It was me who has started the discussion on Coleman again after things has die down on this topic and it makes interesting reading on what's other think of this issue.
Fans come from different generation would most certainly have different opinion to each others, as fans from same generation would have different opinion to each other, so it was normal everyone are entitle to there own opinion.
I was only a kid in the 80's and by the time I am starting to appreciate the game of football, it was already coming toward the end of division football era into the Premiership era, so my view would lean toward the modern game of football.
Earlier comment believe as a full-back defensive capabilities are more important, and I too agree but only up to certain extent. Why is that?
Someone also said something about Baines, about his defensive skill not as good as Hibbert, I think by answering this question would also led up to my reason of thinking.
I would ask you this question "While Baines was out injured, we had used Hibbert to cover Baines for a game or two, how well did he do in defence? what did he do on the attacking front?"
I tell you what happen? he did his defensive duty but make no connection with the midfield on the attacking front, let alone making connection with the striker. Modern game of football is all about working for each others and moving as a unit. That's is why as a full-back, your attacking capabilities up to a certain extent are just as important as there defensive capabilities.
As far as I am concern I had seen too many time when Baines, Pienaar, Arteta or Billy has drag a number of the opposition player toward the left side and open up space for Hibbert to run into the final third, and he chicken out because he know his capabilities, for me this is no excuse.
He didn't even try, he could always pass the ball back or make a long switch side cross toward Baines and Pienaar on the left side of the final third, if he couldn't get any further.
That's is why it get easier for the opposition to defend against our attacking pattern, they know we are likely to attack on the left or through the middle, so they concentrate there once they know they don't have to worried on the right, as far as they are concern as long as there is someone who is within 10m or so from Hibbert, you could gurantee Hibbert would go no further than the midfield, as soon as you start closing in he would pass the ball to his teammate staright away.
That is why I am not happy with Hibbert, just you try allow that space to Johnson, Richard or even Coleman, I would gurantee they would run with the ball into the final third or even down the line and cross a deadly ball into the box. Hibbert are wasting the space that was open up by Baines, Pienaar and Arteta or Billy, as he made no attempt to explore those open space.
I don't know how many people would agree with me, but this would be my philosophy "The best way to defend, is to attack!" How often do you see Chelsea, Man U & Arsenal has to defend? Not as many as other team, that's is because they go by this philosophy and they play possession football.
I bet everyone would agree with me on this, the most comfortable way to win a game is to gain a two/three goals lead, and then play possession football and counter attack at the right time, this is exactly the way these teams are playing and we should follow the same philosophy.
As someone also suggest we should wait for Yobo & Distin or even Jagielka come back before we used Coleman, that way defensively we would be more stable and it would allow Coleman to attack without worrying as much.
Again my reasoning from above would go against this suggestion, no doubt we are conceding goal in game at the moment, and it would be quite natural for you to think we need to strengthen our defence first before thinking about attack.
But when you are think of the defender we have available at the moment we would concede goal any way, no matter who we pick in the middle. During these situation I think everyone would agree with me saying this "The only way to win the game, we must out score the opposition!" Meaning if they score two, we had to score three.
So, that is why I am saying we need Coleman playing on the right to explore those open space and create more chances for our attacker to score more goals.