Now is the time for Vellios to shine
Apostolos Vellios is the striker that Everton fans have backed for years but are now starting to become frustrated with. Often it was argued that Tolis wasn’t given a chance, especially by David Moyes. When he played, he generally did well in limited minutes, yet he always seemed to disappear from the squad with rumours of problems at training and attitude at the heart of it.
Roberto Martinez came in and still Vellios was nowhere to be seen. Martinez went public and hinted that Vellios refused to go on loan, yet backed him to become a good player in the future.
The Greek star could have an important part to play in the last part of this season, with Nikica Jelavic all but done and dusted as a Hull City player, Vellios is one of only 2 fit first team strikers. The Greek has been named on the Everton bench recently, without getting brought into the action.
No one really knows the real story. Is there a player there just needing a chance or is he simply not good enough. On one of his rare starts, David Moyes threw Vellios up on his own against the Rugby playing look-a-likes of the Stoke City back line. Facing an unenviable task of having Phil Jagielka long balls lumped high, Vellios was hardly going to win a battle against Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth.
Is Vellios good enough? I don’t think anyone can really argue either way. Could a lack of numbers give him a run? Possibly, it depends if Roberto can bring in reinforcements or use Kevin Mirallas as a striker.
The lad is 22 now and really needs to knuckle down and prove he is worth a contract at Everton. Whether he needs to go on loan or simply prove his worth if given the chance he needs to think outside the box. He has been at the club since signing from Iraklis for £250k in 2011 and he has 18 months left on his contract, he has only made 22 appearances for the blues.
Now is the time when Vellios should either show his worth or get sold.
Should Vellios be given a run? Have your say at www.theevertonforum.com
They should have let this guy leave a long time ago, he is in the same league as Geuye and Junior, simply not good enough. At their age they should be setting the under 21’s alight let alone the senior squad, but they are not. Move the 3 of them on and bring other youth players through that have a better chance of making the jump.
There are a few,usually foreign,youngsters who have not fulfilled their early promise.Hopefully,they are going to leave soon,as much for their own good as for the interests of the club. Perhaps,Guye,Junior and Vellios will make the grade elsewhere,but I don’t see when they would ever be considered first choice at Goodison,do you? At the same time we let youngsters who might have the moxie go to Championship clubs,seems wrong somehow. I wonder how Conor Mcaleny feels knowing that his breakthrough might have been imminent if he wasn’t laid up with a broken leg. Hope he’s improving,by the way.But, perhaps there are a few 16 year olds raring to go in the under 21’s.