Cup joy marred by Mirallas setback

They have had their issues as well.

Seeing as we are 5th in the Prem and Bolton are 16th in the Championship and it was a freezing day, why did Moyes even play KM????

We have had pretty fair luck with injuries over the past couple of seasons, but Mirallas is extremely frustrating. I'm with Nick on this one... given the weather, it seems foolish to have rushed Mirallas back. Whatever the rest say, we should have gone with caution, in view of what happened when we rushed him back last time.

Danger is, needles to say, that if this happens again and one more time and one more time after that then KM might really end up a crock. He's class and let's hope that the gaffer's post-match assessment is the right one.

But, who'd start him against the Baggies?

I think he's arguably our most talented player so I have my fingers crossed but the fee we paid for him was quite low and I just wonder why.

We have on paper and form two relatively winnable games coming up but Everton's own form has dipped alarmingly so nothing will be easy. Just a few more days left to get a loan player but it looks like they have missed the boat this year and this will leave them woefully short of midfield prowess.

I do wonder if the board have got together and discussed whether its worth privately investing in our CL chances this year, or are they content to allow Moyes to keep us as best of the rest?

What really annoys me is that around the same time Mirallas did his hamstring, Gareth Bale did more or less the same thing but worse judging by the way he hopped off the pitch and yet was back playing a fortnight later.

Sods effin' law that we've been denied our most creative player for 3 months of the season already when we're one of the least able teams to cope with it because of the paucity of our squad.

We cannot carry injuries as well as not only the top 4 but virtually every team in the premiership.
We cannot rotate as we have no alternatives good enough as was proved against Leeds when DM got a slating for not playing a stronger side.
Magueye played OK for the reserves on his last outing but he cannot make it in the 1st eleven.
The same went for Bily and Rodwell thats why the experienced old pro's are continually trotted out.
Magueye and Naismith cannot cut it and with Neville ready for his pension we desperately need support from the board.
Mirallas is unfortunate but we do not have a good enough alternative.....Face facts.

If the argument is that you don't "risk him" then when do you? Do you wait another month and play him in a big game? Thirty minutes against Southampton, a (presumably) planned 45-60 minutes today, that's the kind of "easing him back in" that seems logical.

It's a bugger, but if the substitution was largely precautionary (which is the implication) then hopefully we can continue to see him get some limited playing time in the next couple of weeks as he works back to full match fitness.

Even more worrying — he sent Naismith on to warm up.

Good result through an average performance from a slightly jaded looked team with a threadbare squad and 2 more games quickly following.

In the leg there are groups and areas of muscle and tendons that do specific jobs, but they are all interlinked and support each other for the benefit of the whole. Simplistically, A bit like a team, you can 'carry' one player or tendon but only so much and so far. What happens is player Ham String is pulled so far out of position covering for player Knee Muscles or whatever and is over-stretched, a bit like a fullback covering a centre-back to the detriment of his own position. As I said, a bit simplistic and holistic but understandable.

Or he might be ok in the Greek League but here in the Prem he's a serial sicknote.

Nope, the real issue is the tiny tiny squad, it's ok I think to compete for mid table and avoid relegation battles, but this Mirallas thing highlights how pathetic it all is.....from DM down, fans inc, we are all desperate to have the creativity of Mirallas because we know there is virtually no plan B should some be struggling form wise or missing through suspension and injury. We knew this in August. Our good start just hid the issue but the last few games have brought it back into sharp focus. I don't understand why we won't gamble £15m of next years increased TV money or the inevitable Felli transfer funds and get three in now. I'd gamble on a couple of lower leaguers like Austin if he's back from his own injury, the lad from a chesterfield and yes, Tom Ince. I'd try one last time for Donovan. And what has happened to Vadis ?

Next two home games huge and hoping for another good FA Cup draw tomorrow.

We could lose or draw against West Brom and still finish in the same league position. It'd piss me off but it wouldn't be the end of our season.

Suarez is a vile, cynical cheat. And on this occasion his cheating paid dividends big time.

I agree with the Gibson shouts, he collects the ball off the centre backs and when he is in the team we are 100% better with the ball. Osman, Fellaini and Neville have been chronic in the last two games when playing CM. Let's hope this Dutch kid can add some much needed spark and quality to what looks like an average Everton side once again.