Beto's Role in a Struggling Everton Attack: Time to Shine or Move On

But IMHO and sadly, there is nothing to lessen Dyche's stubbornness, even if Beto works his socks off at Finch Farm.

I am actually still quite mad that Dyche single-handedly put the blame on Beto for the entire Bournemouth collapse, as if the other 10 players were not there on the pitch.

Otherwise, those of you frequent Goodison attendees, please cheer Beto up whenever you see him! He needs every ounce of our support to get through the dark winter.

Furthermore, the fans already back him, as Beto himself described in his emotional post-match interview how the fans' chants of "Beto, Beto, Beto" have impacted him.

Beto is a consistent, good-but-not-great goalscorer. He averaged a goal every 207 minutes over two seasons in Serie A (21 goals total), where 75% of his appearances were as a starter. He has averaged a goal every 195 minutes at Everton, where his situation is exactly reversed -- 75% of his appearances have been off the bench.

If you're wondering, over the same period, Calvert-Lewin has scored a goal every 284 minutes in all competitions. So that measure matches the "eye test" conclusion by most fans that Beto is the more dangerous presence in the box.

However, that doesn't account for Calvert-Lewin's other value to the team, which is defensive. He is tremendous with his head against set-pieces in the box -- he and Solanke are the two best forwards in the Premier League at that -- and he has become an artist at laying off long clearances to teammates with his head and chest under pressure. That helps prevent Pickford's long balls from coming right back at him.

So Dyche's continued selection of Dom over a detectably better finisher is not as senseless as it appears.

Beto must get more minutes, and it seems obvious that whatever he gets will come at Dom's expense. But I just don't see Dyche giving Dom's starting job to Beto.

And Ben, one closing note -- the "fierce competition" you predict has already arrived. Broja and Chermiti are unproven, but they are big, fast and talented.

2) He needs to have a decent run... not 20 minutes as a forlorn hope, Hail Mary option... that's down to Dyche.

3) The team needs, as best as circumstances allow, to be set up to at least attempt to play to his strengths... that's up to Dyche.

4) Somebody also has to assess just what those strengths are... that's also up to Dyche.

Short Version: Tell Dyche, not me.

While we're averaging around a point a game and out of the League Cup (again), I doubt there'll be that degree of experimentation just to see - 'what if'.

This sort of links to the latest Calvert-Lewin piece where I think all concerned 'doth protest too much'.

Sticking Beto in from the start might – bearing in mind my 4 points above – answer most questions… but it won't happen, except in the direst of circumstances; Dyche wouldn't wear it.

Beto – his rivals are an alleged wantaway player, a potential 'sicknote', and an unproven kid... both currently injured for god knows how long – not yet even "on the grass".

He seems like a decent sort of chap, a sad waste for both parties.

But in all honesty, he's not a particularly good striker. He's got good physical attributes and works hard but he lacks ability and has never been prolific. He looks like a 6- to 10-goal-a-season player if given a full 38 Premier League games based on (a) watching him in games and (b) his time in Portugal and Italy.

He's nothing like the talent of, say, Evanilson at Bournemouth.

The latter I believe.

He's not good enough.

He can't trap a bag of cement and looks like he's playing ice hockey.

I do love him though.

I don't think Calvert-Lewin got a cross whilst on the pitch and the only cross of the game, if you could call it that, Beto scored.

Our problems with scoring are not the players per se, rather the type of football we play. Generally too slow in build-up, a lack of width and crossing ability, along with a complete lack of guile in attacking midfield. What can the forwards hang their hats on?

A previous thread is on about a change of coach when the takeover is completed; well, all I can say is roll on because this is awful, week-in & week-out.

If we were nice and cosy with say 18 points, Dyche could take more chances and give fringe players more starts.

The stakes are very high with a new stadium to play in next season; it's not the time to experiment.

In the end, it's all down to opinions, Ben.

I jumped out of my seat when he scored last week, but let's not kid ourselves. It was kitchen sink time and we were getting more bodies forward in the time added on than we had done for the whole 90 minutes. Our "style" demands the guy up top has the touch and the power to control mindless hoofs and make something of them. That's not Beto.

If Dyche was to change our style, then maybe Beto would score some goals, but he won't and Beto doesn't offer anything at all when asked to play the lone target man.

I don't have any confidence in Broja adding much to this present team under this manager because he was invisible at Southampton and couldn't raise a gallop for Albania at the recent Euros.

The one player who I do believe could make a real impact for us is Chermati. Thanks, Ben, interesting read nevertheless.

Big, strong, hardworking.

Not great at scoring.

It really shows how slow Serie A has become relative to the Premier League.

He is also in the shop window and on higher wages. Starting Beto before Calvert-Lewin is not going to happen. Beto starting has not looked better than Calvert-Lewin for what Dyche wants. Beto is therefore a sub.

He has been effective, but Dyche's subbing policy does not give him a lot of playing time. He does look like a player that could be given more time, but Chermiti and Broja do provide competition when fit.

I do think that not being able to move Calvert-Lewin on during the Summer was a setback for attacking development, but I am sure that Beto would have got an advantage if a vacancy had arisen.

Eh, wassit???

I thought the only statement we were making at the time was “Look everyone, we can still make some deals for players who may, with a lotta luck, turn out to be ideal for the Premier League”, not “Look everyone, we can afford to buy the ‘crème de la crème’.”

We all live in hope but Beto being a reliable or prolific goal scorer was always a massive, long shot.

Dyche won't be losing anything in the meantime while this all plays out.

However, DCL is the superior player by some distance. Many don't see what he brings and that is a) why he doesn't have a song and probably b) why he wants out of here.

I think we are a sucker for someone who shows passion, look how we embraced the Straq all those years ago, he was totally shit! Beto expresses some emotion in an interview and we are suddenly fawning over him trying to get him to start. It's funny really.

DCL is going to be missed, his finishing is not his greatest asset I admit but his all round play and ability to bring more skilful players in is radically unappreciated. We should be building around our no 9 with players who can play to his strengths.

Perhaps I fell asleep at the match, when he was displaying those attributes?

He runs like his feet are wading through treacle. Sorry, he was simply a poor buy.

Dominic is the much better footballer nobody can honestly argue with that, but I have been disappointed with Dominic over the last few games, he has been giving up the ball too easily when, it seems to me, he could have held on to the ball with a bit more fight and devil in him.

It will be interesting to see how both players are used in the coming games, I would be much more confident with Dominic starting the games if he showed the fight and spirit I usually expect from him and leave Beto when it’s time for the kitchen sink along with Keane to be thrown at the opposition!

For him, unfortunately, no one is listening, not least Dyche, who has made it abundantly clear that he has no interest in giving him that chance.

How that will play out when Calvert-Lewin leaves next summer on a free is unclear but, if it turns out badly for us, we have only ourselves to blame. The Everton 'system' is broken, which we know, but how extensive the break is still unclear.

Go, young man, and find a club that will value your contribution.

But with Dom starting to look as miserable as Rashford, and the other guys injured, then there's not much choice.

Beto lacks a footballer's skills but he does have a footballer's brain. He anticipates well, makes really good runs, and doesn't get caught offside, which is an issue with Dom.

Steve #19, watch back his goal against the Skunks last December and tell me he doesn't have pace and power. He blew past Lascelles at the halfway line and wiped off Schar like he was a mosquito.

Calvert-Lewin let several balls just hit the ground when he was in range of bringing the ball down with a trap or touch. He is way too distracted by the physicality and contact.

I think Beto can find a way to be effective whereas I have somewhat given up on Calvert-Lewin since the contract impasse.

Are you new around here? Beto doesn't get caught offside?

He may not get caught offside when he comes on at kitchen sink time. That's nigh-on impossible when defenders back right into their own area, but he gets caught offside routinely when he leads the line from the start.

As a team, we go back to front almost without exception. When Pickford steps back to launch the ball 60-70 yards, our lone forward (whoever that may be) becomes a sitting duck for an offside trap. The opposition centre-backs see Pickford step back and simply step up a yard.

Short of coming back to the half-way line and letting the long ball go over his head, our striker has little option but to try to back into the defender and pen him in, try to engage him.
You say it's an issue with Dom, but unless we change the tactic, it will be an issue with the fella who replaces him… and the fella after that.

It's not the player who is offside – it's the mindless tactic. These long balls which travel from one end of the pitch to another make us the easiest team to defend against in the entire league. It has got to stop.

Beto doesn't make that mistake nearly as often, at least to my eyes. He leaves that extra yard before starting his run. Possibly it's because offside traps are so widely used in Serie A and he had to get used to it.

I think you are being blinded by stats. 81% of the times DCL is caught offside is from long ball. Beto is consistently offside too for the same reason when he plays from the start - He didn't learn anything about the tactics Dyche and Pickford play when he was in Serie A.

I did think it ironic when you claimed Dom lacked awareness of positioning. Anybody playing up front in this current Dyche set up will be more aware than most in regards to timing a run. With the possible exception of McNeil. We don't have single player who can see a pass early enough to put a striker through. They're all too busy defending and grafting. A delayed pass WILL result in the striker being offside. No matter who that striker is.

Perhaps you will see things differently when Calvert Lewin leaves and somebody else keeps getting flagged instead - If Dyche is still here.

An attacker in splendid isolation has to go early and hope his run is seen by his team mate.

I remember Chris Wood used to be murdered for always being offside when he played for Dyche. Now he can't stop scoring

And he falls over too much looking for a pen.

Colin, Wood does stop scoring, just when I put him in my fantasy football team , like last season , he scores in bursts, then nothing for months.

And thanks for bringing up Chris Wood, who is the second worst forward in the league for getting caught offside this season. A distant second behind Dom. Wood is also the PL recordholder in that category, both one season and career. So I'm not sure how his current hot scoring streak is relevant to the discussion of offside, but thanks for helping me make my point.

I mentioned Wood because he is a target man. Target men generally play with their backs to defenders and are far easier to be trapped offside. The likes of Haarland, Salah and any other out and out Striker playing in a passing team expect a through ball along the ground. They have the massive advantage of being able to look across the line and should only ever be offside it the pass is delayed.

It's one of thing to know the offside rule and quote stats, it's another thing to understand the why's and the how's

If Beto starts today (and I think he might) He will be used as a target man and he WILL be caught offside. However if he scores the winner. The only thing you and I will disagree about is who celebrated the loudest.

Enjoy the game today mate

As Colin says @ (30) let’s hope he scores today and we can leave the debate until next week when he does the same against WHU!

If we can send him back to Italy in January for anywhere near what we paid for him, take it.