Seamus Coleman has spent too long fronting up for the failings of others

To be fair to him, he rarely comes out with the mind-numbing clichés of other professionals. His interviews are honest and refreshing. Defeats hurt; he rarely sugar coats the facts, nor does he treat us like idiots by giving lame excuses. He represents the fans' frustrations as much, if not more, than offering excuses for under-performing players.

Such a pity it had to end this way...

I don't think it's fair to put a decent servant for the last ten years through the embarrassment we are now seeing from him especially away from home where he's looked so exposed for a few seasons now.

The trouble with Everton is they never know when to let go.

We drained Kevin Campbell until the end, so too Duncan Ferguson, the fans should remember a favourite when they were at their peak, not a figure of derision.

At least Leighton Baines knew when the time was right to hang up the boots.

There are no leaders at the club, or at least fit ones, so somebody has to lead and Seamus is all we have left.

I imagine they will roll Anthony Gordon out next to do the apologizing because we are unlikely to give him stick. The way this lad is coming on, then he could well be the leader we have longed for.

Many players find retiring from international football may help maintain their club form for a few more seasons.

Likewise, being a job sharing role / bit part player helps them stay fresh for longer. Seamus is like most players and fans. He loves the sport and thinks he's good enough to continue to do it all.

Whilst I think he's still a good Premier league player, he's never been a top-class defender or been a good technical, disciplined and positionally smart defender.

In a team and defence full of average players, his weaknesses are being exposed more regularly.

It all point's back to the continued poor recruitment and poor coaching. Defender's defend and strikers score goals. It's a team game but they all have their roles and positions for a reason.

Tommy Martin has little time for Lampard. Let's hope he's got that wrong !!

Like most of us, I love the guy. He has always had some shortcomings as a player but made up for them with heart and commitment. As a human being he comes across as a gem. But he struggled so much during the game.

At the end, only Mykolenko and Pickford came over to pass shirts/gloves to the fans. Seamus made it to the edge of the penalty area but was met with a barrage of ire from those who remained, which was very understandable under the circumstances. His face was a combination of embarrassment, anger, fear and sadness. He looked like he wanted to approach the fans, but thought better of it.

Over the years, we have held onto quite a few heroes for too long, then turned on them. It’s very sad when it happens.

It is sad to see him struggling and as Captain he has felt it is his place to apologise for the team. He has lost some pace, and has been offered little protection from those ahead of him on his flank.

However, we really need our right-back to provide a threat of our own and Seamus is less of a threat than in previous seasons. I am sure he could carry on at a lower level, so perhaps ironically, relegation could give him a swansong and a chance to help get us back up.

Whatever happens, £60 grand was very good value for such a great guy.

The rest gingerly ventured as far as the safety of the edge of the penalty box but didn't get too close.

On Seamus, I have always liked him and saw him as captain material early on. But (there's always a but!), I never saw him as great. He was a decent player, committed and hard-working. I think he benefited from playing in a good back four alongside Jagielka, Lescott and Baines.

Sometimes good teams aren't made up of 11 top-rate players, it's the chemistry. Good players can combine to make great teams rather than individually great players making great teams – excuse my play with words. I know what I'm trying to say.

I would liken Seamus to Van den Hauwe. Not necessarily in style, but in terms of ability and what I mention, benefiting from being surrounded by better players.

A combination of age and not having the same standard around him has contributed to his natural decline. But a fine servant and Everton player.

This is high-level professional sport. It's tough so only the 1 percent of the 1 percent even get to this level. No one is entitled to a happy ending.

If Everton are relegated, yes you can point the finger at some on and off the pitch more than others but, if that's the outcome, that's the outcome. That's sport. That's life.

Despite the horrendous managers we have had, and a broken leg, he has performed to a very high standard most of the time.

The odd mistakes he has made is not because of age or lack of ability but purely the pressure he has been under because of his love for the club and the responsibility of being captain, and having to contend with idiotic tactics implemented by Koeman, Silva, Carlo and especially Benitez.

Amyone who citicises him should be ashamed of themselves. It is the same people who have slagged off great players like Seamus, Jags, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Barkley and others we did have that sparked off the ridiculous buying and selling that has put Everton in this mess.

But Seamus can be proud of what he has done for Everton and if we did get relegated it will not be his fault.

More significantly who signed Patterson for so much, and why? I have no criticism of the lad at all because I've never seen him play. Somebody needs to front up. Not to do so is feckless, that being the eternal trait of Kenwright.

Surely Gary Stevens was better?

He may deservedly make the Everton Hall of Fame but he'll have to line up not with trophy winners, but with other stalwarts such as Lyons, Cottee, Ferguson (to me being literally incredible as in unbelievable), Carsley, Arteta, and so on and so forth, all of them necessitating the use of Google by football fans across the globe to discover just who they were.

But never mind eh, our chairman states we've enjoyed "Good Times" under his tenure.

Maybe I was asleep during that week.

I think Coleman is decent but is he really any better than Steve Watson? He seems better than he is because he’s the one player who has any heart. But if you just look at the basics he’s solid. He’s not the superstar some make him out to be. The problem is that under Bill, basics such as effort now warrant star status

It still has to be Gary Stevens for me. I didn't know at the time, but a progressive attacking full back. And that shot he had in his locker gave me many a happy moment.

Stevens had the benefit of playing behind Steven who helped him a lot and of course played in an almost perfect team.

Seamus at his best, and he was at his best for a long time, is all round the better player for me, with a great attitude and love for Everton. Stevens on the other hand left as soon as the Europe door closed on us, because of the nasty club over the park.

You're right, Stevens wasn't the most cultured footballer, but he was part of a great team that played mostly on the front front and the players in front of him were arguably the best team in England for 3 too short years. Had it not been for the obvious, they would have proven themselves on the European stage. I am convinced of that.

Seamis has had to play in teams that generally play on the back foot.

I think Milner is the exception, not the rule. He has been at Liverpool and City, a staple in each team. He is an exceptional player who has looked after himself very well. He can play in multiple positions and brings genuine, winning experience to the mix. Liverpool can afford to pay him a reputed 140 grand a week and manage his game time. He is happy to remain at Liverpool, play his part when needed and collect a few bits of metal along the way. There are other players at the club who can fill his role. He is not essential as such.

Coleman obviously brings experience, but he should have been replaced seasons ago. At best he should be back up, he is reputedly on 70 grand a week, pretty high for a player of his age who should not be the go to player for his position.

Not his fault of course, he has been a good servant and as dedicated player as any, just awful management. Everyone has known for seasons this position needed addressing, so halfway though a campaign that was going to shit they brought in a player for the future rather than addressing the present. Newcastle were mocked for getting in Trippier Up until his injury it was obvious what he brought to them, Patterson has barely been on the grass. At least the championship is a level he will be used to!!

Its symptomatic of the position the club finds itself in. Got away with it with Baines, lucky to get Digne. Then ballsed it up. DCL is a decent forward, but has no competition for his place really and one dimensional player it seems at present.

The club holds on to players too long and has not demonstrated any succession progress from youth teams to any great degree. The top teams have young players breaking in to their first teams in their late teens and early 20's, they gradually grow into first team players, ours are barely let near the pitch unless desperate and even then we are often waiting for players at the age of 22 to make the step up. JJk for example. He's had a handful good games in 4 seasons! It has been clear since he went to Shalke that he isn't good enough. No other team going for top 6 would take him as anything more that a cheap sub! And I am sure he's a great lad, but the team needs good players, not also rans.

As mentioned before, the club have a habit of this, Campbell, Ferguson, Howard.

Hate to say it of an RS but Milner is something special. Consummate professional. Good technically but more importantly he’s kept himself in tip top shape for 20 years. considering he was a contemporary of Rooney at 16 but has lasted longer, I think personally he’s a great role model. Yes he works for Satans team but rather like Gareth Barry — another teen star— he clearly went above and beyond to stay in top shape and for that I respect the guy.

It is also of note, and I do appreciate this is not a James Milner thread, that he retired from international duties fairly early. He wasn't ever really as prominent a player as Coleman is for Ireland, but it can perhaps go some way towards his ongoing longevity.

Worth noting, since 17/18 season, he has 7 assists, 3 goals, in over 120 games. By modern standards thats a pretty poor return.

I never like to directly compare two players as all have their own attributes. But he does remind me of Phil Neville.

Versatile, will play anywhere he's asked to, a leader on the pitch, a consummate professional and a manager's dream. Only interested in doing what is best for the team over himself.