We need to talk about Kevin..

[Bally8]

If Oviedo could stay fit, I think he'd be a cracking left winger for us

Has the defensive nous to track back as well

He's not a winger though is he? He's played there before and was terrible

 

[Hellerad]

Mirallas is a perfect (left)winger for a 4-2-3-1 with attacking fullbacks. He can cut in and give Baines space on the outside. Problem is that with Del on the other side is that it would leave three players that is not so keen on tracking back.

4-2-3-1 doesn't use traditional wingers, but like you say, he can cut in and provide space for Baines to overlap.

The problems are:

1. He doesn't. He likes to receive the ball in the corner and try to 1-2 his way in, which is wonderful when it works.
2. He's creative, but he's not a great passer or crosser, which is why its his third option in attack behind shooting and dribbling.
3. As you point out, he doesn't provide any defensive cover.
4. He creates in the final third, but provides little to nothing in the other 2/3 of the pitch. This is why he'd make a great wide forward or a decent traditional winger, but why he makes an inconsistent left midfielder. He'd be far better suited for a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.

I really think he's a great little player with the obvious attitude issues. But I also think he's misused and I doubt RM will change his system.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

He's not a winger though is he? He's played there before and was terrible

He was inexperienced in the role, yet showed a good aptitude for it

I'd certainly explore it further

 

[Hellerad]

If Oviedo could stay fit, I think he'd be a cracking left winger for us

Has the defensive nous to track back as well

Pre-injury Oviedo would have been a really good option in left midfield.

Post-injury Ovideo seems to be missing something. But as you say, he may have needed a run of games to get into shape and couldn't stay healthy.

 

[dannyboy]

What? No he didn't, he was injured against pool and then out for 2 months. It was baines that got us through

7 goals in 14 games between August and December isn't a bad record for someone who was out for 2 months.

 

[Bally8]

He was inexperienced in the role, yet showed a good aptitude for it

I'd certainly explore it further

So you would play two left backs down the left hand side?

Not having that, you play wingers or very clever footballers like Pienaar there, not Oviedo

 

[hallamblue]

Bizarre that we have Pienaar, Mirallas, McGeady, Kone, Osman, Lennon and we still don't have anyone suitable for the left sided front role. We need to sell 2 or 3 of them and get a left footed Frank Lampard type.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

So you would play two left backs down the left hand side?

Not having that, you play wingers or very clever footballers like Pienaar there, not Oviedo

Oviedo is a talented and versatile footballer who could easily be a good LM if given the chance

If you can't see that, that's your problem

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Pre-injury Oviedo would have been a really good option in left midfield.

Post-injury Ovideo seems to be missing something. But as you say, he may have needed a run of games to get into shape and couldn't stay healthy.

I think he needs to be eased back in more next time, like Baines was recently

Oviedo came back from an injury, did 120 minutes at Barnsley mid week and then did a full 90 against Spurs. No wonder he got injured again so quickly

He's a very talented player who needs to be managed carefully back to full fitness. If that can be done, we've got options both at LB and LM with him

 

[Bally8]

Oviedo is a talented and versatile footballer who could easily be a good LM if given the chance

If you can't see that, that's your problem

Don't be making out as if I can't see something that is obvious, you're just assuming he's left footed he can player there, playing the two positions are very different. Don't think I've seen Oviedo take a man on his own since he joined.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Don't be making out as if I can't see something that is obvious, you're just assuming he's left footed he can player there, playing the two positions are very different. Don't think I've seen Oviedo take a man on his own since he joined.

Must have missed the game against Stoke at home in the 13/14 Season (Also know as the day he truly "arrived")

 

[WarringtonBlue]

7 goals in 14 games between August and December isn't a bad record for someone who was out for 2 months.

I mean when he can be bothered he's a good player but in terms of point saving or winning goals it was baines, and lukaku who got us our wins. Was it 7 in all competitions? Did score some lovely goals though and he is important

 

[Sideliner]

When last has Mirallas been given a proper chance to prove himself in any position? - never mind as a left front player/winger for which he is best suited
Check where most of his goals came from - the LEFT
The only left he gets from Martinez is being LEFT out of the starting line-up
Why on earth does Martinez stubbornly refuse to play Deulefeu on the right and Mirallas on the left in the same game at the same time?
If we lose Mirallas to a bigger club we will only have Mr Martinez to blame for underutilising our second best ball player in the squad after Deulefeu

 

[lancs blue]

Mirallas is a sprinter though which causes martinez problems according to one of his interviews which is a joke

 

[dannyboy]

I mean when he can be bothered he's a good player but in terms of point saving or winning goals it was baines, and lukaku who got us our wins. Was it 7 in all competitions? Did score some lovely goals though and he is important

In that case Lukaku hasn't been all that this year because his goals haven't won us many points... You can't argue he was our best player at the start of last year. 1 in 2 for a winger is a fantastic ratio, then he missed a penalty and that was that.

I'll be honest and say I didn't think Baines was great last season, was made up when Garbutt came in and gave the team a shot in the arm.