Deulofeu faces tough climb at Barça

A club like Everton or Sevilla would probably suit his development more as he would be able to see genuine first team opportunities coming his way if he put the work in, not necessarily the case at Barcelona

I wasn't his greatest fan but he can offer the unpredictable element to our monotonous workman like midfield plodding of late.

I remember him fizzing in balls to Lukaku (who was caught unaware and potentially surprised at how good young Geri could be)

This kid has so much potential and would inject much needed youthful pace that is lacked by Osman, McGeady and Pienaar.

Imagine a permanent front 4 of Lukaku, Mirallas, Geri and Ross.
Backed up but other young players in Seamus, McCarthy, Oviedo, Stones, Garbutt, Besic and (everyones new flavour of the month) Tyias Browning.

Has a lot of pace and talent but his final decision needs to improve a lot, which would hopefully come with experience and decent coaching. Far too many blind alleys and shots when a better option was to pass/cross.

Still, is an exciting player. Wonder why we didn't get him back on loan when Barca decided not to have him in the first team squad.

Sometimes dazzling, frequently disappointing. Can be greedy and not chase back.... i.e. a luxury player albeit one that can change games.

A good late sub for me.

I'd have him back if we could but I'm not that surprised to hear he hasn't been played much at Sevilla.

Next season, I won't be surprised if he signs on with us permanently when he finally gets over his irrational confidence in his abilities and realizes he must grow as a player. That growth can only occur somewhere you are given a chance, and we can provide that.

The article stated he's started to create chances and Sevilla are scoring goals, after a quick check he's just starting to get a run of games so I expect him to take his chance.

It's been stated that Enrique didn't want to see him return here as he thought Everton concentrated too much on trying to improve the defensive side of Geri's game, to the detriment of his attacking ability. 'They tried to kill his flair' being the (alleged) accusation.

Ironically, shortly after the move Barcelona saw as the better option, the Seville manager subsequently came out and stated he would refuse to pick Deulofeu until he started doing his fair share of defensive graft: "His selection will only come with the process of improvement. We want him to improve his overall game- his team play and defensive actions".

There's not much doubt that Martinez would have had him back at Goodison given the chance. Also, given the ponderous nature of much of Everton's approach play thus far this season, there's not much doubt that Deulofeu's pace and direct running would have provided a different outlet, enabling the team to turn defence into attack more swiftly.

Obviously, Atsu was brought in as an alternative, but if Deulofeu looked like he wasn't quite ready at times last season then Atsu remains rawer than a sushi roll.

During the recent Europa game, in which he was dragged off at half time, he looked lost and hopelessly bereft of confidence when on the ball. The amount of times he paused, put his head down and passed it straight to an opposition player, it was almost like he was trying to patent his own drinking game (A shot of Absolut every time the ball slices of Atsu's boot? Arseholed after 20 mins).

Like who? I guess your primary target is Lukaku but who else is there on this long list?

It's baffled me.

Barry? Can't really be classed as lazy when he's not missed a single game so far.

What other loans have we had recently that subsequently became permanent?

Pienaar a few years ago? Frustrating at times, flings himself to the floor needlessly, but I wouldn't think 'laziness' is a charge even his biggest critic could lay at his feet.

Before that...Howard? Falls asleep at inopportune times now and again but can't say it's because he can't be arsed.

Oh wait, I finally got it. You lazy bastard Yobo!! Fasten your fucking shoe lace in your own time you overly casual c##t!

So, so many. Bill must have the word 'sucker' wrote on his forehead in magic marker. No, of course he hasn't. Not really. Everyone knows it's spelt out in the form of a big birthmark under his fucking hair like Damien from the Omen.

We heard during summer when Atsu signed that he was more of a team player than Deulofeu and his crosses were more varied..

Utter bollocks..

Give me a blistering lightening direct winger like Deulofeu any day of the week than someone who just doesn't look capable of beating an egg with a garden fork.

I was instantly impressed with Deulofeu when I first saw him on his debut.
You could see straight away he was so direct and fast.
Ok he was selfish but that could eventually be trained out of him and he was slowed down last December by that bastard hamstring injury just when he was really hitting top shape.

I recall him tearing the redshite a new one at Goodison and Stoke at Goodison last season.

I want to see that again.

Deulofeu got me out of my seat.
Atsu doesn't yet, and from what I have seen so far I doubt very much he will.

But I agree with all that has been said about his directness and I simply cannot understand why anybody would not want him back with us, not least given these last few months of Atsu (but he could still come good).

The major reasons for not wanting Del back ought not to be about him and what he can or cannot do but what our main priorities ought to be in the next two windows.

Central defence and a new goalie are key for me, absolutely nailed on must dos. And then we need someone creative in the middle and – let's see what happens with Kone and Eto'o – perhaps another striker.

So, Del as Harold says in a different context might be 'a luxury' but Lordy he can leg it up both wings and at his best is shattering!

Drenthe is at Sheff Wed on loan from Reading.

Dellboy was good at going past defenders but his final ball was usually not good. Also his passing was very poor, perhaps why RM has doubts.

The Seville manager said he wouldn’t be selected till his attitude changed.

Always had the confidence to try things and was always positive. When you look at the rubbish we have had to put up with from our wide players (McGeady especially) this season.

I'd have him back without question.

I can't believe how many hard bitten Evertonians fall in love with these 'luxury players'.They win you nothing. Ever.

It's probably because Evertonians have been so used to watching some serious tripe this past 20 years that when a "luxury" player comes along we feel spoiled.

I don't want to go back to the day's of just having players who try, but offer nothing on the wing, without meaning to sound disrespectful to McGeady, it feels lineage Simon Davies/ Kev Kilbane days again...
Lots of effort but not really very good.

I agree about Atsu at the minute though. He is going to need to learn fast, otherwise you're looking at the nickname Shitsu before long.

They have some seriously good young players there, so competition will be strong for places. Not sure how Barça's transfer ban will pan out for Deulofeu club football wise, but I'd hate to see him spunk his chance at making a proper career for himself.

I would hope that if Geri is available that Martinez had the influence to sign him up for Everton. This season has been turgid to date and a couple of creative players certainly wouldn't go amiss in January.

Step up, Leon Osman.

In addition to pace, he clearly is also endowed with excellent technique. He can control the ball. Final ball may be a bit lacking but that can be learned- and I think some of the criticism there lies with our forwards not being on the same (fast) wavelength.

Back on a loan spell? Definitely yes, no doubt. On a permanent deal? Well we’re geting a bit burnt on those right now so I think that would depend on the terms.

It certainly seems he is not in Barca’s plans so maybe he will be on RM’s radar come January.

I would love to have him over again; he will learn and become more composed.

Another ludicrously talented man we had named Tony Grant said that, once he realised you just need to play the game simply, he never looked back (well, and you need to stay injury-free obviously). When Gerry learns this, he will be great.

As for Atsu, I'm not seeing a fraction of the talent we saw last season from Deulofeu. Not seeing any talent at all come to think of it.

Suddenly????<

Have you been on sabbatical, Chris? Some of the mouth-foamers on here have been bashing him since he signed.

McGeady is costing us points – and he will continue to do so.

I'm with the majority that I'd have him back today, even if he does have to catch his breath every now and then. I'd rather see a guy bust his gut, and have to suck some air, than a jogger.

Really??!!

Christ I thought he had been alright!!! I'd like to know what said mouth-foamers problem with him is??!!! Like I said, granted he has his limitations but I can think of many worse performers this season, or are they all getting clobbered as well!!!

Paul Dark

In what way is he costing us points?? I'm not trying to start an argument with you or defend him, that is a genuine question. What do you think he is doing that is costing us points? Missing easy chances, giving the ball away and that resulting in goals against us, or his final ball being so bad that he is causing us to not score goals that we should?

I really did think he had been okay so far, not our best player at all, but not terrible?

I've watched back last season's DVD and Deulofeu played a big part in the way we played and was always an outlet when we wanted to counter.

He was always an out-ball and, cos of his pace and trickery, got us into dangerous situations. Although, a lot of the time, what he tried didn't come off... but, with time and experience, he would eradicate that and become a class player. If he was to become available ever again, then I'd love us to be in for him!

If Geri ever was to return to us, I'd pick him up from Spain myself!

He scared the crap out of every defender who faced him and has more raw talent then anyone in our or most other English squads. He could one day be world class!

Martinez obviously thought he was ’phenomenal’, as he does with most young players we have, but I don’t really subscribe to the wankfest that is Deulofeu.

GD absolutely HAS IT. There are a lot of rough edges to smooth out; there is a lot of ego to deflate; he needs to try harder, and run further. But, if we could get him to do all those things [and I think RM could] what a player we would eventually have!

Also, by being publicly 'dumped' by Barcelona, he may have had an unexpected crash-course in humility!

Remember, it's not exactly a disgrace to be not quite as good as Messi, Neymar & Iniesta!!

In my opinion only Browning is anywhere near ready.

We've had plenty come through the academy in the past: Rooney, Osman, Hibbert, Rodwell, Barkley... and at present, Garbutt and Browning look about the best of the current crop. Both look very good players, but I think Garbutt will have to go on loan because he has Baines and Oviedo (both very good players) in front of him in the pecking order.

I don't see many other PL clubs churning out young players from their academies. It's very tough nowadays for young English players to make it at the top level.