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Deulofeu and Rafinha, now on loan at Everton and Celta, will return in the summer and be part of the first team squad next season. [Mundo Deportivo]

Martinez on Deulofeu:

 

"I'm not thinking about that (extending his stay) now. What I am excited about is seeing Gerard's potential to develop and show his best in next five months.

 

"He is such a special footballer, one that anyone would enjoy watching, he's adjusted to life in the British game and understands what is needed - and he has done that quicker than we expected.

 

"We have an agreement (with Barcelona) over 10 months, it would be ridiculous to sit down now about the next step.

 

"We're all happy and will leave it until the end of the season and see where we are.

 

"If he does really well the chances of having him longer are slim."

 

 

 

Hopefully Barca will see us as a good place to loan out their promising youngsters and we'll get another one in his place.

I could see that happening as it does with Ajax, especially under Martinez

Very kewl powerpoint...Love the LED lighting upgrade & savings along with the recycling initiative

I've read stories about the back & forth of a new stadium, where do things stand at present?

 

Is he ready to displace Neymar, pedro, sanchez, messi??? Maybe he may get 10 games if he gets recalled - as opposed to being a 30 game player for us next season??? Wishful thinking, maybe the only thing that may keep him here is the need to develop decision making (when to be selfish, when to give)

 

I'm just hoping we can do another year, what a talent he is. The sky is the limit for this kid.

There are 2 attacking players in the rotation of the squad where questions about their future will be addressed by summer - Pedro & Tello...To say nothing of Afellay & Cuenca

I think Deulofeu would rotate with Alexis, Neymar & Leo...He's not starting yet for Everton so if he can be an effective sub here, the thinking would be why not with his club as well

Everything, of course, is predicated both on how he does the rest of the season and how the attacking depth for Barcelona sorts out

I'd be happy with him staying on at Everton but while I had previously thought there was little chance of him returning this summer now I am not so certain

Just reminding people, love the player but remember he's just a rental - he was always going to return

So what's the feeling about his longterm future at Everton from fans?...I read he is a local lad & close to his mother but his agency also employs Moyes' son, any doubts about him pulling a Rooney?

Would be a shame obviously, especially since I think him & Martinez could do very well together and they probably are working together at the ideal points in both their careers

Earlier in the season, I would've said pretty confidently it'd be a 2 year loan if he got regular playing time...Now, I am starting to move towards recall this summer...Especially if he continues to build upon his performances, which I am pretty sure he will

I think he'll be back to the club this summer

1. Oviedo

2. Barry/Howard

3. Jagielka

I prefer Johan Cruyff if I'm being quite honest.

Let's not get started on Cruyff :jump for joy:

I see how United play and how Everton did last year with Martinez now in charge & it seems quite clear which team/manager combo is the most exciting...Some genuinely exciting play on display now

The best part for you lot is that it's only beginning but also a reminder that it's predicated on two significant players who are loanees

I'd go with Deulo and then Pienaar

1. Deulofeu

2. Pienaar

3. Oviedo/McCarthy

 

I don't know if "selfish" is a fair word to use, though I understand what you're getting at. What we need to keep in perspective here is:

 

1. He is 19 years old.

2. He's used to comparatively shitty competition in the lower Spanish divisions.

 

I don't think Deulofeu goes on runs thinking he needs to do everything himself or to be a ball hog. He's a young kid who is used to being considerably better than any defender he's going up against. The EPL is a major step up from any sort of competition he is used to. Thus, he's still , trying to figure out how far he can push things. Some things that worked against vastly inferior teams in Spain won't work against EPL teams like Stoke, and the only way for Deulofeu to learn what will and won't work at this level is through trial and error. He's still not perfect and definitely held onto the ball a touch or two too many in some instances this game. I do think he's getting better at it, though. It's a learning process, and I think he's shown progress. Every game will only educate him further and eventually he'll be a much more mature player.

Well, I think it would be a mistake to summarily dismiss Segunda competition or his experience with the NT...I imagine he sees the space he's afforded in the Premiership and his eyes dilate, dribbling & getting into scoring position for a winger are fundamental

He's 19 as you say so there will indeed be a learning curve about when to use the accelerator and not to along with decision making but the natural talent & skills are in abundance...Plus, he's never had confidence issues as he's dominated at every level he's played...Although he never quite made much of a splash with Barcelona's 1st team the handful of times he played

BTW, thought Pienaar & Oviedo were outstanding as well

Thought I'd leave you with his comp over the years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lbs3L6l7bEU

Marca

I'll merely repeat what I posted before the season began, enjoy him while you have him but he'll be going back to Barcelona

Bummed I missed the match but downloading presently, curious how he fared against Muniesa or if having to face him gave him an added confidence boost having faced off against him many times before in the cantera & NT...Did he play 90 minutes?

Hard to understand how Martinez plans to incorporate Deulofeu, IMO. He's said things in the press that run contrary to what he's been doing with Gerard's minutes so all I can conclude is that he has some other reason for holding back on using him more. Not sure how it would work exactly but I get the feeling it's tied to an extension of the loan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM6Q-AwK3M8

He was involved in 5 of the 6 goals...Entertaining match, a lot of good performances all over with the team...Morata, in particular, continues to surprise me - I honestly underrated him from when I first saw him a good 3 years ago...A terrific talent for the capital club...It was a tight match early but as soon as La Roja got a couple of goals, you could see Bosnia start to buckle and Spain really go for the kill...Some great action, a recommended DL if you find it, IMHO

Gerard was commanding a lot of respect on the pitch as defenders gave him plenty of space if they didn't have adequate cover...2 of his assists came from absolutely deft skills along the goal line where he left his defenders for dead with a single touch with the tip of his boot...Deulofeu was great although I still think he could've done better, his assists were entirely individual effort but there were a couple of scoring chances he probably should've done better with...Great team effort and once again, Lopetegui looks a bright prospect as manager for the NT

Gerry D? It's like watching a kid who plays for the Everton academy turn up and play a random game on a park for a cub scout team. He just beats players for fun and with such pace. Gonna be a player.

Barça

Strange to see a Martinez side so wasteful in possession, giving West Ham far too much time on the ball...The goal was unlucky of course but the danger was often there...Thought Mirallas has been sharp when given some service but Barkley has perhaps been a bit too reckless

Less popular than the typical FPS sort of game but loving the new Rayman Legends

Congrats on the win, well deserved...Meant to pop in earlier but a busy day of footy today...Watched most of the match but wasn't able to see it in it's entirety, look forward to catching it in full later this week

Patience with Barkley, genuine talent there...the game will mature, the beauty is that he's fearless

Not going to happen. I think Barcelona want to hang onto this kid, and if they did let him go, the pricetag would be way too much for us.

Extremely unlikely, I think he'd have to disappoint for that to happen...He's one of the jewels of the club

Not sure what the argument against playing him more is, Chelsea or whomever...Who else is creating more danger from the wing?

I thought he was fantastic and his goal came from his left foot. And his corners were very dangerous, full of pace instead of floaty shite like the others tend to put in.

 

Obviously tired badly towards the end, but showed lots of promise and was very exciting.

Definitely two footed but prefers his right. I'd just add that every level he's played at, he's eventually triumphed. In the youth setup at Barcelona, players with standout talent are often moved around in their age categories to see what they are capable of. Similar happened with Messi, Bojan & Dongou. Bojan eventually showed he lacked the requisite skills to be a dangerous forward/winger in world football but Deulofeu is not only full of confidence (Compared to how droopy/mopey Krkic turned out to be) but has thrived on every level.

Deulo, however, never made a splash with the first team although he has barely featured. Defenders will learn what frustrates him and Gerard will have to adjust which is part of what is missing from his overall game, IMHO. Extremely smart on the ball and clearly is being told to focus on his wide play before assuming a goalscoring role which will also benefit the player going forward.

Very happy to see him do well already, especially against an extremely well organized Stevenage side in a cup competition

stevenage have played brilliantly tonight - fair play

Yep and Freeman has put in a great shift

Smart to take Doughty off, begging to be sent off

For the love of God, take Naismith off now. Pleaaassseeee Bobby!

Yep, save for a few moments, he's been very wasteful

A kid who already has plenty of confidence probably got a nice boost from that goal