Eric Djemba-Djemba
Player Valuation: £60m
The only one you've got me on is under 30.
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Says a lot that the main thing people use to demand he plays are selective stats. He's that kind of player. On Tuesday you could almost sense in the second half he felt like he'd done his bit to improve his profile and could drift through the rest of the game.
It was a good game to play him in. When we can counter attack against a team whose marking is poor then he's very useful. And a lot of his assist and goal stats come from games when we've already stretched a team.
His work is nearly always done in the final third so his assists and goal figures should be decent. But the players he is competing with can also provide other aspects to the game.
It's not fantasy football and the players involved with the last two touches before a goal can't provide this in isolation. Everton's second goal had as much to do with breaking up the Villa attack and moving it out quickly as well as players making runs to provide space.
I was happy with him as an automatic starter a few years ago but to my mind now Lennon and Del can do most of what he does and provide more in other areas. He needs to work harder and I hope he does.
People keeping saying he's an exceptional talent but that seems to be based on his own analysis and there don't seem to be any managers who believe it. He's not really a player that can have you out of your seat.
I've nothing against him and he'd have been one of first on my team sheet four years ago but we've a better squad going forward now. We've gone from our most creative player being a left back to options all round the pitch and his latest stats reflect it.
Just worries me that the more support these is for Mirallas the less patience there is with other players which could have and probably is having a negative effect.
It was a good game to play him in. When we can counter attack against a team whose marking is poor then he's very useful. And a lot of his assist and goal stats come from games when we've already stretched a team.
His work is nearly always done in the final third so his assists and goal figures should be decent. But the players he is competing with can also provide other aspects to the game.
It's not fantasy football and the players involved with the last two touches before a goal can't provide this in isolation. Everton's second goal had as much to do with breaking up the Villa attack and moving it out quickly as well as players making runs to provide space.
I was happy with him as an automatic starter a few years ago but to my mind now Lennon and Del can do most of what he does and provide more in other areas. He needs to work harder and I hope he does.
People keeping saying he's an exceptional talent but that seems to be based on his own analysis and there don't seem to be any managers who believe it. He's not really a player that can have you out of your seat.
I've nothing against him and he'd have been one of first on my team sheet four years ago but we've a better squad going forward now. We've gone from our most creative player being a left back to options all round the pitch and his latest stats reflect it.
Just worries me that the more support these is for Mirallas the less patience there is with other players which could have and probably is having a negative effect.
For me, he has been an inconsistent player. When he's intereted, he's great. When he's not bothered, he goes missing.
So people who see the games when he's on fire say he's ace, while those who see his poor games think he's awful - those two groups then think the opposing view are watching a different player. They sort of are.
In truth, he's a useful player who on his day is great, but would benefit from consistency.
I think the big change now is that we've got options and he has to show more.
In terms of not being an exceptional talent I mean that he's unlikely for me to provide moments that make you wonder how he did it. There are players that make you think the inconsistency is worth it but they are less common nowadays. When he has been great it's been more about him being really effective.
Main point is though that I've ended up talking about him more than Lennon who has been brilliant.
toffeeblue9
Player Valuation: £35m
If he has space to play in, he is a really good player (when he can be arsed).
At home, against teams who park the bus, he's out of his element. The shouts for him to come on against West Brom the other week were a case in point. Completely the wrong sort of game for Mirallas - he isn't the sort of player who can open up a defence. He's a good player to have in counter-attacking situations and is a really good finisher, but he isn't the one you'd want on the pitch while you're trying to desperately break down a 10 man defence.
Dislike his attitude and demeanour at times, but he's a useful player to have though mostly in away games I would venture
At home, against teams who park the bus, he's out of his element. The shouts for him to come on against West Brom the other week were a case in point. Completely the wrong sort of game for Mirallas - he isn't the sort of player who can open up a defence. He's a good player to have in counter-attacking situations and is a really good finisher, but he isn't the one you'd want on the pitch while you're trying to desperately break down a 10 man defence.
Dislike his attitude and demeanour at times, but he's a useful player to have though mostly in away games I would venture
granter79
Player Valuation: £35m
Think iv higher standards that you then. Look at the workrate on the other wing in comparison and you would think Kevin would be busting a gut to ensure he kept his place after been giving a start. Personally id like to see him doing more on the defensive side when we lose the ball.
Well thats just me I suppose
Agree mostly there mate. Think he's definitely good enough to start (more), but he's a player that we get the best out of in a game that is stretched and he has space to burst into to get on the end of a move to provide a goal/assist.
This exactly.
Not saying I wouldn't rather have him on the pitch than Kone, mind, but he's a player who we get the best out of when we play in a certain style.
He was superb against Chelsea as it was a really open game, with plenty of room for him to do his stuff.
Baines' left foot
Player Valuation: £90m
But he's got 4 stars for skill moves!
Eric Djemba-Djemba
Player Valuation: £60m
People that don't like Mirallas are probably the sort that rate Naismith.
I like Mirallas, I don't think anybody who is questioning why he should be an automatic starter is saying they don't...
He's a very good player when he's on the top of his game but he doesn't always suit certain games and is at his best against teams where there's a lot of space.
I think he probably did enough to earn himself a start against West Ham, and I'd rather him play than a half-fit/half-unwell Cleverley.
West Ham started with Kouyate in the right back position yesterday, so I'd imagine it'll either be him or Antonio that plays there again, unless O'Brien is fit but I don't think he will be.
So, a right side of Kouyate and Antonio means that they'll have plenty of pace and power down that flank.
So it's a toss-up. Start Kev and hope that he can be at his best and exploit some space against a player playing out of position, but maybe leave Oviedo rather exposed down that side against Kouyate and Antonio.
Or, he plays Cleverley there who is more likely to track back, but doesn't have the same threat on the counter.
Ideally, we'd have Besic back to give us some real bite in midfield, but it doesn't look like he'll be fit to start.
It was a little worrying that Mirallas drifted onto the other wing for a few minutes on Tuesday. All in favour of fluid movement but he didn't seem to have told Lennon. Could have been very costly against a team with anything decent out wide.
I'm hoping Niasse might be in there eventually to close teams full backs down but I'd tend to be steering towards caution this weekend with the form of Antonio.
Same, though we are at home and should go out to attack them. W.Ham do start a lot of their games slowly (though they didn't last night, mind).
Cleverley being out restricts our options there slightly and I think Mirallas will be in, unless like you said he goes for Niasse or even Kone (but I can't see it from the start) to match up against Kouyate.
Another option would be to play Besic and play a midfield three, with Barkley and Lennon either side of Lukaku, though again Barkley is wasted out left.
Yeah Kone has gone as an option in that role sadly. It would be good to feel this was a game we can afford to lose and see what options Besic or Niasse give us at home. Think our home form means a gritty performance is needed though. If Cleverley is out I'm not sure what that means in terms of line up and I think he'll go with Mirallas.
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