Selling Mirallas never an option

, 4 February, 32comments  |  Jump to most recent

Going nowhere yet. Roberto Martinez was insistent that Kevin Mirallas wasn't for sale last month.
Roberto Martinez says that letting Kevin Mirallas go to Tottenham as part of the efforts to bring Aaron Lennon to Goodison Park during the January transfer window was not under consideration.

The Belgian had been the subject of speculation linking him with Spurs following the news that he had put off making a decision over his Everton future until the summer.

Red-top transfer stories had claimed that the Blues were mulling a player-plus-cash deal for Mirallas but with Martinez steadfast in his desire to keep the player and the ex-Olympiacos forward eager for Champions League football, it was always a very long shot.

Martinez insists the focus was always on landing Lennon to add extra wide options and pace to the side for the remainder of the season. The Catalan also confirmed that Christian Atsu will return to Merseyside after the Africa Cup of Nations where he will continue his efforts to break into the team after a slow start since arriving on loan from Chelsea.

“No [letting Mirallas go] was never even a consideration,” the manager says in the Liverpool Echo. “We worked really hard to try and get Aaron Lennon to Everton and that was the only deal we were focused on.

“I feel he is the type of player that can really fit into the way we want to play. We now have really good competition and when Christian Atsu comes back from the Africa Cup of Nations I do feel we will be strong in wide areas.”

In the face of competition at White Hart Lane from Andros Townsend, Lennon had lost his automatic starting berth with Tottenham but his new boss feels that the 27 year-old is at the peak of powers and, as someone with plenty of Premier League experience, will be able to come straight into the team without too much bedding in.

“The wide player is someone who needs to be a specific one," Martinez continues.

“When you talk about wide players from abroad you have a real concern because by the time they get used to the pace, it can be difficult for them.

“I felt it had to be a very specific winger to fit into the club. If you are going to bring a foreign player then it is easier to do it in a central area.

“As a wide player you need the physicality and know-how of the Premier League. At that time, Aaron became available quite late.

“As you know, the deadline day brings opportunities. Aaron Lennon is a player I have always admired from a distance and clearly this was a unique opportunity for us."

 

Reader Comments (32)

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Steve Harris
1 Posted 04/02/2015 at 18:58:48
That's all very well and I'm glad he's staying for the time being but it seems obvious from his recent comments that he won"t be signing a new contract that runs out in 18 months so we'll either have to sell him in the summer or risk losing him on the cheap.

That's the problem with having a shit season: players like Mirallas get caught up with the hype that he's suddenly too good for us and 'deserves' to be playing in the Champions League

Lee Boylan
2 Posted 04/02/2015 at 19:13:57
Could we possibly go with Atsu on left, Lennon on right with Mirallas in the ten role? He couldnÂ’t be any worse than Barkley/Naismith have been of late.

We do look stronger as a squad now players are coming back. 2-1 derby win me hopes.

Dan McKie
3 Posted 04/02/2015 at 19:29:02
Why is Martinez suddenly trying to pedal how good Atsu has suddenly become? This is a guy who couldn't get into our team whilst we had Naismith and Barkley embarrassing themselves wide left. Hopefully Lennon will break the habit of his entire career and do something that sticks in people's heads during the 5 months he is here.

McGeady for all his faults, has never been given a run in the team and Mirallas will forever be a player described with the words 'on his day' proceeding any compliments. The use of the wide players from the manager this season has been shocking.

David Hallwood
4 Posted 04/02/2015 at 19:32:18
Bang on Steve, essentially if Miralles wants CL football why go to Spurs? also he would be a squad player if he went to any of the clubs that have a realistic chance of winning the CL. Otherwise its back to Turkey.
Declan O'Shaughnessy
5 Posted 04/02/2015 at 19:30:53
I've seen a few reports saying that Everton have an option to extend Mirallas's contract by another 12 months if they want to. Mind you, I'm not sure there's a whole lot of good in extending the contract of someone who doesn't want to be at the club. And, to me, Mirallas looked like he had no interest at all in being on the pitch for us at Palace last weekend. He looks completely disinterested and disgruntled.

Having said all that, I don't rate Mirallas anything like as much as some people (or Kevin himself) do. He very, very rarely picks the right option and is very, very greedy. If we could get £15-20m for him in the summer, I'd happily wave him goodbye. Whether there's someone naive enough to pay that kind of money for him, god only knows. The quicker 'Arry gets back into a monied club, the better for the likes of Everton!

Ian Bennett
6 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:03:47
I am a fan. He's a game changer and is approaching his peak in a squad desparetly short in the 25 to 30 bracket.

I reckon we'll take the option up and sell him, as he won't sign another deal and wants champions league. Can see him going Spain in the summer to a club like Athletico.

Phil Walling
7 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:12:51
More bla bla bla - most of which is about as authentic as his wish to keep Eto'o when he couldn't wait to get him off the squad.

Believe the opposite of what the guy says and you'll be near the truth. He and Bill must great fun trying to outbullshit each other.

He's employed to win football matches not make parliamentary speeches and will 'live or die' on how many points he gains by May not on how many words pass his lips.

Glen Garrett
8 Posted 04/02/2015 at 19:50:02
I personally think that Kevin Mirallas is a class player. Everton would be off there heads to sell him. He is a player Everton need to keep.

Just lately, Mirallas has had his problems – what player doesn’t.?If Lennon turns on the magic it will be great for Everton but what happens if he doesn’t??? Having Mirallas & Lennon will give Everton a chance.

They need to have players who can step in for one another in every position in all competitions. Martinez needs to get players who understand that football is about playing together as a team & playing for each other as a team & not just for themselves, having the respect for each other as a team & actually wanting to play for Everton football club & feeling proud to be wearing that famous blue & white shirt.

Start with that, Martinez, and Everton can get back to that hungry fearfull menacing attacking winning side that they were last season.

Trouble is, football now is all about the money money money & not for the love of the club.

Adam Luszniak
10 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:36:42
Phil, would you rather Martinez said nothing then? Or reveal whatever plans he has in terms of transfers? Would it be best to say "Kev has made his mind up and is probably going to leave when his contract runs out, so we'll be looking to sell him next summer before that happens?"
Colin Glassar
11 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:38:17
Phil, so if Martinez says "good morning" you’d say, "good afternoon"?
Mark Frere
12 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:33:16
Declan (5), I hope the reports that we have the option to extend his contract for another year are true because that means his market value will be much higher. If Mirallas only has 1 year left on his contract without option to extend it, then we can only realistically expect £5-8 million from his Sale.
Paul Tran
13 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:40:01
The problem is that managers aren't allowed to say nothing. Martinez's problem is that he feels he has to say something significant/clever and ends up talking himself into knots.

He'd be better to look at the example of the racehorse trainer Aidan O'Brien. A pressurised man at the top who talks amiably and politely for ever without saying anything significant or controversial.

Fintan Spode
14 Posted 04/02/2015 at 20:47:41
Mirallis is the sort of player who thrives when he is surrounded by other good players. He would shine at Arsenal or Man City and hopefully, as we get stronger as a squad, we will see the best of him at GP
Jim Bennings
15 Posted 04/02/2015 at 21:42:54
At least with the arrival of Lennon it puts pressure on the likes of Mirallas to keep performing.

I'd start Lennon and Mirallas on Saturday I really would.

I'm still dreading the derby, those fuckers work the keeper and move the ball far quicker and with so much more urgency than us, that's where I'm hoping Lennon can come in and make a big difference to the speed of our attack.

I think Liverpool are likely to score at least once on Saturday so your looking at our attack needing to be razor sharp and getting that final ball absolutely spot on.

Please Everton don't get flattened again in another derby match.

Paul Hewitt
17 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:05:03
After watching the shite tonight I have no doubt that we will win.
Andrew Hawes
18 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:14:49
Glad your confident, Paul?? Because I'm not!! They are playing fluent imaginative football with lethal players up front. They also have a manager that seems to be able to change from Plan A to B to C...

The only thing we have going into Saturday is a real desire to change the crap from the first half of the season... We just have to hope....

Paul Dark
19 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:31:39
No good Lennon coming if McGeady ever plays again. Apart from being utterly useless, he has completely neutralised Seamus.

I'd like to see Oviedo play more, too. There is no need for McGeady ever to be picked.

Kevin can play no.10 behind Rom.

End of.

Brian Hennessy
20 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:31:51
Paul, have you seen us play lately?
Jim Bennings
21 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:35:21
Paul Hewitt

I wish I had your faith.
They have won six successive away games, the way they move the ball and the way we struggle with movement then it's not a game I'm particularly looking forward to.

For me, we need to defend deep so not to get bollocked by the pace of them like last year at Anfield, I really hope Martinez will be smart and see this early.

Defend deep and make sure we get incisive early through balls to our own pace in Lennon and Mirallas, tell Lukaku to keep his ass in the middle of the pitch and not start floating wide, we have wide players now so we don't need him going in places where he can't hurt anyone.

James Stewart
22 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:43:36
I think the fact that the Spurs bid was only £3-5m had more to do with it. Had they offered market value which would have to be around £15m, they would have got him.
Paul Hewitt
23 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:45:16
Come on guys lets have faith.
James Stewart
24 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:46:27
@19 You are absolutely spot on. I would go even further. McGeady is the worst player I have seen at Everton for a long long time. Utterly brainless, useless and like playing with 10 men. Which we did do because of him not so long ago. Nowhere near a Premier League level player.
Colin Glassar
25 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:48:32
I think Jim has it right. We can beat them but we have to be patient and hit them on the counter. They will be a bit tired after tonight so we need to keep the ball and make them work, then go for it with 15-20 mins left.
James Royston
26 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:53:49
Re the derby: They do move the ball sharp & fast. Robles will have to keep wide awake... But Bolton played them well tonight by getting stuck into them & not giving an inch, then stealing a goal.

The red card was the game changer which is what we need to be aware of, every one of them will hit the ground (dive) at the slightest touch. Did we get the right manager or should it have been another jock... Lennon????

Trevor Lynes
27 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:59:18
I just hope that there is no truth in the rumours that we still after Cleverley.

In my opinion, he is a very average midfielder and we need a real top playmaker not another drone!

Jim Knightley
28 Posted 04/02/2015 at 22:29:23
I know Martinez has frustrated us all...but some of the attacks on him verge on idiotic. Every manager says positive things, often about peripheral players, because a manager can't honestly declare his feelings and thoughts to the press. Can you imagine what would happen if he did? If he said Atsu has not been good enough, or Mirallas will go in the summer? Or that Lennon is here, because he hasn't performed for 3 seasons?

Give the manager a break, and attack him where it is worth attacking him. Jumping on everything he says and does is pathetic, and is ruining debate in the comment section.

With respect to the Mirallas discussion – we won't get near £20mil for a player with one year left on his contract, and who lacks consistency. I'm expecting £8-10mil max, and I fear Spurs could be viable candidates, or even City. Mirallas will be in demand because he is a goal-scorer and an exciting forward. He does often hog the ball, and fail to pass when he should, but he is far better than our other attacking midfielders. 8 goals and 3 assists in 18 games in all comps testifies to that, as do 8 goals and 8 assists in the league last season. With him potentially leaving, Oviedo and Garbutt vulnerable, and Pienaar, Osman, Distin and Howard coming to the end of their Everton careers, we have some real tests in front of us, and some extensive rebuilding work to come.

Phil Sammon
29 Posted 04/02/2015 at 23:07:31
Jim/Colin

I agree with your suggested tactics. However, there is not a chance on earth that we will play that way. We will hold the ball and get to the edge of their penalty area before being robbed and carved up by their counter-attack.

I only hope that Martinez has had a full frontal lobotomy in the last few days.

Paul Hewitt
30 Posted 04/02/2015 at 23:20:53
With the shite playing just 3 at the back we need to stretch the game.
Jamie Tulacz
31 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:19:54
Reading in today's Guardian that Mirallas is issuing a 'come and get me' plea to a CL team. Can't say I'm surprised let's get as good a price as possible in the Summer.

A player who sometimes flatters to deceive for me, great on his day (e.g. West Ham cup replay) but doesn't produce this often enough for me..

Joe Foster
32 Posted 05/02/2015 at 13:41:06
We will need to get as much money as possible for him. Our spending power will be even less next season with oir league position as it is and our top 5/6 status laying in tatters
Clive Mitchell
33 Posted 05/02/2015 at 16:22:58
Mirallas feels ready for a new challenge. 'Earn your money' should test him.
Trevor Lynes
34 Posted 05/02/2015 at 16:19:23
I am also getting wholeheartedly sick at the written abuse being slung at the manager. The board should have backed him at the end of the last season instead of just pocketing the extra money from the transfer windows and media money. Moyes took us as far as he could despite the board and unfortunately Roberto is working under the same constraints.

In reality we are in the correct position in the league as our squad was not sufficiently strengthened when it should have been. Our squad is too small to be able to compete with the top teams. Man for man it is only our defence that passes muster. Barkley has been over praised and Sterling is much better even though it is difficult to admit.

We do not have a Gerrard or Coutinho either to make the ammunition. We are taking players that are finished at other clubs. It is like shopping at charity shops whilst others are shopping at Harrods.The league is now totally disjointed and there are players sitting on the bench's of the top clubs who would stroll into most other Premier League clubs, ours included !


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