11. Kevin Mira11as - now "trying" his luck in Italy

Naismith has looked pretty awful so far to me. His best attributes seem to be work rate and he can pop up in dangerous positions to nick goals. He's the kind of player we've had in the past, solid and unspectacular. A bit like Hibbo. I agree that, as the injuries mount up during the season, he's a good squad player but he's also a reminder that for all our high-flying over-achievement, we are still broke and have to rely on buying second rate players in the hope that they can add something to the team. He's a typical Moyes player in a lot of ways.

Still, I was wrong about Fellaini.

Michael Crosby S74 wrote:

Sack the Juggler wrote:

Tonteau wrote:I'll speak up for Naismith, here. He's not as exciting or direct as mirallas, but he is an intelligent footballer who passes well and is capable of scoring a goal. Overall I'm delighted that we have a little bit of depth to the quality in the squad.

+1

+2

Also, Naismith is available every week after his serious injury. I hope Mirallas is just keen to impress so is rushing himself back and they will wait till he is absolute 100% this time before he returns.

He has potential, but if you had to be honest about who has been more valuable to the squad it's Naismith hands down.

+3 .. I may slag him on the match thread a bit.. but anyone is fair game a little bit of stick in the heat of the stream

Overall, Nais has scored some important goals, he was free, he's better than Anichebe and probably (possibly) Vellios & Ma (not sure)... deffo better than Faddy or Stracq

Gotta be happy really

I am leaning closer to Hairy's evaluation of Naismith. Can't be faulted for his work rate nor that he has popped up with a couple of important goals. Having said that, he totally disappears from games at times and thus contribute very little. Looks lost out there as well at times, not linking up with his team mates and appears to just run around not sure what to do. I know he's not been at the club for long but Mirallas has already a better understanding/connection with the team mates.

Mirallas is a very exciting player I think - he takes on the defenders and has good skills. With not being afraid to attack, he sometimes leaves us exposed at the back when he loses the ball. Still a much more exciting player than Naismith. The injuries are a worry though. If he's only available for the odd game here and there, that's not good.

Knight of Thorgothshire wrote:I am leaning closer to Hairy's evaluation of Naismith. Can't be faulted for his work rate nor that he has popped up with a couple of important goals. Having said that, he totally disappears from games at times and thus contribute very little. Looks lost out there as well at times, not linking up with his team mates and appears to just run around not sure what to do. I know he's not been at the club for long but Mirallas has already a better understanding/connection with the team mates.

Mirallas is a very exciting player I think - he takes on the defenders and has good skills. With not being afraid to attack, he sometimes leaves us exposed at the back when he loses the ball. Still a much more exciting player than Naismith. The injuries are a worry though. If he's only available for the odd game here and there, that's not good.

Nail on head IMO. He often seems to be on a totally different wavelength to those around him, or on no wavelength at all. Hopefully that will improve with time.

According to the Telegraph, SuperKev has flown to see a German specialist about the failure of his hamstring injury to heal Won't be seeing him on the pitch for a while then I suppose.

hairy cataract wrote:According to the Telegraph, SuperKev has flown to see a German specialist about the failure of his hamstring injury to heal Won't be seeing him on the pitch for a while then I suppose.

Probably a good thing we're dealing with it properly, though.

Everton striker Kevin Mirallas has returned to training as he recovers from a long-term hamstring injury, but he is likely to have to wait before making his comeback.
Mirallas, 25, has been troubled with the problem since late October, missing 11 matches as a result, but he is now close to full fitness.
However, manager David Moyes is wary of risking him at Southampton on Monday as he wants to ensure that the Belgium international does not suffer any further setbacks after seeing one attempted comeback cut short.
Mirallas, a £5.3 million signing from Olympiakos last summer, initially felt a problem with his hamstring during the draw against Liverpool on October 28. He managed to get through the draw at Fulham six days later, only to limp off 30 minutes into the win over Sunderland on November 10.
An attempted comeback in the victory over Tottenham on December 9 had to be aborted after 45 minutes, and he has not played since.
The forward returned to Greece this week to collect an award for being the best foreign player in their domestic league during the 2011-12 season. Mirallas was the Greek Superleague's top scorer with 20 goals last season as he helped Olympiakos to the title, and that achievement was recognised as he received the best foreign player prize from the Panhellenic Association of Professional Footballers.

Read more at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1301343/mirallas-back-in-everton-training-after-hamstri#WAAQlkxYP0kQk5U5.99

Good news. The article forgot to mention the GBH by Suarez.

Brilliant news, less chance of Naismith getting on the pitch as soon as Kev is back.

hairy cataract wrote:Naismith has looked pretty awful so far to me. His best attributes seem to be work rate and he can pop up in dangerous positions to nick goals. He's the kind of player we've had in the past, solid and unspectacular. A bit like Hibbo. I agree that, as the injuries mount up during the season, he's a good squad player but he's also a reminder that for all our high-flying over-achievement, we are still broke and have to rely on buying second rate players in the hope that they can add something to the team. He's a typical Moyes player in a lot of ways.

Still, I was wrong about Fellaini.

As far as football fans opinions go? We can all be accussed of being fickle fans sometimes.Not many gave ''Fellaini'' a kind word in his first season at Everton.Now he's one of our main assets.I guess the 15million price tag was a big burdon to carry on his young shoulders.Or was it that we'' Everton'' don't normally spend such amount of money on one player,so.expected a quicker return for our monies?

As for Naismith.He came to Everton with a big reputation seemingly all but left behind in Scotland,Some on here would surgest he may have left his boots behind as well?
Naismith was a big name at Rangers with alot of promise for the future,He hasn't quite lived up to that promise yet but,REMEMBER.He was a big fish in a little pond,Now he's facing more tougher,classier players in the English premier.A bigger pond which Naismith hasn't adapted to well in.I for one hope he can step up his game.

SEFTON wrote:

hairy cataract wrote:Naismith has looked pretty awful so far to me. His best attributes seem to be work rate and he can pop up in dangerous positions to nick goals. He's the kind of player we've had in the past, solid and unspectacular. A bit like Hibbo. I agree that, as the injuries mount up during the season, he's a good squad player but he's also a reminder that for all our high-flying over-achievement, we are still broke and have to rely on buying second rate players in the hope that they can add something to the team. He's a typical Moyes player in a lot of ways.

Still, I was wrong about Fellaini.

As far as football fans opinions go? We can all be accussed of being fickle fans sometimes.Not many gave ''Fellaini'' a kind word in his first season at Everton.Now he's one of our main assets.I guess the 15million price tag was a big burdon to carry on his young shoulders.Or was it that we'' Everton'' don't normally spend such amount of money on one player,so.expected a quicker return for our monies?

As for Naismith.He came to Everton with a big reputation seemingly all but left behind in Scotland,Some on here would surgest he may have left his boots behind as well?
Naismith was a big name at Rangers with alot of promise for the future,He hasn't quite lived up to that promise yet but,REMEMBER.He was a big fish in a little pond,Now he's facing more tougher,classier players in the English premier.A bigger pond which Naismith hasn't adapted to well in.I for one hope he can step up his game.

Naismith is crap. He'll never make it in the Premiership. In a couple of years he'll be shipped off to Birmingham or Sunderland a la McFadden.

Goodison_Gringo wrote:

SEFTON wrote:

hairy cataract wrote:Naismith has looked pretty awful so far to me. His best attributes seem to be work rate and he can pop up in dangerous positions to nick goals. He's the kind of player we've had in the past, solid and unspectacular. A bit like Hibbo. I agree that, as the injuries mount up during the season, he's a good squad player but he's also a reminder that for all our high-flying over-achievement, we are still broke and have to rely on buying second rate players in the hope that they can add something to the team. He's a typical Moyes player in a lot of ways.

Still, I was wrong about Fellaini.

As far as football fans opinions go? We can all be accussed of being fickle fans sometimes.Not many gave ''Fellaini'' a kind word in his first season at Everton.Now he's one of our main assets.I guess the 15million price tag was a big burdon to carry on his young shoulders.Or was it that we'' Everton'' don't normally spend such amount of money on one player,so.expected a quicker return for our monies?

As for Naismith.He came to Everton with a big reputation seemingly all but left behind in Scotland,Some on here would surgest he may have left his boots behind as well?
Naismith was a big name at Rangers with alot of promise for the future,He hasn't quite lived up to that promise yet but,REMEMBER.He was a big fish in a little pond,Now he's facing more tougher,classier players in the English premier.A bigger pond which Naismith hasn't adapted to well in.I for one hope he can step up his game.

Naismith is crap. He'll never make it in the Premiership. In a couple of years he'll be shipped off to Birmingham or Sunderland a la McFadden.

Although credit where credit is due. Naismith has managed to become the centre of attention of a forum thread all about Kevin Mirallas.

And he has scored more goals too....

Can this guy save our season? Seems to be the only one of key players relatively fresh and in form at moment. And most importantly scoring goals. Would you play him up front on his own, or is he better cutting in from the right? He basically won us the game against Oldham (would have been a lot harder anyway, especially with Pip in midfield) and on the score sheet again on Saturday with smart finish. Hope just hope he can stay fit and fire us to a cup final and finish above the Shite!

He looks to have recaptured his early season form. I'd keep him out right but with a license to roam.

Bluejags wrote:Can this guy save our season? Seems to be the only one of key players relatively fresh and in form at moment. And most importantly scoring goals. Would you play him up front on his own, or is he better cutting in from the right? He basically won us the game against Oldham (would have been a lot harder anyway, especially with Pip in midfield) and on the score sheet again on Saturday with smart finish. Hope just hope he can stay fit and fire us to a cup final and finish above the Shite!

Would like him to play 15 games on the trot to see how good and consistent he is. He does look an amazing talent though.

Mr_Ben wrote:

Bluejags wrote:Can this guy save our season? Seems to be the only one of key players relatively fresh and in form at moment. And most importantly scoring goals. Would you play him up front on his own, or is he better cutting in from the right? He basically won us the game against Oldham (would have been a lot harder anyway, especially with Pip in midfield) and on the score sheet again on Saturday with smart finish. Hope just hope he can stay fit and fire us to a cup final and finish above the Shite!

Would like him to play 15 games on the trot to see how good and consistent he is. He does look an amazing talent though.

I think he should get better all things being equal. He's got all the raw skills; good touch and pace with the ability to beat a man. He just needs to keep working hard on his finishing and decision making and get adjusted to the league. His injuries have held him back but if he can stay fit to the end of the season I think we'll see a very good player. It's amazing how having just one player who can go past a man changes how you play. A few more please, moyes!

Tonteau wrote:

Mr_Ben wrote:

Bluejags wrote:Can this guy save our season? Seems to be the only one of key players relatively fresh and in form at moment. And most importantly scoring goals. Would you play him up front on his own, or is he better cutting in from the right? He basically won us the game against Oldham (would have been a lot harder anyway, especially with Pip in midfield) and on the score sheet again on Saturday with smart finish. Hope just hope he can stay fit and fire us to a cup final and finish above the Shite!

Would like him to play 15 games on the trot to see how good and consistent he is. He does look an amazing talent though.

I think he should get better all things being equal. He's got all the raw skills; good touch and pace with the ability to beat a man. He just needs to keep working hard on his finishing and decision making and get adjusted to the league. His injuries have held him back but if he can stay fit to the end of the season I think we'll see a very good player. It's amazing how having just one player who can go past a man changes how you play. A few more please, moyes!

Deffo. I love his confidence and my only worry is that our system will knock some of that out of him, get him playing the percentages instead of expressing himself. But, if he blossoms to fulfill his potential, he could be the "magic" player that we want in the team. Imagine him and Coleman down one side, Baines and Piennar down the other, all four on top form, with a top class striker in the middle.... c'mon Jelly, get that form back!

Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

Armchair Evertonian wrote:

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

smashing player though

the jellyman wrote:

Armchair Evertonian wrote:

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

smashing player though

He looked in pane.

Dixie Land wrote:

the jellyman wrote:

Armchair Evertonian wrote:

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

smashing player though

He looked in pane.

i hope he is in the FRAME for spurs game

the jellyman wrote:

Dixie Land wrote:

the jellyman wrote:

Armchair Evertonian wrote:

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

smashing player though

He looked in pane.

i hope he is in the FRAME for spurs game

I'll be shattered if he's not. But if he keeps on like this, don't be surprised to see the Glaziers make a bid.

Tonteau wrote:

the jellyman wrote:

Dixie Land wrote:

the jellyman wrote:

Armchair Evertonian wrote:

Tonteau wrote:Was limping at the end of the Stoke match. Any diagnosis?

Doctors have confirmed that he is made of glass.

smashing player though

He looked in pane.

i hope he is in the FRAME for spurs game

I'll be shattered if he's not. But if he keeps on like this, don't be surprised to see the Glaziers make a bid.

That sounds about right. Bloody transfer window!