Calvert-Lewin: Have you forgotten how good he is?

In that time he has scored 15 or more league goals once.

I for one wouldn't be losing any sleep if he left.

He's the sort that, the better the team he's in plays, the better he plays... you add his workrate and, IMO, he's Pep's dream of a non-striking striker.

The nearest I can get to is he's the Hunt to Hurst, Charlton & Peters.

He'll do well at Man City, not so well at Arsenal.

Sad thing is, we have a billionaire owner and we need the money. How did we get to this state?

Kenwright, the Bill we can't afford.

Hang-on, I stand corrected; Bill (that non-interfering Chairman) did try to replace Lukaku….with a shot to bits Wayne fucking Rooney on £175k/week who Man Utd couldn't wait to see the back of. Absolute fucking shambles this club is.

Oh but I tend to agree though too, for now, yesterday, tomorrow, when he wasn't my first-choice new striker right-back manager to be played by the new, last manager whom I didn't want, at first, because he was shit/foreign/didn't get us, old boys club former manager, at his last club but do like him now playing 3-4-3, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 with two up-front wide right, in a four-man attack with someone else on the wing in behind, overlooking the youth at finch farm who are boss, can't get in the first team, win anything….sack him and bring back Big Sam, Moyes, Catterick. Where's Howard?

Get a fucking grip. We're about to get relegated, for the love of God, because we're the worst side in the Premier League and the club has been mismanaged for going on 30 fucking years and we're discussing whether we care if some half-baked half-arsed striker who most of the time couldn't hit a bastard barn door is going to be a loss if we sell him?

And then we won't reinvest the money because we haven't already got a list of players drawn up who could be possible replacements and then spend all summer chasing some shithouse around and end up paying twice what any other club would have bothered.

If, my dear fellow blues, you focused your efforts on trying to rid this once proud football club of the parasites sucking the life out of it, then I think we'd all be better off. That's the reality, not the fantasy.

I'm not sure Isak would come here since I thought he had interest from higher up the table over the summer. Dennis is not the answer in my opinion and occasionally he loses his head which is not what we need being without a true team leader on the pitch. Broja intrigues me from what I've seen.

The problem has always been the lack of chemistry and possession capability between Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. I think we always needed a mobile No 10 to make those two productive, week-in & week-out.

We shouldn't be getting rid unless we can recoup as you state but we may be up against it with that latest financial report. If you are correct about Richarlison's commitment, then I could possibly be lured into considering moving them both on over the next two seasons since we've not found a way to keep Richarlison productive, with or without Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison needs to cut in from the wing and is simply not a box striker. I love Richarlison, please do not get me wrong, and thinking of gambling in the transfer market with the misfires in the decision-makers' history is an obvious flaw in that idea.

My thinking is simply that it has not worked out for some time thus moving them on would be best for them and the club so long as we avoid the Championship trap door which is our first concern.

Not going down, damnit!

As a pain-in-the-ass assistant to a killer goal-scorer I think he'd be fabulous. Unfortunately we don't have such a striker.

That said, he's vital to us given the total bollocks delivered to us from the boardroom/Monaco (and Russia?) for six successive years.

If I was him, I'd be seeking out options.

In terms of the negative stuff, Nick, I very much agree that the club needs a complete overhaul and won't achieve any success (regardless of who the football manager is) until that happens. We aren't the worst team in the division by any stretch - but we're one of the worst 6.

Which is kind of my point. We've become that bad in the prolonged absence of a very good striker (on top of 30 years' mismanagement too).

Iwobi rightly takes the credit for a very good goal but Calvert-Lewin's introduction made a big difference against Newcastle.

Getting rid of Kenwright is something we need to do but it won't make an immediate difference from a footballing point of view. The immediate improvement comes through having a fit Calvert-Lewin in the team.

So I think it is worth discussing that rather than labelling him as crap because he doesn't strike a ball like Harry Kane.

Let's actually get wide players who want to get a cross in.

It was I who touted Dennis as a possible replacement, I do recognise he is a different player altogether and maybe a better replacement for Richarlison. Brereton Diaz looks a good prospect too.

I don't want Calvert-Lewin to go, I think (unlike Richarlison) he owes us another season. He will get back to form, I am sure, his hold-up play is excellent IMO, as is his dominance in the air. Yes, his finishing needs work but he has enough to go all the way.

I feel his head has been turned though (could be wrong) and, if that's the case, I'd rather we sold him. If not (and Frank will know) then yes another season please, he's my favourite player alongside Gordon.

The naysayers are the usual lot who get on the backs of our better players, week-in & week-out. It's like a disease in this club.

The issue with Calvert-Lewin is that he has had the temerity to suffer his first serious injury after 5 years at the club. In addition, he has reached the grand old age of 25 years old so he is over the hill.

As your analysis shows, none of the players touted as replacements are prolific either. I would prefer to retain a striker who does score goals (average 18 in the last two seasons before the injury) to someone who might score goals.

Richarlison, Kean and Mina will be sold in the summer to generate transfer funds and reduce the wage bill. Tosun, Delph, the Nameless One and Kenny (maybe) will be off the wage bill. Hopefully, that gives the DoF something to work with – will Moshiri and Kenwright be told to fuck off if they try to interfere?

He started against Brighton at home a number of weeks ago and ever since he has been in and out of the team.

If we were not in such an unholy mess I think there would be merit in letting him off early in the hope that he would come back fit and well in late June. Sometimes you make things worse, a lot worse by rushing players back early.

It's a big call for Lampard as to how best to utilise him over the next 11 games over the next 7 weeks. Let's hope he has the luxury of not needing him over the final 4 or 5 games.

The problem right here and now is that he is not fit or firing on all cylinders. He may well take a number of games to get back up to speed, which is not something we can afford. It could be a major risk to slot him straight back in as a result, when we have other strikers who are not so rusty in terms of game-time.

Moving ahead, the other issue is that we need a decent amount of cash to revamp the squad with over the summer. it seems selling a few in-demand players is the only way we can raise the sort of money we'll need. Might it be a case of having to sell Calvert-Lewin even if we don't want to, to fund the rebuild we need?

I would agree with other posters though and look at people like Richarlison first or Pickford.

He's a big unit and can make a bloody nuisance of himself in the box. Defenders must watch him and his movement can create openings for others but, as a striker, he is very dependent on quality crosses and he isn't getting these at the moment.

Of course the perennial problem is, if he were to go, who do we replace him with? Young strikers with potential are going to be on the radar of other clubs and Everton are unlikely to be high on their list of prospective destinations at the moment, so the message is: "Be careful what you wish for..."

Nick @6

Brilliant rant, I enjoyed it very much. If only the team showed as much passion as you obviously do. Keep on saying it!!

He had improved up to his injury. But he has always been short on technical ability. Positionally, he is a yard short. Everton's final-third play has been below standard for years and Calvert-Lewin does not help that.

He adopted Ancelotti's one-touch tactic, but poop pooped it after Ancelotti left. These tactics did progress him, but possible progress this season was stifled by injury and what appears to be poor rehabilitation.

That will have come down by a decent margin after Brexit, the pandemic and Russian financial disruption.

Also not a stellar season for either, so we wouldn't be selling at their peak.

I expect we'd now get about £50M+ for Calvert-Lewin and maybe a bit less for Richarlison.

Decent fees but not going to allow an overhaul of the squad.

But if you judge him on what he is good at, he is a very good striker. 15 goals a season is a very credible achievement when put into the context of him pretty much being a lone survivor in that position.

No credible back-up or support and often isolated with our deep-sitting midfield that has to sit deep to try and protect a defence afraid to stray too far from the 18-yard line. He almost needs his mobile phone to communicate with them.

For those who criticised, I believe Ancelotti developed him by instructing him to stay in the box and not chase corner flags. Some credit Duncan Ferguson, but why didn't it happen sooner if that was the case?

I maintain, he suffered with Digne being out, and vice-versa, as those two had a good understanding.

15 goals is a good return. I always remember the 86-87 title-winning season. What was characteristic of that glorious year was how the goals where shared amongst a squad that was savaged by injuries and very much a patchwork quilt. Without looking, wasn't our top scorer Trevor Steven on 14? And how many of those where penalties? In the days we used to get decisions and penalties.

But he can’t shoot very well and I still think his heading is a bit strange.

Anyway, I reckon he’ll be off to the Gunners. He’s English so we should be able to get more than he’s worth and then we can boo him until our throats are sore.

And there lies the problem with Everton's shabby recruitment over the last few years.

We had 2 players capable of delivering a decent cross at the start of the year, Benitez sold one straight away (Rodriguez). He brought in another (Townsend), then sold the only other player that could deliver a cross (Digne). Now Townsends out for the year, we're left with a right-footed left-back (Godfrey or Kenny), 3 wingers who prefer to cut inside (Gray, Richarlison and Gordon), 1 whose final ball is usually a joke (Iwobi), and a right-back who can't cross (Coleman).

Similarly, the only 2 players capable of threading a through-ball have gone. Sigurdsson could with time on the ball, and Rodriguez could in any situation. Can we expect any of our midfielders to thread a decent through ball on a consistent basis?

We have a centre-forward who is outstanding at getting on the end of a cross and no-one capable of crossing the ball. He is also decent at getting on the end of a through-ball and no-one capable of playing this type of ball.

Is it any wonder he looks a shadow of himself?

Great rant @ #6. Made me laugh but I hope someone's making sure Nick's meds are up to date.

Re the numbers. I always find the numbers for assists odd. Simply using the stats in the article above as an example – we have managed 110 goals with just 41 assists from the names mentioned so someone or others is/are very prolific assisters. How is that best explained and who are they?

Now we have Lampard in charge, and I don't think he has the same love of a barrage of crosses to the big man which, let's face it, is a pretty old-fashioned style of football and one Rafa only pursued out of pragmatism based on the lack of ball skills in our squad.

Anyway, this is a long-winded way of saying that, if Calvert-Lewin does go, we probably don't need a like-for-like replacement. We need to let Lampard (or whoever is in charge next season, in whichever league we find ourselves) work out a system and get the right players to play that system.

We've done the opposite recently, finding a style to fit the players we already have and it really hasn't worked, with so many square pegs in round holes.

Re the assists, I don't know who's tasked with designating them officially but the BBC I noticed don't assign one unless it's crystal clear who set up the goal.

We came up with a broader definition that includes the last Everton player involved in the move before the scorer. That way, nearly every goal should have an 'assist' from an Everton player.

If you want to see the numbers, we track them as the Goalmakers each season. I haven't checked to see how they compare with other sources.

Our most prolific assist maker now is……. Jonjoe Kenny (3 from 13)

It’s no wonder we can’t create a chance.

Totally agree, the sale of Everton players would provide the money needed.

So I wouldn't be happy with us buying established Premier League players generally. We should be looking for value in the Championship, u23 teams and abroad.

But if other clubs want to pay the very hefty Premier League premium that's up to them.

"Absolutely his commitment is there. He can’t and I can’t stop that type of talk. If you elevate yourself to the level of performance that he has shown, particularly as a striker, then it’s very understandable that people talk about you in different ways.

"They talk about your form, they talk about how you live your life. With modern players, my job is to make sure they are absolutely focused. I haven’t had to have that conversation with him because I know how determined he is.

"I know it isn’t easy sometimes for players to vocalise that. What they need to do is show on the pitch and Dominic hasn’t had the opportunity to do that this season. We feel like we have got him in a good place, so now is the time to show."

Not sure I agree about him not having the opportunity. He's had it in every game he has played since coming back, and especially with that very poor penalty, which he missed. He has clearly lacked concentration, application and determination.

The one good thing I can recall is the brilliant backheel to set up Iwobi for the goal against Newcastle Utd. If he starts on Sunday, we need to see that kind of involvement for the whole game.

There are blurred lines between the two DCL’s but the latter version that Carlo created is the one that the likes of Pep Guardiola will be interested in. A player who gives him options in all games as a starter or from the bench to change the dynamic and has proven can handle the Premier League.

This Inzaghi Calvert-Lewin needs the best service possible from a well put together midfield, then 20 goals a season is a reasonable target. In this respect I think Robert T is right that Richarlison is he more dispensable player for us. We can use Gordon and Gray to provide for Dominic. The issues for us are creating solidity and tenacity in midfield allowing our creative players a bit more freedom. I fully agree we should keep Dom and strengthen, you already know where.

All roads then lead back to the same conclusion about the need for one or two mobile tenacious midfield fighters who can play. The blue print, the next - Philips, Rice, N’Golo etc. Allan is 32 next season so we will need two. Mina gives the defence some composure and security and this percolates through the team. He will need replacing too with a dominant, reliable CH.

It’s a ramble ! but these issues are interdependent.

Calvert-Lewin's get highlighted because he might only get one or two a game. Have a look at Kane when he plays, he misses more than he scores but because he gets the chances, we only focus on the ones he scores.

Last season, Calvert-Lewin had one of the best, if not the best, goals per shots ratio in the league and was easily better than the likes of Vardy.

Still think he's too powderpuff with his shooting and lacking technically to be considered a great striker.

Over the years there's always been the top strikers at top clubs: Fowler, Shearer, Henry, Drogba, Aguero, Kane – lethal instinctive finishers.

Then there have been the solid efficient striker that will bundle you 10-15 goals: Brian Deane, John Harrison etc.

I'd put Calvert-Lewin in the second bracket, he's a limited technical player but will bundle you enough goals to keep a team about mid-table.

If it was injury time in a match and the scores are level and you had to pick five strikers in this league to be clean through with the keeper to beat I'm not convinced too many would spring Dom off the tip of their tongue as one of them.

I don't think he's worth the crazy money that gets bandied about and I also think he will not score that many more goals for Everton because like it or not, we lost three really creative players in Sigurdsson, James and Digne.

It's even up for debate whether or not Calvert-Lewin will be the same player again now after this injury, his overall game is mainly all about athleticism and leaping high off the ground.

I try not to get too involved in the finance side as I'm a supporter and confuse myself.

Maybe needs must, but what I would have given to have had James even for half the games this season. Let's face it, about half of our players (and those of most other clubs to be fair) don't feature in every game.

Never rated him and he's been elevated way past his skill level. I doubt we will get more than £40 million for him. If we have to rely on him to keep us up, God help us.

EFC Wages

He's the type of player (Andy Johnson, James Beattie) that we would bought a few years back.

I fear he has. Along with all other self-belief inside the club.

Get behind them tonight, even if only through the TV in the corner.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Everton striker says it is difficult for young players to express themselves

The lad's a nobhead.

Marcus Stewart, thank you, that's the guy whose name I couldn't remember that I've been thinking of with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He is closer to 30 than 20 yet people call him a kid Hasn't scored in months and is doing fashion shoots while moaning about the fans on Twitter

I think you do cart-horses an injustice there.

I think some of the younger players wages are from an old wage sheet, going by Lewis Dobbin's figure of £740 per week.

He recently signed a 3-year contract after much negotiations; I'd imagine he's on about 10 times that amount.