Mirallas seems like a nice guy. I've heard a few stories that seem to suggest he has a lot of time for fans and kids especially, and he seems to be close mates to a number of players, so I have no doubt he is popular in the dressing room.
But for all the skill and moments of magic he has produced in his time here, a good YouTube clip worth of worldies and knee high Suarez tackles, there are very few people who seem to care if he stays or goes, which is as good an indication as any of just how inconsistent he has been.
He is a quick, skilful, attacking player who can score goals, and spectacular ones at that, the very type of player that people love to idolise and admire. But for whatever reason, he's just never done it often enough. Whether that's complacency, arrogance, lack of game time, injuries, falling out with managers, etc.
Players like Naismith or Niasse, as has been pointed out, always seem to get way more stick than Mirallas, based purely on what is a perceived lack of ability, or the potential of what he "might" do. While they try hard each and every time they play, Mirallas often exudes the body language of "it's not my day today, I don't fancy it", and it's there for all to see.
But people will still argue the case that there should always be room for players of his ability in the team and he should automatically start ahead of these so called lesser players, regardless what their individual outputs are. And it doesn't always strike me as fair.
So I offer a different comparison to another player with whom I see a lot of similarities. A player with equal, perhaps greater ability. A player who was also often played out of his preferred position but never moaned and in fact became our best player wherever and whenever he was deployed.
Mikel Arteta.
Arteta was, until injuries took their toll, one of the best players to play for Everton in the modern era. Similar to Mirallas in size and frame, he too had lots of skill, and while maybe not as quick over 10 yards as Mirallas, he also possessed that match winning moment of magic and was a scorer of spectacular goals, including the odd free kick. He was often played as Right or left winger, whether that was his preference or not. And he was always professional about it, and always reliable.
So next time you try and compare why Mirallas is technically a better player than Naismith or Niasse and should automatically take their place in the side, try comparing him to another player with similar levels of ability and potential, but one who did it on a regular basis.
And in doing so, realise that if Mirallas was determined enough, consistent enough and most importantly, good enough, he would be in the team, and would probably be our best player, wherever he was asked to play.