Marco Silva challenges Dominic Calvert-Lewin to raise his game

Brief, but revealing comments. As Silva says, he believes in the lad because he has played him in the last 3 key games, and he likes the skillset Calvert-Lewin possesses.

It is very rare these days for a manager to go public and demand more of a player like this without the player throwing a strop and calling his agent. That Silva has done so suggests to me he knows Dom can take it and that the player also wants the same for himself.

Good news all round for Everton, if that is the case.

Maybe... just maybe...

You can't make fans like him, maybe ask them to give him a chance. There is plenty to like about the lad's performance.

Finally, I hope it doesn't happen, but, if Dominic was to be sold, there would be a queue of clubs ready to sign him and he wouldn't come cheap.

Plenty of skill? Keeps it well hidden, and as for having two good feet – I have never seen him hit a ball with an ounce of power in it, with either foot!

The biggest laugh tho was your hysterical assumption there would be a queue of clubs vying for his signature! Championship clubs at best!!

Yeah, it would be great to splash out silly money on someone proven but out-and-out goalscorers are scarce (and arguably a dying breed). Chelsea have struggled with that position; Lukaku has sulked his way out of the picture since his move. We could try and flash some cash at a Callum Wilson, but is he really an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin? Not for me.

If we get behind our young players who seem to actually give a toss, we might start enjoying some of the success Spurs have had by blooding homegrown talent.

One of the most absurd evaluations given is 'not a Premier League player', as if that was some sort of given gold standard. Look at a list Premier League strikers, past and present, and Calvert-Lewin would be in the top 50%.

He's young, has strength, height, pace, decent in the air, holds it up well. He needs to improve his finishing, of course, and in my opinion could be more intimidating (a few extra hours in the weight room wouldn't do any harm).

But there is a very good player in there somewhere.

Powder-puff shooting for a striker just doesn't cut it at this level.

Despite the nonsense gleaned from fan boy websites and put up here as fact, most people who watched Everton and understand what they are watching, will know that if Koeman or Allardyce claimed they had played him as an out and out centre-forward, they'd have been done under the trade descriptions act. This manager is different. He's even allowing him to stay forward.... even when an attack has broken down.

There is a big difference to being good enough to play in the Premier League and being good enough to succeed in it. Calvert-Lewin is being challenged by his manager to prove he is the latter

I agree with others, he has some skill for sure. But, as a striker, he is miles off the required standard for a top Premier League club this season.

Yes, he's young – which is why he should really have been out on loan this season, toughening up in the Championship and seeing if he could learn where the cow's arse is when he's toting his banjo. A top Championship team, creating lots of chances for him, would have done him the world of good.

As it is, chances are he'll be back on the bench the minute we sign an experienced striker, or he'll get the hump if he's asked to spend a season in a lower league, and ask for a transfer.

Bless!

You're reliance on this nonsense was cruelly exposed.

"I`ll give you that one" – Jay Wood after being caught spouting fanboy nonsense.

Really, just the one?

I was hoping this would be a more factual thread.

Niasse has been left to rot most of the season, surely you don't think Tosun is better than Dominic???

Compare him to other clubs (all competitions)

Watford's top striker – played 15, scored 3
Leicester's top striker – played 17 scored 6
Bournemouth's top striker – played 14 scored 7
Calvert-Lewin – played 18 scored 5.

Remember, he's just 21 and has played a lot off the bench. He doesn't compare badly to our immediate competitors. He's not top 4 quality yet, but to say he's not Premier League standard is an injustice. I reckon, if we sold him, there'd be around 15-17 Premier League clubs interested in him.

I like him as a player. We won't be able to go out and buy the ready made article. It's not just the money, it's the scarcity – the few there are won't come to us. Might as well have a crack at developing one.

The big problem I see with Calvert-Lewin is his finishing. But I'm prepared to give him time on that point as the club really didn't help him develop. Typically he only gets game time when we're struggling and for a team that was creating only one or two chances a game time. He was desperately in need of a loan move last year just to get some experience and confidence in front of goal.

You couldn't say his finishing has been much better this season but he's had a bit of luck go his way and his scoring record is decent – I think it's still better than Richarlison's per minute. He deserves to be a fixture in the team for a spell. Lesser players have certainly been given more opportunities.

I remain skeptical of Calvert-Lewin's goalscoring capabilities too... but a youngster with that much pace, leaping ability and attitude has to be given every chance.

And I really liked the way he stepped up against Spurs – he was a shining light in the wreckage of that game, with a lovely assist and the sweet header. And he never stopped pressuring the ball or trying to make plays.

I am not at all optimistic we're going to get a top striker next month, so I'm all for Silva giving Calvert-Lewin this opportunity.

YOU raised the spectre of last week's debate here on this thread, not me.

You resented that the facts presented then were not convenient to a claim you made. Your claim, as were the many subsequent diversionary strawmen you threw into the thread, enough to thatch a rural English village, was exposed, as was your flawed (highly opinionated) memory which was the unique source of your claims.

Oh! And nice selective editing of ONE line of many posts. Pity you didn't include the rest of that particular entry, supported by neutral posters with video evidence, that rather made a nonsense of the (one of many) diversionary claims you threw into the melting pot, all of them twatted away.

That you continue to reference that thread in the sneering manner you do, a week later, rather exposes both your inflated and fragile ego: it really sticks in your gullet when your claims and your memory are shown up as flawed, doesn't it, Darren?

On Sunday against Spurs, I said to the young lad who sits next to me, “He's good, he just needs to be a bit more aggressive, use his weight”. Seconds later, Calvert-Lewin brushed aside the defender to provide the cross for Walcott's goal. I felt pretty pleased with myself.

I was even more self-satisfied a few minutes later when he powered up to make a great header to make it 2-0. Just what we want to see. But it was disallowed, for the most minor of contact.

So, I have to shut up. Stop saying to myself “He's like a young Graeme Sharp, he just needs an Andy Gray to show him the dark arts of centre-forward play”. Unfortunately, that won't wash anymore, aggression is penalised. So Dominic has to learn a different method.

I think he has shown an aptitude to learn and develop in the time he has been at Everton, a couple of years making sporadic appearances in pretty poor teams under a wide variety of managers, and his record in that time is decent. Let's support him in a season that is becoming as unpredictable as everyone predicted, and take a view on him when it is over.

You have to give Dom the time to develop at 21.

Who knows he may just cut the mustard and become a Everton ledgend...

Before every game he would attempt to gee him up and try get that extra ounce from him that he knew he was well capable of delivering. It was an ongoing process of trying to get someone to recognise their true potential in their life (something similar to what my work is with people not knowing their abilities and skills). Whether Harry Catterick succeeded is in doubt but he got a lot from that young lad, Joe Royle (who well could have achieved a lot more for us as a player).

I recall a young Graeme Sharpe who had no aggression or tactics. A spectacular goal about 1982 at Goodison vs Tottenham led to him having a self-belief... the rest is history.

Potential in life comes in early, middle and late stages. We are all different and who knows where Calvert-Lewin will fit in? But let's embrace the possibility. Joe became it... Sharpy too. And you know what... they were rubbish to start with.

(A bit like Bob Dylan's first album... they wanted him off the label – happens in all walks of life!!!!!)

I know it's not a great Window in January for picking up strikers, but feel if Marcel Brands and Co can pull off a bit of magic, it will help Calvert-Lewin into being the striker most of us believe he can become.

Calvert-Lewin has continued to work hard and has improved, looking a lot better than Richarlison in the centre-forward role. Getting into position is Calvert-Lewin strength's. He can finish and he has improved his link play and pass completion in the final third.

He has worked and adapted, now it's beginning to pay off.

I think that has potentially harmed his career – he's not ready for the seniority he's been handed. if he could have had a year out this season, he might have come back ready to lead the line, like Harry Kane did at Spurs.

As it is, I think we will buy a first choice striker in the next eight months, and Calvert-Lewin will have a decision to make.

1. The shoulder bump that knocked the Burnley defender off the ball before his cross to Walcott.

2.The way he won that header for his disallowed goal.

Both incidents suggest to me that somebody has been teaching him about old-fashioned centre-forward play.

He is developing as a physical specimen (have a look at the legs on him). I think he rushes his shots. If someone can coach him in the art of shooting, he will be a real handful for any defence.

Happy New Year!

You're reliance on the information you glean from these fanboy websites is well known on these pages. You repeatedly ignore the fact that they contradict each other and regularly put up lengthy lists of unsubstantiated nonsense in a desperate attempt to defeat another poster's opinion... doesn't wash, lad.

I didn't "resent facts presented to me" because you couldn't present any. By basing your arguments on the information you get from these websites, you are not even presenting your own opinion. You're just regurgitating somebody else's.

When you said "I'll give you that", you were being forced to admit you were not even giving an accurate account of the information available on this website. You were twisting it to suit your argument.

I will never be swayed by "facts" compiled through dubious methods and published on nefarious fanboy websites. I'll always give more credence to arguments from people who are giving an opinion formed by using the evidence of their own eyes. Those are the posts and opinions I will be taking a keen interest in on this thread.

I'll pass over your totally incoherent first paragraph and keep to the single line you repeat from the week-old exchange.

Unlike yourself, I not only base my opinion on what I witness with my eyes (rather than the inaccurate fantasy you weave), if I am so inclined, I also back up such empirical evidence with statistical evidence, as I did in this case.

Because you've repeated it twice, you should be well aware the context in which I wrote "I'll give you that"(but then again, as it's you...). It was this:

It was the ONE GAME from the excellent Transfermarkt site that I listed as DC-L playing at centre forward as they didn't list a playing position for him. That was in the league cup game vs Sunderland.

As I explained, I attributed his position as centre forward NOT because I am only reliant on 'fanboy websites' (rolls eyes, sighs...), but because I attended the game live at Goodison Park and saw him score two goals playing at centre forward.

In response to that you 'laughed out loud' because you also attended the game and insisted Sandro played centre forward, flanked by DC-L and Lookman.

Inconveniently, as I pointed out to you, all 3 were not on the park at the same time that night. DC-L played the entire time he was on the park at centre forward, flanked by Vlasic and Sandro out wide, and that both DC-L and Sandro were subbed out before Lookman entered the fray. An incontestable fact that totally torpedoes your claim about the line-up.

Steve Ferns chipped in and confirmed that DC-L definitely played centre forward that night and even provided video footage which further confirmed the same.

Delicious irony and comical contradiction, then, that you end your latest post by claiming you'll "always give more credence to arguments from people who are giving an opinion formed by using the evidence of their own eyes."

It's wise that you do rely more on the vision and memory of the likes of myself and Steve Ferns, as evidently your own eyesight and memory are failing you badly, Darren.

Was there anything else you wanted to twist and fabricate, Darren?

I've seen posters on here slam Stones and say he will never make it, slam Lukaku and claim he's shite and we should try our hand at signing Benteke and cash in on Rom, slam Barkley, Deulofeu, and now it's the turn of Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Davies and Kenny.

There aren't too many top strikers about, that's why Morata and Lukaku play for some of the biggest clubs in the land, and why the clubs paid massive amounts of money to sign them. We don't have that money, and even if we did the players won't sign for us as bigger clubs will bid.

Fat Sam told us Tosun was the best he could afford, and if you look about for £20/30m strikers who have moved recently to clubs we can compete with who would ToffeeWebbers want !?!

Calvert-Lewin is young, quick, athletic, superb in the air and has plenty of time to better himself, he's also proven he has an assist in him as well as a goal. Lads of his age are highly thought of at other clubs and aren't doing any better.

Rashford Was raved over last season, in the prem he managed 7 goals and 5 assists in 35 games. Calvert-Lewin's stats were 4 goals and 6 assists in 32 games, there's not a huge difference yet man u fans will rave over Rashford yet many of our fans will slam Calvert-Lewin.

Don't get me wrong – he has to improve, he should be more explosive with his shooting and running at defenders, making them commit, but this comes when playing with confidence, playing in a team that's doing well and playing for a manager that trusts you. We can not expect the kid to carry us, he's only just finding his feet himself.

Imo he's already at least level with Niasse and Tosun, therefore at the very least he's a £10m player. Add to that he's English, and he's never once complained when left out of the squad, just got his head down and worked at getting into the team.

I've said it before, this season is about Silva sieving through the squad and finding out which players he feels has a future at the club. My opinion is neither Tosun nor Niasse will ever be the answer, therefore Calvert-Lewin needs to be given a good run of games to get valuable experience.

As often as possible Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Lookman need to be played together, Richarlison is already our best attacking player; if between Lookman and Calvert-Lewinwe can gain another starter then it will free up funds to buy the missing piece of the forward jigsaw.

Lastly, let's not slam the young lads trying to get through, let's get behind them and see if they can become first teamers instead of writing them off before giving them a real chance.

A terrible condition that means that most young players are not in fact Wayne Rooney, and do not have his ability at such a young age. Therefore meaning: 'he's shite'.

I know you see yourself as a smart, tough debater, but you're as slow as a week in a jail.

The game against Sunderland was the only game you said you attended... and guess what? The fanboy website Transfermarkt disagreed with you.

The information I gave you as an example was taken from a different fanboy website, football-lineups. Guess what? Yep, they also disagreed with you. They insist the only people who played up front were Lookman and Sandro (not at the same time).

Now here's the funny bit... These two websites, the type which regularly provide what you describe as "empirical evidence", not only disagree with you... they disagree with each other! And this is just one match!

Breaking news: This debate about using gunk published on fanboy websites as some kind of "proof" is not just (as you claim) a week old, it's been going on since they sprang up. What you really mean is, after years of putting up said gunk and dressing it as "fact", you, personally were only challenged a week ago.

Going back to Steve Ferns's short clip – BTW, loved the way you described Steve as "other posters" – if you really believe that showing brief action of Calvert-Lewin scoring from central positions proves he played centre-forward, I'll dig out some old clips of legendary centre-forwards like Ball, King and Mountfield for you.

Two fanboy websites publishing the sort of "empirical evidence" your argument so regularly relies upon, show formations totally at odds to the one you saw at the Sunderland game. Yet you were there. Witnessed it with your own eyes you said... Go figure!

He reminds me of Sharpie when he signed for us. Took a few seasons to find his feet but became a top player.

Fair enough, that's your opinion. I think Dominic is here for the long haul. Even if we sign another striker, it's Everton's way now to have two good players for every position. I honestly think Calvert-Lewin will be one of them; if he has to make a decision, I think it will be to stay with us.

It's extremely tough to make the transition from kids football to possibly the best football league in the world. Shane Duffy wasn't considered good enough to break through when he was here. He's a Premier League centre-half now at Brighton.

Don't forget about that United ticket if you can make it over, Andy, especially because you told me how much you hate the Mancs.

Calvert-Lewin splits opinion, but it seems that everyone on the inside is prepared to give him a chance. This tells me that I think the kid has got a great chance... In fact I hope he turns out as good as Dylan, who is not everyone's cup of tea!

My main concern is my 15-year-old daughter has the serious hots for him and sees no wrong at all.

The same 15-year-old also picks Salah in her fantasy team – so won't be coming to the next home match.

Apart from Rooney, I can't think of another player in the last 30 years who has come through our academy and turned out to be a top player. Yes, we have had the likes of Hibbert and Osman who were good club players as was Jeffers, but you couldn't say they were stars. So, in reality, we are not a club who produces great players unless we go back to the 60s, which is sad.

For me the club that epitomizes bringing through young players is Man Utd going right back to the Busby babes who I was lucky enough to see. Also given that they were at the very top of English football they still brought through their own players, which is difficult for young players to get into a team who can buy the world's best.

"You're reliance on the information you glean from these fanboy websites is well known on these pages. You repeatedly ignore the fact that they contradict each other and regularly put up lengthy lists of unsubstantiated nonsense in a desperate attempt to defeat another poster's opinion... doesn't wash, lad"

Nail on Head!

Against Burnley, he hustled, hassled and cajoled their three centre-backs which created space for others in the team. Three defenders who many TW'ers named as potential targets for us... me included.

On Saturday, he'll do the same against Dunk and Duffy; against Leicester he'll have Morgan in his pocket and will outpace Maguire.

The more the opposition realise his danger, the more time they'll spend marking and tracking him which is perfect for Richarlison, Sigurdsson and even Walcott.

For me, he's our 1st choice in that single centre-forward position and should have been earlier in the season.

Sell Niasse and Tosun and use the money for Gomes.

As I said previously, last week's exchange is evidently a splinter under your fingernail that you felt a need and contrived a way to reference it in this thread, more than a week later.

I know what was said in that thread. How it was said. When it was said. By who it was said. Your Orwellian 'Newspeak' revisionist attempt to alter that doesn't wash.

When you work yourself up into a lather as you are prone to do when legitimately challenged, you remind me of those old-school wind-up tin toys (emphasis on 'wind-up) that blindly whirl into a corner, and continue bashing up against the skirting board because they lack the intelligence to change course, until their mechanism winds down and they come to a dead standstill.

I'll leave you to continue regurgitating false 'Newspeak' re-writes of last week's thread in your desperate ego-driven attempt to be 'right'. Whilst doing so, you might think to bone up on the considerable difference between fact and opinion, statistical and empirical evidence (note the spelling of 'empirical', Darren...).

And finally, three words for you Darren:

Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Look it up.

Suits you, sir.

I was very impressed with the header for the disallowed goal against Spurs and he is getting stronger although he does have a habit of finding himself in no man's land at times chasing shadows. That's not meant to be a huge criticism as experience mostly dictates positional sense. Hopefully it will come. He is fast and getting stronger so a good run till the end of the season will do him the world of good.

He is definitely the best we have at present so let's see what happens. We have never seen him have a consistent run as a striker so now is his chance to show what he is capable of. It also balances the team more as he will be playing in his natural position as opposed to round pegs in square holes like playing Richarlison at centre-forward.

I did not refer to last weeks thread. You did. I simply spoke about the unhealthy amount of false claims and stats used by stattos like yourself to show players like Calvert-Lewin in a poorer light. Trust me when I tell you, that foolishness is not confined to one thread. It`s not even confined to one website or the internet. You stattos are spouting your ill-informed nonsense everywhere.

You dragged up last week's thread because you have clearly convinced yourself you have won yet another debate. You seem to do a lot of that. But now it's been pointed out to you, that you and all the fanboy websites you have so often hoisted up as "empirical evidence" are actually singing from very different hymn sheets.

You seem to have taken it rather badly fella. So I make a little peace offering. These sites may all contradict each other (and you)... but I agree with you. You're all 100% right. Hows that?

Darren, read your post @ 12 in this thread. Repeating word for word in some cases the same denigrating words you used in last week's thread in the absence of any real substance...and I'm the one that raised the spectre of that thread..?

Yeah, right. You just can't help picking at the scab of wounded pride, can you fellah?

The narcissist in you once again tries to project on to others your sentiments: a belief that there has to be a 'winner' to a debate.

Me? I'm not fussed. I'm indifferent to how I'm perceived by anyone on TW, or if my posts are reviled or praised or ignored. My ego is neither as inflated nor as fragile as your own, Darren. Nor am I easily pushed off the ball by the sneering empty rhetoric and sly sleight of hand you regularly employ.

You keep chasing your own tail and licking your own bollocks Darren, whilst preening and admiring yourself in the mirror.

Give a dog a bone, eh?

Woof! Woof! FETCH!

Which fan boy websites? Put up "here" as fact - where? I see no reference.

You fool nobody. Anyone who wants to know who dragged last weeks thread up need only scroll back.

1) Try one more time to make it so by repeating it-check

2) Deny desperately wanting to win every debate despite ALWAYS researching and posting longest AND most inaccurate responses every time he gets into debate- check

3) Accuse the other guy of doing it in order to cover his tracks -They're still up there - Check

4) Take time and trouble to do that hilarious long winded "not bothered" routine - check

5) Accuse the other guy of being the one with the ego - HOUSE !

Back to DCL. It would appear he is going to get a run at Centre forward. Lets all hope he proves the answer

A bit like when posters get criticized for adding nothing to a debate. This is not a debate, it's handbags at dawn ! zzzzzz

Handbags at dawn, for sure. Nothing to add. zzzzz

To the best of my knwledge neither play for us so and wouldnt compete for DCLs place so coming back to the original debate.

DCL is a great young kid who won the world cup with England U20s so we know he has top class ability.

ON the other hand he is no Lukaku but could yet develop to be an even better player if he can add more prolific goalscoring to his repertoire.

Is he likely to achieve that. Well if he is given encouragement by the management and supporters he is far more likely to succeed.

I really hope DCL can make the step up from Cademarteri to Kane, he’s got a lot of the physical attributes but his finishing is way off and I have my doubts it will ever reach the highest standard. It could be though that in Silva’s team a CFs job is more about work rate and bringing others into play than just racking up the goals, something like Firmino at the RS.

We definitely need an upgrade, but he made a goal against Spurs, was unlucky to get one chalked off, and he also did really well in the move from which he made Bernard's goal?

Silva took him off, but his replacement never made us any more effective in the 2nd half, and I reckon we would have done better if Tosun could have stayed on the bench!

He definitely is not a bust. I'd say he is better than one goal Solanke and Abrahams who struggled for Swansea. He's not as good as Rashford though. But Rashford was looking out of sorts until he got a good run of games.

Silva seems to be losing patience with him. He is not going to make it. He is another one with no football brain.

Always hated Dylan though.