Mirallas has eyes on the Champions League

, 7 December, 107comments  |  Jump to most recent
Kevin Mirallas has indicated that his desire to play Champions League football will be a key factor in whether or not he decides to extend his current contract with Everton.

Speaking with a Belgian newspaper, the 27 year-old says that ideally he would like to return to Europe's elite competiton with Everton but if the Blues fail to qualify this season, he may need to look elsewhere.

“I've made no secret of the fact that I want to play in the Champions League," he says. "Ideally I will do so with Everton.

“But if that doesn't appear possible we will have to look at the situation.

“Let's see how Everton react if we fail to qualify, and the same applies to myself. Discussions about a new contract have been going on since the summer. It is normal for them to take time.

“The talks have taken place in good spirit. You can see that I'm feeling good when I am out on the pitch.”

Mirallas has experience of playing in the Champions League from his time with Olympiakos in Greece and as he approaches the peak of his career with his stock rising on the back of his efforts in a Blues shirt, he feels the time is right for him to get back on the biggest stage.

 

Reader Comments (107)

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Brent Stephens
1 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:16:07
So Mirallas will be looking elsewhere.
Colin Glassar
2 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:20:23
Good luck to him. Galatasaray are always looking for players.
Paul Hewitt
3 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:19:57
If Mirallas wants to go then get lost. Only want players who want to play for this great club.
Patrick Murphy
4 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:20:00
Kevin - have a word with your team-mates and tell them to pull their finger out if you and they want CL, theyÂ’ll have to win a good few football matches in the PL first, and hopefully avoid too many good European teams in the Europa League.
Kieran Riding
5 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:22:24
I like Kev.
But if you donÂ’t want to play for Everton then I wish you the best and go and play for someone else.

Loads of players have left Everton and gone onto much better things. Rooney... Erm.. Erm. Erm..

Lyndon Lloyd
6 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:23:44
Yours is a romantic notion as a fan, Paul, but you canÂ’t blame Mirallas for wanting to play at the highest level. He certainly has the ability and thereÂ’s no reason why he should wait around at the peak of his career for us to pull our fingers out.

IÂ’d be gutted to lose him but thatÂ’s the risk we run at this stage - we canÂ’t hold on to top-class players if weÂ’re not going to be in Europe every season.

Michael Kenrick
7 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:24:29
I donÂ’t think we need to over-react to this, do we? ItÂ’s a typical response for an ambitious player being asked about his ambitions. Martinez said some weeks back that the current contract, which runs for another 18 months, would probably not be renewed until next summer, which fits with the typical timeframe (12 months left on the contract) and coincides with knowledge of what European competition (if any!) we will be playing in next season.

As Patrick rightly says, itÂ’s definitely up to him and his teammates (rather than the club, as Kev implies) whether we are in with a chance of the Champions League or not.

Colin Glassar
8 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:29:17
True, you canÂ’t blame him, Lyndon, but if he gets on his bike now he just might catch Johnny Heitinga on his way to Barcelona.
Denis Richardson
9 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:36:13
Looks like heÂ’ll be giving it all in the coming months as heÂ’ll be in the shop window.

DonÂ’t blame him as he has the ability to play in the CL. Up to the manager and other players to step up. Nothing wrong in say he would like to play at the highest level - whatelse do you expect him to say.

Kieran Riding
10 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:45:26
Did he not sell his house in Greece then?
Kieran Riding
11 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:49:34
ItÂ’s cos EtoÂ’o beat him up at table tennis...

http://instagram.com/p/wOOeTcntip/

Colin Glassar
12 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:49:53
HeÂ’s been here for what, three years? And heÂ’s never bothered to learn the lingo. Speaks French to his mates and Spanish to Roberto. Settled down well hasnÂ’t he?
Kieran Riding
13 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:52:53
Nice buns though ?

http://instagram.com/p/wOO9voHtlc/

Andy Meighan
14 Posted 07/12/2014 at 18:05:37
You wonÂ’t be getting Champions League football with us, will you? Sm, er.... shut the door on your way out, please.
Andrew Ellams
15 Posted 07/12/2014 at 18:11:24
DonÂ’t blame him; I canÂ’t see him being the only one out of the door. Who would want to be a forward player in that team?
Kunal Desai
16 Posted 07/12/2014 at 18:12:43
WeÂ’d all do the same if had a better chance of enhancing our careers elsewhere at a company that offered better incentives for itÂ’s employees.

In this case Mirallas will probably move on at the end of the season, Everton will not be offering him CL football next season.

Glen Garrett
17 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:36:37
I suggest then that Kevin Mirallas and the rest of the Everton team pull there fucking heads out of there arses and start thinking about how they can start winning games. If they want Champions League next season, then start winning games because they are drifting away from the top 4 already. The only other option is to win the Europa League trophy.

If I was the manager, they wouldnÂ’t be getting their wages in full right now. Pay cut comes to mind. That also goes for the manager.

Cut their big wages down to a third of what they are earning and then see how much it means to them wanting to go out onto that pitch and win games. You should only get paid in full for winning.

This is the problem: as far as the players are concerned, I donÂ’t think that they really give a shit if they lose because they get paid their full wage anyway. Personally I donÂ’t think they really give a shit what or how the Everton fans think or feel.

RM and Bill Kenwright need to start getting ruthless with them and start putting their foot down and stop pussy-footing around with them.

Tom R Owen
18 Posted 07/12/2014 at 18:53:21
HeÂ’s good but he ainÂ’t that good. Have a chat with Pienaar he left for european football with Spurs. Grass is not always greener Kevin
Nick Entwistle
19 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:09:09
Arteta, Pienaar, Fellaini, Lescott, Gravesen, Rooney... nope, canÂ’t blame them... well, maybe Rooney.

If youÂ’re going to take the Â’fuck Â’em allÂ’ approach because youÂ’re being romantic about the club, how long do they need to stay in a 10-12 year career before enough is enough?

It is literally a league above. Mirallas came for game time in the Prem and if he leaves for game time in the CL then so be it. I donÂ’t see us qualifying anytime soon either.

Geoff Evans
20 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:09:17
If the manager is true to his word heÂ’ll get CL within the next 18 months. WhereÂ’s the problem?
Conor Skelly
21 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:11:02
Not good but to be expected. Hopefully this will motivate the rest of the team but IÂ’m not sure how to take this myself. Timing is questionable.
Paul Dark
23 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:23:41
Champions League? YouÂ’re havinÂ’ a laugh ...
Dave Abrahams
25 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:32:17
The longer he doesnÂ’t sign a new contract, the less we will get for him as it looks like he will just run his contract down. He can be a very good player but also has a lot of indifferent games, he has also had quite a few injury problems so I think it would be better for Everton if he went in January, we would get a lot more for him then; as long as all the transfer fee was used to strengthen the team, it wouldnÂ’t upset me too much to be honest.
James Morgan
26 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:44:02
Colin, IÂ’m sure he was speaking English to Radio City the other day.
Anyway, would love to keep him but if a team playing in the Champions League such as, say Roma wanted him then fair play, I would wish him all the best.
Steve Alderson
27 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:32:55
Mirallas has disappointed me in the the last couple of games. I was made up he was back but... IÂ’m not sure now.

A Champions League player – like him – would have scored one of our two chances he chose to loft into the sky when put through recently. His chip against Hull was a stupid waste. Lukuka gave him the look yesterday and rightly so.

In my opinion, heÂ’s not as good as he thinks. If he wants to go, and we can get real money, Everton wouldnÂ’t miss him or his dodgy hamstring.

Tony Marsh
28 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:58:51
Lyndon its not about playing in Europe every season – it’s about playing in the Champions League. How many players do you hear saying I want Europa League football? None is the answer because they all know the Europa is a curse.

If Mirallas wants to leave to better his career, then good luck to him; he has been a good servant. As long as Kenwright stays in control here, we will never do fuck all. Last season shouldÂ’ve been built upon but wasnÂ’t. We brought in Besic and EtoÂ’o???

I canÂ’t blame any player for wanting to play in the top leagues or cups. If we canÂ’t give it to them, then itÂ’s Adios Amigo.

Joe McMahon
29 Posted 07/12/2014 at 19:59:44
I canÂ’t understand the bitterness, there hasnÂ’t been any CL football at Everton to date and, letÂ’s face it, will it ever happen? In my opinion, heÂ’s got the talent. We are fans of this club, the players arenÂ’t... just as long as they give their all in a blue shirt, which he does.
Colin Glassar
31 Posted 07/12/2014 at 20:08:09
I saw him in a recent interview James and Distin interpreted for him so I donÂ’t really know.
Steve, I like Mirallas but like you say heÂ’s not as good as he thinks. HeÂ’s still wasteful and greedy but a good player on his day. His hammys are a concern for me as well.
Tony J Williams
32 Posted 07/12/2014 at 20:20:59
HeÂ’s nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Heitinga thought the same then ended up going to the massive club that is Fulham.

HeÂ’s not a Champions League player. WasnÂ’t when he came here and isnÂ’t one now.

Paul Andrews
33 Posted 07/12/2014 at 20:30:18
One of the best players in our squad. I didnÂ’t realise he hadnÂ’t learned to speak English. Not a good sign that he hasnÂ’t bothered.
Doug Harris
34 Posted 07/12/2014 at 20:46:20
The ladÂ’s been very good when on blob. Nothing stopping him from getting Champions League football with us though, is there?

Seriously ,his injury problems are his biggest let-down. Would wish him the best of luck and thanks very much for being part of Our Club.

Michael Winstanley
36 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:20:02
He speaks English.
Geoff Evans
37 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:31:29
HeÂ’s got ambition, whatÂ’s wrong with that?
Trevor Lynes
38 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:13:17
Tony please ! DonÂ’t put him in the same bracket as the worst Dutch international I have ever seen. All top players want to win trophies and that is how their careers are measured.

Personally I do not see Mirallas playing for a top side with real Champions League winning chances. But in other countries lesser sides get to play in that competition so that is where he might get a game.

I will be disappointed if he leaves but he has played well for us. Maybe he wants to see if our club have ambitions and the January transfer window might be the chance to show it.

Once the better players start playing international football they will be affected by touts and other players urging them to go to their clubs. I truly believe that is what happened with Rooney, he left us to win things and he has succeeded.

We had a great season last time around and showed lots of progress. But we did not increase the squad numbers because we lost as many as joined us. I said this months before this season began and I already could see us struggling with the extra fixtures.

If we begin to improve before the coming transfer window then we will not be very active. If we remain around mid table then our activity will illustrate our ambition.

Realistically I can see us losing our best players as unfortunately the big money clubs in the league are taking away the competition outside five or six clubs. The media promote these clubs unashamedly and we are standing outside in the rain with our noses up against the window panes wishfully hoping.

By the end of this season, the top four will include both Manchester clubs and Chelsea plus perhaps Arsenal or one other. Our aim is to remain in the Premier League and if we finish anywhere in the 5th to 8th position we will have done well.

Dave Pritchard
39 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:30:38
A good player, not a great player.
Dave Lynch
40 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:27:42
He speaks decent English.

Well he did when speaking to my lad when he was signing his autograph outside the ground a few weeks ago.

One of our most skilful and direct players, will be gutted if he leaves but you canÂ’t blame him if he wants to play at the highest level.

Jim Bennings
41 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:33:24
Everton blew their chance to get into the Champions League last season.

It took a while to hit home but we actually had it in our grasp, it was in our hands yet we allowed it to slip.

To be honest I donÂ’t know where our midfield would be If we didnÂ’t have Mirallas, he is the only goal threat, the only goal maker and the only player with any real pace.

Who would create anything if Mirallas wasnÂ’t there?

McGeady? Ha!
Osman?
Atsu?
McCarthy??
Barry??
Besic??

Barkley?..hmmm when he actually gets his head up which isnÂ’t very often to be honest, itÂ’s ok running past three men but whatÂ’s at the end of his runs?

As far as IÂ’m concerned losing Mirallas would just be a typical step backwards.

Jamie Barlow
42 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:39:50
He speaks English in his interview with Lukaku after the Wolfsburg game.
Nick Entwistle
43 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:42:46
Baines, Lukaku, Mirallas, Coleman, Barkley.

Our best players and most difficult to replace. Barkley is still just potential to me and doesnÂ’t warrant starting any more than Osman.

BainesÂ’s best years are not ahead of him and if Mirallas leaves and weÂ’re nowhere near Europe, why are players going to come to Everton? And when that happens, why are players going to want to stay?

Our three most high profile signings ever are still Gazza and Ginola and add to the list EtoÂ’o. Martinez is still to prove himself in the transfer market.

Alexander O'Brien
44 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:00:20
I donÂ’t see the problem in him coming out and saying he wants Champions League football and IÂ’m not sure why people are so upset. HeÂ’s only stating his ambitions, like any footballer.

He has no real affinity with the club, being Belgian, and heÂ’s given good service. The club would benefit in securing a large fee for a player at his peak. ItÂ’s up to him and the rest of the squad to treat it like a kick up the arse!

Sean Kelly
46 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:06:37
Another fucking mercenary. I donÂ’t have a problem with him wanting to play in Champions League but how often was he out with his hammies and picking up his wage? During our good season last year I seem to remember him being missing quite a bit. If its not his hamstring its his mood swings. He doesnÂ’t always seem up for it.

No way we are getting near the Champions League so cash in and get someone that wants to play for us... maybe even one of the young lads.

He wonÂ’t be the last one to say this during this shitty season.

Conor McCourt
47 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:14:23
I think some people have been on the sauce today....get rid of Kevin Miallas and replace with Wayne Routledge and Yannick Bolasie. Good idea- we hate that guy who creates all our chances and loves finding the net. Lets get a guy in who 6 premier league clubs have discarded and doesnÂ’t know what the net looks like and another who doesnÂ’t know what he is going to do himself and has 4 goals in his entire time at Palace. It really is the pantomime season.
Steve Carse
48 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:32:16
Conor, where did the names Routledge and Bolasie come from -- your subconscious yearnings.......I canÂ’t see them mentioned anywhere in this thread.
Jim Bennings
49 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:43:37
Conor

IÂ’m with you regarding Mirallas but Bolasie and Routledge are both very useful players, you only need to watch the football highlights.

IÂ’d rather have Bolasie and Routledge on our flanks than McGeady and Atsu, and IÂ’m pretty sure the vast majority of Everton fans would too.

Conor McCourt
50 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:52:59
Sorry, Steve, Jim had posted them on another thread. McGeady has 80 caps for Ireland, Champions League experience and has plenty of ability to boot. I agree he is very frustrating but, as an impact sub we acquired for free, he is not the whipping boy many on here make him out to be.

We donÂ’t need squad fillers, we have Pienaar and McGeady as subs so we need a player of some repute to play opposite Kevin. Dellboy would be perfect but, failing getting him in January, we should go back in for the Spanish winger who scored a hat-trick against us pre-season. He is a goal and assist machine.

Jim Bennings
51 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:02:11
Conor

I know McGeady has a heck of a CV but watching him this last 11 months has made me question quite how he has that CV.

We canÂ’t go on what McGeady did at Celtic or in Russia, we can only judge what weÂ’ve seen at Everton and frankly itÂ’s been pretty underwhelming.

Willy Russell
52 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:01:16
A bit like Fellaini and Lukaku – not quite as good as they think they are and a slight attitude problem which stops them from being as good as they could be. Could be a Belgian thing... but, either way, if he thinks he can do better elsewhere – au revoir, bonne chance and bon voyage (as we say in Huyton).
John Raftery
53 Posted 07/12/2014 at 22:46:28
There is no comparison between Mirallas and Heitinga. If he becomes so available there will be plenty of takers across Europe. Apparently we value Barkley at £60m in our dreams. We get far more end product in terms of goals and assists from Mirallas.
Conor McCourt
54 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:16:27
Jim, I think you are correct about last season when not fit but, in a few games this season, he has brought a little life and energy in games when we have needed it – admittedly not helping to get the required result.

On his day, he is a match-winner and while the jury is still out I think he can be effective in helping to change a game. I agree we wouldnÂ’t want to be reliant on him and thatÂ’s why we need Delboy back.

Peter Thistle
55 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:22:52
DonÂ’t think anyone is particularly interested in signing him to be honest. He fades in games badly, rarely manages to last 90 minutes.
Anthony Jones
56 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:28:20
Playing for Man City at "the highest level" hasnÂ’t been much fun during recent seasons. Playing at "the highest level" has been a damp squib this season for the RS (including their reserves playing at The Bernabau). Clubs of the might of Borisov, Malmo, and APOEL play at "the highest level.

The highest level is La Liga, The Premier League, and The Bundesliga. Over the course of an entire season the cream always rises to the top, unlike in the cup tournaments. Lukaku would be playing at "the highest level" now if heÂ’d have stayed with Anderlecht, and he would be paid less and have suffered for the lower quality of opposition in the Belgian league. Leave the X-factor hyperbole to Sky and ITV. The ChampionsÂ’ League is a an overrated corporate pay day.

Anyway, Mirallas couldnÂ’t handle the number of games with his elastic band hamstrings.

Colin Glassar
57 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:44:55
I like him but I canÂ’t see a bunch of teams falling over themselves to buy him.
Paul Holden
58 Posted 08/12/2014 at 00:02:01
Nice timing – I’d get shut of him in January if he’s coming up with this type of shyte!
Patrick Murphy
59 Posted 08/12/2014 at 00:02:11
Our friends at the Daily Mirror have put their usual spin on things with the headline "If Everton donÂ’t get CL - IÂ’m off!"
Derek Thomas
60 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:59:46
Been listening to FellainiÂ’s Dad again, have you?....

PienaarÂ’s Spurs cock-up gone right over your head, has it?

Just sign the new contract with a £20M+ buy out trigger and EARN your move, you money grabbing twat... If you and all the other slack-arsed under-performers pull finger in the Europa, we WILL be in the Champions League!!!

Mike Childs
61 Posted 07/12/2014 at 23:53:17
At least when he’s out there, he’s trying to win the game – unlike others who are here to collect a cheque, get in their car, and go home.
Andy Crooks
62 Posted 08/12/2014 at 00:36:16
So Kevin Mirallas has been "a good servant"? Yeah, I would put him up there with Labone and Ball. A proper Everton legend. Selfless with no sense of entitlement at all. A "good servant" indeed... who deserves better than this petty little club can offer.
James Marshall
63 Posted 08/12/2014 at 01:35:09
I donÂ’t see why people have a problem with this. Players come & go and thereÂ’s nothing wrong with being ambitious. Good luck to him. HeÂ’ll never get there while heÂ’s at Everton.
Peter Barry
64 Posted 08/12/2014 at 02:04:04
He will not be missed as much as many seem to think, he is a greedy player always looking out for himself first and his performances , when not out injured, he has been extremely patchy and thatÂ’s being kind.

So away you go, Mirallas, and good luck because there is no way Everton will be playing in the Champions League as long as Boys Pen Billy has a hole in his ass. The way we are playing we are destined for mid-table mediocrity this season and our only chance of glory would seem to be in the Europa League or the FA Cup.

Jimmy-Ã…ge Sørheim
65 Posted 08/12/2014 at 02:14:05
I think Mirallas is clearly building himself UP in the media in order to win a new and much improved contract!

Mirallas is not indespensible, Del-boy is and we need him back.

Bill Gall
66 Posted 08/12/2014 at 02:52:11
Hope he does not think that Everton will let him go cheap.
Jamie Barlow
67 Posted 08/12/2014 at 03:21:59
Greedy players are what we need. They score goals. What should he do? Pass it again?
Christopher Kelly
68 Posted 08/12/2014 at 03:44:34
CanÂ’t blame him at all. I/we would do the same...

Old school fans need to wake the fuck up about International football on the highest level. ItÂ’s about money and competition and winning. Nothing else. The badge doesnÂ’t mean nearly as much to them as it does to you. The only thing we can affect is our playing. We must do that better to retain our top talent. End of. Get it thru your heads and do it quickly.

Eric Myles
69 Posted 08/12/2014 at 04:54:44
Bill #67, come the summer he will have 1 year left on his contract so he will be cheap, especially considering other leagues can make a deal with him next winter and get him free the following summer.
Jackie Barry
70 Posted 08/12/2014 at 05:22:49
Good player but too inconsistent for me. If he want to leave and play regular champions League football then fine, but he will be playing for a team that that will never get anywhere in the competition. He hardly has a queue of clubsome chasing his signature. All the best though.
Darryl Ritchie
71 Posted 08/12/2014 at 06:39:01
When Mirallas says he wants to play CL, I believe he means he wants to play for a team with a chance to win. There are plenty of teams in the CL that we could wipe the floor with...even in our present form.

All the top teams have pretty deep pockets, so they could undoubtedly afford to buy him and pay him a hefty wage, but because of the deep pockets, theyÂ’re already have the majority of the worldÂ’s best players already under contract.

As itÂ’s been stated above, quite a few times, KevÂ’s a good player, not a great one. If he were to sign with a major team, I donÂ’t think he would actually play all that much. I hope he’s not just talking out of his ear, because his timing sucks.

Lyndon Lloyd
72 Posted 08/12/2014 at 07:57:14
Jimmy (66), Mirallas is three times more effective a player for us than Deulofeu ever was. Furthermore, he's not coming back any time soon.

He didn't settle on Merseyside and was not always in line with curfew, shall we say?

Sam Hoare
73 Posted 08/12/2014 at 08:13:28
Don't let him Pienaar us!! If he's not signing a new contract then sell him this Summer while he still has some value left.

Hope he does sign as he's one of our only midfielders actually able to create and score goals.

Eddie Dunn
74 Posted 08/12/2014 at 08:58:05
Bye Kev!
Harold Matthews
75 Posted 08/12/2014 at 09:30:16
Good player when he feels like it. Bit of a shock when he was subbed the other day. I'd forgotten he was still on the pitch.
Tony J Williams
76 Posted 08/12/2014 at 09:37:27
Trevor #39

I have to lump him in with Heitinga, as he and Fellaini are the only nuggets recently to come out and say they want Champions League footy.

One went on his bicycle to London instead of Barcelona and the other nearly had his career destroyed by Man Utd / Moyes.

Kev is a very good player that will not receive any offers from "big" clubs, simply because he isn't a consistent, match winning player.

He has tried more of late, but he is the type of player who would gladly sit it out on the wing and wait for the game to come to him. Not one of these Gerrard (spit) players (in his younger guise) who would take the game by the scruff of the neck and buttfuck the opposition.

A side may have a gamble on him because he will be able to go on the cheap, that's the only way a "big" side will be interested in him.

David Ellis
77 Posted 08/12/2014 at 09:41:42
He chose us over Arsenal so ensure more game time; it was the right decision and although he has proved himself at Premier League level, I would not see him as an obvious starter in a regular Prem top 4 club.

I would be surprised if he left us for a team from a "lesser" league so not sure there are many clubs better than us that would be in for him to be honest – something that Lukaku found out and the reason is the Martinez effect and our stronger financial position than previously – and the continued increase the relative financial strength of the Premier League vs other leagues.

Thomas Surgenor
78 Posted 08/12/2014 at 10:34:03
I'm a huge fan of Kevin's. I cannot fathom how some people on here believe he owes us anything. He is a Belgian, who by all accounts supports Standard. He isn't a born-and-bred Toffee, although he shows more passion on the pitch than some who claim to be.

Most of all, he is a talented and ambitious footballer who is clearly frustrated that the club haven't fulfilled what was promised to him when he first signed.

Before anyone else replies, picture yourself in the scenario he is in: — at the peak of your ability, playing for Fulham (or another club you don't support) and let's say Lyon, Juve, or Atletico make an approach for you and offer you the opportunity to win trophies and play in the pinnacle competition of your profession.

I'd be disappointed in him if he didn't want to go.

But let's get one thing straight: he isn't holding the club to ransom or trying to force a move. I pride myself on my skill as a judge of character and I can assure you he will give his all for us while he still pulls on that blue jersey.

If only Kenwright had his ambition!

Robert Lam
79 Posted 08/12/2014 at 11:08:40
Maybe, just maybe it is time we need more of such players who are playing their hearts out to gain recognition, and not mediocre players who will get us nowhere.
Steve Pugh
80 Posted 08/12/2014 at 11:14:32
Talk about misreading. He didn't even say he would leave if we don't qualify, he wants to see how Everton would react if we don't qualify.

Basically if the club shows that they are as ambitious as he is, he'll stay; if we do the usual and buy nobody, he'll go.

Maybe all of our star names should say the same thing and put pressure on the board to spend some money.

Tony J Williams
81 Posted 08/12/2014 at 11:38:04
"Maybe all of our star names should say the same thing and put pressure on the board to spend some money."

Yeah! because it's worked so well in the past, hasn't it?

Trevor Lynes
82 Posted 08/12/2014 at 11:16:36
All the fans who have come on here to castigate the player after reading a newspaper which exists on lies beats me! I would question anything written in these papers as they thrive on gossip and innuendo. They should be writing real headlines in the sports section on the standard of refereeing and the bias towards the so-called top clubs. EtÂ’oo and Barry could sue Man City players for assault as I have never seen such dangerous play go unpunished except for a yellow card slap on the wrist.

On Mirallas, if it turns out to be true that he wants to play in the Champions League, then so be it! In todayÂ’s game of seven subs, no player in midfield or up front needs to give much more than an hour and Mirallas would command a large fee. Many clubs would be interested in signing him.

All of the better players are mercenaries and many workmen in different jobs are exactly the same. I worked abroad on contract for almost 30 years and always had my CV on the tables of different oil and gas companies.

The clubs count the players as assets and if the player wants to stay, it does not mean that the club cannot move him on if they see fit. In the past, players were not protected by agents and many had no say in where they were transferred to. Now things have changed and it is the players who call the tune in many instances. But the clubs still have the right to hold back on new contracts if they see a chance to move a player on. A contractor is a mercenary by the nature of his job. If it is a short term contract that can be renewed or not, that is all the player can count on.

A player is old once he hits 35 years so he will always try to make as much money as possible while he stays fit. Foreign players especially have no real reason for playing their football in England other than to make money. The top clubs pay the best wages and win the trophies. Â’Nuff said!

Eric Myles
84 Posted 08/12/2014 at 14:37:41
Sam (#74), it wasn't Pienaar's fault he left us, it was the Club's. Pienaar wanted parity with Arteta who he was certainly as good as at the time, nothing to do with wanting a move for CL football – and why would he go to Spurs if he wanted CL football anyway!
Will Firstbrook
85 Posted 08/12/2014 at 14:35:40
I think if he is really hopeful of meaningful CL playing time elsewhere, it will only be with a club on the continent or beyond – it won't be with one of the perennial CL English clubs.

Kev is ambitious and nobody should fault him for that. I think he has done well for the club (when healthy) and they have done well by him. I don't consider his comments to be especially disrespectful towards the Club or fans. Just stating what should be a natural desire of any player with aspirations. The question is whether our owners truly share the same desire! And more importantly, willing to invest to make it happen. That might be a rhetorical question, I'll admit.

Eric Myles
86 Posted 08/12/2014 at 14:51:42
Does anyone really think that if Barkley fulfills his expected potential he won't want to move to a CL team?
Dave Abrahams
87 Posted 08/12/2014 at 15:00:38
Will Firstbrook @86,

I agree with most of your views. As for the question of whether the owners are willing to invest to take us to higher up the level where most of us think we should be, I think they have already answered this poser over the last few years...

I think it is patently obvious that they will do no more financially to help the club go further.

Carl Sanderson
88 Posted 08/12/2014 at 15:09:32
"Does anyone really think that if Barkley fulfils his expected potential he won't want to move to a CL team?"

Of course he will, and it is up to Everton to make him see that he can do it here.

Eric Myles
89 Posted 08/12/2014 at 15:20:58
So Carl #89, what convincing arguments for staying do we have for Barkley now that we didn't have when we failed to convince Rooney, Lescott, Arteta and Rodwell to stay?
Colin Glassar
90 Posted 08/12/2014 at 15:46:08
Just read an analysis on a betting site where they clearly show the Mirallas - Baines axis down the left clearly doesn't work. Mirallas constantly gets in Bainsey's way and doesn't do the hard work peanuts does. Solution? Get Pienaar back on the left and move Kev back over to the right.
Phil Smith
91 Posted 08/12/2014 at 16:01:49
The only way we will qualify for Champions League this year is by winning the UEFA Cu... Europa League.
John Keating
92 Posted 08/12/2014 at 17:10:42
Really simple whoever you are
If you don't want to play for us then bye bye !
We've had far better players than Miralles leave us and somehow we've survived !
In the scheme of things Miralles and anyone else in the team is "surplus to requirements" We just go on
Jay Harris
93 Posted 08/12/2014 at 17:32:35
I wish all our players REALLY wanted CL.

Cos they sure as hell are not putting enough effort in to achieve it.

Now that may be down to other factors such as lack of fitness, team selection etc but it would still be nice to see more effort and purpose on the pitch.

Phill Thompson
94 Posted 08/12/2014 at 17:40:38
What's the problem? Group of 32 means win your home matchs / draw away four times takes you to the Final. 0 - 0 , win on penalties and it's CL for Kev and Co. ( this inspired by being reminded that Everton were the first team to win a European tie on penalties !)
James Stewart
95 Posted 08/12/2014 at 17:58:21
He is good enough to play CL. If all our players were at his level we would be in it so fair enough for him to say that.

Our squad still includes the likes of Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Alcaraz, Osman, Kone, Barry, McGeady et al. None of which are or ever will be good enough to play at that level.

Pete Edwards
96 Posted 08/12/2014 at 20:10:30
Eric, I donÂ’t recall Rodwell asking for a move, more of a bid came in from City to up their homegrown quota that was too good to turn down for an injury-prone player who was going backwards under Moyes (when he did play).
Christopher Kelly
97 Posted 08/12/2014 at 20:29:09
John Keating, I’m not sure what "survived" means. Do we still exist? Yes. Are we still in the Premiership? Yes.

Have we done anything of note since ’95? No.

Aside from a qualification round exit in the CL, I would say we all could’ve pulled a Rip Van Winkle since the FA cup and been much the same for it, sadly.

Carl Sanderson
98 Posted 08/12/2014 at 20:42:27
Eric 90:

None whatsoever – that was my point. As long as this Board is in place we will not move forward decisively, on or off the pitch.

If we finish outside the European places this season we will be ripe for the picking in the summer.

Drew Shortis
99 Posted 09/12/2014 at 10:54:22
Understandable comments. To be fair, he says he would ideally like to play in the CL with the Toffees but you can't blame him for being ambitious. He is not a local lad or an Everton fan and doesn't owe us anything. In fact that can be said for a large proportion of the team.

These romantic ideas of loyalty are misguided. I'm not saying that all players are a bunch of mercenaries, but it is their job and they only have a short career in which to make it to the top. I hope we can give him what he wants, as he's a cracking player, but if that doesn't happen, we sell for top dollar and get someone else in!

Andy Mack
100 Posted 09/12/2014 at 12:23:58
Keep up our bottom half form and I'm sure Kev won't be the only one eyeing a move. Europa league or bust for us if we want to keep hold of Kev, Rom and possibly Coleman. That's football.
Dave Pritchard
102 Posted 09/12/2014 at 13:22:23
I like Mirallas as a player.

You wonder why he left Olympiakos, who seem to regularly be in the Champions League. I couldn't really see him in a Champions League team that had a real chance of winning it.

Matt Traynor
103 Posted 09/12/2014 at 14:17:14
Dave. He left for the £, which is fair enough – they all do it. Despite all the talk at the time, I don't think Arsenal ever made a bid for him.

As others have said, it's unlikely a CL perennial in the top leagues would go for him, unless one of the Spanish or German contenders outside of their top 2 were after him, but he'd likely have to take a pay cut. I'm not sure he's consistent enough to attract a "bigger" team.

Eric Myles
104 Posted 09/12/2014 at 14:36:01
Peter #97, that's also true of Rooney and Arteta.
Andrew Ellams
105 Posted 09/12/2014 at 14:45:17
If a bid came in from one of the top Champions League teams or, failing that, one of the English teams in it, he would have to make a decision whether he is prepared to be an impact sub in the Champions League and a rotation player in domestic games.
Chris Fisher
106 Posted 09/12/2014 at 14:52:42
The way we are playing at the moment, I wouldn't blame him if he left; he is far too good for a team who play such mundane football.
Christopher Kelly
107 Posted 09/12/2014 at 19:21:17
When Kevin Mirallas is arguably your best player, the team have problems. drops mic....
Ray Said
108 Posted 09/12/2014 at 19:27:01
Kevin Mirallas is at the best club he will ever play for. None of the English teams that have a chance of winning CL would make a move for him. He moved to the Blues from Olympiakos where he was practically guaranteed CL football every year.

Kevin Rowlands
109 Posted 10/12/2014 at 13:18:50
And so it starts: unless we win the Europa League no chance of Champions League football next season. I agree, Ray, he's at a great club and should realize that. Anyway, I'd have Peresic over him any day of the week.
Gareth Fieldstead
110 Posted 10/12/2014 at 18:55:28
To true Colin, injury prone, good when he is interested, playing with 10 men when we are not. I would just love to see our strongest 11 for several games and see what results would be like then. Maybe these players would have some idea what we are capable of.

If we are still struggling then so be it but as mentioned above not sure if a top European side will have seen enough to part with the cash we would want for him.

By the way, Colin... f/b? I can bug you all the more for any insider gossip!

Gavin Johnson
111 Posted 11/12/2014 at 16:51:51
I'd take this story with a pinch of salt. He's not good enough for a top Champions league side, unless he has plans of joining one of the minnow Euro leagues in Greece or Turkey. If he isn't happy, sell him! Simple as.
Michael Ward
112 Posted 11/12/2014 at 17:10:34
I'm sure I read somewhere that the club has the option of a 12-month extension on his contract so that's 2½ years left on his contract if we want it. No need for panic.
Linda Morrison
113 Posted 11/12/2014 at 17:02:14
I'm with Gareth, would love to see Roberto being able to choose a regular team and then see what we have.

I like Kevin but he is injury prone, like so many are in today's game, but apparently Brenda is interested in him! In that case, Kevin will never get CL football. I truly think apart from maybe Chelsea and Man City no EPL team will win the CL any time soon.

Colin Malone
114 Posted 11/12/2014 at 17:31:37
Champions league?, i,m just desperate to reach 40 points. With no plan B and square pegs in round holes, teams have sussed us out.

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