“You all mean the world to me” — Seamus Coleman announces end of his Everton playing career

Great servant to Everton Football Club.

All the best for your future and your family.

Thank god he's gone.

He’s been no good to Everton for 4 years.

Wishing Seamus and family all the best in the future, a class act and a legend on and off the field, a brilliant servant and ambassador for Everton FC.

I'm so disappointed he hasn't stayed on in a coaching capacity, he has his coaching badges and would have been a huge asset in the dressing room.

Hopefully after his holiday, he'll decide to come back!

Fantastic player and great servant.

I don't think he was given the real credit for how good he was. Probably because he didn't play for one of the big 6.

A true club legend, and a great person.

Been a great servant to us, shame he will be going without a single winners medal to show for it?

God bless you, Seamus.

It's been a privilege, mate. ☘️☘️

Fantastic servant to our club. We're gonna miss you, Seamus, good luck for the future.

60 grand, 60 grand, Seamus Coleman!

One of the few footballers who the fans could truly relate to in this modern era. Good luck with whatever you do in the future, Seamus.

If you do come back to Everton in a coaching capacity, hopefully you will help the club and the fans who you obviously relate to finally see some silverware.

Fantastic, loyal, committed, passionate servant to Everton Football Club; on his day, a super player.

Moreover, as many have stated, a great man and human being every day.

Sad news but inevitable really. I sincerely hope he decides to stay on at the club in some capacity.

A true Everton legend who was never given full recognition for his talent.

All the best for the future, Seamus, you will be sadly missed.

I doubt very much he will stay on in a coaching capacity. He could have done that this season if he was interested.

The pay will be nowhere near what he has been getting for the past 3 years as a player. I expect him to be back living in Ireland before next season kicks off.

At least we should finally have a real right-back next season.

But you never know with Moyes.

Saw him at Liverpool airport a while back. Should have spoken to him, but left him in peace.

A great footballer and club Captain and a decent bloke. Good luck for the future, Seamus.

Good luck, Seamus, and thank you for the memories.

That game against Spurs still stands out!

ádh mór to you Seamus. Thank you, for your great service and undoubted love for all thing Everton FC.

May the next stage of your life, be just as successful and enjoyable. A great human being and modest with it. Slan.

Mark #2#14

You don't deserve a reaction.

Darren #13, I'm not surprised that you didn't even acknowledge Seamus for his 17 years service.

Darren,

I'd be surprised if he does.
He's just moved into a new build house in the city.
Lovely house

What a man, what a player and what a bargain. You don't see his like in the modern game anymore, a true legend of the club. You only have to listen to the stories from all his teammates, managers, coaches, Everton in the Community staff, dinner ladies, bus drivers etc. to realise the immense influence he's had on our club for 17 years.

He'll be back on the coaching staff, he's got blue/green blood flowing through those veins.

All the best Seamie lad, there will be a tear in my eye when 60-grand rings out on Sunday

Christy @1,

Quelle surprise

Christy,

He did nothing for me -- just an average right-back many years ago.

I've not seen him for the last 5 seasons when he was supposed to be our captain. But as I say, we are all entitled to our opinions and I know if you worked alongside him for the last 5 years, you would be having a word...

That first game at Goodison Vs Spurs. Gave everything, played with the attitude and heart of any Evertonian in the crowd.

What followed was definitely a development period. He was certainly rough around the edges and it took Moyes 3 years to trust him at right back. But he developed into our finest ever. And why? He had talent for sure but his biggest talent was his commitment and desire. And that’s what took him to the top. An example for any player and a wonderful career as a result

Add humanity to that Tommy.
A good human being

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-frank-lampard-seamus-coleman-24077001
high praise indeed, especially coming from Lampard.

It's deemed as sacrilegious to not love him but I tend to agree with Mark Steers.

At his peak he was a decent fullback, he's apparently a lovely man, good behind the scenes and I wish him and his family very best wishes for the future.

But he's been finished for years and we've been paying him Premier League wages to be a cheerleader. Everton have been exceptionally generous to him.

I don't like it when I hear he embodies what it means to be an Evertonian either, he was an average player, won absolutely nothing but somehow, became an icon.

What it means to play to Everton - who will now mentally ruin every new signing before they've even started?

We have the same problem as man utd, living in the past. This guy hasn't been able to kick a ball for 2 years but he's always there to "give the message".

Maybe we need to move on, we've got a lovely new stadium but come on, Moyes knows what it means to play for Everton, we don't need Seamus any more.

I love the guy but he should've gone years ago, or gone into coaching.

I think Seamus was a very good player for us and always gave his best for us but it was his quality as a human being as well as being a big football celebrity with his humility a shining light.

Meeting him in a restaurant one time, he proved he was a great listener as well as adding a few words himself. We hardly spoke about football but he was just another fella out with his wife and kids, same as me and my son Tony enjoying the afternoon.

Have a great life from now on, Seamus. Whether you stay or go, you have got plenty of memories of being an Everton player and left plenty of us with many happy memories of your time here.

“Thanks for the Memories” as the songs goes.

I don't see the point in coming here to post negativity about Seamus, as a few have done.

Churlish and unnecessary.

I guarantee the true Evertonian fans at the Hill Dickinson on Sunday will appreciate him and give him a massive send off against Sunderland after over 17 years service, apart from the 2/3 bitter fans on here.

A top fella by all accounts, and he deserves a great send-off this weekend.

I'm sure he'll continue to be a great ambassador for the club in future.

Christy Ring.

I will not come on here and spout a load of false compliments just to please you. My opinion of Seamus Coleman is an honest one and, to be honest, I don't give a flying fuck if it upsets you and your crazed anti-irish accusations.

I see Seamus very much in the same light as Dave Abrahams does. A great man. A humble human being who has never forgotten where he came from. Too many people say those things for it not to be true.

Do I wish we had young Seamus Coleman right now? Yes, of course I do. Did I like his swashbuckling style? No. I loved it.
Do I think he was top class or a legend. No, I don't. I saw him exposed too many times and I tend to afford legendary status to people who actually deserve it.

When I look at legends. I think of people like Peter Reid or Neville Southall. people who actually won things. People with personalities as big as Seamus, but with the talent to match.

When Reidy first walked into the Everton dressing room, the team was in a far worse shape than the one Seamus walked into. One of them revolutionised the place and changed the entire mindset of the club....... The other one didn't.

I won't be at the Sunderland game, but I will be at Spurs and if Moyes gives Seamus a little cameo, I will readily give him a well deserved round of applause... but I won't be listening to anybody peddling this "legend" shite.

I used to go to away games and, of the 370 odd games Seamus played for us, I paid to see at least 350 of them (I'm guessing that is about 350 more than you). I am entitled to my opinion and I will not be getting into a debate with anyone who has a different one.

Great servant. Nice guy... but I'm afraid it takes a little more than a cracked pair of green-tinted glasses to make a football legend.

I won't be clapping him. As I said, an average right-back at best... also, the worst captain I've seen in my lifetime.

Those 7 years as captain have been so bad... and you want your captain to stand up but he wasn't there, so we had to play step-ins -- Ben Godfrey, Jonjoe Kenny, Ashley Young, James Garner, Jake O'Brien...

Probably more as well playing in his position. What a captain!!!

Darren, it's absurd to compare then and now, unfortunately. We could then at least compete for top players, and no freedom of contract (meaning players couldn't be tapped up as soon as they looked to be any good). Above all, no fucking 'Champions' League to distort everything.

Anyway, back on topic. While I can appreciate that Seamus has been fortunate to some extent in getting good contracts in the last couple of seasons, he didn't draw them up himself. Calling him out personally on that account is way out of order.

The Arsenal 3-0 at Goodison (2011?) is the one that stands out for me.

Darren @32,

Not going to get into an argument with you, but in the 2013-14 season, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year, which included Toure, Hazard and Gerrard... not bad for a player you rate as average.

I can't disagree with your assessment of Nev and Reidy, but Howard Kendall built that team, brought in Sheedy, Steven, Bracewell, Gray, Heath for example and he revolutionised the club, and we were the best team in England.

A totally different team and manager to the one Coleman joined.

Seamus and Reidy.

£60k apiece. 😁

What a fantastic servant to the club and the team. Although he hasn't played that much, I'm sure he would have been chomping at the bit to get on that pitch -- home or away.

I would say he's given a good team talk to the lads before each game. After the games at Goodison when coming out all he wanted to do was chat to the fans, have his photo taken alone or with a fan, sign anything and be there for almost 2 hours.

Not many players like 60 grand around. A true Everton and fan legend. Good luck in whatever you do - ETYD 💙

Christy,

12 years ago, he got in the Premier League team/?

Is that his highlight? Oh My Gawd.

John @36,

Kendall was originally quoted £600k after his injury record got him for £60k!

I watched Howard Webb last night confirm that we missed a penalty for handball vs West Ham.

I assume he didn't have the balls to cover the Rohl vs Silva wrestle the following week, which was confirmed by a 5-0 verdict by the panel that VAR was wrong.

Everton are the only club not to get a VAR intervention in their favour this season. The above has cost us at least 3 points, possibly 5, for simple decisions that VAR has to be getting right.

Unfortunately I never saw Tommy Wright play for us. My Dad tells me he is the best right-back he ever saw wearing our shirt.

For me, the best was Gary Stevens. After him, it has to be Seamus, doesn't it? I'm not sure anyone else comes close but my memory isn't what it was.

Thank you for always giving 100%, Seamus, and good luck for the future.

Reid's injury happened against us at Bolton. It was before Howard Kendall even became Everton manager.

Eyebrows were raised when Kendall was prepared to pay £60k. Reid had broken down repeatedly and there were serious doubts if he could ever be the same player again.

Also, bollocks about Reid coming in to a team of superstars. We were struggling at the foot of the table. Some on here will remember his brother coming on Radio Merseyside telling the listeners that he was Everton's best player and, if Kendall trusted his fitness, the team would shoot up the table. He was roundly mocked... but had the last laugh.

It's a bit disgusting listening to people try to downplay Reid's role in that incredible revival. It won't make Seamus a better player.

It's a bit disgusting listening to people try to downplay Reid's role in that incredible revival.

Which people? Peter Reid was voted Player of the Year for 1984-85 -- that's nationally, not at Everton -- so anyone downplaying his role would be pretty stupid.

I'm disgusted at the digs at Seamus tbh.

Individual choices of course but is there any need to repeatedly post how poor he is?

Interesting discussion on the merits of Seamus.

Here's something likely to cause a bit of controversy -- he was a very Moyes-type player. Pretty good, Premier League quality, dependable, will give all for the shirt but not top class and certainly not a legend.

I definitely think he deserves a decent send-off (and I will be there on Sunday to see it).

Coleman average... I give up on here, for fuck's sake.

God bless you, Seamus, great Everton right-back.

Great servant of the club both on and off the pitch - An Evertonian for the rest of his life...
Great human being who does a lot of stuff a lot of us don't even know about.
Great family man who very much knows what is important.
He is very much well thought of throughout the football world and in his home town of Killybegs, all are so proud of his career as is the county of Donegal and most sports fans in the island of Ireland.

Whatever he does, this man certainly wishes him the best.
If all of us were anything like the man, the world would be a nicer place.

I thought our current full backs weren't up to much. Now that I have been given Seamus as a benchmark for average, I realise that they are actually complete shite.

Darren#42 I haven’t seen anyone downplay Reid’s influence on here, who’s disgusting? If you read my reply to you, I agreed with you that Reid and Big Nev were legends, and it’s disgusting how you try and compare Reid’s team, with Coleman’s team?

I’m amazed at the negative comments about Seamus. He never downed tools or sulked like some of the players we signed.what do you want for 60 grand. Seamus put a shift in. He wasn’t perfect but he emptied the tank in every game. These aren’t green tinted Irish glasses I’m wearing but I definitely appreciate his efforts. Remember he was picked constantly by different managers and his all. He also put his body on the line when we hadn’t a pot to piss in and couldn’t sign a replacement. I despair at some of the negativity towards him. What has our fan base has turned into. Have a bit of respect.

It's sad to see a player who gave his all for Everton, on and off the field, who in his interview tells how much he loves this club and how much he went through blood sweat and tears for this club, and we have comments here criticising him, instead of saying thanks for over 17 years of service??

Thankfully the real fans will show on Sunday what he meant to them.

Sean,

Respect. That's the word.

In a world where we can't relate to our heroes -- every week we watch 22 millionaires kick a ball around and they live on a different planet to us -- but our Seamus was different.

We are all custodians of this institution of world football, and Seamus has been a gatekeeper we can all be proud of….

Also, never ever forget that prime Seamus Coleman was not average! For about 5 years, he would have walked into Pep's tiki-taka Barcelona or any team in the world. He was genuinely class at going forward and getting past people. The streets will never forget, Seamus lad!…..

Also, the fella's had multiple broken legs and was still picked by all our managers over the years, unlike others such as Patterson who hasn't been picked by any of them!….

Prime Seamus was brilliant. People have short memories.

Best right-back in the Premier League in his prime and certainly the best right-back I've seen at Everton in my 20-odd years of watching.

Great character, often mentioned by new players as going above and beyond to make them feel welcome. One of my absolute faves and a fantastic servant to the club.

Mark Steers, you're an idiot. Clearly only on the site to be a troll.

In his prime, Coleman was one of the finest right-backs in the Premier League. When you consider his additional contributions as a leader, then he's actually one of finest servants this grand team has ever had.

Right up there with the best transfer business we have ever done, in my view, alongside Sheedy and Cahill. And maybe like Cahill, short of being 'a legend' or even very top echelon, but miles better than any right-back since.

I agree the last 3-4 years, in hindsight, were a waste of money from the club's point of view. If I were to feel bitter about anything, it would be the possibility of him still being able to play a little like he used to that stopped our management team from signing the right-back we so obviously and desperately need. But I guess that's not Coleman's fault.

We can all go to work and do a good job, but the measure of the man is how he is seen by his colleagues, his managers and everyone else who knows him.

Basis that, Seamus is world class in every aspect. If I wanted to give someone a role-model on how to conduct oneself in work and in life, he would be the person.

He also really made the most out of his ability, worked his heart out and kept everyone together in tough times. Thank you, Seamus.

Sam (55): Great to see you on here. As my annoying Yank neighbours keep saying, 'Don't be a stranger'.

The only surprising thing about Mark Steers's limp and lame posts on this thread is that he didn't tell us 'I go all the games, home and away, like'.

Such a lack of class, respect, and knowledge.

Unlike Seamus who oozes class but shows such humility:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBDwyOks40o

Who clearly loves our club and goes every game home and away, like.

He never gave less than 100% on the pitch and is a huge influence for the good off it.

My fingers are tightly crossed for him to join the coaching staff.

Odd Paul, I'd have the feeling that your neighbours would be saying the opposite, with some expletives. ;-))

Charles Hanover and the clown Paul Griffthis -- did you really write this rubbish???

In the last 4 seasons, Coleman, Everton's captain, has been involved in about 40 games out of 170... some leader he was.

This guy has raked it in while the others have done all his work. Go back to post 2 and read slowly and you might get it.

I go the game to cheer my team on and respect any player who puts the shirt on. Sadly, Coleman has short-changed the Everton fans over the last 4 seasons -- and possibly more.

Finally, he has played 24 minutes this season and earned 2 times more money than Neville Southall earned in 14 years. I don't want to see nice guys in the stand, week-in & week-out... I want them on the pitch.

ha ha ha ha ha ....... 💙

And nobody has mentioned walking his dog in Calderstones with Rob Halligan. well, they said it was his dog.

Jay(#41); My all-time favourite was Alex Parker, but didn't Seamus, like Ray Wilson, start out as a winger and Tommy Wright and Hibbert as midfielders?

The irony of posters complaining about negative comments regarding Seamus. Oh the irony! Ha Ha.

I agree with all the superlatives about Coleman, but please stop calling him a servant, he was a very well paid Premier League player.

Plus, everyone is allowed an opinion without being jumped on. I agree with Darren: for me, a club legend is someone who has won trophies at the club.

Quite possibly the most bizarre thread I've ever seen on here. The comments are highly charged. There are two different discussions going on here, one about about Seamus the player and one about Seamus the man.

I've never met Seamus, but I have heard numerous (and I do mean numerous) stories of his kindness, sincerity, humility, generosity. My own son told me of an incredible act of compassion he himself witnessed. On the field he brought a work ethic that Evertonian's related to. In a period where our football has been dull and mundane he gave us what we wanted and in a time when you only have to buy guy a pint or give him a decent tip on the horses to be called a "Ledg". Seamus seems to be a very special human being.

Unfortunately Seamus the player has never scaled such dizzy heights. He has never won anything and if you think of how many top people have managed top clubs over the years, the fact that not one of them ever come in for him will tell you all you need to know. He fell short. His swashbuckling style may have thrilled, but he was flawed and was easily got at. I'm not talking about his 50/50 challenges. He generally won them. I'm talking about the many. many goals we conceded when he went awol. His game may have been exciting, but the winners were not interested.

Legend as a player ? Do me a favour, if he had the personalty of a true legend like Graham Sharp he would be getting the same cold shoulder Sharp now gets. I suspect people are conflating the Two. They love Seamus the man so much, he has been elevated in their hearts and minds to levels he never actually reached as a player. If he was ever even close to being the "Best right back in the league at the time". He would not have spent his entire career playing for a poverty stricken Everton.

I look at some of the responses directed at Mark Steers (post 2). Outrage that he has the temerity to say anything that isn't gushing about Seamus. I see people who are angry, hurt and insulted. I see attempts to scare him off. I see people who worship Seamus (although not enough to spend their hard earned to come and see him play). What I don't see, is a credible rebuttal of his claim.

Seamus will get a standing ovation from the crowd before the Sunderland game, but be very assured. the crowd will not be applauding his medal haul. They will not be applauding the times when he turned a crucial match to send us to a semi-final or a final. His Peter Reid moment. They will be applauding his deeds off the pitch, more than his deeds on it.

"Real fans" ? What the fuck does somebody who thinks we only have one player know about "Real fans". Real fans make an effort to get to see their heroes occasionally. Real fans will not be intimidated into not giving an honest opinion by people who only think they are real fans.

Real fans put the good of the club well above that of any individual. Sentimental shite has strangled this club for far too long.

Mark Steers is clearly not being overwhelmed by sentiment. He is clearly talking about the player rather than the man. He is clearly questioning the absurdity of giving a player who has been finished for years, three contract extensions. Rather than scream the house down because he has the effrontery to make these points. Why don't some of the outraged come back and tell him he is wrong and why ?

I'll be all ears

Well said Darren, nail on head.

When you think Patterson cost us 200 times more than Seamus, I can't help smiling.

Especially when you consider Patterson has turned into Cafu while not playing.

When I think Seamus cost us as much in the past 4 years as it did to sign Patterson, I can't help crying. Especially when Seamus has been turned into Carlos Alberto because he is a nice guy...

I blame Moyes. He has Cafu and Carlos Alberto in his squad and he still plays a centre-back at right-back.

One of them is more Albert Steptoe, to be fair.

I wish Seamus nothing but the best of luck.

You only have to look at our long-serving right-backs over the last 30 odd years, Coleman and Hibbert.

Coleman got up and down the flanks. Something we would most definitely miss in our current side. The only decent right-back we have had since Gary Stevens.

Darren, Patterson has been picking up salary over the last 4 years as well in fairness.

Moyes's motto is: “Why play a full-back when you can play a centre-back out of position?”

Equally, “Why play a young midfielder in the centre when you can shove him on the wing?”

All for their development, of course, while they prove themselves and earn his trust.

So legends are only players who win a trophy? I'm still struggling how someone can try and compare Reid's team with Coleman's team, imagine if we had a striker like Sharp upfront in Seamus's team. Is Baines not a legend because he didn't win a trophy, or Matt Le Tissier even? A ridiculous argument in my opinion

You cant compare the the dressing room Peter Reid walked into to the one Semaus did. Seamus walked into a vastly superior side. A side that had just missed out on Champions league place by just 1 point. the trouble is, He couldnt get into it. His manager preferred the superior defensive skills of Tony Hibbert - Take that one up with Moyes

Peter Reid walked into a totally broken dressing room. The players were not household names as had been made out on this thread. Nobody had a clue who the best team was. including kendal. The vultures were circling.

Adrien Heath once told a few of us that the players were looking at Reid as if he was from another planet. They knew where they were, there wasnt a household name between them, but a tigerish Peter Reid had other idea's. he was now telling the fucken lot of them where they needed to be. In Heaths words. "We thought he was crazy"

A newly promoted Colin Harvey saw something he recognised in Reid. He knew a winner when he saw one and shortly after his coaching sessions were beginning to reflect that. The rag arsed bunch of mis-fits were now seeing things through the eyes of winners. Only AFTER Reid has been the catalyst in the dressing room did some of the players become household names.

I'll never play down the role Harvey played in that revival on the training ground. That would make me as ignorant as those "Real fans" trying to detract from Reid's inspirational role in the dressing room by claiming his culture changing presence only happened because he was surrounded by superstars - what a joke.

In short; Seamus. came into a top five team and despite playing with some very good players, the club never once went forward.
Reid on the other hand, came into a dressing room full of relatively unknown players struggling desperately to stay afloat. He was the catalysts for them to become the best team in the world.

Enjoy the party. Give this special man the send off he deserves, but don't dare try to detract from Reids contributions ton this club and get to fuck with the daft arsed comparisons.

Oh and yes. you do have to win stuff to be a true football legend. Otherwise the title will be afforded to every nice guy who ever played the game.

Odd that in Coleman's first three seasons (Moyes last three) he played in 78 games, compared to Hibbert's 58?

Christy, the word 'legend' must be used correctly... and sadly for you, Baines is defo no legend.

As for the Le Tissier rumour which has it that he turned down Man Utd because he had no town halls. So he is defo no legend. But keep trying, Christy.

How dare anyone say Coleman was a waste for the last 4 years!! He may well have kept us up while not even playing, his passion and understanding of the club was very important in such distressing times….

Also, his banger wonder goal against Leeds was massive!!

Again, the streets won't forget. But pessimistic, dour and cynical old men will because “Back in my day, we used to walk uphill both ways to Goodison and we were the best team in the land etc etc”… yawn!

What a bizarre comment by Moyes in his presser:

'The recruitment team forced me into doing it' (buying Seamus).

Please explain why my entirely reasonable post was deleted MK. I know that you might be more in his camp than mine but there was nothing in that poat that broke the rules. Explain.

I think to be part of a Premier league team for practically 17 years is remarkable and nobody in the Premier league comes close to Seamus.
Lampard said never mind being a very good player he is an even better man, and according to Lampard one of the best people he has ever worked with, thats some testament. Also Dyce spoke highly of him as well and the many kindnesses that many fans have reported over the years tends to back up both Lampard and Dyces view of Seamus.
I have no idea if Seamus wants to or has the necessary qualifications to be a coach, but I would imagine that if he stayed on as a coach he would make everyone aware of how special this club is.

I know had the 1878 group known earlier that Seamus would be leaving the club at the end of the season they would have put on a magnificent display, but I am sure our fans will give him a send off he richly deserves.

I’ve met both of them. Seamus, was easy to talk to and humble, Reid, was full of ale and was fuming with his mate Adrien Heath, to fuckn hurry up because it looked like he had just grabbed them a few birds.

Don’t meet your hero, but I got Reidy back a cracker, inside Cologne’s stadium, just before an England game when I’d had a few drinks myself.

Reid, will always be my favourite ever Everton player and I can honestly say that I learned more about football, by just watching him play, than I’ve ever learned off any football manager, (except the man, who introduced me to football aged eight, and I stayed with until I was nearly fifteen) in my life.

Reid epitomised the Everton, that I always want to see. Usually the slowest player on the pitch, but what a footballer. Clever, hungry, fierce, brave. Reid was the ultimate team player who was full of intelligence, never went missing on his team, and his drive was thoroughly infectious, because he was the captain of Everton, in every single manner, except Kevin Radcliffe, wore the armband.

My favourite Coleman goal, was against Leeds. Bad goalkeeping but he definitely meant it, and I always thought he was better playing on the front foot, which is probably why he initially excelled so much in his first season under Roberto Martinez.

I hope Seamus takes part today, because if I’m being honest I won’t be waiting around once the game has finished today💙

Tony

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Peter once at the players Banquet the night we beat Watford, and some years later we ended up chatting for an hour as both our Grandsons played 5 a side at Worsley in Manchester. He was great company on both occasions and even let me hold his FA Cup winners medal, when we were watching our Grandsons play I was amazed seeing he managed City nobody else spoke to him.
I have to say he was less than complimentary about Martinez but by then it was clear Martinez was on the way out.
But like you Peter epitomized everything you wanted from a footballer, he told me he actually failed the medical at Everton but Howard said we sign him anyway and if anything goes wrong he would be responsible. The only midfield player I rated just slightly above Peter was Tony Kay, probably my favourite Everton player. Just wish we had them 2 in midfield now, we would win everything even with our useless forwards.

You know what's sad is this is a big game for Everton today and Coleman should know that.

He should've kept quiet; if he wanted to tell people he's calling it a day, he should've done it next week.

Thanks, Seamus, all the very best for the future.

Hopefully that will be back here where you belong.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.💙

He's gone off the boil a little bit in the last few games Brian.

James Garner has definitely begun to remind me of Paul Bracewell at times this season.

Mark @85,

He should've kept quiet; if he wanted to tell people he's calling it a day, he should've done it next week.

You're just not feeling it, are you? That would deny those thousands of Everton fans who love him and what he's done for the club from giving him a right Royal Blue send-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, ya silly bugger.

Not sure what he has done for the club, I would love to see that list. But he has clearly done a lot for the community and is a very genuine human being. If people want to pour out their love for him, they are perfectly entitled to do so.

The "real fans" bought their tickets long before Seamus decided to hang them up. Their Number One priority will be the team, the club, and a victory.

Today will be very telling if he doesn't come out to say Goodbye. It probably means he is sticking around in a coaching capacity. There'll be no need for goodbyes. He'll still be here working for the fans he thinks the world of.

Tony... High praise that mate.

One of my biggest regrets watching the Blues over the years was the Bracewell injury. I think he would have been the complete midfielder without the injury... he was almost there before the injury. Had everything except pace.

He would have been held in the same esteem as Ball, Kendall and Harvey.

The Brains of the Team: Reid highlighted that while he provided the grit and tenacity in central midfield.

Bracewell was the "quiet genius" whose vision and composure allowed the more dynamic and flair players to express themselves. Even higher praise.

John #92,

I completely agree about Bracewell, he was my favourite player at the time. I never forget that horrible cowardly assault by Whitehurst.

He hadn't even reached his peak, and was definitely heading to Mexico with England, but out for 2 years, and never able to show how good he could have been, sadly.

John - deffo agree as regards Bracewell.

I will never forget the pass he made on the volley, to Tricky, to score against todays opponents.

Quiet genius and vastly under-rated.

Remember Bracewell's one-touch pass to Steven against Sunderland, which he scored. He didn't even look up, incredible, probably best pass ever.

Post 52

"Thankfully the real fans will show on Sunday what he meant to them"

Well, in fairness, there must have been several hundred "real fans" left to give him a lukewarm send-off as he went down the tunnel alone.

Meanwhile, the real "real fans" were far more interested in their side's abject performance to be interested in somebody else's idol.

A salutary lesson to all those who think their pin-up boy is the center of the universe. The "real fans" will be back next season. Seamus won't. Not now the money has dried up.

Perhaps those who think they are "real fans" should have taken the time and trouble to come and give him the send-off they expected others to give him?......Nahh

That's a naughty last sentence, Darren.

Understand you don't agrre with the sentiment, but that's unlike you.

Oh what a lovely ending, Seamus...

Go away from our club and take Moyes with you.

Darren & Mark... bitter little men.

Michael (@90):

That would deny those thousands of Everton fans who love him and what he's done for the club from giving him a right Royal Blue send-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Sadly, that did not happen, Michael.

Christy Ring,

You came on gobbing off about "real fans".

I've been very honest about Seamus. I have praised him to the rafters as a man, Said very clearly that I loved his style of play, but like 40-odd managers who have lead top teams over the past 17 years, I never thought he was quite good enough to play for them and I gave my reasons.

I see you criticise English players on an almost daily basis, yet as soon as somebody says something that isn't portraying Coleman as the Irish Carlos Alberto, you are on here hissing your anti-Irish shite. You picked the wrong fella for that.

Your judgement is pissed and biased. The 40-odd managers I mention are testament to that and while I don't see anything wrong with a bit of bias -- we are all guilty of that from time to time -- you seem to think its okay to spew out your nasty little comments about people who don't share your bias.

I knew Coleman was finished as a player years ago. My feelings were confirmed when he could no longer sort his feet out and put the ball through his own net to hand Bournemouth a late winner.

The points deductions were bad enough. We didnt need fuck-witted sentiment. Seamus escaped a hammering from the fans because we all knew that there was no way on earth he would not have dealt with that situation a couple of years earlier.

Was it a good idea to put him on yesterday to show everyone just how much he has declined?

You'll also notice that nobody took up my challenge to come on and tell Mark Steers he was wrong -- including you.

There is little doubt in my mind that Seamus would have received a thunderous ovation if the team had won yesterday and everyone was in a better mood, but you were handed a lesson on what is important to the "real fans" -- it's their team... not one individual.

if you want to see "little", take a look at your bank account and add up how much time and money you have spent travelling to see the guy you expect everyone else to adore.

If you want to see "Bitter", take a long hard luck in the mirror.

"Real fans" judge a player honestly on what they see. They don't give a fuck about where he comes from.

I'll be spending time I don't have and money I can't really afford to be at Spurs next week; if Moyes gives Seamus a cameo, I will (just this once) put aside my intense dislike of sentiment in football and give a great man an appreciative round of applause.

I wonder where a "real fan" like you will be?

I have no interest in answering Mark Steers's anti-Seamus bullshit.

All he wants is a reaction -- a bit like yourself, Darren, talking utter anti-Irish crap. Two sad bitter little men.

Too many people saw your nasty little dig for you to deny it now. Another (Irish) poster pulled you up about it.

Phoney.

You have no interest in answering Mark Steers because you can't...

If I bump into Seamus, I`ll pass on your undying devotion and support. He`ll be beside himself.

I met Mark Steers at West Ham away at half-time. He stuck to his guns about Seamus, mostly that he's past it, and we agreed to differ on his other feelings -- eg, that Seamus was stealing a living from the club.

But he came across as a decent feller and there was no doubting his love for Everton. I'd happily have a pint and discuss other matters Blue with him. But his mind's made up about Seamus, so I'll skip that.

Where I absolutely do agree with him is that Seamus should've been nowhere near the pitch yesterday. Brighton made a similarly sentimental blunder when they brought on Milner against us and it cost them 2 points.

Yesterday, the focus should've been on 3 points and not sentiment. McNeil shouldn't have been brought on either.

Good luck, Seamus, and thanks for the memories.

Fcuk off, Moyes -- you screwed up big time yesterday.

Mark Steers got his answer from Michael, who called him a silly bugger.

You are like the two bitter men from The Muppets.

Yet another "bitter man"...

They're mounting up. Oh the irony.

Very sad, Christy, that you don't have an honest bone in your body. I think my posts are very honest and proven 100% right.

Last night, I looked at our stadium when Seamus was walking around and I thought "Where are all these people who said they loved him?" Ha-ha.

So now is the time to say, "Mark, you were right all the time!"

Remember, we all want Everton to be great again.

Darren, could you remind me of my supposedly 'nasty little dig ' that I said?

As for calling me a 'phoney', my dad's first cousin played for Everton and Scotland, so we definitely have a connection to Everton.

Just laughing at your post, Michael, you got that right.

Looks like them thousands weren't feeling it neither... ha ha.

Mark, great post - 💙💙

Seamus should have been nowhere near the pitch and it was sad to see what happened. Possibly more might have remained behind if that had not happened. He deserved better.

Oh crap, I am really turning against Moyes.

Yea, looked like you won that one, Mark.

The fans seemed to have been so pissed off with that pathetic performance, they ran off before they could say a proper Goodbye to our beloved Seamus.

There must be very few Evertonians who watched that and didn't feel a tinge of sadness... but I think we all know who at least one of them was.

Mark, I totally agree we all want Everton to be great again.

Ah well, lads, we can put Seamus to bed now and concentrate on getting a better team.

Good luck with that with Moyes at the helm.

Good all round.
You must be shattered the amount of times you have posted on Coleman.

Christy Ring - " Darren A bit of a coincidence. you don't rate Seamus and you previously slated Jake O'Brien. both from the one country ?"

Brendan Mac - "Perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought Darren had a drop of Irish in him".

Christy - "But he did pick out two of OUR boys. He did reply but I see his comment was removed"

Me - "My post was not removed. I deleted it because I did not consider you nasty racist little slur worthy of response"

Christy - it wasnt racist. Just your opinion of two Irishmen ??.

Firstly I did not criticise Jake O'brien. I have been very complimentary of his attitude all season. That was just you lying through your teeth in order to give some credence to your nasty slur. My comments are still there
I have seen your comments regarding players and clubs with different allegiances to yours. I do rivalry. Not hatred. I would never lower myself that far. I judge players on merit. i give an honest opinion regardless of race creed or sexuality. So don't come judging me by your own bigoted standards and do one with you thinly disguised attempts to make me out a racist.

Seamus would be acutely embarrassed by the shite you have spouted here

Darren did you not make a comment awhile ago criticising O’Briens pace at centreback, and I didn’t say you were a racist, and I apologise if you think I did. I’ve met Seamus, and he signed one of my Everton jerseys, by the way.

Mark Steers 108:

Last night, I looked at our stadium when Seamus was walking around and I thought "Where are all these people who said they loved him?" Ha-ha.

You really are a nasty little fucker, Mr Steers, basking -- laughing -- at the extremely sad sight of a near empty ground giving a great captain his last round of applause.

Even more nasty and reprehensible, you did your laughing at night, hours after the match finished.

No more words for this deluded malevolent self-publicist... So now is the time to say, "Mark, you were right all the time!"

Cant agree Paul

Mark Steers expressed an opinion about Seamus Coleman. He could have worded it better, but his point was difficult to argue against. So much so, nobody would dare to attempt to. What followed was an absolute pile on from the outraged. People falling over themselves to be "disgusted". They knew deep down that he was merely stating fact, but they hated him for stating it.

I love a bit of back and forth, people leaving a foot in when the debate gets a little hot, but for me. The threads about Seamus Coleman have developed a sinister undertone. I'm happy for players to be elevated to superstar status. Even when they are ordinary, but I have read stuff from people who seemed to have developed an obsession with him which frankly, gives me the creeps. Any sort of comment which doesnt demonstrate adoration is met by an almost manic response "YOURE NOT A FUCKEN EVERTONIAN IF YOU DONT LOVE SEAMUS !!!!" "YOUR COMMENTS ARE VILE !!!". YOUR ANTI-IRISH !!!. "YOURE NOT A REAL FAN !!!.

Much of this shite aimed at a matchgoer from people who have never seen Coleman play in the flesh. That FACT is completely lost on them.

In seventy years of supporting this club and watching football. I have never even heard of a player who couldnt be criticised Until now.

Coleman is a decent player (oh how we could use him now) and he is - by all accounts - a wonderful human being but to listen to some. Anyone who doesnt worship him is an infidel. Anything that isn't spoken in worship is considered blasphemy. punished by virtual stoning. Fuck off.
I have never heard anybody say anything bad about Seamus, but that clearly isn't enough for some.

I'm guessing Mark Steers is a Scouser. I say that because I see it as trait of the Scouser to stand his ground in the face of intimidation. He didnt just stand his ground. He came roaring back using ever more incendiary language. What did people expect ? Did they think they could intimidate him into running away ? make him change his mind ?..Talk about misreading the room. Is anybody surprised that he has come back gloating after all the snide cowardly comments aimed at him ?

He was right from the outset. Common sense should have told people that. It was an act of mind numbing stupidity to give Coleman his last two contracts. Those desperately trying to suppress his claims because they could answer them were always going to be wrong. You cant shout down a point simply because you don't like it. You have to be able to counter it Nobody did

As far as I'm concerned.
Those who think Seamus was a world class player can now remember him as such
Those who think he was a wonderful human being. Can also remember him as such.
Those who think he is above criticism can ensure that they never criticise him.

And those who think they can shout down a point (any point) because they have the wherewithal or knowledge to counter it. can fuck right off