of the season.

Another point is that once the manager knows a player, especially one in his thirties, is susceptible to this kind of injury he should not consider playing him for more than one game per week.

Slightly off-topic, I bought today's Liverpool Echo (never has anything been so aptly named), for my mother.

Obviously I read about DCL and Seamus, and on page 54 there is an article, (I use the term loosely) about the team from another planet, and their many injuries.

Apparently Dick van Dyke, or someone very similar, was on the receiving end of a horror challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. There is also a photo with the headline, Thiago is injured by Richarlison's tackle.

I'm surprised that tonight's Children in need appeal, hasn't been changed to Reds in need!

Christy #24,

Just the impression I got on seeing his interview on BBC and watching the team play. I do think that successive Ireland managers have taken advantage of Colman's honest willingness to risk playing during an injury recovery. I thought that McCarthy was the exception to this.

Lynn @32, Thiago hasn't played since the derby and I'd bet a pound to a penny it has nothing to do with the Richarlison incident?

Apparently an Irish lad tested positive for Covid-19 after last night's match in which he played, and Brazil also has someone self-isolating – Lord knows what sort of team we'll put out against Fulham.

Mo Salah has also tested positive whilst on International duty. It really does make you wonder how these Internationals are allowed to go ahead, particularly as scientists don't really know what the long-term effects might be if you have the virus – no matter how young or fit you are.

Tony @34. So very true. The picture they have, looks like the derby.

I think Ireland could have at least made the semifinals with Roy Keane, Christy, because a nice little route opened up, in a similar way that it did for England in Russia.

Everyone likes their team to play good football, but a genuine question to the Irish boys would be, would you sooner not qualify for the tournaments and see Ireland, trying to play what is termed decent football, or would you sooner they qualified playing with more of a route one style?

Tony @ 37. Agree we could have made semi-finals were it not for McCarthy's stubbornness. An Irish journo recently opined that the worst aspect of watching Ireland play was McCarthy's commentary where he continually criticises the new manager.

Agree that we would rather see decent football first and foremost, the rest will follow. Similarly for Everton!

Tony #37,

Sadly, Tony, the best team we ever had was under big Jack: Sheedy, McGrath & Co got to the last 8 in Italia 90 and he wouldn't let them play football.

Tony #26,

Absolutely right.

I'd argue that, if Coleman wants to stay at Everton and play anywhere near his best, he has to retire from international football.

His desire to play for his country is ruining his club longevity. I'd also argue Ireland are facing a significant downward curve in terms of being able to qualify with a dwindling quality of player available to them. Had Rice and Grealish pitched up it may have been a different matter. However, I've always felt with such a small pool to choose from Irish players feel beholden to play, just an impression you understand.

We've seen he can still hack it for Everton but needs careful management to ensure he can recover from his ever increasing list of injuries. A modern full back is possibly the most demanding position on the field, if he'd retired, he'd have had another 20 days rest, in terms of a hamstring thats very important.

Come on, Seamus – time to call it a day.

John #41,

I agree with this post. I also think the present Manager reflects the downward spiral, with a scandal-ridden FAI just trying to tread water to get by.

John @41: Agree totally. Years ago it was different when players wanted to play for their country, because they were under less physical stress at club level, especially in terms of the pace of the game compared with it now. With the pace of the game now, older players particularly need to measure out the number of games they play. They need to put their club first, and their country second.

As a professional sport's person it is ultimately down to the individual to decide when to retire from international participation.

I'm not sure I would have been able to say no or retire from the sport unless I was bally injured and told to due to longer term health issues.

As an Everton fan I like to watch our player's perform well on international duty by I hate the thought of our players being injured.

I would like to see a bit more common sense. Allow player's an extended break from being called up by their country to prove their fitness at club level. But back to my first point, its upto the players.

Sorry to see Seamus getting hurt again, hopefully it won't be too serious. There's no point in going off on one about the Irish FA etc. Coleman was deemed fit enough to play against United so we can have no complaints about them calling him up.

As regards what we do in his absence, we retained JJK to serve as Coleman's deputy, so it is a no-brainer that he'll slot straight in. He looked OK in the cup games and in his only league outing was kind of hung out to dry (as was Nkoukou) by our odd formation. He certainly deserves a fair crack to show he's capable before we start playing guys out of position, or changing formation. I think Ancelotti is skeptical about JJK and would have sold him if Schalke had the money; that we turned down their loan offer means that CA saw that he would be a useful backup for this season.

I think we'll stick to our 4-3-3 formation, with James on the right. If Mina is not selected I'd give Godfrey a shot in his natural position, for once. To solve the problem of our 3rd central midfielder I'd consider playing Holgate in the holding role (which gets him match fit whilst not exposing him at centre-half) as he looked a natural there when Dunc was in charge, with Allan and Dacoure in front, maybe Allan right side to offer more support whereas Dacaoure could be unleashed in a box-to-box role as the left CM. Alternately Davies should come in, with Allan sitting deeper and asked to play the holding role.

If we do change it'll be 4-2-3-1, with James playing "no.10"; however this introduces a new problem of who plays on the right? We don't seem to have a natural there anymore, though Iwobi has looked OK off the bench over that side.