Season › 2014-15 › News
Mirallas still content with life at Goodison
Mirallas scored a stunning free kick at Upton Park in January to keep Everton's FA Cup hopes alive.
The Belgian has been trying to distance himself from comments attributed to him in the press in his home country earlier this year in which he appeared to outlined his desire to play Champions League football next season.
At the time, that was still a possibility with the Blues as Roberto Maritnez's side were still in the Europa League which offers a pathway to Uefa's elite competition for the winners. With Everton now out of contention for Europe and Mirallas unable to hold down a regular first-team berth, few Evertonians would be surprised to see the 27 year-old move on this summer.
Mirallas insists he is happy where he is, however, and told the Liverpool Echo of his desire to play a more central role off compatriot Romelu Lukaku next season.
“I had come back from injury and started the season really, really well and people [were] speaking about me wanting to leave," Mirallas said. "[That] has never come from me ... I never said I wanted to leave. I have always been happy here at this club, my family are happy where we are so it is a shame when stuff gets said and it isn't me who said it.
“It could be my best season for Everton and whenever I have been picked by the manager I have brought something positive and contributed to the side. And in terms of goal-scoring, I am the second highest scorer at the club.”
The former Olympiacos forward cited his electric appearance as a substitute in the FA Cup replay at West Ham that almost sent the Blues through to the Fourth Round as his best display of the campaign and evidence of the kind of partnership he can strike up with Lukaku as a second forward.
“It was a special game and one of my best performances," Mirallas continued. "I came on after not starting and managed to do one or two good things in the game. I scored a goal and playing in that position, behind the striker is a role I enjoy and a place I'd like to play more often.”
“That was a good example of how Romelu and myself have got a really, really good understanding. It is a shame that we've maybe not had the chance to play together in those two roles more often this season.
“I have a really, really good understanding with him and the closer I am to him on the field means we can put that good understanding to use more frequently."
Mirallas will be entering the final year of his contract this summer — although Everton have the option of extending it by a further season — and negotiations over a new deal had been shelved until the end of the season.
Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo
Reader Comments (24)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:42:18
3 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:02:35
4 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:58:12
We need two wide players over the summer. Lennon and another as we canÂ’t rely on Pienaar.
5 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:21:48
6 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:47:55
I hope we sign Lennon plus someone similar for the left, and leave Mirallas in the middle. He needs to sign a new contract though. We canÂ’t let him leave us on a free in 12 months. Commit now or sell him.
7 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:48:45
Our two Belgians provide virtually all the goals and Mirallas is terrific with free kicks too.
Mirallas and Baines are the two best strikers of the ball in the squad. It is not a new striker we need, it is a midfield schemer who can pass accurately and provide assists.
I wish we could find a young Paul Scholes!
8 Posted 15/05/2015 at 00:32:38
9 Posted 15/05/2015 at 02:30:44
10 Posted 15/05/2015 at 03:41:50
The fact is, he has modelled his game after players like Henry and Ronaldo, where they have to drift to the flanks to get the ball a little deeper, and then run at players.
When he was upfront, his ability to twist & turn at speed is nullified. So playing upfront might not be the best position for him.
11 Posted 15/05/2015 at 08:02:08
I agree with Scott as it is not feasible to leave him on the current deal and risk losing him for nothing. I really do feel he is working a deal to get out, thus why Martinez has used him sparingly in the last couple of games. No matter where we play him he is still far superior to the wingers / strikers we have at the club.
12 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:04:08
But this just shows that if youÂ’re not in the top 4 this is as good a player as you get.
13 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:18:05
14 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:40:11
Coleman Stones Jagielka Baines
Besic
McCarthy Barkley
Lennon Mirallas AN Other
Lukaku
Probably win the league and everything.
17 Posted 15/05/2015 at 11:39:36
18 Posted 15/05/2015 at 11:49:16
19 Posted 15/05/2015 at 12:46:28
We will miss his goals but not his selfish plays and his greedy ball losing ways
20 Posted 15/05/2015 at 14:28:51
Also, he needs to be more of a team player; I donÂ’t mind him being selfish when he is in a genuine scoring opportunity, but I lost count of the amount of times when a square ball to Naismith or Lukaku in the box wouldÂ’ve been better than a shot from the edge with two defenders in the way.
21 Posted 15/05/2015 at 14:52:35
He can also go missing, or be too greedy. Despite this, Everton with Mirallas are a more dangerous team than Everton without Mirallas.
Lukaku, Mirallas and an other (winger/playmaker), with a midfield of Barkley, McCarthy and Besic/Barry, in terms of personnel is top notch. Whether the manager and coaching staff can make them reach their potential is another matter,
22 Posted 15/05/2015 at 15:38:28
Last season Kone was still battling fitness for a long time although to be honest heÂ’s not much. Nessie went off the boil after a few lively games.
After EtoÂ’o left McGeady and Mirallas got injuries and what was an iffy season got worse.
It is so obvious the striking department needs an upgrade but it now appears we have a manager just as stubborn as his predecessor.
23 Posted 15/05/2015 at 15:36:42
New Keeper / Howard
Coleman / New right back or youth understudy
Baines / Garbutt (if he stays, if not Oviedo)
Jags / New Central Defender
Stones / Galloway or Browning (whoever is further developed)
McCarthy / Besic
New Playmaker / Ledson
New Left Winger (Playmaker) / Pienaar
New Right Winger / New Right Winger
Barkley / New Number 10
Lukaku / Mirallas
ThatÂ’s seven new players. Four that can walk into our first team. This replaces the older guard and the useless players, but allows promotion from within too.
Highly unrealistic, I agree. So, three new players are a realistic priority:
New Player Maker
New Winger (right)
New Central Defender
Keep Joel for another season to see if he can take the number one slot.
Promote a right back from the youth set-up to understudy coleman.
Bring a left winger in on loan to rotate with Pienaar.
Bring a right winger in on loan to understudy new permanent right winger signing.
Have Mirallas rotate between number 10 and second striker and keep Naismith as back up.
Then sign the four additional players over the next 2 transfer windows.
25 Posted 15/05/2015 at 20:37:53
26 Posted 16/05/2015 at 13:01:20
27 Posted 18/05/2015 at 23:09:57
On Mirallas, we should be looking to keep him without a shadow of a doubt. Arrogant, selfish, full of himself - all the things half our squad should have but donÂ’t. Ross Barkley take note.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:38:43
We donÂ’t have too many match-winners so keeping hold of the ones we have is imperative.