SEAMUS COLEMAN’S VERSATILITY could be his downfall if it is not managed properly, warns Gary Neville.
The Donegal youngster cemented his place in the Everton first team last season with David Moyes lauding his consistency both in defence and on the right side of midfield.
His club form also helped him break into Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad and Neville admits he was particularly impressed by the 24-year-old’s Man of the Match display against England in Wembley.
But the Sky Sports analyst, who made the right-back slot his own during his Manchester United days, would like to see Coleman settle down into one regular position under new manager Roberto Martinez.
Neville says: “He’s an honest kid, an attacking full-back, similar to Leighton Baines on the other side in that they both like to run forward.
“At this moment he’s obviously behind Baines in terms of quality of delivery in the last third, but yeah I think he does offer an opportunity. I think there’s another good kid at Everton called John Stones and he’ll be put under big pressure.
Coleman either works from right-back or right side of midfield and that could be a little bit of a downfall for him if he doesn’t settle into one position, in that he is flexible and gets moved around.He’s a good kid from what I can gather, works hard, and like I say I was impressed with him for the Republic of Ireland against England. I thought he did really well in that match.
Flexibility will help Coleman’s ability to read the game, Neville explains, but as he gets older it could see him fall down the squad pecking order, a fate similar to John O’Shea at Manchester United.
“I think sometimes its good to have flexible players in your squad, but sometimes it can be to the detriment of the individual if you do get moved around.
“Other times it works if you have players… I think Phil Jones at Manchester United now plays right-back, he plays central midfield, he plays centre-back. It’s giving him other experiences so there’s a balance.
“Eventually you have to settle into a position but I think when you’re young, it’s not a bad thing to actually appreciate the rest of the positions in the team if you can do it.”
The Sky Sports football team for 2013-2014
Neville on… the Suarez transfer saga
“There’s a right way to leave a club. I think Suarez probably owes Liverpool another season in some ways. I suppose you could say that’s a slightly emotional statement, but I think it would be very difficult for Liverpool to replace Luis Suarez.
I think they’ve got the biggest task in replacing him, to attract a player with a ticking clock on the transfer window. Chelsea want a centre-forward, Manchester United want to sign players, Arsenal want to sign players, so you could argue that Liverpool are fourth in the pecking order. How are they going to replace Luis Suarez if [Arsenal] sign him?
“I can totally understand where [owner John] Henry is coming from and actually I hope he stands his ground and says, ‘No I’m not selling you, you’re going to play for this club this season.’”
Neville on… the early pressure on David Moyes
“You knew that was going to happen. You’re never going to follow Sir Alex Ferguson without that level of pressure put on you.
“It has been a very public move for Fabregas, it will or won’t happen in the next few weeks. I think it will certainly help David Moyes to get his hands on a Fabregas-type character because it will give everybody a lift. You know big signings, huge signings give everbody a lift at a football club, obviously including the fans.
He definitely will get time and patience. I’d be amazed if he didn’t. I’d be stunned. It would be a departure completely.Forget Sir Alex Ferguson. You can go back to Ron Atkinson, you can go back to the managers before, they’ve all been given time.
Join TheScore.ie’s Premier League Fantasy Football League using this code: 800052-191374; http://fantasy.premierleague.com
Sky kicks off its biggest ever Premier League season with live coverage of Swansea v Man Utd on Sky Sports 1, Sky 2 and Pick TV on 17 August.
