Mirallas left out of matchday squad

I recall the game against West Ham where he really performed to the hilt, but otherwise, top performances are very few and far between.

If he goes then I wish him well. COYB

I hate to draw comparisons but having just watched the other crowd demolish Arsenal in the first 45 minutes where are the EFC signings that can excite as much as Mane, Firmino, Salah? We just keep accumulating midfield workhorses.

But loaning him? Nah.

I think he is saying it to the board rather than the press.

A top class striker should have been the first player we bought in. To be in this position near deadline day is pathetic.

As already mentioned above, the squad is so thin when it comes to attacking players with pace, it's really worrying. Other than Lookman and Mirallas, we have no attacking players with any pace. Sandro isn't slow but isn't really pacey either and Lennon is just not good enough. We desperately need some pace in the side.

All the sides above us in the league are packed with attacking players with pace – that is no coincidence.

What about a double swoop for Mahrez and Vardy – 㿨m?

Could it be because he wasn't used last week and the ineffective Lennon was? You know, the guy who is supposed to be going out on loan to Watford this week? When he has been used so far Mirallas has been a breath of fresh air... so why was he dropped? From even the bench?

I see the also we have the "get rid" in abundance once more... just how many players can our chosen one piss off before it dawns on us that he doesn't give a monkey's about the club, it's players or fans, he has embarked on an exercise in stepping stones on his way to god knows where.

Really... come on... Lennon before Mirallas? Can anyone of you justify that on playing ability, on goalscoring?

No wonder the guy has allegedly chucked his toys out the pram...

In fact, in the last 5 years, he's had many false dawns. That's not to say I agree with him going, if he does. He can add something we haven't really got if you get him firing. A loan would be pointless and out the question.

Also, I hope a replacement is lined up. As for his possible attitude issue. That wouldn't really surprise either. Interesting few days ahead till the deadline.

Much like Deulofeu, the theoretical qualities you bring to the pitch don't count for much if you aren't actually producing anything.

As we have seen, there is little substance to these inconsistent flair players and they all seem to think they are much better than they are. I made my mind up long ago when I found he drives a gold Bentley; absolute bellend.

The team is bereft of both of these types of player at the moment and the ones we do have want out!! It says it all really.

The next two league games are going to be really telling from the point of view of how the team is going to be set up for the season. Yes, we all know we need a striker and a left-sided defensive player. We also need some pace from the middle of the park. Mid-table at best without Lukaku's goals.

When he has been used so far, Mirallas has been a breath of fresh air.". .. Really, Christine?

He isn't the bee's knees he isn't a brilliant player but he offers something we don't have...

So Deulofeu gone, Lukaku gone, Barkley all but gone, Mirallas on his way... all attractive attacking players on their day, but hey, Barry went and... er... hang on.. .Williams, Jagileka, McCarthy... it's getting easier to spot a trend here.

It's the way I see it. That's all...

Happy to criticise Koeman, but I'm not prepared to man the barricades for Mirallas.

At least Kev for all his faults will have a go at going forward.

Christine, he has been here five seasons, more than enough to have become a regular player. He is very, very inconsistent, you like him fair enough, I hope he is sold or used as a swap for another player, not on loan, looked good when he first came but hasn't done it for me.

Mirallas signs a new deal and is then pretty much completely fucked off.

He needs to be moved on along with McCarthy, Barkley and Niasse as it seems once your in Koeman's bad books your pretty much fucked.

We need a striker and we need a quality wide man with pace and the ability to score goals.

Lennon is being spoken about now but fact is he's not good enough. He wasn't good enough to play for Spurs as they felt Townsend was better. Townsend is now a squad player for Palace so that points to the level Lennon is at.

Mahrez and a top quality striker would improve us drastically, anything less and we're 7th at best.

I still have the naive view that there is a great player in Barkley waiting to get out.

We set out to stop them and when we went behind are plan was to stop them scoring more. It was fucking wretched.

The people praising him? Strange. Have you not seen him play in the last 3 years for us? A case of "not in the side making him a better player" I think.

We've just got rid of Lukaku for north of 㿷 mill (allegedly) but last season he was patently unable to deliver the holding/scoring role we still currently need as a centre-forward (and for the avoidance of doubt, Lukaku is shit at "holding/challenging for" the ball in my opinion). To me that means we need either to find way more than 㿷 mill for a replacement or we need to have huge faith in the abilities of Koeman, Walsh and whoever to identify and attract some relative unknown of that ilk.

I include the "whoever" in the above just in case Koeman and Walsh actually had no input at all in signing the likes of Vardy, Mahrez. Pelle, Sane and the like – all of whom transformed their clubs.

As if! Surely?

Suffered from being neither one thing or t'ther. Forward or winger? Never a team player, always for himself, no problems there Kev, just deliver.

A player who created memorable moments, but rarely could string more than 60 minutes together let alone 2 games.

If anything sums Kev up, it's the WBA penalty debacle. Put himself first, and failed to deliver.

Considering our performance at Chelsea and a couple of earlier games, there will be more to add to the list and it may not all be on he playing staff.

Nobody to bring the ball forward and distribute, All passes were across the field and regularly back to Pickford. No attacking threat. At least Mirallas tries to run with the ball at the defence. As for the comments that he is frustrating, he has good company in both players and management.

The problem I see with wingers is this; if they do their defensive duties, positional play, marking etc as may be instructed by management they largely go unnoticed unless you remember them tearing a full back a new arsehole all game, or beating a few players on a dazzling run on occasion they don't get noticed or appreciated, I do it myself, admittedly.

Maybe Gold-Plated Penis-Sheath Mirallas is going down the same route as Gibbo (not trying to kill a cyclist while pissed out of his nut); give him a new deal to take his resale value up. [Pure speculation on my part.]

Dave #39, I think you are confusing what the player can do with what the manager asks him to do.

Think back to when he came on as a sub, versus Swansea, and immediately got sent off for a ridiculous tackle, had a cob on with himself and the manager. It is all about opinions and we all are entitled to them.

Koeman apparently wants players that give 100%, nothing wrong with that, but we are becoming a squad with little creative flair.

I don't like the guy, and the way he's going on, how long before he loses the dressing room?

On top of that, the players are not good enough to be a top 6 side yet.

For me, I would cut my losses and make 3 signings before deadline day. These would be Ben Gibson, Demarai Gray and Costa or Vardy – then I would be reasonably happy.

He rarely passes the ball (remember Lukaku was so frustrated with him a few years ago?). He took the ball from Baines to try to score on a penalty (and missed!).

If he wants to be an automatic starter then he should find a lesser team.

His best days by far were under Moyes. I wonder why? Something to do with the way we played or the players around him?

A good player, with a high level of footballing skill. Inconsistent though, goes missing regularly. questionable attitude at times. All-in-all, unreliable.

I watched United v Leicester on Sat. If we could sell him on and somehow replace him with Gray – young, pacey, hungry etc. I would be delighted.

With Mirallas you keep thinking that 'it is there, somewhere' on the basis of his reputation or occasional glimpse of what could be. Five years down the line and he still isn't delivering. He should have been a key part of this team for the last 5 years. He hasn't been. It speaks volumes. A nearly man, just like all of our team really in recent times, bar Rom.

He comes across as sulky and the Baines penalty incident was stupid but I think he's been unfortunate sometimes because when he gets brought on from the bench, the pressure is often on him to save a game. Both Martinez and Koeman have persisted with other players like Bolasie, Lukaku, McGeady, Kone, Lennon et al at his expense when they themselves have not covered themselves in glory.

With so many midfielders and forwards being bedded in and not experienced in this league, I question the wisdom of allowing him to leave – especially if Barkley is also going.

Martinez's first season aside in which Mirallas was excellent the last 2 managers do not seem to have picked him on a regular basis and I think because of this he has not reached that high standard of which we all know he is capable of. I also think he could play the number 9 role which I believe is his best position but I fear he will now be off, which is a shame but I think I am in a small minority on this one.

Moyes had him in the first 11 when fit. RM did in his first season and then the madness set in. RK's selections have been questionable. So I'm not sure that he's been often benched by RK and RM proves all that much. It might say more about those managers.

He's one of the few players in the side who naturally thinks of attacking when he gets the ball, rather than pass sideways or slow things down.

Is he frustrating and inconsistent? Yes. But at least he has a go. We need more players who are prepared to go forward and go for goal with pace.

If he leaves and we have a decent replacement, I won't be down. But we can't just get rid with no replacement. Lennon is no where near the answer.

In defense of KM, whom I know can be frustrating, I'd suggest people think back to (or reflect on the now) when they played football, or any other team sport where selection was an issue.

I'm no sports psychologist, but being selected one week, scoring/performing adequately and then being benched for three matches messes with your head. I've been on the bench for a season and watched players I thought (I fucking knew) weren't as good as me run around losing games. Trust me, it makes you do things you might not normally do - i.e. come on late and make rash tackles.

The other thing that sticks out to me, and not just on this site, is the crap that attacking players cop in comparison to defensive players. Last season we had a fairly solid defense, but whenever things have gone badly it's usually the forwards (Lukaku, Mirallas, Barkley etc) who copped the brunt of it whilst the likes of Jagielka, Baines, Coleman are untouchable. Quite frankly, if I were a forward I wouldn't even consider playing in front of a crowd like that.

Admittedly a few would have been off the bench but the guy was definitely a 1st team regular last season so not sure what's gone on behind the scenes. Imo he should be starting games regularly. Especially as Sandro and Lookman need time to fully adjust.

I'd prefer if he stays but we can't get rid with no replacement.

On his day, I'd say he's as good as we have got, but when he speaks about his own family telling him he has to do more, then need we say anymore?

Maybe I'm biased after I read about the Belgian authorities chasing him for alleged tax evasion. . nothing worse if true in my opinion and would hate to have anything like this associated with us after all the work we do with Everton in the Community etc

He isn't a winger, he is being played as one. He is a striker and when played as one does deliver. At least better than anyone else at the club in recent times other than Lukaku.

Over the course of the last four seasons he has scored 29 compared to Barkley's 27, so he's hardly been ripping Ross a new one in recent years. The Belgians first season, in which Barkley only started 2 games, is all that puts clear distance between the pair.

Both could and should have been delivering more consistently in front of goal, when taking into consideration the natural talent they've been blessed with.

That the rest of the squad, bar Lukaku, has generally been bereft of attacking threat for far too long doesn't really constitute a reason to flatter the goal scoring contribution of either.

"He is a striker and when played as one does deliver"

Has he ever actually started as a striker for us? I honestly can't recall him doing so.

Again, I think you are talking a whole lot of sense.

Mirallas is our biggest goal threat right now and he must have looked at the shite being played and thought what am I doing here not even getting a game.

I know a lot of fans don't like him but I think given a run in the team he would provide significant goals from the flank.

Any of his fans think a PL club will be rushing to sign him?

I did indeed 'get' your point. I just thought you were overstating it.

True, Mirallas has scored 39 goals in his entire Everton career. As stated, I was comparing his total over the last four seasons with that of Barkley over the same period. Why? The simple claim that Mirallas has scored significantly more over the last five years fails to take into account that Ross barely featured at all during Kev's first season at the club (two starts).

Discount that extra season to make it more of a 'fair fight' and there's a mere two goals between them. The suggestion that "no-one else has come close" to keeping pace with Kev on the goal scoring front was stretching things a little too far.

Jay @76,

What (even fairly) recent evidence is there to suggest Mirallas can provide a "significant" number of goals if given more of "a run"? It's not like he can point to being frozen out over the last couple of years to explain away his middling contribution.

Mirallas featured in 66 games over the last two seasons and managed a grand total of 10 goals. In that same period even the much maligned Kone managed 9 in 40 with his Bad Grandpa body.

Kone in total had 62 appearances scoring 10 goals, giving a goals per game average of a goal every six games or 0.16 – as an out and out striker he didn't cut it when played.

I would not consider Barkley as anything other than an attacking midfielder so I believe the comparison to be fair on goals contribution to the team overall.