Mirallas can earn the right to play

I've come to the conclusion that I will never like Martinez and have tried to just accept him as the status quo for now but he even makes that hard work with his constant flip flops. He should have been a politician.

However, I think there is good reason to keep him, and use him more often than he has been recently. Let's hope he gets a decent run and earns his corn.

We are a better team than our league position and, if Bobby plays the right players, it will soon show in the table.

Nowt wrong with that.

Just look at the quality of the goals he scores – such as against Barnsley, Stoke and now Chelsea this season.

This guy is a rare matchwinner and Martinez has been cutting off this team's nose to spite its face by blatantly ignoring him. I desperately hope he stays, especially as he links so well with Barkley, Lukaku and Deulofeu.

But wouldn't blame him for telling Martinez to 'Fuck off', especially after the ignominy of signing a much-publicised contract extension, only to play second fiddle to the likes of Kone week-in week-out.

I thought finishing last season that Mirallas was one of the better performers if not the best along with Aaron Lennon.

Martinez does talk shite, he's happy to play his big number one Tim Howard (in his view) then snub him for what is the biggest game of the season at Manchester City next Wednesday, does Martinez understand logic?

Kone was starting games when he looked totally knackered but the manager persists with him.

What I want from Martinez is the following.

1) Start picking players on form not just favouritism.

2) Give Mirallas a fair crack of the whip, along with Lukaku he's our biggest goal threat..FACT!

3) Realise that Deulofeu is for the time being anyway, a better impact sub than starter, at least until he gets fitter.

4) Please clarify who really is our number one keeper, and if you have a number one why is he dropped for the biggest game of the season.

There is no such thing as "cup keepers" you cannot just have a private agreement and do favours for one man, your number one choice should play in all games when fit because it just makes you look silly. (We didn't win the Cup in 95 with Jason Kearton in goal did we?)

Martinez is a baffling manager at times.

Didn't Mancini do that at Man City? He played Pantilimon in every FA Cup game then dropped him for Hart in the final. That didn't work out too well.

You have a goalkeeper and regardless whether the fans agree with it, if he's fit, he plays.

We didn't drop big Neville Southall during the 95 Cup run despite fighting relegation, it's just some load of crap that I don't agree with in present day football.

If Robles has a howler next Wednesday night, he'll be criticised but basically he isn't exactly match sharp.

He promised Champions League to get the job; now, it's a long-term project based on developing youth.

Barry is alright for 60 mins then his legs go and he gets booked. If he chooses not to, thus also not playing Mirallas, and goes with Barry and Kone. Then that'll be Martinez done for me. Last 26 league games have mustered 32 points so he is using up his chances as it is.

If we haven't got defensive cover to include him from the midfield with the likes of Barry, Besic and McCarthy then we truly are knackered!! No excuses for not playing 2 of the 3 wide players. Deulofeu, Mirallas and Lennon in the same team, and let the opposition worry about both flanks rather than just one.

As for Kone, knock it off lads, he is a centre forward who is being forced to play left side, we all know players who haven't shown their best through not played in their correct position. His hat-trick against Sunderland shows he can do it in Rom's absence. Also I would have no hesitation at playing Mirallas at centre-forward either if Rom gets injured.

Nice choices to have.

Makes me sick.

I agree that RM has never forgiven Mirallas for the penalty against West Brom. But after the game, he said that there was nothing wrong with a player who felt confident taking the penalty.

A few days later, he confirmed that any future penalties would be taken by Baines. But the next penalty we get was taken by Lukaku who scored while Baines was on the pitch.

So why didn't he comment on Lukaku taking it instead of Baines? Or maybe if Mirallas had scored like Lukaku then nothing would have been said.

Not a chance.

He's waited a long tme now it's time he had a decent run in side.

Just a small comment on Kone. I honestly thought that he was starting to show a little form. That he was actually good at linking up with and bringing the best out of Lukaku. That notion was proved to be wrong and short lived. I now don't think that Kone has much of a future at Everton. He is not the way forward. Naismith was even a bigger asset. In fact Naismith was far better than Kone. And Mirallas ( on form) is better than both of those players. Let's hope that Martinez and Mirallas have buried their differences, and made up. All speculation, I know, but something was not right. A fit and Hungary Mirallas could be a real asset for the rest of the season. And as for the notion that he doesn't defend. Leave that to our Defenders and numerous DMs. Did Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh, George Best. Frank Worthington defend? Mirallas can be one of our three luxury attackers. Let them do their thing.

Sorry , did I say to let our defenders do the defending. Wish that they would get started. Starting against The Swans and City. COYBs.

Do you remember Martinez's comments on the day? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160707 and yet today the manager sold him???? Based on Mirallas last appearance when he scored and was then "rested" until last Saturday it could go along way to explaining why players celebrate so much they are going to get a rest for 5 or 6 games.

Martinez's comments also mean that we will be selling Mirallas in the summer unless he scores better than 1 in 3 games which is his goal scoring ratio while at Everton.

QUICK QUIZ: which player has spent far more Premier League time on the pitch than Mirallas and Naismith combined this season and scored the same number of goals? Last two clues: he is older than Naismith and has a much poor goal scoring ratio than any of our strikers. Final clue: he has played the equivalent of 12 premiership games and is so effective you only have to look at his impact when on for about 90mins http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/Everton-3-4-stoke-city-10659554
The answer follow the link http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/Everton/368/blog/post/2779289/Roberto-Martinez-needs-to-end-arouna-kone-experiment - This is the player we should have sold.

Mirallas over Kone any day. Hope he plays on Sunday. COYB

Not sure who I'd want on the pitch if we're trying to defend a lead late on. Down to 10 men in the Cup with Cleverley, Lukaku and Deulofeu subbed and Coleman injured, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Mirallis, Kone and Osman gave a grand display of possession football, something we couldn't manage on Saturday.

Also, I see we are being linked with another loan move? Bertrand Traore is meant to be on our radar. Seriously depressing.

I hate favouritism, it winds me up. It should be about form and ability which means Howard and Kone have to be dropped (or sold preferably)-full stop.

Our best 11 must be:-

Robles, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Besic, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Barkley, Mirallas & Lukaku.

With the likes of Funes Mori, Oviedo, Cleverley, Lennon and the younger players like Browning & Galloway all vying for places as well, we do have a good platform. I've not been Barry's biggest fan the past season and a bit but even I can see that he has been in good form this season but with Besic in the form he's in and McCarthy's all round play it may be time for a rest with a view to seeing out the game at the end if needed. Personally I think Gibson is a great squad player and I wouldn't have let Naismith go.

I have two concerns with regards to Mirallas:-

1. As stated before, his defensive capabilities and

2. What will happen if RM is able to bring in (let's just say) Yarmolenko? What does that then tell Mirallas? "Thanks but no thanks" is my guess.

The teammates must all see what happens during a game, and wonder why anyone could pick Kone over Mirallas. They must have been wondering why Besic was ignored for so long. He seems to have them all under control, as we don't hear much dissent from the dressing room – he is obviously not a man to cross.

My way or the highway!

Other favourites are allowed certain traits that many a manager would not condone too.

Young Gerri has been a revelation since his return to the club, but his 55-minute cameos and his arm waving are very annoying. I cannot understand how he gets away with it to be honest. Surely its time to get match fit if your in the starting 11? Surly you should be told to cut out the arm waving and adopt a more teammate, sportsman-like personality? Surely he should be shown videos of some of this behaviour, along with the cringe-worthy dives he quite often performs.

Although the above comments may not sound like this, I am a huge fan of Gerri; we are a much more dangerous side with him in the team. That said, rules should apply to the whole squad if Martinez wants us to have unity.

Baines and Coleman are I agree our best full back pairing.

However if you go on form and ability there is no way either Barry or Besic can be dropped from the team. So in my view if you want McCarthy to start one of the other squad members has to make way for him. (By the way I feel this midfield trio would go a long way to curtailing our defensive lapses.)

From what I have seen Funes Mori is contributing the most to the team from the centre back position so to me that means Jagielka or Stones should make way for him. That's a tough call.

That leaves us 3 more outfield positions to fill which brings us to the Mirallas dilemma.

Lukaku must start so 2 more to pick from Mirallas, Deulofeu, & Barkley. If you want Mirallas in your starting eleven, which I do going on his Chelsea performance and goal scoring ability, Barkley or Deulofeu must make way for him. Another very tough call.

When Coleman and McCarthy are available the manager has real selection head aches of the right kind.

As far as Yarmolenko is concerned I can't see it happening but if it did it would definitely signal the end for Mirallas which I think would be a mistake. We haven't had much success recruiting from Russia. Mirallas is a proven premiership performer.

As an aside, there has been much suggestion that we need a back up for Lukaku if he gets injured - I think Mirallas would prove a very viable option in that position given his goal scoring record with us and also before he came to us.

So it looks like a lay down miser to me – Mirallas must get more game time.

So it probably won't happen!

Jagielka and Stones aren't selected because of their attacking ability.

Mirallas scores goals, which he does very well. Full stop.

Those of you who go on (and on and on) about how useful a defender he is are as bad as Martinez.

Just get him in the starting eleven and let's make something of yet another mediocre-looking season.

However, our issue this season (and last) has not been with the atracking part of our game. We let in 50 odd league goals last season and we're currently on course to let in even more this season! That despite playing no less than 7 defensive players from the start most games. Defensive set up, tactics, individual errors, whatever it is it's obviously not being addressed properly (or at all).

Until we sort out the defensive side, it doesn't really matter who we play up front when we let in 1.5 goals a game on average.

If Stones does go for £50m then splash the cash on Jack Butland and Ashley Williams. After that, all we are missing is the Andy Gray factor from 1984 to turn us from nice to nasty. For me, that person has to be Rooney with the Kiev lad in tow for some more class.

Not even his mother or his greatest fan can guarantee that he will perform consistently; he has never played that way in the past so it is up to him to provide that consistency. I'm not saying drop him after one bad game but, if he is trying in every game, then keep him in.

However, it would seem his mouthing about moving elsewhere cost him his place but his goal last weekend was a gem and one hopes the partnership is further revived as Kone seems to have lost his early season form.

Offensively the Blues are doing better than most teams but those defensive woes are killing us.

Agreed... so we can drop Deeulofeu since he doesn't try after about 55 minutes? Deulofeu as the sub then allows Mirallas and Barkley and Lennon to be used behind Lukaku. Pienaar and Deulofeuas offensive subs and McCarthy and Gibson as midfield subs, and Robles, Stones and Oviedo as the other subs.

It's interesting that RM has been trying Osman & Pienaar in recent weeks. Along with Cleverley... we actually have a very good squad. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cleverley and Mirallas either side of Barkley on Saturday.

On that performance, I would start him against Swansea.

I do not think it is a case that Deulofeu doesn't try, it is just that he is absolutely knackered after 70 minutes.

I don't know why this so but, until they sort his fitness out, he would be best used as a sub.

Keep your shape boys even if it is all over the place, and don't get stretched, because my shape can only cover one side!

After Mirallas scored the goal against Chelsea, the co-commentator said, "That reminded me of a Matt le Tissier type goal." Was Matt remembered as a hard-working, track-back kind of player? Hmmm, no.

Deulofeu and his fitness problem, could you see this being the case under Moyes? Most of the team don't look fit to me, in the later stages of the game.

How many players would you say are consistently good in each match? Scratching your head are you Jim? That's why it's ludicrous to me to leave Mirallas out of any game. He's a game turner to me.

As for Howard, well you just can't put in to words why RM, prefers him. Can't be form, can it?

All this shit about Howard, keeping the dressing room alive, well, I wonder what the defenders in front of him really think?

Oh by the way Jim, whats happened to Conor McAleny? Got to better than Kone, hasn't he?

I never bothered under Moyes.

Sell Naismith for £8.5m – "should have sold Kone", forgetting no one is going to pay for a player who wouldn't pass a medical (his knees are beyond dodgy)

Mirallas doesn't play – when given his time on the pitch he was poor up till Chelsea, anything good Kone has done is brushed aside as people don't want him to be effective.

The reality with Mirallas – if its about talent and applying it on the pitch consistently then he is one of the first on the sheet. The problem regarding Mirallas is Mirallas himself. If he stops thinking "me, me, me" then I think he may find himself in the team a lot more.

Well that maybe true Matt, that Deulofeu and Lukaku wouldn't have been here only for RM.

But Deulofeu is in and out of games, inconsistent although he has provided Lukaku with a lot of assists.

Lukaku only came good this season as an all round player. As he want's Champions League football, he maybe off this summer. So what will RM's two great buys really have achieved for us?

11th last season and possibly a similar position this season. If your happy with that Matt, fine, but I'm not.

You are right, OFM would not have signed Lukaku, mainly because he was never given anywhere near £28 million to spend. As for Deulofeu maybe the Spanish connection has played a big part in him coming to Everton.

But when we signed Lukaku nobody else was interested in him at £28 million, there was some speculation about Wolfsburg being interested. Now whether that was Chelsea saying that, I don't know... but either way they didn't come close to putting in a bid.

Deulofeu as I see it is no more than an elaborate loan deal. When have you ever heard a deal being agreed were the selling club can take him back after 1 or 2 seasons at a fixed price? Even RM has said that there is nothing he can do if Barca activate this option, so he is hardly our player, is he?

It's as though many Evertonians have bought into the Spaniard's view that it's performances that count rather than results.

Perhaps he's right after all. We'll have to wait and see!

Mirallas has not fulfilled his promise and application and focus have been an issue. Hopefully RM's man management helps create a great second half of the season.

Martinez approach of attacking and procession football is key to our performance. Defending is not part of that plan. The goals against indicates that. In the first season with Martinez we came 5th. Why? The mentality of the defence and team as a whole were still in the Moyes approach. As time has gone by Martinez has implemented his coaching methods.

My worry with Martinez is the lack of recognition that defending is a fundermental part of winning games. A top manager sees the big picture and reflects on his own methods. Up to now this is not happening. I don't see us being in a relegation scrap this season but I do in the next two to three seasons. Martinez must change direction in coaching the players in keeping a lead by closing out games.

I must say I worry more about relegation under Martinez than I did under Moyes!

Or is it the prospect of watching us blow the chance of winning games with a constant failure to close matches out through the manager's naivety?

In his first season, Roberto was still finding his feet at a new club. The existing structure in place coupled with some new initiatives worked very well.

Up to the Crystal Palace home game, when effectively the wheels came off, Roberto's press conferences were focused entirely upon Everton and Everton alone. I distinctly recall him saying that as a club we look to ourselves and not the opposition.

Then suddenly his pre-match conference style shifted to how good the opposition were and how we will have to be cautious and do this and that to counter their threats. We all know what happened and has been happening ever since.

It is as if Roberto had an epiphany and assumed a completely different persona. Did it occur at around the time his contract was upgraded? If so this may explain that he felt he had assumed control and power to tinker and mess about, without the risk of any disciplinary reaction, could have gone to his head, quite literally... I wonder?