Mirallas recalled to Belgium squad by Martinez

Lyndon Lloyd , 26 August, 57comments | Jump to most recent

Kevin Mirallas has been given an opportunity to win his place back in his country's team by his former club manager.

The Everton forward has been named in the Belgium squad for the upcoming international break by new Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez.

It's a move that comes as something of a surprise given how Mirallas appeared to fall out of favour under the Catalan at Goodison Park, particularly in his final season as the Blues' boss.

Whether Martinez has opted for familiarity in his first Belgian squad or has called the 28-year-old up because of his good form in the first two games of the new Premier League season, Mirallas now has an opportunity to get back into the fold in his national side.

Reader Comments (57)

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James Marshall
1 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:33:33

Phenomenal.

Steve Hartwell
2 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:33:55

Let's hope the joker doesn't ruin him just as he's getting back to the form we know he's capable of. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back injured.

One positive note: let's hope some of Henry's genius rubs off on our Belgium players.

Tim Greeley
3 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:37:06

Nice James!
Beat everyone to it, I bet that felt good. The rest of TW is envious of this moment that we are all in.

Nick Armitage
4 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:37:31

Thanks James, just spat my lunch out laughing at that.

Ian Burns
5 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:38:16

Thiery Henry appointed as coach - even more phenomenal!

Alex Bennett
6 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:41:52

He must enjoy sitting with him on the bench because he rarely let him start a game not on it

Steve Brown
7 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:45:35

This gets more bizarre by the day. Jones and Thierry Henry on the same coaching team.

Stewart Lowe
8 Posted 26/08/2016 at 12:58:04

I have just been listening over old Everton / Martinez press conferences. Did this guy actually manage us? ha ha

"Phenomenal" "Outstanding" "Remarkable" "Unique Talent" "Winning Mentality" "Exceptional"

Did Martinez actually relegate Wigan and get promotion to Everton?

Did Martinez actually turn our Everton into Wigan over a 3 year period and only not get relegated because of Lukaku's goals, and then get promoted to coach of the most talented International squad?

Ya couldn't write it could ya ha ha

Paul Mackie
9 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:12:25

Bobby must have some serious dirt on Belgian officials to have landed this gig.

Andrew Lightfoot
10 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:28:59

Martinez today, 'The attacking quality in our group is very rich. Henry's experience on being able to help in growing through that situation as a team is very important.'

What does that even mean?!

James Marshall
11 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:32:01

Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez: "Henry has been in the situation to change the spirit into winning something."

What? Exceptional bullshit as ever from Bobby!

Peter Morris
12 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:33:17

I reckon Bobby liked the chit chat in the dugout with KM, because that's where he kept him most of the time, and maybe he fancies doing the same again?

John Wells
13 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:34:41

Fuck me after hearing him talk today it literally brought a tear of joy to my eyes that he is gone.

He is so painful, beyond a joke.

Phil Sammon
14 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:37:17

It's actually quite an art. The ability to stand in a room, hold court, talk absolute shite and still never be questioned on it. Reserved only for Kings for hundreds of years, Martinez seems to have got it down to a tee.

Just once I long for a reporter to scream, "What are you fucking on about???" Or the Belgian equivalent.

Nick Page
16 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:51:04

Hahaha LOL, Phil. He is actually, phenomenal at it.

Stephen Brown
17 Posted 26/08/2016 at 13:56:55

I agree with most of the above but I actually wish RM well! Talked a lot of shit but heart was in the right place I'm sure!

Hope he does well!

Rob Dolby
18 Posted 26/08/2016 at 14:28:17

You couldnt make this stuff up. How has he landed that gig?

Denis Lawrence and Graeme Jones have won the lottery with RM. Mingolet, Vertongan and Alderweld may as well just play triangles for 2 years before RM is rumbled again.

Richard Lord
20 Posted 26/08/2016 at 14:36:10

Agree with post 2, I am worried that Lukaku and Mirallas will be hampered by having to spend more time learning and playing to that idiots ways... let's hope they both announce international retirement to focus on club football!

Sajid Patel
21 Posted 26/08/2016 at 14:37:38

RM has special talent.

He will create special moments for Belgium.

He might actually do a good job.

At Everton he didn't have enough talent to play the the way he liked.

He can't make Belgium any more open than they are already?? Or can he... haha!

Anto Byrne
23 Posted 26/08/2016 at 15:39:48

The Wiganisation of Belgium has begun. The good thing about this call up is KM not going to be injured unless he gets a splinter in his ass.

Eric Myles
24 Posted 26/08/2016 at 15:41:21

He needs Mirallas as the designated penalty taker.

Minik Hansen
25 Posted 26/08/2016 at 15:49:38

Rebuilding the relationship, now that's a great example. The people's club spirit, COYB.

Winston Williamson
26 Posted 26/08/2016 at 15:56:48

We should be thanking our God's we don't have any Belguim defenders!

Does Martinez know anything other than blowing smoke rings up anybodies arse?

If he acts like a clown, sounds like a clown, then the fool is a clown!

Frank Mullin
27 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:00:24

I detect some startling similarities to the old Hans Christian Andersen tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" in Bobby's latest comments. I'm hoping it won't come to him parading down the street naked as a jaybird before the Belgians eventually suss him.

Tony Draper
28 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:22:45

Stuart @8.
"I have just been listening over old Everton / Martinez press conferences ".

?
? ?
? ? ?

Tony Draper
29 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:37:08

Frank @27.
"I'm hoping it won't come to him parading down the street naked as a jaybird before the Belgians eventually suss him".

I think that you'll find that Bobo is in fact the tailor, not the Emperor !

Phil @ 14.
You so often get pilloried for being miserable, well OK negative. Not everything that you say is wrong. Today you have succeeded in provoking me to involuntarily unload my "double barrelled snotgun" dead centre of my screen.

I like:
"Just once I long for a reporter to scream, "What are you fucking on about???" Or the Belgian equivalent.".
I like it a great deal, apart from the bleary mess that it created. But, thanks.

Denis Richardson
30 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:39:07

Hilarious.

Ray Said
31 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:54:26

i can just imagine Denis Lawrence and Graeme Jones elbowing Henry out the way on the training pitch-'No Terry, this is how you do it son'.

Stewart Lowe
32 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:59:08

The only way this could have been funnier is if it had been Martinez and Brendan Rodgers at the Belgium helm, as they are both as false and flawed as each other. These guys looked at Guardiola's style of play and only took the passy passy part of it, left out all 95% of all the other Guardiola ingredients and believed themselves to be messiah's pioneer's of how to pass a football.

I am laughing ear to ear ha ha

Jim Hardin
33 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:25:52

Well, if he doesn't retire from international football immediately, at least Kev can't get hurt during the international break. Unless of course, he falls off of the end of the bench.

Joe Clitherow
34 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:31:47

You really can't make this stuff up! It did make me laugh to see him spouting the same nonsensical rubbish in his presser and imagining all the Belgian heads nodding in sage agreement as if he is distributing pearls of wisdom and they pretend to understand.

Fast forward a few months and far less nods and far more looks of complete bewilderment. Except that with much less international games he may come under far less scrutiny.

Brought Henry in for his "winning mentality" ("We'll soon knock that rubbish out of him, say all Three of the Stooges, Martinez, Jones and Lawrence")

How long before Thierry Henry does a Samuel Eto'o once he sees Graeme Jones and Dennis Lawrence taking a training session?

Hahahaha!!

Peter Carpenter
35 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:37:56

Don't go Kev, it's a trap!

Jay Harris
36 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:38:01

He probably convinced the Belgian FA that he was going to win the World Cup and then, when it comes to it, he will blame the translator and say he meant Belgium would be in the World Cup.

Stewart Lowe
37 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:46:24

Belgium defenders can kiss goodbye to their International careers for at least the next 2 years as this guy just doesn't know anything about it.

It annoyed me that none of the media in that Belgium press conference once questioned his short comings at both Everton and Wigan?

If he were coming to Manage the England national team after spending the last 4 years Spain relegating one team and two 11th place finishes (and with a huge goals conceded ratio) with another club, wouldn't we all be questioning how and why that happened? The English Premier League doesn't end at Calais, people watch our league all around the world.

Makes no sense... ha ha.

Funny, though!

Oscar Huglin
38 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:47:22

Stephen #17 Completely agree. He was frustrating, but clearly a decent guy and tried his best. No need for all this stick.

Stewart Lowe
39 Posted 26/08/2016 at 17:57:24

Stephen 17# & Oscar#38

A decent guy wouldn't have wrapped himself up as lamb when having the substance of mutton.

A decent guy wouldn't have hung out Baines to be a scapegoat when answering a reporters questions honestly.

A decent guy wouldn't have sold us bullshit for 3 year's worth of press conference's.

A decent guy wouldn't have blamed everyone but himself and his cronies for the crap he brought to Wigan and Everton.

Dick head springs to mind.

Phil Walling
40 Posted 26/08/2016 at 18:16:47

Stewart @37. Notwithstanding the Belgium Press, there was plenty in these columns who took a long time to suss the Catalan Philosophiser!

All it took was a glance at the Wigan newspaper quotes and a chat with a few Pie Eaters to find the Emperor had no clothes apart from an FA Cup badge pinned to his arse

Martin Mason
41 Posted 26/08/2016 at 18:31:07

OK, on the appointment of Martinez I can't provide any defence for my hero Kim Jong Bill. He totally lost his marbles but Martinez can fool people, I mean, he has a job and if anybody shouldn't be allowed near a paid job in football, it's RM.

Kevin Elliott
42 Posted 26/08/2016 at 18:39:28

Mirallas must be buzzing.
Bet he can't wait for his reunion with Coco.
Stewart @39. Bang on mate.

Mike Gaynes
43 Posted 26/08/2016 at 18:52:43

Stewart #8, #32 and #39, I'm laughing too... but not at Martinez.

I think the idea that anybody would, for some strange reason, actually expend his hours "listening over old Everton / Martinez press conferences" is absolutely drop-dead hilarious.

Tony Byrne
44 Posted 26/08/2016 at 18:58:02

Stewart #39 nailed it.

An absolute football fraud of the highest order, I'm still in shock that this utter tool has been given another role in football!

His interview with Jamie Carragher still gives me nightmares.

He probably still exonerates himself of any blame for our teams demise when he managed us.

Patrick Murphy
45 Posted 26/08/2016 at 19:32:35

I think Leighton Baines says quite a lot about the previous managerial regime in his reflections on the new Koeman led management team.
Baines on Training

Darren Hind
46 Posted 26/08/2016 at 19:37:37

Martinez will do well as an international manager. He was never an Everton manager – although its quite amusing to see those who for so long, thought he was, now getting to the front of the queue to mock him.

He didn't have what it takes to look after a club side, he didn't have the 24/7 dedication. He didn't have the attention to detail. he was a bit of a fantasist . . but those who think he won the FA Cup by accident are clearly clueless, do they not remember they murdered us on the way? Some of their performances were inspired.

International management is about tournament football; it's different and only a fool would rule out this talented team to win a major tournament under Martinez and Henry.

Brent Stephens
47 Posted 26/08/2016 at 19:48:17

Baines "The manager doesn't seem to be trying to complicate things when it's not necessary." Seems to be an indictment of Roberto – playing by numbers. As is the comment about no longer being left to oneself to do gym work etc. You can see why we became so unfit (well, them, not me).

Des Farren
48 Posted 26/08/2016 at 19:58:32

The man failed at Everton and has departed.

Many of the comments here are mean-spirited, bitter and unnecessary.

Dave Abrahams
49 Posted 26/08/2016 at 20:06:39

Gavin (46) he might do well as an Internatiolal manager, then again he insisted to a lad I know that England would win the Euros, so he might be as bad as we think he is no matter who he manages.

Martin Mason
50 Posted 26/08/2016 at 20:15:28

At times we produced unbelievable performances under Martinez (like Southampton away last year). I believe that what this showed was that, in the end, random luck plays a part if you have a decent squad of players. Occasionally they will play well whatever damage a totally incompetent idiot of a manager like Martinez does otherwise. Why does his incoherent rambling at press conferences not preclude him from any job? The man is an incompetent buffoon who would likely have taken us down this year.

Colin Glassar
51 Posted 26/08/2016 at 20:51:42

If Phillipe Senderos can play for some of the best teams in the world and Roberto Martinez can get one of the best teams in world football to manage, then I guess there's still hope for the rest of us.

Ian Cowhig
52 Posted 26/08/2016 at 21:04:37

One word describes the selection of Mirallas, and the press conference 'cringeworthy'.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Martinez asks Lukaku what he was laughing about when the announcement of Martinez as Belgium boss was being announced.

James Flynn
53 Posted 26/08/2016 at 23:00:40

This is Martinez we're talking about; no one slicker.

He names Kevin to the national team. Screeching halt to Evertonian Mirallas ever putting the poor mouth on him to the English press.

This guy's so good, he should run for office. I'm serious.

Ian Riley
54 Posted 27/08/2016 at 00:27:40

Martinez had a go at Everton bringing talented players in. Tried to play the game the right way. I know made a complete balls out of it but intention was there. Might work at international level. Less time to put his ideas across.

Karl Meighan
56 Posted 27/08/2016 at 07:46:31

Let's get things right, I like Mirallas but hes been fucking shite for at least 2 seasons that's no fault of Martinez.

Missed pens, sendings off and going missing for 85 minutes when he did play were all good reason to leave him out.

The seasons two games old that's not a consistent run in the side, if he can string a run of games together then he deserves credit but I don't think Martinez treatment of Mirallas was bad management.

He has lots of faults Roberto is treatment of Kevin Mirallas was not one of them.

Keith Glazzard
57 Posted 27/08/2016 at 11:18:54

That is such a weird headline, a real double-take.

Barry Jones
58 Posted 27/08/2016 at 12:46:43

I still can't believe there are on TW referring to Martinez as a nice guy and a capable guy. Where have you been and what have you been doing? He is neither.

He is a phony who took us several steps backwards and ruined the team spirit collectively and individually. Thank you, Patrick, for the Baines article, it says everything.

Lev Vellene
59 Posted 27/08/2016 at 13:36:46

Well, look at it this way, he'll naturally not have any defensive strategy at all, but like in his first season with us he'll get the defenders already fully fit from their respective clubs. Then he'll send them back again for further training.

So if KM and Pingu can get them to plan defense at the hotel behind RM's back?

He'll hopefully not be able to Martinez' their natural skills and mentalities in the limited time he's got available... Maybe...

Simon Bates
60 Posted 27/08/2016 at 19:22:31

I'm really not so sure he will flop at international management, after all, he is basically a cup manager: his record at Wigan obviously, but the league was his downfall at both clubs.

I never once thought he was good enough to manage us, but when you take into account the actual amount of time he'll get with his players now, it won't be enough to unbalance our contingent hopefully.

I think he should just let them practice ticcy-taccy at his gatherings, then just let them play their game, don't practice defending, so they still can actually defend properly and he'll win the Euros!!

I'd still love to see him ruin Spurs defence though.

Damian Wilde
61 Posted 29/08/2016 at 22:18:41

Some incredibly witty comments,ToffeeWeb at its finest!

Particularly enjoyed Phil's (14), laughed out loud on the train!

I like how we can laugh at Martinez now ðŸ˜…

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