Kevin Mirallas Must Take Responsibility for his Own Everton Future

With the dearth of goalscoring midfield players especially at Everton, we need a motivated Mirallas and, for all the shit thrown at him this last couple of years, including injuries, that could only happen under Martinez, he still wants to get out there and produce.

Strangely enough Naismith was our third best goal threat and he was allowed to leave without a replacement. At present our squad is pretty poor and question marks are against both Stones and possibly Lukaku on whether they will stay at the club.

Don't buy he's the best finisher we have, but will acknowledge he's more likely to snipe one from a crazy angle than tap one in.

Love to see if hes plays poorly & is dropped what his attitude becomes.

Definitely an issue with his character, he sees himself as a starter, better than most, but needs to back it up with the work rate & calmness when things don't go his way.

Everton have too many passengers without the ball. Lukaku can get away with it based on his goal record only, Kev lad you cannot.

I don't blame RM one bit for preferring players like Lennon and Cleverley to Mirallas. As Matt says, the only one responsible for Kev's problems was Kev... and he's the only one who can turn things around. I think he will.

To tell him how important he was and then totally ignore him for 6 months is the worst form of man management.

In addition it is no coincidence that Kev came down with the dreaded "Martinez hamstring" syndrome.

Lets see how he blossoms under a proper manager and then comment.

That said, I agree Koeman is twice the manager Martinez was, and I think he'll straighten Kev out and help him realize his potential.

But please don't tell me Kev's last season was anybody's fault but his own. It's a woefully flimsy excuse for the crap he pulled.

Like many, I just want Kev to focus upon the vital stuff and not become entangled in matters which don't enhance his reputation as talented and effective footballer.

Much the same hopes for RB, GD and RL, if RK can "fix" 2 or 3 of these 4 lads (and I believe that he can and will) then the net effect will be immense.

Conversely, the ramifications for the 1 or 2 who don't respond is to be moved on and replaced.

On a different tack, what a great time for Tom Davies to be emerging ? The conditions seem ideal for his current promise to be cultivated fully, here's hoping.

Why was it so criminal for Mirallas to be inconsistent yet donkeys like Kone could be consistently awful in his favoured position? And what about Geri, the darling, inconsistency personified? Or hot and cold Barkley?

If we can't agree on Martinez chronic underuse of Mirallas being criminal then surely we agree it was stupid. Mirallas still remains our most talented player and our most likely goal threat behind Lukaku. In my opinion, one of the few players to emerge with credit last season on the basis he didn't play.

For the record, I also vehemently disagree with this general opinion he doesn't track back or work hard for the team. He clearly does, Moyes made him with little problem and at least one of the sendings off mentioned occurred outside our own box (where you know he attempted to win the ball after tracking back and working hard etc.)

Mirallas problems last season were very much of Martinez making and we saw Kone, Cleverley, Ross and even Besic feature on the left ahead of Mirallas and we all know how that panned out.

I think his recklessness might stem from his desire to win. Nothing wrong with a player showing a bit of fight, he just needs to reign it occasionally.

Honestly think that, on talent alone, Kevin Mirallas would easily be in the top twenty players in the league. The fact that he's not will most probably be down to application because, when he wants to play, he's got a bit of everything.

In terms of the 'debate', the Baines penalty incident was pretty much unforgivable. It was a huge sign of a player who cared far more about himself than the team.

That was a while ago now, hopefully he's learnt from it as I think he has a lot to offer us under the right system.

I hope (and believe) he'll excel this season, and things like the penalty incident with Baines will be a thing of the past. Can't see Koeman tolerating that kind of thing.

Are you serious?

Mirallas was fully fit for much of last season, but had to sit on the bench whilst others started even though they lost form (Deulofeu, Lennon) or could not play wide (Barkley, Cleverley).

Martinez lost the plot with Mirallas. Yes, he was stupid with his antics. But he should have been sold if Martinez lost faith. Not left to fester on the bench.

Watch the away Watford game. Geri was patently useless for the whole game. Kev did more in the final 15 minutes and, had he started, I think we would have won.

History will show Martinez was undone by players losing faith in him, not the other way around.

Jason #14, no, that's not what I said. I've made clear that it's on Kev, and only Kev, to make things right. I do believe he has a better chance to succeed under Koeman, but I won't credit Koeman for his successes any more than I blame RM for his failures.

Peter #13, Lord no, I am not defending the Kone/Besic/Ross fiasco on the left, nor am I excusing Ross and Geri for their inconsistency or RM for his frequent lineup blunders. But when a player as talented as Kev is beaten out for his spot by a guy with half the talent but twice the heart and three times the consistency (Cleverley), Kev himself has to accept the responsibility. It sounds like he has every intention of doing that, and if he does, he can make himself the star he should be.

FWIW, I've always considered Mirallas' best position to be supporting striker rather than out on the left. One change I expect from RK is a lot more two-forward alignments, and Kev will benefit from that.

Yes he's petulant, injury prone and his attitude can stink. But we don't know what happens behind closed doors, and given some of the deadwood we've had on the books for the last couple of years, he doesn't head my list of transfer outs either.

Too many right wingers on the books for me, but McGeady and Lennon would head my list out. Lennon will have some fans for his work rate, but he needs that as his final product is more bottom 6, than top 6. 3rd choice right winger with no other position, I'd move him on. I won't even comment on McGeady, his performance last night actually made me laugh.

I'm itching to see Kev this year in a real game. I don't think he's ever lacked effort. Even last year he gave everything when he was on the pitch. On occasion he took it too far.

He just needs to get his focus and discipline right. A manager making his role clear to him will help in that regard.

Mirallas the last couple of seasons was perhaps the most specific demonstration of Martinez's failings; he allowed a player to indulge his worst proclivities for laziness and indiscipline, thus undermining the positive things he can bring to the side.

Losing at half-time, it was Kevin Mirallas who took the game by the proverbial scruff and turned it around. Then Geri finished the job.

Nobody really remembers things like that because his reward was being dropped immediately after. Unbelievable and phenomenal mismanagement.

For me it is simple, he is one of our most important players, I think if Koeman sees a resurgence in this team then Kevin Mirallas will be a significant part of it. Out of our current wide players I think he is the most complete. Geri has potential, but positionally and tactically he is still learning. He needs to get to grips with his defensive role and his off the ball role as well. Cleverly and Lennon are good, conservative options, but will never come close to the goal or assist tally that Mirallas will have. When he is on the teamsheet there I bet there is a moment in the opposition dressing room where they think 'must keep an eye on him' I don't think you get that with the other two.

And if RK does go with 4-4-2 or some variation with two forwards, Kev and Lennon won't be an either/or proposition... both would be among our best 11 as the team stands now, with Kev up front and Lennon the clear best choice on right wing. In that scenario it's likely Macca who loses out.

Of course if Gueye is coming aboard as rumored, that changes everything and the 4-4-2 becomes far less likely than the 4-2-3-1 IMO. But it's all blind speculation until RK completes his player moves.

He'd become much like my ex at parties as our relationship was becoming terminal. I'd look across at her and she was still lovely to look at, but I'd keep thinking "You're talking bloody nonsense again, would you please, please, just shut the fuck up !". But, more drivel begat more drivel and eventually people either drifted away shaking their heads or stood around trapped, bewildered and looking into empty space.

Fast forward to present, and these "Skill and Belief" players (hopefully) aren't being drowned in oceans of meaningless, disconnected, bullshit.

Personally, having seen our build up so far, I think that starting KM & GD as our front 2 could work really well. They both need "tuning in", but bloody hell they'd offer great skill at high pace. Quite a different threat to anything posed by any other EPL side.

(The BIG "if", here is "IF", they can be tuned in. Two "Maverick" players, but also, seemingly, close teammates).

I am sure that the new manager will have a more pragmatic approach and allow the player the opportunity to really build on the platform of his unquestionable talent.

It's good to be able to say that, for the first time in a few years, I am looking forward to progression this coming season. I am confident that, as the transfers materialize, the new Chairman and Manager will give us all something to be pleased with.

The cup game where he came on, scored a great freekick, then did a neat fandango around half the West Ham defenders to set up Lukaku for the second after McGeady got sent off.

Then the other one where he got sent off when we were winning and we ended up losing the game.

Undoubtedly a great player, and capable of winning matches IF he can remain focused and calm. It that if to big is the question.