Note to Trap: Coleman can be ignored no longer

Seamus Coleman's display against Spurs confirmed that he is one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League and Trapattoni can’t ignore him for much longer.

By Conor Heneghan

Given the state of his health at present, watching Seamus Coleman in action for Everton against Tottenham on Wednesday might may not have been the best course of action for Giovanni Trapattoni, for surely he couldn’t help but be more than a little excited if he was tuning in.

Apparently Il Trap prefers to watch these games on video rather than either attending them or watching them live on TV, so we imagine that his pulse will be raised a beat or two when he sees Coleman’s display, followed quickly by the sight of forgotten man Leon Best’s brilliant hat-trick for Newcastle in their annihilation of West Ham at St. James’ Park when the latest batch of tapes are dispatched to his Italian home.

Coleman’s impact this season has been the greatest from an Irish player in the Premier League since the emergence of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff...

While we hope that Best will continue to be given an opportunity to impress for the Magpies, his treble was something of a one-off, especially considering that both Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi were absent and that he had played only 14 minutes in the Premier League prior to his impressive cameo against the Hammers. Coleman, on the other hand, has been making the right noises all season and the calls for his immediate establishment into the Irish XI grow louder and louder by the day.

Havoc

On Wednesday night against the form team in the league at Goodison Park, the Donegal man played havoc down the right wing throughout and scored the winner to inflict a first defeat on Harry Redknapp’s side in 11 Premier League games.

Not that the views of the Match of the Day panel should be taken as gospel or anything, but Gary Lineker and company dedicated a segment of their analysis of the match to the poor performance of Tottenham full back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, a man deemed ‘world class’ by many deluded Spurs supporters.

Coleman taking Cesc Fabregas for a stroll earlier in the season

Unfortunately, the analysis was focussed on Ekotto’s poor performance rather than Coleman’s excellent display, but Alan Hansen did at least mention that the Cameroonian was ‘absolutely decimated’ by the flying 22-year old. The footage showed Coleman making a fool of Ekotto time and time again – the nutmeg in the first half, the wonderful cross for Louis Saha in the second - and watching on, legions of Irish followers were no doubt dreaming of Coleman repeating those feats in an Irish jersey.

The only blight on his performance was the squandering of a guilt-edged chance prior to his goal, when after showing a wonderful touch and a serious burst of pace to avoid Assou-Ekotto; he got caught in two minds (admitted by the man himself afterwards) and shot tamely into the midriff of Heurelho Gomes.

Still, such a minor detail was overshadowed by the quality of his overall performance and by his performances throughout the season. Coleman’s goal against Spurs was his second in three games and his third of the season, making him, along with Mikel Arteta, Everton’s second leading goalscorer this season behind Tim Cahill.

Long term: Why not right midfield?

All this from a man who, by the admission of Trapattoni, David Moyes and even Coleman himself, will eventually end up as a right back. Because of his natural attacking instincts, Trap will probably be reluctant to play him in the position in the long run, but why even bother?

On the right side of midfield, he offers ample protection for the right back behind him, while going forward he offers plenty of pace and the attacking threat that other alternatives for the position, like Liam Lawrence, lack.

The reaction of Coleman to both his goals against West Ham (jumping all over a bemused Tim Cahill) and Tottenham (there was a bit of a finger wag but he seemed a little lost besides) showed that he is not exactly accustomed to scoring goals and finishing is probably still a weakness, but that will come in time.

Watching Coleman against Spurs, legions of Irish followers were no doubt dreaming of Coleman repeating those feats in an Irish jersey.

Certainly the idea of him playing on the right side of midfield in the long term should not be immediately dismissed. Maybe, when he is old and slow like Kevin Kilbane he might revert back but leave him where he is for now, I say.

Coleman’s impact this season has been the greatest from an Irish player in the Premier League since the emergence of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, or John O’Shea’s fantastic performances in the 02/03 campaign for Manchester United; as a result, he must be one of the leading contenders for the Young Player of the Year award.

Although the above three are struggling somewhat at present, all went on to have outstanding careers for both club and country after making the initial breakthrough and there is no reason to suggest that Coleman won’t do the same.