Seamus Coleman selected in Everton '˜best ever bargains' team

The Liverpool Echo also picked arguably the greatest player in the club’s history - Dixie Dean - in its bargain basement 11.

Incidentally, Dean, who scored 383 goals in 483 appearances for the Goodison Park side, was also once on the books of Sligo Rovers.

Dean cost Everton £3,000 from Tranmere Rovers- and the Liverpool Echo calculated that this equated to £7 per goal. Sligo Rovers’ website names both Dean and Coleman in its greatest ever players to play for the club.

Of its association with Dixie Dean, the Sligo Rovers website notes: “Although coming to the end of his career Dean was still one of the biggest names in football due to his goal-scoring feats during his time at Everton where he is still the club’s all-time leading scorer and also holds the record for having scored the most amount of league goals in a single season-60 in 1927-28.

“Despite rejecting Rovers’ initial offer the clubs improved second offer was accepted by Dean and a massive coup was pulled off by the club. A huge crowd turned up at Sligo Railway Station to give Dean a hero’s welcome. Dean duly scored on his debut, a game againstShelbourne in the Showgrounds on January 29 and went on to score nine more in his seven league appearances for the club, including five in a single game against Waterford.

“He also scored in the cup final of that year in the 1-1 draw with Shelbournethough the replay would be lost 1-0. He scored 11 goals in his 11 appearances during his spell with Rovers. Dean’s runners-up medal was stolen after the game but he did however have it returned to him seven years later while back in England. Dean returned to Ireland in 1978 to see Sligo Rovers play in the FAI Cup final of that year.”

Coleman, of course, joined the Toffees in 2009 for a paltry £60,000, and has emerged as possibly the best attacking right back in the Premier League, if not Europe.

Fellow defender John Stones also features on the teamsheet. Bought for just £3m the young central defender is now valued at around £50m.

The team selected by the Liverpool Echo is packed with legendary names.

Surprisingly, the great Kevin Sheedy only makes the subsitutes bench. The immensely talented former Ireland midfielder with a magic wand as a left foot cost the club just £100,000. The Liverpool Echo argues that he was left on the bench only because they selected a 4-3-3 formation.

Killybegs man, Coleman “is probably the best bargain in this team,” says the Liverpool Echo.

Making up the Everton bargain team are: Neville Southall, Seamus Coleman, John Stones, Derek Mountfield, Ray Wilson, Peter Reid, Tim Cahill, Andy King, Graeme Sharp, Andy Gray, Dixie Dean. Substitute: Kevin Sheedy