Patterson out for ‘four or five’ weeks

He might revert to a back 3 with Coleman or Iwobi as wingback – hopefully not.

Wonder what type of ankle injury?

Seamus will be fine, but the balance of Patterson attacking down the right with a slightly more defensive left-hand side in Mykolenko, perhaps we'll see Vinagre playing a bit more to offer that threat?

I can't forget how woefully bad Coleman was at the tail end of last season, particularly in the Cup game at Palace and the home game against them.

I've loved him over the last decade but the legs are so far gone now, it's unreal.

It's just a shame that we can't seem to get a sustained run for half a season with our best team out there.

I've been impressed with Patterson since he broke into the first team and we are stronger defensively,

I hate these international breaks, we always seem to end up with an injury or two. Let's hope Seamus can step in and we can keep that defensive solidity going,

Injuries are an inevitable part of the game, it's just frustrating that his occurred in such a pointless nothing-burger of a match.

Seamus will be fine. He's had a good long rest and he will come storming back like it's 2009!

I like the look of Stanley Mills. I think he is going to bring a lot to the squad. I'll have to keep an eye on Cannon, Brian, but I'll take yours and others' word.

I'm glad that it doesn't look too serious but luck is a big part of being a successful footballer and Nathan has had two bad pieces of luck when he needed the opposite.

Get back soon, lad, and carry on where you left off.

I won't like the idea of deploying Iwobi to left back, I think he should stay up there, Although he played in front of the back 4 for Nigeria against Algeria last night in the last 10 mins.

Let Captain Seamus return to his place at least 25 mins football to get his rhythm back.

Nathan, get well soon. We'll miss you.

Stanley Mills has been putting in some great performances and deserves a chance. Seamus will probably get a go first, but Mills will be ready if needed.

Shame on Patterson, though, who was doing great.

Give young Mills a start and, if he begins to look out of his depth, we could always bring Seamus on as a fall-back.

In the meantime, Seamus all the way for me. His legs aren't "gone" or anything close to it.

Always amused by the advocacy of playing people out of position, just to see if it works. Mills is an attacking midfielder who is younger than my car.

A fullback's first job is to defend, and nobody here has the slightest idea whether the teenager has the slightest knowledge of how to defend Premier League wingers on the dribble or mark runners off the ball, yet some would pick him ahead of Seamus. I just don't get it.

Who knows? Something unusual or hard to assess. Longest wait for a diagnosis I can remember.

Last thing we needed. Bad at any time but this is a difficult month coming up, right as it all began to click.

Guess where the opposition will be aiming at. Gordon will need to up his tracking back game.

I think he'll go with Seamus but tell him to keep it tight, not get forward as much so as we don't get caught on the break down that side.

I think the Alternative will be, and I don't like it, revert to a back 3 with Holgate starting in that 3 and a make-shift right-wingback. That will be with a view of that not working out - reverting to a back for in which Mason will go to right back and he won't have to make any substations. If this is the case then it may well mean an opportunity for someone like Stanny Mills as he tried him there in pre-season. Obviously with a view on testing it. And Mills did well.

I think it would be a mistake to change what is working well, ie, don't change Iwobi as he is working well. Don't change a back 4 with Coady and Tarkowski, as that is working well.

No need to be too clever. Put a right-back in for a right-back and we'll be fine.

Don't forget. Seamus did not have Gana and Onana in a midfield in front of him last season. Any team with Gana in is always less likely to leave their full-backs exposed.

Patterson's emergence means that Seamus has had an extended break from the starting 11, so hopefully he's raring to go and can turn back the clock for a month or so until Nathan is fit again.

He's fully recovered from all the niggles at the end of the season and has had plenty of rehab time. He has proven time and again he can bounce back and will slot seamlessly in.

Absolutely no reason to put an untried (non) full-back in, but a great chance for Mills to perhaps come off the bench, if the opportunity arises.

Great point ,Tommy Carter, that Seamus will now have a far stronger midfield protecting both the ball and the defence. Given the progress we seem to have made over the last three or four games I certainly hope it's a direct swap and we don't revert back to 5-3-2. Seamus is far better suited to a back four.

As for Southampton, no cheap goals and we can nick it.

In Seamus we are talking about a highly experienced international class full back. He's still only 33 (just). I think he's intelligent and experienced enough to slot in at right back.

The palace game was a very sobering experience. But they're an extremely physical team who'll overrun most full backs in the league if exposed. The issue wasn't really Seamus in that game, it was having a system and players around him that exposed his shortcomings. He played as a wing back.

The suggestion here is that he plays right back in a flat back 4. If he does that I still think he can absolutely do a job.

In terms of passing the ball backwards - in a flat back 4 he shouldn't generally be advanced enough to have to do this. He should be playing to what is in front of him at all times. Which unlike Palace at Selhurst Park - won't be a midfield duo of Andre Gomes and Doucoure - but a trio most likely consisting of Gana, Onana and Iwobi.

Gana will never be far away, and in space to receive a pass.

Seamus is more than capable of doing this. As is Mason who will offer a bit more athleticism if not as much heart and ability as Seamus.

Bottom line - if he compromises they system that has worked so well for him and a number of his players in the few games then this will be an huge mistake.

I am concerned with Seamus still in the squad, yes he's blue and loyal etc, but he was woeful at times last season, Jim is correct.

Personally I'm not sure it makes a huge difference. Coleman used to be brilliant but sadly, and meaning no disrespect, he isn't anymore. Both are fairly safe defensive choices. Neither will give us anything like the attacking threat of Patterson.

The closest we have to Patterson is Kyle John. He is a bit like where Pennington was when he broke through with us - pretty decent, easily good enough at u23 level but probably not expected to make it at Everton. Way behind where Kenny was at the same age. It'd be very surprising if he gets selected.

The main thing is getting Patterson back fit.

The first person to know Seamus is done will be Seamus. When he does that will be it. Some posters, with reference to Crystal Palace etc, seem to think that having a bad game over the age of 30 means "your legs have gone". Utterly dick-headed cliche that takes no account of any factor other than age.

He would be a fall-back full-back then?

The other plus is that Coady and Tarkowski have settled in, and will be a lot better for both Colman and Holgate to play with than previous incompetents. I think Colman will probably edge over Holgate, because he is less error-prone.

I think Seamus showed signs of creaking a few times last season. The more he played the more difficult it became for him. That said. He still has a lot to offer. Used sparingly he still has the desire and ability to stand in. He won't let anybody down.

Holgate's improvement under Frank has not been as dramatic as Iwobi's, but it has still been marked. I suspect that is because he has not been moved around the back four and has been able to focus on defending centrally. For that reason, I would definitely play Seamus at St Mary's.

Holgate can be called upon if anything happens to Coady or Tarkowski.

BTW, ESPN's article about the Nigeria - Algeria friendly this week included this passage:

Alex Iwobi was -- as he has been this season for Everton -- quietly sensational... Iwobi broke two lines of the Algerian press with one pass to set up a goal in the scrimmage, and then owned the midfield in the second game to leave Nigerians purring in appreciation of their midfield maestro.

Who would have believed a year ago that the words "Alex Iwobi" and "midfield maestro" would have appeared in such close proximity? He really is a remarkable resurrection story.

I am not getting too carried away with Iwobi.

His performances have been excellent in relation to how badly he was performing generally before Lampard arrived.

In that context, he has been awesome.

In the context of 㿏M player – there needs to be a little more quality for me.

In terms of endeavour, heart, physicality and robustness he's as good as they get.

But the quality is still lacking.

It is very unfortunate that Patterson got injured just when he was making his mark and I would sooner some of our players cried off before some of these ''internationals'' as we always suffer.
Thank God Mykolenko didn't get crocked when we have other players out on loan.

Small note, Seamus is 34 in two weeks.

I don't think he is.

He has a very unique passing style. He plays the direct pass to a blue shirt regardless if the opposition is in the way.

They get blocked often and he gives up possession when he does this. However it's amazing how many of these elite players fail to stop this kind of pass and he somehow manages to play it through them and it reaches his man.

When this happens it is a great pass.

Generally his ability to keep possession is much better this season and I think that is a reflection of the players around him being good enough and mobile enough to give him better options.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's been very good. But talk of massive contract renewals is a bit premature for me. I don't think there's be a queue of clubs willing to spend a transfer fee on him