Standards. Seamus Coleman is a man of standards.
Finishing 11th in the Premier League doesn’t particularly appeal to him. Losing to France in France isn’t something he just accepts.
Talk to any of his old team mates or coaches in Killybegs, “drive” will be one of the first words that springs up in conversation with any of them when they’re asked about young Seamie.
They’ll tell you about the day Sligo Rovers came to play St. Catherine’s in a muddy field on the incline of the south Donegal village and how a small teenager picked at centre half that day made life miserable for League of Ireland hotshots Sean Flannery and Paul McTierney.
They’ll tell you about his want – his need – to win every single training match, every single street game, everything. It was just “in him”, in their own words.
Seamus Coleman: The making of the best right back in the world https://t.co/oAglvSUuxh
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 11, 2016
After Ireland bowed out of Euro 2016 and people were heartbroken, sure, but quick to pat the team and the country on their own backs, Seamus Coleman was having none of it.
“Ack, they’re a top side with top players but we had total belief that we could get something from that game,” the skipper for the day didn’t show up to Lyon for a procession.
“We’re disappointed with ourselves because we really thought we could get something from it.”
The words smacked of a winner but they smacked of a man who could and should captain his country for the next six years.
One of the best moments of that tournament took place in the Italy match and it was arguably even better than what happened five minutes from time. Maybe.
James McCarthy had been strung up in the media after his Belgium collapse. TV pundits were lambasting him, column inches were detailing his cock-ups, the fans had enough. The Everton midfielder quickly fell out of favour and his confidence was shot, it was depressingly visibly as he trudged through the mixed zone after the game and never once lifted his head.
But Martin O’Neill made the big call. He dropped Glenn Whelan instead and kept his faith with McCarthy, deploying as the sole central midfielder and he flourished. He threw himself in front of everything, he chased every loose ball like he could be whipped off at every second and, all the while, he had a captain demanding more from him.
McCarthy was first to a cross that broke in the box during the first half and got in there for what was a vital clearance. Seamus Coleman f**king loved it.
McCarthy is f**king on it tonight
Seamus Coleman is making damned sure of itpic.twitter.com/Vsy5SfTPYd
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) June 22, 2016
The Donegal native is a leader of men. He’s the most accomplished player in Ireland at present and, when he’s with his club, he expects the best.
Speaking in Abbotstown ahead of Ireland’s clash with Georgia, Coleman reflected on standards that weren’t upheld during the Roberto Martinez era at Everton.
They weren’t all the manager’s fault, but they are certainly things that the players won’t get away with under Ronald Koeman.
“We had a disappointing two seasons,” the 27-year-old said.
“Finishing eleventh is not where a team with our players should be, but the manager has come in and he’s worked hard. You always get a reaction when a new manager comes in.
“He just set a few standards that should have happened in the previous campaign, by the players as well. Just timekeeping and that. Making sure that people are in on time and it’s just sharpened the place up all round.
“The lads on the pitch now know that we have to perform or we won’t be in the team.”
Coleman was quick to play down talk that Martinez had dampened the chances for the full back to bomb forward. Whilst he admits that he’s had better opportunities under the new manager, it wasn’t something that Spaniard actively instructed of the Irishman.
“I’ve been getting in the box a little bit more but I wouldn’t say Roberto curbed my attacking instincts, it was just the tactics at the time.”
Those standards that Coleman speaks of though are not the first time an Everton player has alluded to what was missing under Martinez.
“Everything slipped last season, really: timekeeping, dress codes, training,” Gareth Barry backs up Colemans comments.
“The confidence and everything had gone and things were maybe going away from what was expected. Confidence had gone on the pitch, results weren’t going the right way and there was a lot of unrest with the fans.”
At least Ireland fans can rest in the knowledge that it won’t happen in Dublin. Not on Seamie’s watch.
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
