Fan Article Dominic Calvert-Lewin vs Beto There's been a deep discussion citing the relative merits of the two mian strikers currently on Everton's books and that has prompted this AI-generated comparison put together by one of our readers. Ian Jones 31/05/2025 243comments | Jump to last Firstly, let me say that this is an AI generated article. I was interested to see how chatGPT would answer the simple question 'What do you think of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto as football players' and then ask for a comparison. Amazing, in my opinion, how accurate it is and puts across his abilities and potential contribution much better than I could. Part 1 Dominic Calvert-Lewin Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a talented striker whose potential has at times been hampered by injury, but when fit and in form, he’s one of the most effective centre-forwards in the Premier League. Here's a breakdown of his game: Strengths: Aerial Dominance: One of the best headers of the ball in the league. Not just good at heading at goal - wins knockdowns and redirects long balls into runners' paths. Elite-level timing and leap – his technique is closer to a basketball player than a traditional striker. His physicality make him a major threat in the air. Hold-Up Play: Excellent at holding up the ball and bringing others into play. He uses his body well to shield the ball and has improved his link-up play under various managers. First touch and decision-making have improved, though still not as polished as players like Harry Kane or Ollie Watkins in tight spaces Work Rate: He’s a hardworking forward who presses defenders and is willing to put in the shift defensively. Movement & Intelligence: Runs the channel well. Often peels to the back post or drifts wide to create space for onrushing midfielders. His runs in behind and into the box are clever and often well-timed – especially under managers who play with width or emphasize crossing. Understands how to manipulate defenders by positioning himself between the centre-back and full-back. Areas for Improvement: Injury Record: This is the biggest concern. His career has unfortunately been stalled several times due to recurring injuries. A string of muscle injuries, particularly quads and hamstrings, has interrupted his rhythm. Consistency: When fit and when he plays 5–6 games in a row, he sharpens up and can go on scoring runs but has spells where he goes missing. When he’s in and out, he looks rusty and confidence drops. Finishing Variability: He’s improved a lot since his early days and especially under Ancelotti where he focused on one-touch finishes. Sometimes his finishing - especially with his feet - can lack clinical sharpness compared to top-tier strikers. He still misses chances you'd expect a top-6 striker to bury. Not comfortable shooting from distance or in crowded boxes - prefers instinctive finishes from crosses. Tactical Fit and Role At Everton (especially under Sean Dyche and Carlo Ancelotti) Ancelotti's System (2020-21) - Best Role: Classic No 9 / Target Man Hybrid Set-up – used a narrow 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 with James Rodríguez pulling strings and Lucas Digne whipping crosses in. This was Calvert-Lewin's breakout system. His role: Stay high, attack crosses, lead the line with physicality and energy. It played to his aerial strengths - headers, near-post runs, and winning second balls. Sean Dyche’s System (2023–25): Set-up – pragmatic, often a deep 4-5-1 or compact 4-4-2, relying on transition and set pieces. His role: Lead the press from the front, hold up play for wide runners, be the target on the break. Works if Everton play direct and get wide early. Limited effectiveness if isolated with little service. Key Stats When Fit (peak season example: 2020–21) Goals: 16 Premier League goals Headers: 7 headed goals (most in the league) Shot conversion: approx. 20% (very respectable) Pressures per 90: 17.6 (high work rate) How to Get the Best from Dominic Calvert-Lewin Ideal Setup: Formation: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 Key Players Around Him: Wingers or full-backs who cross early and often. A creative No 10 or attacking midfielder to play in behind or deliver cutbacks. A second striker or attacking midfielder who thrives off his knockdowns. Best Team Style: Direct, wide play High pressing system that plays into his energy Lots of box entries and low crosses if not playing to his head Who could best partner with him in a front two Dominic Calvert-Lewin can thrive in a front two if partnered with someone who complements his style. Since he's a powerful, aerially dominant target man who holds up play and attacks crosses, the ideal partner needs to bring either: Speed and vertical threat, to stretch the defence and benefit from his knockdowns. Creativity and mobility, to exploit the space Calvert-Lewin creates and link with midfield. Ideal Strike Partners for Calvert-Lewin in a Front Two Here’s a breakdown of some players — current or hypothetical — who would fit well alongside him, based on different styles: 1. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) Why it works: Quick, aggressive, and loves running off the shoulder. Comfortable playing slightly off the front, as a wide forward or second striker. Would thrive on Calvert-Lewin’s flick-ons and physical attention drawing defenders away. Analogy: Modern Defoe to Calvert-Lewin’s Heskey. 2. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) Why it works: Offers mobility, work rate, and good finishing. Can drop deep and link or play wide, allowing Calvert-Lewin to stay central. Very intelligent in attacking transitions, which suits Calvert-Lewin’s knockdown and layoff game. Note: This would only work if Watkins is given freedom to drift – not a traditional static front two. 3. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) – as a deep-lying second striker Why it works: Doesn’t play as a striker, but in a front two (e.g. a 3-5-2 or 4-4-1-1), Maddison could play off Calvert-Lewin. He’d pick up second balls, thread passes into Calvert-Lewin or runners, and arrive late in the box. Excellent for creating chaos around the edge of the box where Calvert-Lewin is strongest. 4. Harvey Barnes (Newcastle Utd) or similar inside-forward types Why it works: Direct, left-footed wide forward who could play in a more advanced inside role. Loves making diagonal runs — perfect for Calvert-Lewin’s lay-offs or flicked headers. Similar to how Vardy used to benefit from Shinji Okazaki’s dirty work. 5. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City, in his prime) Why it works: Clever movement, sharp first touch, and a poacher’s instinct. Would’ve fed off the scraps and chaos Calvert-Lewin causes in the box. Lightweight but lethal – great foil for a physical striker. Stylistic Types to Look For in a Calvert-Lewin Strike Partner Type Role Example Speedster Runs behind defence, stretches lines Jeremie Boga, Jonathan David Creator Drops deep, links play, passes James Maddison, Fabio Carvalho Nuisance Energetic second striker, high press Dwight McNeil, Danny Welbeck Poacher Sharp box finisher, reacts to scraps Callum Wilson, Eddie Nketiah Tactical System Considerations To support a front two with Calvert-Lewin: Ideal Formations: 4-4-2 (classic): Requires natural wingers and lots of crossing. 3-5-2: Offers midfield stability and wingbacks to feed Calvert-Lewin. 4-4-1-1: With a creative player (eg, Maddison or Buendía type) behind him. What won’t work: Narrow 4-2-2-2 without width. Possession-heavy systems with slow build-up – wastes Calvert-Lewin’s strengths. Overall: At his peak – like in 2020–21, when he scored 16 league goals – Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked like England’s long-term No 9. If he stays fit and in form, he’s a huge asset for Everton and potentially England again. He doesn’t create chances on his own but thrives in a well-structured, service-heavy system with wide play and frequent crosses. His aerial dominance, pressing, and presence make him ideal for teams needing a traditional line-leader. When fit, he’s a Top 8 Premier League striker. The issue has never been talent – only availability. In the box, he’s a nightmare for defenders, one of the few remaining true No 9s in today’s game. The subsequent parts to his comparison piece will be added in due course: Part 2 Beto - Coming up Part 3 DCL Vs Beto comparison Reader Comments (243) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Michael Kenrick 1 Posted 29/05/2025 at 15:25:19 Editor's Note: The comparison article above may not be to everyone's taste, I appreciate that. But credit to Ian for coming up with the idea and pushing it through. However, an extensive discussion of this topic developed on one of yesterday's threads that should have been about Idrissa Gana Gueye. I am half-way through moving those posts onto this thread, so you may see some you have already read. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Dennis Stevens 2 Posted 29/05/2025 at 17:42:47 Is Calvert-Lewin next to be given a new contract? Iain Love 3 Posted 29/05/2025 at 17:49:33 I think Calvert-Lewin has had his day with us. Les Moorcroft 4 Posted 29/05/2025 at 18:31:10 Calvert-Lewin — time to move him on. Martin Mason 5 Posted 29/05/2025 at 18:50:51 I rate Calvert-Lewin substantially higher than Delap. How are we supposed to evaluate him based on 2-minute cameos, possible mismanagement of the asset and such a long injury? My money is on trying to re-establish the talent that Calvert-Lewin patently has and in a style of play that gives him a chance to show this talent. Saving £30-40M is a good aim. Sorry, I don't know what has gone on with him behind the scenes and how much has been self-inflicted. David Moyes is a nice guy but he is absolutely capable of holding an irrational grudge against a player. Ryan Holroyd 6 Posted 29/05/2025 at 18:53:09 Calvert Lewin – the guy who has underperformed his expected goals by 17 in the last three years? Colin Glassar 7 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:07:39 Ive defended Calvert-Lewin to the hilt and still believe, with the right manager, tactics and players around him, he can regain the form that got him an England cap.Say for instance, Richarlison comes back (on loan) and with Ndiaye and Alcaraz in supporting roles we could have one helluva attack. I think they all have goals in them.Oh, and if we can get Grealish on loan…. Martin Mason 8 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:28:19 Colin, my thoughts exactly on Dom.He's not functioned well recently, he's had problems, so first try to eliminate the problems and play to his strengths which aren't on his own up front. Dom is here and that is a very large saving on replacing him. Ryan Holroyd 9 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:30:55 But hes not very good, Martin. Danny O'Neill 10 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:41:59 As always, can you expand on that, Ryan, rather than a throwaway comment?He's suffered from injury and the curse of the Everton striker of having to try to do it on his own with little or no support and supply. Like Beto, he can score when presented with the opportunity.The best? No. But He is a decent striker who works for the team when fit. He just needs the team to work for him. Mal van Schaick 11 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:48:15 Time for him to be some other teams problem. We are rebuilding and need to clear the deadwood out. John Parker 12 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:50:57 Id rather keep Calvert-Lewin and use the money to bring in a right-back and some pace out wide on both wings and another full back that could cover both sides, Walker-Peters would be a good bet and free. Personally Id have given Ashley Young another year's contract, still seems ‘fit as a fiddle and could cover a number of positions. Maybe he is looking to make a few bob elsewhere before he retires. Ryan Holroyd 13 Posted 29/05/2025 at 19:54:55 Ive just said Danny — Calvert-Lewin underperforms his expected goals. By 17 in three seasons. The league's biggest underperforming striker in the last 3 years. Raymond Fox 14 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:01:12 Calvert-Lewin is history, I feel. I would have liked him to stay, after all he is a free apart from what we would pay him per week. John Charles 15 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:08:39 Exactly, Ryan. He just isnt very good. No expansion needed really. Half a good season does not make a good player.All the best I hope it works out for him elsewhere. Danny O'Neill 16 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:22:27 How much of that time has been spent out injured, Ryan?I'm sure in your own playing career, you can't be judged by time spent out through injury? Stats don't paint the full picture.I don't really do stats, I just see what I see with my own eyes in front of me. And when I've watched him, Dominic gives everything,He was unfortunate this past season when we beat Wolves 4-0, a match I attended. He scored two goals that were chalked off as own goal, which would have added to his tally.If Dominic stays, I will be okay with that. If we part ways, I wish him well. Ryan Holroyd 17 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:24:51 Danny, hes underperforming by 17 (seventeen!) goals in the last three seasons that an average Premier League centre-forward would be expected to score. Thats nothing about injuries Exhibit A:– Newcastle on Sunday!!! Martin Mason 18 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:32:59 Ryan, we recognise your opinions on Dom but please remember that is all they are. Remember also that past performance and pretty vague stats are also no indication of future performance or potential. I trust the Club to do what is best on his position. Ryan Holroyd 19 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:36:27 My opinion is backed up by stats, injury record, and my eyes, Martin. I'm hoping for better… Ryan Holroyd 20 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:40:13 My last point on this is Im accused of lacking ambition but, when I suggested letting go of the Premier Leagues most under-performing centre-forward… “Oh no, we cant possibly let him go!!” Jonathan Oppenheimer 21 Posted 29/05/2025 at 20:59:11 Multiple things can be true about Calvert-Lewin. He has always worked hard, wins headers like no other and has shown he can score goals here and there. Hes also cheaper than paying a huge transfer fee for a striker, especially when we need reinforcements elsewhere. Hes also been injured and not had time to bed in with a Moyes team. That said, as someone whos defended him for ages, Ive finally run out of the patience to fully defend him anymore, simply because hes not as clinical as you need to be at this level and for us to progress. We finally started creating chance with Moyes at the helm and still blew too many of them, a sign we need better finishing in the squad. But if that clever goal Calvert-Lewin scored when he first came into the Moyes squad is his last for us, it will be a sign of what couldve been. Im with Danny on this: Ill be okay if he stays, wish him well if he doesnt. Christy Ring 22 Posted 29/05/2025 at 21:03:45 Ryan, the most under-performing striker in your opinion, was in the England squad, played while injured under Benitez, had two hamstring injuries, and was a huge success under Ancelotti. Dyche had him running around like a headless chicken; you're totally paranoid, I hope he stays. Colin Crooks 23 Posted 29/05/2025 at 21:04:14 If Calvert-Lewin signs a new contract, this place will go into melt down.BTW, contrary to popular myth, it was Carlo who stopped using him as a striker and asked him to play the performing seal role. Trying to stop his team's free fall by getting Pickford to by-pass the rest of the team and smash the ball in his direction.... The other managers just copied him.Read his own confession. Brendan McLaughlin 24 Posted 29/05/2025 at 21:20:22 Colin,We've survived, embraced even, the return of Moyes.I'm pretty sure, if Calvert-Lewin does sign a new contract, most ToffeeWebbers will again embrace the positives. Michael Coville 25 Posted 29/05/2025 at 21:37:27 Regardless of his ability, his major problem is that he goes from one injury to another. A fit Calvert-Lewin would be worth keeping but if, for example, he was playing for another team, would we be willing to recruit him – even on a free transfer? Danny O'Neill 26 Posted 29/05/2025 at 21:48:46 Ryan, I'm sure as a footballer yourself, you understand a bit of rustiness after recovering from injury. I watched him in person at Newcastle and have done over the course of his Everton career. I don't think he had much chance to impact the game coming on with 2 minutes of normal time remaining, Ryan. If Dominic stays, it will be a welcome addition to the squad if he can stay fit in my humble opinion. Martin Berry 27 Posted 30/05/2025 at 00:32:10 Why would Moyes want to sign Delap if he rated Calvert-Lewin?It looks as though the writings on the wall for Do, and not on a new contract, but people cant see it. I would bet as soon as we will bring in another striker, he won't be offered a new contract on will be on his way.I would not bet against him going to Newcastle as a back-up for Isak now Wilson is going, or West Ham with the player preferring the former. Mike Gaynes 28 Posted 30/05/2025 at 00:46:02 Danny, those stats Ryan put up and the stats I've posted on a number of occasions are only for when Calvert-Lewin is actually on the pitch. Rustiness cannot account for scoring a goal every 376 minutes over four years. At the start of this season he started 20 of 22 games, played almost 1600 minutes and scored 3 goals... a goal every 528 minutes. There aren't words to describe how horrible that is for a professional striker. He may be a fine all-around footballer, but the man simply cannot finish a chance at this point in his career. His value is as a target, hold-up and layoff forward and defender against set-pieces. If Moyes sees a use for him in that role, great... but goals aren't a part of the picture. Steve Brown 29 Posted 30/05/2025 at 02:18:03 Mike, in fairness to Dominic.He has spent the last 4 years isolated up front. His one season under Ancelotti was his most productive season with 21 goals as he was told to stay in the opposition box and received good service. Since then, he had to win the header from the long-ball, chase the flick on, cross the ball and get on the end of his own cross. David Moyes has done a good job of pushing his central attacking midfielder up closer to Beto, getting his wide men to come inside and pushing Mykolenko up to deliver crosses. It has probably been Dominic's first sight of an Everton striker getting good chances created for him those 4 years. Robert has listed out the strikers in our range and they don't excite me much - Broja gave us an insight into what that quality of forward produces. Dominic is a highly-experienced Premier League striker with 71 goals at the top level, so if we can persuade him to stay we should. Mike Gaynes 30 Posted 30/05/2025 at 02:44:04 Steve, I would point out that Beto has been similarly isolated, but he scores twice as often on a per-minute basis as Dom, and from the statistics I've seen he has a dramatically higher conversion rate from the chances he gets.Also, it's not like he gets better service in the box. Strictly from memory, I can only remember him scoring on two good crosses -- the cushioned volley from Young and the inswinger from Alcaraz. He just gets in behind more often than Dom, and finishes better. I heartily agree with you -- nobody mentioned in our price category quickens my pulse either. One I haven't seen mentioned is a Villareal kid named Thierno Barry, who I saw a couple of times against Barca this year. Super aggressive, loves to attack with the ball and run in behind. I just don't know how expensive he'd be, given that his contract runs four more years.And I still really like Chermiti, although I can't explain why since I've seen so little of him. Just a feeling.As for Dom, I assume that if his skill set is what Moyes wants, there will be a genuine effort to re-sign him. Duncan Anderson 31 Posted 30/05/2025 at 03:15:44 Mike,Beto scored those goals under Moyes. He was similarly useless under Dyche. Paul Ferry 32 Posted 30/05/2025 at 03:33:48 Ryan: "My opinion is backed up by stats, injury record, and my eyes Martin".Eyes interpret, assimilate, and sort just like our minds do, Ryan. In other words, the eye (vision) is subjective, highly individual, partisan, and a flawed source. We have reams and reams of work on this.Talking of sources: what is yours for this "Calvert-Lewin underperforms his expected goals. [sic] By 17 in three seasons" "stat"? I've seen you mention this a number of times now here and elsewhere. It would be interesting for us to see exactly where it comes from. Steve Brown 33 Posted 30/05/2025 at 04:30:23 Duncan, that is the point I was trying to make. You did it in 2 lines!@ Mike, Beto has scored 7 goals under Moyes this season compared to 2 goals under Dyche. Last season, he scored 5 goals in total. The manager had adapted our system to get more players forward to support Beto, provide him with service and utilised his ability to play off the last shoulder of the defender. Beto has done well and I am pleased for him.Calvert-Lewin would also thrive in a more attacking set-up - he has proven that before. Only my point of view of course, but I expect David Moyes to select a fully-fit Dominic over a fully-fit Beto. If Dominic leaves, then Beto is the man to lead the line next season for me as we would be better spending the bigger money on other parts of the team.Like you, I also rate Chermiti, and he would benefit a lot from a loan period next season where he plays regularly. Paul Ferry 34 Posted 30/05/2025 at 04:50:38 Spot on Duncan. Despite what others are wrongly claiming, things on the pitch have notably changed under Moyes and Beto gets much better service from the flanks but also through the middle than Calvert-Lewin was ever able to rely on before his injury. It's also bullshit to say that Beto is isolated up front in the same that it was often painful to see with Calvert-Lewin. Since January, Beto has had at various times and sometimes two of them at the same time, Alcaraz, Ndiaye, and Doucoure either tucked much more closely in behind or being encouraged to move in from the flanks. I'd like to see Calvert-Lewin play for a number of games on the run under Moyes. I'm sick of the stats that certain people churn out over and over again. I wish these arithmetical parrots would take a serious class covering interpreting statistics in context or the problematic nature of gathering and analysing statistics.We have to buy at least one striker this summer who could step in straight away as first choice. We know as much about Chermiti as he knows about the Yaifo Tribe, although I do know that he is injury prone and has scored count them zero goals in 22 appearances (the majority off the bench, to be fair), and has three more yellow cards than goals.Beto has got some goals recently and missed a lot more. He is perfectly okay for second or third choice and tries hard but that is not enough. We have not had a top class striker since Calvert-Lewin under Carlo. We have to get a new striker over the summer. Attack is by some way the weakest of our three areas. A stronger, quicker, and more creative midfield will naturally help but that would not have stopped Beto's woeful misses in his six or is it five one-on-ones (one fella on here said that they were not misses; one, he said, hit the post and was not a miss).Sorry Steve, 41, I just saw your post after I posted this. Completely agree with you on Beto getting much better service and sending out Chermiti on loan for at least one season. Jeez, we need a new striker. Christine Foster 35 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:07:18 First off, we don't know if a deal is still on the table for Calvert-Lewin, first made under Dyche. I personally think he knew he couldn't stay under Dyche. The style of football, the ploughing of a lone furrow, he did what was asked of him but as a striker it had to be sole destroying. With a team under the cosh because it's set up not to lose, the surrendering of possession with 80% of the game played in and around your own box as a strategy.I watched (i wish I could remember which game but I can't, sorry) the ball was played to Harrison out wide on the attack, Calvert-Lewin screaming for a cross that never came, ball played back, all the way to Pickford who launched it up to Calvert-Lewin who had 3 centre-backs on him and no Everton player within 20 yards.That's why Dyche had to go, that's why Calvert-Lewin would have been mad to stay. Moyes arrive changes that but for Calvert-Lewin may have had enough, the abuse of his wife and it publicity was a disgrace and it may have already sealed his move away. We are not going to get a top class replacement for him and he is free other than salary, so if there is a deal to be done and if both parties are so inclined, fair enough.As I've said before stats depend on interpretation of everything else, goals scored and quality of chances created depend on the quality of players around you and how the team is set up. Under Dyche we were never set up to win. Same players under Moyes are, that's why we finished half way up the table this year. Danny O'Neill 36 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:11:54 Some fair comments on Calvert-Lewin and Beto, either side of the discussion.I will maintain my view that recent Everton strikers have mostly cut a loan figure. As has rightly been called out, Calvert-Lewin had his best season under Ancelotti. Beto improved when the tactics changed under Moyes. He benefited from playing with Alcaraz in support.We've seen it work the other way. Jelavic was a revelation when he was in or around the 6-yard box sweeping goals in from close range. Then the tactics changed and he seemed to be being asked to play more like Marcus Bent and chase the channels, so he became less effective.In my experience of playing and watching, most strikers, bar the odd freak of nature, will miss more than they score. It's just important that they get in the right position to have the opportunity.Calvert-Lewin and Beto are by no means perfect, but they often do a job that goes unnoticed. They occupy defences freeing up others to make an impact. Watch the goal against Newcastle, there are 2 or 3 Newcastle defenders surrounding Beto as Mykolenko's cross comes in, leaving Alcaraz with a free header.With runners like Ndiaye and Charly, our strikers will benefit a lot more than what they have done recently. Hopefully we add that additional creative spark and sort out the right side. Then things will look a lot better and our strikers, whoever they are, will benefit.I genuinely admire those who analyse the stats, but I can only go off what I see. Paul Ferry 37 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:12:00 Christine, great post.Did you see this by the way?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RocX5f3lmIE Danny O'Neill 38 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:14:30 Take a bow Christine young girl. Steve Shave 39 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:23:09 Agree Christine, he is a fine hold-up player and with the likes of Charly, Iliman and hopefully an exciting right winger he could do well again. He wont play all season of course but Beto is improving and we all want Chermiti to get minutes this season. If the wages arent ridiculous they yes we should sign him and buy real quality in other departments. I think though his treatment by the fans over the years may persuade him to go. Paul Ferry 40 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:33:36 Steve, I think, I hope, that it is unlikely that Calvert-Lewin, Beto, and Chermiti will be our three up top next season. If they are, we will be handicapped from day one. My only hope in that case would be that a fit Calvert-Lewin would be given a good run by Moyes because, completely contrary to what some have said on here, the central striker has been getting much better support since January and is no longer isolated. Steve, I really feel that we need a new striker. Up front is where we under-performed woefully last season compared to defence. Ernie Baywood 41 Posted 30/05/2025 at 06:41:43 Dom was never a good finisher. But with confidence and service he was handy. Injury and playing style eroded both.I'll leave the medical side to the professionals but confidence issues can certainly be overcome. It's a great shame he was injured for the second half of the season when he might have actually got the chance.Beto has done well but let's not forget that he banged them in with service and when he was full of confidence. In the last quarter of the season he missed a few and his record in front of goal dipped. He missed some sitters. Colin Crooks 42 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:04:06 Oh dear they are out again.People don't talk about a player as often as Mike Gaynes talks about DCL simply because they don't rate them. if you don't rate a player you say so and move on. Mike is one of a group of obsessives on this site. Who will show up time and time again and spout the same old tired Stats. He has no interest in the facts.When DCL turned three Tottenham defenders inside out to slot what many people believe to be out goal of the season Mike, simply doubled down on his previously astonishing claim that he has never scored a great goal - Fair comment or desperate bias against somebody he simply cant take to ?Mike's not alone. There are a group of people on this website who will never give this player credit no matter what. I include MK in that. They have suffered the brainless, lazy tactic introduce by a cant-be-arsed Carlo Ancelotti - Lets be very very clear about that - A game plan which has been adopted by every manager since. They have disliked the tactic, but they seem to dislike the player even more - Are they blaming the player for the lazy mindless tactics which relieved all of his team mates of their responsibilities ?Moyes, in fairness, has put a stop to this and the lovely Beto has benefited. Just as well, really because if people only saw him play under previous managers we wouldnt have been able to give him away. DCL is probably the best there is at receiving the big boot up the park. A skill that has been abused by a succession of managers trying to hide their own and other players deficiencies. Unfortunately his critics wont accept that. I believe they actually hate him. Every half chance is called a sitter. So is every goof effort.I go back to the Newcaste match where DCL admittedly should have scored, but the ball came back off a startled goalkeeper who knew nothing about his effort... A few minutes earlier Beto fired well wide from an almost identical position. While the outcry against C-L's powerful shot on target has been prolonged. The one Beto put into tjhe crowd has barely warranted a mention. That the reality of life for DCL at this club.Best all round for DCL to move on, but watch him go when he does. Colin Glassar 43 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:18:12 Great post, CC. Paul Ferry 44 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:23:14 You nailed it in every respect, Colin. One of the best posts I have read on here in ages. Steve Brown 45 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:29:24 Paul, you are probably right.It's a tough one this summer with 9 players departed, Maupay's and Holgate's contracts ending, and perhaps Calvert-Lewin and Keane to also depart. Where should we prioritise the transfer fund the club has without having to sell an asset like Branthwaite? I would go all out to agree a new contract with Dominic with a reasonable buy-out clause in it. It gives us cover and the opportunity to recoup a transfer fee. It also gives him perhaps a season to find full fitness and form and gives us more time to plan a replacement if he moves on.Chermiti should go out on loan for the season, which just leaves Beto. He has improved with support since David Moyes came in and I love his attitude, but his limitations are obvious. Rob Hooton 46 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:31:06 On Calvert-Lewin, if the club think he's fit again and worth a contract, I'd be happy with that decision, there is a good player in there (despite the lack of goals in recent seasons). I wonder if he was waiting to see if his hometown club Sheffield Utd would be promoted before making a decision? A fit and firing Dom can terrorise defences, he deserved his England call up at the time. He's also scored some important goals for us. Dave Williams 47 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:35:58 The worst thing Calvert-Lewin ever did was pose for that photo in a skirt – there are a lot of people who have never been able to come to terms with what he did!For me, yes he misses too many one-on-ones but this can be worked on as he tries to side foot the ball rather than blast it. Some are good enough to side foot but, for those who aren't, a good old-fashioned blast can work.He's free, he's still got a good few years left in him and he is a good footballer who will be more productive with a better midfield and a decent attacking right flank.We could do a lot worse. Steve Brown 48 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:41:18 Spot on, Dave, Every Xmas Day, my Uncle Tony used to get bladdered, head upstairs and come down in drag. That was in the 70s. His wife and sisters (including my mum) thought it was funny. And he had 3 sons! People need to stop focusing on nonsense like that. If Messi had wanted to play for Everton, he could have turned up for training in a miniskirt for all I would have cared. Mark Murphy 49 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:46:10 It wasnt a skirt, it was culottes, baggy shorts.But anyway, I hope Calvert-Lewin stays and Moyes gets him scoring as well as leading the line. I think hes a cracking footballer. Ian Bennett 50 Posted 30/05/2025 at 07:52:22 Beto appears to the better finisher than Dom on 1 on 1 situations.Beto's body looks more robust to with stand the battering of the Premier league. He looks capable of playing 38 games a season. Dom sadly can't do that anymore.It appears that Beto has more pace than Dom. Its either that or he's a lot stronger at keeping the recovery tackle away. Calvert-Lewin gets caught offside alot. He's the 2nd highest in the league, and that doesnt account that he misses a lot of games on top. That could be the quality of the balls coming into him, the timing of the run, or a lack of pace that necessitates him playing right on the shoulder.We all know that dcl is a better footballer than beto. But that isn't enough if he's not scoring, lacks availability, gets caught offside a lot and doesn't offer an out ball/counter attack, from someone who wants to be one of our highest earners.For £1.5m he's been a great signing. If it's come to the end, I can understand it. If the club want to retain him, as we lack numbers and finance, then we just got to get on with it. Paul Ferry 51 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:04:12 Ian Bennett - Beto appears to the better finisher than Dom on 1 on 1 situations.Ian, I really respect your posts but I had to stop there mate. Both Beto and Calvert-Lewin have been poor 1-on-1 finishers. Derek Thomas 52 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:06:11 After all his injuries I'm not sure he can do Saturday - Wednesday - Saturday, full flat out 100% - 100mph Premier League football. Time will tell... a slower league may beckon? Ian Bennett 53 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:15:49 Thats not what I said, Paul. I said Beto is a better finisher than Calvert-Lewin in 1-on-1 situations.I never said that either were great finishers. They've both missed a lot of chances between them. Beto might be more erratic, but he can beat the keeper. Calvert-Lewin seems to hit the keeper in most situations by telegraphing the finish. There's little ball shift or picking out corner of the net in my view.Over a season, Beto out scores Calvert-Lewin in my opinion comfortably, has a higher work rate and probably creates more counter attack threat. Rob Hooton 54 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:15:59 Great post, Colin C! If we have Beto, Calvert-Lewin, and another, then we have options depending on the opposition and how we set up.Dominic can hold up play well and is great I'm the air, Beto is better at running behind a defence. Both can give defenders a very hard time and free up space for others. They arent world beaters, but as others have noted there are other positions that we are desperate to fill as a matter of urgency.Dom might well move elsewhere, I personally think we would regret letting him go but other opinions are valid (and what we are here for, after all). Paul Ferry 55 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:29:51 Ian, I knew you said that, mate, but I think they are both poor. Beto scuffed 5 was it 6 one-on-ones in 4/5 matches across March. If Calvert-Lewin had the same service and support that Beto has had since January unlike two to three years of being isolated up front, like others just ahead of me on this thread, unless I am misrepresenting them, Calvert-Lewin scores more goals. Calvert-Lewin is a much better all-round forward than Beto but I fear through the isolation he had to endure that ended with Moyes that he will be discounted by many. Anyone who thinks that Beto is a better all-round striker than Calvert-Lewin is nuts, but I fear that the time has gone for Calvert-Lewin, and Jesus wept Burnley, Leeds, Sunderland, might beckon. Hope not. Danny O'Neill 56 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:32:37 I'm not too concerned with what he wears. When he pulls on a royal blue shirt, I just want him to play well, and hopefully score.Good observations, Ian.Beto takes a right battering from opposition defenders, but can withstand it. I sometimes wonder if Dominic has suffered from being overplayed from a young age in a struggling team, which might explain his injuries. I also personally think he hit the gym and bulked up too much/Footballer fitness is different to other sports. Footballers, in my opinion are better if they are leaner rather than full of muscle. Cardio over pumping weights.I would like to see both feature next season, with another addition. Steve Brown 57 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:37:11 Ian, I don't think Beto is a better finisher than Dominic. He is certainly not quicker!Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a top speed of 34.6 km/h (21.5 mph). This places him among the fastest players in the Premier League.Who is fastest and who walks the most? This season's Premier League statistics Andrew Ellams 58 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:40:26 Beto is the least worst of what he currently have on the books. Our goalscoring record has been a disgrace for a few years now and improving what's in the squad has to be a priority.Meanwhile, odds on Jack Grealish joining us have dropped to 4/1, behind Napoli on 5/2. Steve Brown 59 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:42:40 Jesus if we sign "top shelf" Jack Grealish, we might as well give up. The night club owners in Liverpool will have the biggest boost to trade since Shandy Andy Van Der Meyde left. Danny O'Neill 60 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:50:19 Steve, I don't know how the likes of you pull out those stats, but once again, genuine respect.I'd give Grealish a body swerve. Andrew Ellams 61 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:51:51 Steve, Grealish is better than anybody that we have on the books right now but personally I think we need to direct our budget onto other priorities. Josh Horne 62 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:53:55 https://x.com/Udinese_1896/status/144643042054813286At 35.13 km/h Beto wins on this Top Trumps category! Ian Bennett 63 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:54:23 Beto - 8 goals in 1528 minutes or 17 game equivalent. 12 chances missed.Calvert-Lewin - 3 goals in 1613 minutes or 18 games. 16 chances missed.Those figures speak for themselves, less goals and more chances missed.Apart from one season where he scored 21 goals, the covid season which to me is an outliers, the highest he scored was 15, and that was 5 years ago before the injuries.I would tip Beto to get around 12-15 goals, where as I don't think Dom can. Si Pulford 64 Posted 30/05/2025 at 08:55:35 Surely we cant say ‘he was injured or coming back from injury forever?! Love him or hate him hes always injured or coming back from injury. Yes, a player needs time to get back to full fitness but hes never fully fit for very long. This season he had 20 odd games fully fit and Im sorry but he didnt deliver. He misses one on ones all the time. Great hold up player but his finishing is dreadful. Time to stop being sentimental and be more ambitious. If he stays, and I actually want him to…. Its as a squad player. But we will not turn the 11/12 draws we had this season into wins without a ruthless finisher. Something we havent had for ages. We should do everything we can to sign a finisher. Its chicken and egg with Calvert-Lewin — hes always injured or coming back from injury or doesnt have the right support etc. But when he is fit and is presented with decent chances… he fluffs his lines. Joe McMahon 65 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:04:14 The ongoing Calvert-Lewin discussions… Looking at his output the last few seasons, I'm going back to good old Blue Bill. "What would Everton do?, they always get it right" Let's hope they do! Robert Tressell 66 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:04:19 Both can be effective in different ways but they both lack talent. Two players of limited ability who have got to where they are through hard work and determination. They would be decent options for the coming season - but we need to find or develop a player with better technical skills for the forward position(s) to kick on as a club. Ray Said 67 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:09:14 Some very interesting opinions on the merits/strengths/weaknesses of Calvert Lewin and Beto. Danny's point on Calvert-Lewin changing in body shape over the years rings true and I think the same could have been said about Gareth Bale. Both players could be said to have followed the C Ronaldo route in having very low body fat and tight muscles rather than lean muscle which could be prone to pulls, tears and strains.I watch Calvert-Lewin play and I often think he could fulfil the role Fellaini used to play for us as a target man to hold the ball with a striker like Beto running behind him or playing just ahead of him? Mick O'Malley 68 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:17:21 For fuck's sake, not this Calvert-Lewin nonsense again! When he's actually on the pitch and not in the treatment room he is a decent hold up player but I want more from my centre forward, definitely more than 4 or 5 goals a season. >Let's move him on and stop harking back to when he had one of Europe's top assist providers making the team tick and putting them on a plate for him; as soon as James was injured the goals dried up. Calvert-Lewin is not good value for the wages he wants and Beto is a far better finisher in my opinion. Colin Crooks 69 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:22:38 "Good observations, Ian". Dear me, I wonder what some people are watching."It appears that he has more pace than Dom" – Wrong. They have both been clocked and he is decidedly slower."Beto looks more robust to stand the battering of the Premier League" -– Even though they are both roughly the same age and Calvert-Lewin has played about 76 more games than Beto's 200 (many as substitute, in lesser leagues)."Calvert-Lewin gets caught offside a lot. He's the second highest in the league" – Yeah, that would be his fault. We haven't made it easy for defenders to step up as Pickford telegraphs the fact that he is about to hammer it 60 yards up the pitch."He doesn't offer an out-ball or counter-attack" What???? For 5 years, he has been asked to be our only out-ball."Beto appears to be the better finisher" – That'll explain why Calvert-Lewin has scored more than him playing at a much higher level for most of his career.if these are good observations, I'm glad I won't be here when somebody starts making stuff up. I love this little gem: "I personally think he hit the gym and bulked up too much" – Nothing to do with a succession of desperate managers playing him when they knew he was injured then.Like I say, the guy is better off out of it. Best for all concerned that he moves on.I love Beto, but when people start to compare him favourably to an infinitely better player, it's time for the better player to fuck off. He clearly ain't wanted. Josh Horne 70 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:36:04 The Athletics 2024-25 Alternative Premier League AwardsQuote from this article to save you scrolling: "Evertons Dominic Calvert-Lewin finishes the season having scored fewer goals than his xG for the sixth campaign running. Since 2018-19, no Premier League player has underperformed by more than his 17.2 goals below expectation. Ouch."I know that xG is marmite, but it is a metric for which lengthy and repeated periods of unavailability, and service provided by the team you play for are both redundant.All of us have a view and being critical of a player, even thinking he is rubbish, does not equate with hating them. I don't think Calvert-Lewin is rubbish. His limitations in front of goal should dictate that, if he stays, it is as an option up front and not first choice when fit. Useful player from the bench, fine by me.My understanding, based on nothing more than press reporting at the time, was that he didn't sign the contract offered because it wasn't enough money; nothing to do with his football philosophy. If he can get better money now, then good luck to him but I can't see why Everton would offer him any more, and will probably feel emboldened by Beto's goals to be less generous. Edward Rogers 71 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:37:01 Colin Crooks,I couldn't agree more. Steve Brown 72 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:40:11 Ian, You cant simply discount the 2020-21 season as an “outlier” because the statistics contradict your argument. John Williams 73 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:48:37 Centre-forwards… not all the sides in the Premier League play with a centre-forward. I can only think of these players currently playing:Haaland, Isak, Jackson, Watkins, Wood, Wellbeck, Delap, plus Fulham and Everton who cannot decide who is best in that role.So you can play a different style and of cause, most sides have tall, strong defenders who are likely to score as many goals as some of the above. James Hughes 74 Posted 30/05/2025 at 09:52:31 Never mind that Calvert-Lewin is shite, sometimes this is why I just visit this site once a day. Colin Crooks stop posting sensible messages. As the saying goes, you can take a horse to water but can't make it drink. Best post is: “Well, Beto is 0.5 kph faster than Calvert-Lewin” (Top Trumps) — I truly hold my head in my hands. Kevin Molloy 75 Posted 30/05/2025 at 10:34:17 Calvert-Lewin has run his contract down cos he wants a monster contract. Well he's not getting it here. Best of luck in Turkey, Dom. Phil Roberts 76 Posted 30/05/2025 at 11:29:18 Colin, the difference I observe is that, against Spurs, Calvert-Lewin's dancing feet scored a great goal. He did not have time to think. On many an occasion (at least that is my memory), Calvert-Lewin failed in 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper.Is the latter because he has too much time and is so busy weighing up what to do he is in two minds? Is it that he lacks the confidence? I don't know. But a whole summer of 4 hours a day on the training pitch with the academy goalkeepers doing 1-on-1s could be a solution.I do think we are a better team with him. Brian Williams 77 Posted 30/05/2025 at 11:46:18 Nobody on here knows why Calvert-Lewin didn't sign a new contract. Nobody has a clue, despite what some may claim… The claims are mere opinions formed by what the poster wishes to believe from online sites.Let's see what happens and if he stays (I hope he does), let's see how he performs with a decent set-up going forward.Just one thing about one-on-ones. Beto went through a spell of several or more games where he fluffed six one-on-ones in a row. They're not as easy as people think and the difference between scoring and not is affected by so many factors. Martin Mason 78 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:05:52 I wonder if it is realistic to expect the forward to have a significant advantage over the goalkeeper in in a on-on-one situation? And therefore grossly wrong to accuse the forward of missing a sitter if he doesn't score? I believe that, if there is an advantage to the striker, it isn't necessarily significant. Anthony Dove 79 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:22:33 Calvert-Lewin has many attributes but unfortunately he is just not a natural goal scorer. I think the time has come for a parting of the ways — not least because it will stop the never-ending debate about him on ToffeeWeb. We have seen so little of Chermiti that its not really possible to judge him. However, hes been here a while now and successive managers havent shown much belief in him.We will probably need to rely on the lovable but flawed Beto as it is pie in the sky to think we can afford a significant upgrade. Kevin Molloy 80 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:23:43 Brian, Pro footballers run their contracts down to make money. It's not rocket science. Martin Mason 81 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:24:47 Interesting. The easiest situation for a striker is running straight down the middle of the area with basically the whole of the goal to aim at. Running down the channels into the area wide of the goal when the goalie has come out to narrow the angle and thrown himself toward the feet of the striker makes it very hard. So what are the odds? Consider a penalty where the goalie can't come out to narrow the angle, apparently the easiest chance for a striker. 30% are typically missed so I reckon overall at best the chances are 50/50 or less favourable for the striker in a one-on-one against a Premier League keeper. Anecdotally, it seems to me that in many one-on-one situations the striker misses and reckon that the odds are against on average, therefore not 'a sitter'. I find the Everton defendants not guilty. Danny O'Neill 82 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:26:55 Colin, we all watch and see the game differently. I, like you and others, only go off what I see and how we interpret what we see. It doesn't mean we will always agree. I still look forward to meeting you, mate.Phil, good call. Strikers are normally better positioned to score when they don't have time to think and go off instinct. A bit like at the other end of the pitch, it is the same for the keepers and defenders.I put my body on the line many times and once nearly had a fractured skull as a knee hit my temple stopping a winger as the last man standing. One of the few times I stayed down, apart from breaks and ligaments, to receive treatment and be carried off.But my favourite moment was in extra time to win a league title. I was on the goal line, almost crippled with cramp on a hot May Day. The ball came towards me in the last minute with the score at 5 - 4 in our favour. I stretched out my leg in pain. The ball hit my shin, bounced off the post and I managed to clear it for a throw-in that didn't happen as the final whistle went.I do miss being on the pitch, but those days are gone. Andy Crooks 83 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:34:59 Kevin, how do you know that? You don't, you made it up. Pure conjecture passed off as a fact. Why do you do it? Christy Ring 84 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:41:07 You can't compare the stats between Beto and Calvert-Lewin, for the simple reason Beto scored most of his goals under Moyes.Dom scored 1 goal from 2 games under Moyes in a starting role. Nothing wrong with that, but to use the stats from his games under Dyche is bullshit, even Haaland wouldn't score under Dyche's defensive formation. Kevin Molloy 85 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:41:27 Did I pass it off as fact, Andy? Did I say 'I know this to be true'? No. It's my opinion.Surely we are at the point where if someone writes 'he's running his contract down' it can be assumed that this is an opinion, rather than that I have been bugging his home to 'get the truth'. Ian Bennett 86 Posted 30/05/2025 at 12:54:46 Steve – of course you can.His best season were behind closed door exhibition matches, at a time before his injuries – that his body can't repeat now.The 2020-21 Covid season was not a typical season. Look back at some the results. Villa beat Liverpool 7-2, Spurs beat Man Utd 6-1 away the same weekend. Burnley, Brighton, Southampton, Fulham, Everton all beat Liverpool. I am sure there were others, but Covid football isn't the same thing. Steve Brown 87 Posted 30/05/2025 at 13:27:29 Ian, that makes even less sense than your earlier post. Brian Williams 88 Posted 30/05/2025 at 13:40:51 Kevin,Some do, some don't. Again, that's just your opinion.Opinions aren't rocket science either, they're more like arseholes in that we all have one. 😉 Kevin Molloy 89 Posted 30/05/2025 at 13:52:43 Brian,This isn't a “some do, some don't” scenario. These are multi-million pound contracts which, if allowed to run to zero, cost the clubs tens of millions of pounds. Footballers don't do it for a variety of reasons, they do it cos they stand to make tens of millions of pounds as a result. We aren't peering into a crystal ball when we accuse these players of greed, it's staring everyone if the face. Brian Williams 90 Posted 30/05/2025 at 13:53:45 Again, that's your opinion.You don't know why Calvert-Lewin has not renewed. Liam Mogan 91 Posted 30/05/2025 at 13:55:41 It's going to be a long summer as we await new recruits whilst 'discussing', ad nauseum, the merits and metrics of Calvert-Lewin.For my money, the lad unfortunately gets injured too often. Christy Ring 92 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:01:41 Kevin, In all fairness, do you really think Calvert-Lewin would have signed the contract when offered under Dyche, playing alone upfront in a toxic game plan, and with Moshiri still in charge??? Kevin Molloy 93 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:03:10 Brian, yes, an opinion drawn from the surrounding circumstances. In the same way that, whilst I can't know Bill Kenwright purchased and kept hold of Everton cos he saw it as a golden goose, from his behaviour and statements, I have drawn the conclusion that this is what happened. Christy, that's an interesting point; probably not. But there's a whole lot of other things that have to happen before you get to that position. Sometimes players want to move on, and the club sells them on and everyone is happy, But we had a deal lined up with Newcastle last year, and then Dom pulled it. You may recall Barkley was in a very similar situation. Brian Williams 94 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:13:45 Kevin, I'm not arguing about the circumstances or the things that lead you to your opinion and I respect your reasons for having that opinion.It's just that, in the case of Calvert-Lewin, I disagree with your opinion. Dean Johnson 95 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:17:01 Here's a fact, Brian:Calvert-Lewin's best season was simply because no-one was watching.Best season during Covid does not a top striker make. He's mentally weak if you ask me, or as a song: Shits his pants when he gets a chance Dominic Calvert-Lewin Christy Ring 96 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:25:08 Kevin, Barkley is another debate, like marmite… I actually liked Ross, but he was put in an impossible position by Koeman, who used him as a scapegoat and treated him like shit.He never went hiding and always looked for the ball, and Koeman kept bringing him off and publicly bad-mouthed him. In the end, he ran down his contract, probably bitter. Kevin Molloy 97 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:29:04 I'm sorry, Brian, but that's simply not allowed. Brian Williams 98 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:31:48 I'm beginning to realise that, Kev. 😁 Frank Crewe 99 Posted 30/05/2025 at 14:42:25 If there was a stat that recorded the number of shots straight at the keeper, Calvert-Lewin would be miles ahead. He just doesn't take enough of the chances he gets. Now he's 28 and in his prime years. Yet he has lost so much of his career through injury. If he could stay fit and Moyes and his staff could coach some better finishing into him, he could be a much better striker. But DCL has to accept he's not the world class striker he appears to think he is and his salary should reflect this. Get a decent injury-free season and a double-figure goal return and maybe his contract could be renegotiated. Liam Mogan 100 Posted 30/05/2025 at 15:03:44 Frank: 'If there was a stat that recorded the number of shots straight at the keeper.'There is…It's called the 'Calvert-Lewin Index'. Martin Mason 101 Posted 30/05/2025 at 15:14:52 I desperately hope that we recontract him now. Nothing to do with his game. Jay Harris 102 Posted 30/05/2025 at 15:44:10 My thoughts on Calvert-Lewin:-Good footballer, excellent at winning aerial duels and holding the ball up but lacks the natural instinct of a goalscorer. He then imo insulted the club by refusing to renew his contract after the club looked after him for 3 years, nursing him back to fitness.When he and his agent realized he wasn't wanted – elsewhere especially due to his wage demands – he suddenly wants to sign a contract.Too late for me, young man. I would have you up the road in no time. Mike Gaynes 103 Posted 30/05/2025 at 15:46:21 Colin, sorry, that's ridiculous. I'm not the least bit obsessive about Dom, and I've made clear that I do rate him as a superior footballer to Beto (including our best defender on set pieces throughout his career). I also consider him an inferior goalscorer -- a contention supported by every stat available. You've also swallowed whole the false narrative of another poster regarding my view of Dom's shooting ability. In my post he has tried to keep alive with CPR and hospice, I opined that Dom couldn't shoot a ball and then erred in saying he had never scored a great "goal", which I corrected in my next post to "strike" (a correction deliberately ignored by that other poster in the interest of controversy). I don't recall anyone ever posting an example to refute my view. He has never struck anything resembling the crackers we've seen from Dwight (several times), Ndiaye, Keane, Doucs, Jarrad, Tarks and even Gana when he swerved one off the underside of the crossbar. Shots like those are well beyond Calvert-Lewin's capability. In case you're interested (and I don't know that you are), my opinion has always been that Carlo's coaching helped Dom enormously, but not just positioning in the box. In Dom's early seasons I often moaned that he was reactive, moving for crosses only after he saw them coming in, and frequently just couldn't reach them. The difference I saw in him under Carlo -- who had coached some of the world's best -- was that he made strong, committed early runs that left defenders in his wake and enabled him to get on the end of crosses much better than he had. Unfortunately since Carlo's departure he has missed an average of 20 games a season, which makes it hard to maintain that confidence and sharpness. Again, just my opinion.ps... curious, where did you see the pace numbers you mentioned? Danny O'Neill 104 Posted 30/05/2025 at 16:07:02 Some interesting and emotive views on Dominic. No two players can be directly compared. We all offer something different.From my opinion, for what it's worth, if he walks onto the pitch wearing an Everton shirt next season, then he's got my backing. As every single one of them who have the honour do so, as they have done all my life.As for Dominic specifically, I've had some memorable moments watching Everton and seen us lift trophies including a European one.But that diving header against Crystal Palace when I inadvertently ended up in the the Lower Bullens with the away supporters is up with them. They were actually celebrating with me!!I don't know if he will stay but, if he does, it won't be the end of the world. Stay fit and give us more moments. Martin Mason 105 Posted 30/05/2025 at 16:47:11 Danny, his play in the 5-1 win at Brighton we saw the other year was amazing and it was why we achieved that amazing result. If we can manage his attitude and consistency then we still have a good player. Can we do that? Enough said for me, honest. Colin Crooks 106 Posted 30/05/2025 at 17:32:34 Mr Gaynes,Thank you for coming back to me, Mike. I was hoping you would. I may have gotten this wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read a post from you saying you would like to get a bet on FOtM Delap scoring more goals than Calvert-Lewin next season. Trouble is; I can't find it. So, by addressing you personally in this thread, I was hoping to provoke you into coming back so I could accommodate you, if indeed you did say that.But first I must address your latest post. I get frustrated when I see people use the fuck-witted xG argument to try to denigrate one of our players. In fact I get frustrated by the whole concept of xG. I wonder if those who spout this drivel think players like Salah or Haaland would come even close to their current stats if they had expended all their energies fighting off 2 often 3 centre-backs for an aimless long ball... every single match? I wonder if their "stats" would have suffered if they had ploughed a lone furrow without another striker in the same postcode to offer support or decoy runs?I wonder if they would have been superstars had they been forced to make virtually all the chances the got through closing down themselves?I'm not putting Calvert-Lewin in their bracket, but I seriously wonder if there is a forward alive who could have thrived playing up for Everton throughout the past 5 years?For me. People who put forward stats compiled by other people, are simply demonstrating ignorance. They are basing their entire argument on figures that don't even begin to reveal the facts. They are demonstrating they don't understand their own stats… their own argument.Case in point: You argue that every stat available will prove Beto is the better finisher. Unfortunately for the stattos, the one fact that matters is the one which proves he has scored nowhere near as many goals as Calvert-Lewin – despite being roughly the same age and playing at a lower level for most of his playing career.I love Beto, but when these two players hang up their boots, his stats will not be worth a blow on a ragman's bugle. Only the facts will matter. We don't know the xG of people like Wright, Shearer or Aguero, but we will always know how many they scored.As for your claim that Carlo Ancelotti improved Calvert-Lewin, I would seriously contest that point as well. The simple fact is, Carlo found a tactic to ill-use the player which was subsequently copied by other managers. One which very nearly destroyed the most promising of careers.Anyway, Mike, to this wager. I assume we are not looking to empty each others pockets and I know we are both ardent supporters of Cancer Research. I believe Calvert-Lewin will score more than Delap wherever they play their football next season. I am happy to donate £25 extra to Cancer Research if I am wrong. Will you do the same? Paul Ferry 107 Posted 30/05/2025 at 17:58:21 Ian Bennett: As I said before Ian, stats do not speak for themselves. I wish people would understand this and take Stats-101. Lessons 1-4: how and why stats need to: (1) not be taken at face value; (2) be questioned all the time; (3) be understood like any text as something subjective; (4) and not be ripped out of context to sit there on a page or post alone. My colleague, who is an associate professor in the Stats Department, says that the simplest introduction to all of this for anyone who might be interested in understanding the nature of the statistics they offer is Heumann, Schomaker, and Shalabh, Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis. My friend's last book was on "statistics and casual inference". "Casual inference" from bald statistics, who'd have thought! He did smile when I told him that "figures speak for themselves"."Figures {do not} speak for themselves" and I think Lesson 4 on context is rather important here when statistics are rattled off without any sort of context.As a good number have posted already on here to correct the nutty idea that Beto has been "isolated" up front, the systems under Dyche (for Calvert-Lewin) and Moyes (for Beto) are very different for the reasons that have already been explained. For these folk, there is general agreement that the service and support the striker has enjoyed under Moyes is much improved. Beto was also shite under Dyche. But your statistics do now allow for any differentiation along these lines, Ian. Dale Self 108 Posted 30/05/2025 at 18:39:05 Paul, cite yer sources! Is that Stuart Sharp to whom you refer?And Colin, how is xG fuck-witted? It is data from observed outcomes. Ian Bennett 109 Posted 30/05/2025 at 18:41:39 Okay, Paul, shall we have a look at what he's done under Moyes since his latest comeback or will that upset some Don at Chicago Hogwarts?Ipswich – played 13 minutes, 1 off target shot, lost ball 4 times. Fulham - played 10 minutes, 1 big chance missed. Southampton – played 15 minutes, no shots, lost the ball 4 times.Newcastle – played 9 minutes, 2 shots, 2 big chances missed, lost the ball twice.This is a player playing for a new contract, against tired defenders, 2 of which were relegation teams… and that's his contribution? £5M+ a season mate for 3 goals, and a player that should be third choice next season? Do me a favour!Honestly, I love the loyalty of fans of supporting lads in blue. He is a better technical player than Beto – but come on, if we want to move forward, then this sort of nonsense from fans of wanting trophies and league progression but keeping Thewell, Keane, and Calvert-Lewin has got to stop. Derek Taylor 110 Posted 30/05/2025 at 18:51:57 Calvert-Lewin should not be on our roster next season. Not just because he has shown no sense of loyalty to Everton but he's here because no other club wants him and his wage demands.If he does manage to get a new contract out of Everton, it can only be because Moyes has gone soft or can't persuade another striker to replace him! Paul Ferry 111 Posted 30/05/2025 at 19:10:00 47 minutes, Ian x 4 subs appearances — and that does not deal with the lack of differentials in your overall stats mate. We both want the same thing and I will not convince you and you will not convince me about Beto. Danny O'Neill 112 Posted 30/05/2025 at 20:02:55 Colin, I'm with you on stats. I don't pay much attention to them. I think modern football is over analysed. I just prefer watching, like I've always done.I'll have to disagree with you on Ancelotti, and it's not a dig. I think he did improve Calvert-Lewin. Simple instructions for a striker: "Get in the box." Colin Crooks 113 Posted 30/05/2025 at 20:32:59 You don't surprise me, Danny. There are some people who look back at Carlo's disastrous stint as Everton manager with a warped dewey-eyed nostalgia. They are the people you should be addressing, not me. I know different. I find your argument very weak and it cuts no ice with me. Danny O'Neill 114 Posted 30/05/2025 at 21:02:00 It doesn't have to cut any ice with you, Colin. I wasn't addressing you. Responding. If you read back, back, once again, I agreed with you.Dewey eyed? I'll leave that for previous teams and managers. I only said, that in my opinion, Ancelotti got the best out of Calvert-Lewin. I don't think I've been teary-eyed in claiming he was the best manager we've had. I know who that is in my lifetime. Wrong manager for the wrong club at the wrong time. Is that okay, Colin? Still looking forward to meeting you on the other side of a phone or keyboard… Colin Crooks 115 Posted 30/05/2025 at 21:26:05 Danny,When you repeatedly misquoted me three times last week, I honestly thought you were lying.... very badly. Especially when what I actually said was still up there and others were telling you to stop digging.Now I'm thinking I did you a disservice. You are not lying. You just post without any thought at all.Are you really claiming you were not addressing me in post 112? Read what you wrote, for fuck's sake.And when you write "I'll have to disagree with you about Carlo", you'll need to forgive me for thinking you were not agreeing with me.Sorry, I'll debate with anybody, but I'm not getting into an argument with somebody who denies what was said two posts ago. Steve Brown 116 Posted 31/05/2025 at 03:09:07 A wise man said earlier in this thread “If you don't rate a player, you say so and move on.”That also applies to managers we don't rate. Si Cooper 117 Posted 31/05/2025 at 03:53:38 Dale (108), I think Colin is saying xG looks at goal scoring ‘chances' in isolation and doesn't factor in each players' particular role in the team or level of work overall.So a player who has to absolutely bust a gut battling for possession as part of their role may naturally not be as composed as one who gets to be a peripheral player biding their time waiting to receive a ball in a good ‘starting' position. Steve Brown 118 Posted 31/05/2025 at 05:58:59 Paul, people denigrate statistics because it contradicts their opinions, criticisms and prejudices. When the facts are presented, their response is typically to dispute the validity of statistics per se, try to choose a segment that suits their opinion, or just say they can see with their own eyes. In this regard, all Premier League clubs are wrong in having entire teams for player performance analysis based on statistics!Take for example the win ratio of Carlo Ancelotti at Everton — 46.3%. That only puts him behind Kendall Mk 1 and Catterick in the post war era, however much it makes some choke on their cornflakes. Danny O'Neill 119 Posted 31/05/2025 at 06:27:28 Colin, I'm not addressing you. Simply discussing a different opinion. As always, I agree with you on many things, just as I will disagree with you on others. As I do with most people. Don't take it personally. I'm not a Headmaster addressing people.Like you, if you put yourself out there, we are open to different views and being challenged. It mostly generates healthy debate, even if it gets a bit tasty at times. My point doesn't have to cut ice with you. You have your own view.I won't hide, as these pages won't allow you to. I have said, that despite the final league position, Everton under Ancelotti were one game away from European football. The league never lies. We were one game away from the title in 85-86, but it was matches prior to that, when we dropped points that cost us. Similarly under Ancelotti. Wrong manager, wrong club for him and at the wrong time.I get very emotional about Everton, Colin, but like you, I'm not dewy-eyed when it comes to managers and players. Well, maybe Howard Kendall and Kevin Sheedy, but I'm allowed a free pass on that surely?We still need to meet when we get the chance. I think you'll like me and the compliment would be two-way. Keep your challenges to my opinions coming, Colin. I will do the same with you. But don't take it as personal or addressing you. Danny O'Neill 120 Posted 31/05/2025 at 06:35:46 Steve. Although I am not into stats personally, I admire those who throw them at me. Genuinely. It educates me, who looks at the game through what I see in front of me.I totally get that, in this data-driven world we live in, it has become an important factor in decision-making. Not just football, my own current and previous professions.It isn't masking anything to support a point of view. There is still a lot to be said for instinct, supported by data. Artificial Intelligence is a classic example of this. I won't bore everyone with the detail. It enriches and accelerates decisions, but it doesn't replace the human intervention. Brian Foley 121 Posted 31/05/2025 at 07:44:46 Do not give Calvert-Lewin another penny on principle. Out of contract and fannying on signing. Let him go to any of the 12 clubs above us, not a problem. Harrison gets stick on here for working his bollocks off, problem is that he, like Calvert-Lewin, is as stated, not very good either. Both are certainly not good enough if Everton are to improve or progress. Sam Hoare 122 Posted 31/05/2025 at 07:45:02 Paul Ferry is bang on when he says that statistics always need context. Some stats are more indicative than others and all require further qualification.For example, this suggesting that Calvert-Lewin is a better goalscorer than Beto because he has scored more goals should always include the context that he has played over 6000 minutes more than the Portuguese, who started his career late in the day. A better or fairer comparison for goalscoring prowess might be goals per minute. Over their entire career, Calvert-Lewin has a goal every 275 minutes and Beto has a goal every 198 minutes. Of course there are plentiful other factors, such as Calvert-Lewin playing in a tougher league and playing on the right flank for parts of his career. Equally Beto played the majority of minutes for one of the weakest teams in Portugal. Impossible to ever capture the context entirely. Paul Ferry 123 Posted 31/05/2025 at 07:59:11 Dale Self: "Paul, cite yer sources! Is that Stuart Sharp to whom you refer?"Hahaha, I think Stuart, from what I've inferred, is a Professor at Lancaster University and is on the science side of things. Derek Thomas 124 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:01:17 Brian Foley: true enough. For his own reasons, he and his agent ran his contract down.Weigh the Player vs Coach options... I think he's bordering on being a long-term sicknote... make him an offer based on that premise and the new management wage structure.Sign or don't. Colin Crooks 125 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:03:01 Danny,Here's how I saw it.Calvert-Lewin had played all over the park for a variety of different managers. When we sacked the latest joker, Duncan Ferguson was put in charge... Fair? Dominic started his first game out on the wing, tracking back, chasing lost balls into the corner flags... everything he had been told to do. Still fair?The bollockings Ferguson gave Calvert-Lewin from the sidelines could be heard at the back of the stands. It could also be heard in living rooms all around the country. "Stop chasing that. Stay centre. Stay fucking centre-forward!!!"... Remember that?Ferguson knew a thing or two about being ill-used by managers too frightened to trust his players to play "Boot It!!!"So, over the next few games, Ferguson tried to get the best out of Calvert-Lewin as a centre-forward. Then, to the amazement of everybody in football, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed. He liked Calvert-Lewin as centre-forward too. He whispered a few pearls of wisdom in his ear:- "Get some footage of Inzaghi. See how he takes the strike first time without looking to take a couple of touches."Surprisingly, Carlo did not see Ferguson as some sort of Caledonian cave-dweller — like many of our own supporters. He was impressed with him. Instructed him to spend long periods working with our promising young striker — all this is well documented.The transformation was there for all to see. A combination of Ferguson's coaching and the professor's words of wisdom saw our young headless chicken turn into the most promising striker in the country. Carlo brought in a couple of superstars in time for the next season. We were buzzing and Calvert-Lewin was looking at times unplayable... then the wheels came off. Our superstar was not playing as often as we wanted him to. New signing Doucoure had the legs, but not the savvy. Allan had the savvy, but not the legs. Dear Tom Davies was perpetually getting caught between two stools. Gylfi couldnt defend to save his life and Mason was last seen running off the edge of a cliff clutching a wad of money. Despite having a vastly superior squad to the current one, Carlo suddenly realised his team had the softest underbelly in the league. Journeymen from the likes of Sheffield Utd were walking right through his ranks virtually unchallenged. He was fucked and so were we.Fearing his reputation was being damaged, Carlo abandoned any intentions of playing football. He wanted the his piss-weak midfield by-passed. He ordered his players to give it to Pickford so he could boot it 60 yards up the pitch. He reacted angrily to criticism of his tactics: "I'm not a magician!"Carlo tried to justify his, err... 'tactics' to an Italian reporter. He told him "When you have a goalkeeper who can kick it long and a player who is so incredibly good at receiving it whilst under pressure, you use them. It gets you in to opposition territory." In 70 years of watching this club, I can honestly say that nobody else came even close to the disappointment I felt in Ancelotti. He didn't quit the night Real Madrid came calling — he'd quit months before. Those who claim Carlo made Calvert-Lewin a top striker need to take a closer look. He very nearly destroyed him; by abusing his ability to take a long hoof under his spell, he was setting the precedent for a string of his successors. An easy way out.Dyche even used Carlo as an excuse for abandoning any thought of playing football. If it was good enough for the Professor, it was good enough for him.But hey — fuck the facts. Carlo showed what a great Everton manager he was by bringing home better stats than Mike Walker, Walter Smith. Rafa Benitez and Frank Lampard. What was it? 46.3% Win Ratio?... Wow!Stattos eh? Where would we be without them? Beto would have lasted about 30 seconds under Carlo... or any of his predecessors for that matter. Colin Crooks 126 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:21:03 BTW: The claim that Calvert-Lewin has scored more goals than Beto wasn't put up as a stat. It was put up as an irrefutable fact. Danny O'Neill 127 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:23:14 Good post, Colin,I enjoy our debates. I can't compete with your 70 years, I'm nearing 50 years, being born in 1971.Ancelotti's reputation and trophy cabinet speaks for itself. I'll repeat myself. Wrong manager at the wrong time.We got Allan at least 2 years too late. He started well, but as you say, the legs went quickly.To agree with your point, maybe Ferguson did coach Dominic. That would have been his job. But it will probably have been under instruction from the manager. They give direction and that's what they have a coaching team for.You are correct on Duncan the player. I've often called him the reluctant footballer, but totally what you say. We didn't use him correctly.When we did, with wingers getting balls into the box, he was effective. Good on the ball, that is often overlooked.When we pumped the ball up to him centrally from the half way line, he wasn't. But that wasn't his fault, it was the tactics.Once again, we are probably agreeing in our disagreement. I wouldn't and won't try to change your opinion on Ancelotti. It is clearly stated. I just have a different view. And you won't change that.And it isn't a dewey eyed one. Just a shame we couldn't have him at the right time. Danny O'Neill 128 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:35:37 Sorry to add,Of course Dominic has scored more goals. He's being playing for Everton since 2016, compared to Beto with us since 2023.As with both players, and strikers, it's how you properly use and supply them. Sean Kelly 129 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:49:11 And theres me thinking football is a simple old game. Get the ball in the opposition's onion bag and keep it out of yours. Pass the ball to a team mate in a better position and stop the opposition at all cost. Silly old me. Stats, xG and ratios are for mathematicians. Martin Mason 130 Posted 31/05/2025 at 08:50:23 Regarding stats, they can only ever assist in making observations and decisions, especially with footballers as they are all different, told to do different things by coaches, and subject to human influences. For footballers, I would class them as close to meaningless if applied wrongly. Danny O'Neill 131 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:04:54 Exactly, Martin. Stats can be used to support any point of view. Right now, the priority is on sorting out existing contracts. I think (hope) we will start seeing business starting next month.I will see you next season at the new stadium, Martin. Maybe at the 3rd test event in pre-season… yet to be announced.Sean, I still don't understand what xG means. Sam Hoare 132 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:09:48 Sean. Very strange post. If youre not into stats, xG etc, thats fine. But they are tools of analysis that are increasingly popular and that many like to use to get into depth on the football. If all youre interested is the result then whats the point of this site and thousands like it? Fans like to pour over results and discuss tactics, players, signings, performances, managers etc. How they choose to do so is up to them. Sean Kelly 133 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:14:00 Sam, it's a results business. If Beto or Calvert-Lewin is one-on-one with a keeper, I hope for god's sake they are not wondering about their xG. Each to their own. Danny O'Neill 134 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:35:08 Sam, I wouldn't call anyone's view strange. Just different. As I keep saying, I am educated by those who analyse stats.For me, I mostly go off instinct. As a player, a coach and a supporter, I go with what I see on the pitch. Pace, power, skill, making space, movement, aggression. Football is instinctive. You can't predict it. You just do it. Sometimes you get it right; others you don't. But you make a decision and act on the situation in front of you.It doesn't make me right. It's just how I view the game and players. Sam Hoare 135 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:46:32 Sean, each to their own is fine of course. But don't think there's any need to denigrate other people's way of analysis.Danny, different points of view are fine, but I do think it's strange to come on a football fan site and suggest that the result is all that matters and that other people's ways of analysis has no place in football. Fine if stats aren't for you but I don't think we should be casting aspersions on others people's methods. Do you? Ian Bennett 136 Posted 31/05/2025 at 09:48:52 Paul, What I am sure of, is giving Calvert-Lewin another 2-3 year contract of £100k a week is going to cost £12-18M to see if he is finished or not. That seems to me a waste of money based on the stats I've provided and what I see with my own eyes. If others want to give him that, don't be bellyaching later that we don't win football matches, as you've just advocated spending some of the precious loot on a player that doesn't perform.And I can't be alone in that view. There's a huge football world out there, and the media speculation of him going somewhere else is radio silent. Doesn't that strike you as odd? A 28-year-old English striker at his peak, Premier League experience… and not being linked anywhere? Newcastle could get him for zero, rather than £30M last year; Arsenal need a striker; Italy love Premier League rejects, Saudi same; and even the promoted teams are not being linked.It's a nice try to say you need convincing around Beto, when that wasn't and hasn't been my point. I think he could do okay, but equally he could be a flash in the pan. Whichever, we need another striker, and Moyes is looking. Eddie Dunn 137 Posted 31/05/2025 at 10:30:36 I've always appreciated Dom but I think he needs a change of scenery.And we need a striker who shoots more often, someone like Bowen. Tony Abrahams 138 Posted 31/05/2025 at 10:33:11 I've just read up to the part where it's describing the best formation for Dominic, and thought to myself this Robot thinks it's taking a fucking exam...I remember talking football with a man who won both the league and European Cup as a player and went on to have a very long career coaching in the England set-up. During the conversation, I kept thinking football isn't played on paper, and what you're describing what you would get your team to do, is making me think that you are either not listening to me properly or you just don't understand what I'm saying.Maybe if he had sat next to me, watching the issue or situation that was causing the issue, he might have understood what I was saying a lot better, but either way it just made me think that a large part of coaching is shite, and 90% of coaches are being employed because a friend has got him the job.I might be wrong, but if I can't listen to many pundits then I'm definitely not taking any notice of a robot. Steve Shave 139 Posted 31/05/2025 at 10:38:24 If Calvert-Lewin chooses to leave, I believe it will be more related to his relationship with the fans than the contract offer or concerns around his injury record. Since he wore a skirt, there were many Evertonians who struggled (bizarrely in my eyes) to let that go. Queue lots of derisive and judgemental comments online about that. The booing of him when he broke his cheekbone did nothing I am sure to help this; no doubt it didn't help his struggles with mental health which he has been brave and open about. I personally don't think he has been treated that well by some pockets of fans and I suspect it's landed badly with him. As a hold-up No 9 who is mobile and a real threat in the air, he is a good option for us right now (assuming we don't offer more than he is currently on). With a vastly improved team around them, Beto and Calvert-Lewin will do fine next season. Giving a new contract now should open up opportunities for us to get a marquee signing or two elsewhere in the squad; if it allowed us to go all out for Wesley and Dibling, then I would be chuffed as nuts with that. We could always sell him next summer when we have a striker lined up. Brian Harrison 140 Posted 31/05/2025 at 10:53:20 For me, neither is a striker that will help this club challenge for trophies or a European place, so the argument is about the merits of two very average strikers. The crowd seem to have more empathy with Beto than Calvert-Lewin; for some reason, the crowd have never really taken to Dom, for whatever reason. And I think my fellow Blues are usually good judges. Kim Vivian 141 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:03:53 Danny, Your football knowledge seems pretty good but not sure about your maths. If you were born in '71 then you're not "...nearing 50" – you're looking at that in your rear-view mirror. And believe me, mate, it diminishes pretty quickly. Jason Li 142 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:04:31 Carlo saw Calvert-Lewin as lethal in the box. His timing is fantastic on the deck to nip in front of a centre-back on the penalty spot, to timing his leap — crosses, corners and anything coming from out wide; he's dangerous in the box. The main problem, and I can guess Dyche and Moyes see this as well is that there is no Rodriguez or Digne or Richarlison or a flying Coleman to put in those crosses to maximise Calvert-Lewin's attributes. No quality out wide = minimal Calvert-Lewin goals.Adding another point of view, if Moyes can't because of transfer fees or doesn't want to go down the route of getting past the full-back and crossing in etc, then time to let Calvert-Lewin go somewhere else and potentially hit 20 goals a season. If Moyes is bringing in a fast right winger with a decent cross on him etc, then we want to keep Calvert-Lewin so he can do what he does best next season. Keep Mykolenko on the left as his crossing has lead to a few decent goals and he just needs to time when to get further forward more often. I think he's got more to unlock going forwards.All opinions. That's how I see it next season. Phil Roberts 143 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:09:29 Eddie, Bowen signed a new contract which still has 2-3 years to run. Martin Mason 144 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:20:59 A very good article. Perhaps not 100% correct but many valid points. It being AI-generated doesn't demean it in any way for me. Ian Bennett 145 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:23:35 I do think we need a Jota/Bowen type player that could play as a winger or a striker. The link to Richarlison is probably that, but I would want someone younger for that role ideally – and someone with lightening pace. John Gall 146 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:28:40 They are both terrible finishers which means we will never be properly competitive as a club with either one of these playing upfront. And this article proves that AI can absorb vast amounts of information, regurgitate it in any form, and tell you absolutly nothing of any worth. Eric Myles 147 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:39:47 Ian #89, "Calvert-Lewin another 2-3 year contract of £100k a week is going to cost £12-18M to see if he is finished or not. That seems to me a waste of money based on the stats I've provided"So Ian, where do we find a prolific striker to replace him for the £12-18M we save? Delap is £30M plus likely the same wages. We could go with a cheap up-and-coming youngster from a lower league but does that really put us in a better position than having Beto as the main striker? Brian Williams 148 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:40:53 I'm really looking forward to seeing Dom run out in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season. UTFT. Liam Mogan 149 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:49:46 It's actually both quite frightening and mundane what AI can do.If AI made strikers, it wouldn't make either Beto or Calvert-Lewin, though! Danny O'Neill 150 Posted 31/05/2025 at 11:55:44 Football is played on the pitch, Tony. That's when you get the true appreciation of a player and a team. Shape, movement, space.You know better than me.Centre-forwards are selfish sulky characters, and rightly so, we've played with enough of them. They rant at everyone, but are the ones who need a cuddle, whereas us centre-backs literally take it in the neck for them and let them have the glory.I think the best quote I had was a great player and close friend from Sunderland. "Fucking hell, Danny, do you think my boots are on my head"? He came straight over to me after I put him through on goal.His lad came through at Sunderland and was bought by Liverpool. I think he's still there. He had a loan spell at Dundee United and got player of the season for them. I know a lot of people don't get the chance, but YouTube, the internet and the tele don't really give you the same sense as seeing it live on the pitch, whichever level you are watching.As I keep saying, watch the movement, making space for others to run into, bothering defenders. There is more to a striker's game than scoring goals even though that is their trademark.I don't think it's Beto v Dominic. Should Calvert-Lewin stay, there's a place for both of them in the squad. Different players, but then no two players are the same, you can use them differently or together in different circumstances or rotate them.I always remember when people said Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray couldn't play together after Adrian Heath got injured. Well, that one certainly worked out. Danny O'Neill 151 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:00:26 Kim, I'm actually 53, approaching 54 in September. By chance I share the same birth date (not year) as Neville Southall.The 50 tag is more when I can remember supporting Everton, even though I apparently have done since 16 September 1971.My first early memories were when I was 3, my first match at Goodison when I was 4 or 5 in 1976.Sam, of course every supporter's opinion matters. Mine isn't always right, it's just mine. I don't recall saying results are all that matters. Disappointed at results, yes. But I'm always more interested in the performance. We all want the 3 points, but as long as the team goes down giving everything, I don't have complaints. Dave Abrahams 152 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:06:26 Danny (150), yes shape, movement, space and anticipation will get you a very good player with a football brain I don't won't to praise Braiden Graham too much but that's the player I think Everton will have in the first team in the not too distant future — sorry, I forgot about his fighting spirit — oh, and his red hair! Danny O'Neill 153 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:15:15 Dave, the little I've seen of young Braiden has impressed me. He was a stand out a the last test event.He looks like a fiery character too, with attitude about him.It would be good to have him in and around the first team squad next season along with Armstrong and Harrison. Kevin Molloy 154 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:20:16 Given the sort of financial constraints we will continue to face, it makes sense if a deal can be worked out with Calvert-Lewin on a substantially reduced salary (I believe he's on over £100,000 a week currently). But I think the reason he ran his contract down was cos he wanted to boost that income, not take a pay cut. That was why he walked away from Champions League footy with Newcastle last year. But he took a gamble that he wouldn't be injured all year, and I'm afraid that gamble failed. It will be hilarious if he does have to suck it up and sign on again here on reduced wages (that'll learn him!) but I just can't see it. I think he'd rather go to Saudi just on principle. Josh Horne 155 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:25:32 I find the article a whole lot more persuasive of the merits of sticking with Calvert-Lewin than various posts above, and ChatGPT doesn't shout at you! But that is what it is designed to do.It's MO is user retention so it will put a positive spin on your latest business plan of selling shit on a stick and validate your ideas no matter how lunatic, eg, Maupay is misunderstood and misused and is the Jota/Bowen type Everton are missing.No chance of that on here! Bob Carlton 156 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:31:51 The outstanding fact that the article highlights is Dom's peak season was 2022/21 when he scored 16 goals.Since then it's rather less impressive:2021-22 - 5 goals2022-23 - 2 goals2023-24 - 9 goals2024-25 - 3 goalsMy heart tells me I would love him to regain full fitness and recreate his form from 5 years ago. My head tells me otherwise. Eric Myles 157 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:37:26 Kevin #154,"The reason he ran his contract down was cos he wanted to boost that income, not take a pay cut. That was why he walked away from Champions League footy with Newcastle last year."The way I remember it at the time was it was Newcastle refused his wage demands and fucked him off, not the other way round. Eric Myles 158 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:40:34 All this for and against talk about statistics reminds me of the saying:"Lies, damn lies and statistics"Was it Shakespeare? Kevin Molloy 159 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:41:53 It comes to the same thing, Eric. He could have gone to Newcastle if his wage demands weren't excessive (unless we think Newcastle are particularly tight-fisted post the Arab takeover). Eric Myles 160 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:51:27 Lies, damned lies and statistics.Not Shakepeare then… Eric Myles 161 Posted 31/05/2025 at 12:52:50 Kevin #126, There's a big difference between walking away and being told to do one. Brian Williams 162 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:02:35 Again, many posters swallowing what the online sites have posted regarding transfers or non transfers and taking it as gospel and forming their "opinions" based on it.Nobody actually "knows." Kevin Molloy 163 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:08:12 It's a mystery wrapped in an enigma, Brian. Yes, Calvert-Lewin turned down Champions League footy; yes, he's cost us tens of millions in a transfer fee; and yes, that will boost his wage demands considerably when he comes to negotiate. But who can say what his real motivations were? It's a mystery. Josh Horne 164 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:11:27 I do think the decision on Calvert-Lewin is about value for money for the club, not just what he is capable of when fit. Moyes has already said Everton have not got enough value for their investment so I doubt the previous contract offer made under former ownership and management will be on the table, if anything at all is.Depending on what other offers he has, Calvert-Lewin might accept a low basic salary with a highly incentivised bonus structure related to appearances. Everton shouldn't accept any greater financial risk than that, in my opinion. Tony Abrahams 165 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:16:50 I don't think it's about knowing more, Danny, but rather than knowing who to listen to.Maybe Dominic hates playing in front of a crowd?Tongue-in-cheek… but, since Benitez played him with a broken toe, he's never really had a good run without being injured. (Sometimes I think it's a miracle that Everton are still a Premier League club, the way we were mismanaged.) Before this, when the ground was empty, Dominic had his most prolific spell.It was also Everton who had their most prolific spell in years early in that season, and I can still remember Dominic scoring all kinds of different goals, with his header against Liverpool probably being his best in terms of overall power and agility.I also think it would probably suit him if he left us, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him scoring a lot more goals if he signs for a team that play with a lot of width. Brian Williams 166 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:20:50 Kevin. Show me proof he turned down champions league football. "Proof."And I'll never question you again.Because again you're making statements as fact when you just don't know! Kevin Molloy 167 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:29:46 Hmm… I've just looked back and I fear you may have a point, Brian. I was sure negotiations broke down with the player, but looking again, it seems we had him priced at north of £35M. I withdraw my complaint! Danny O'Neill 168 Posted 31/05/2025 at 13:39:07 Maybe Tony, especially when booed when he got injured against Villa. I've never booed an Everton player, no matter how frustrated I've been.There won't be any proof, Brian. In January, there was no guarantee that Newcastle would qualify for Champions League. As it transpired, it came down to results on the last day when they had a nervous wait as we beat them 1 - 0 and they relied on other results. Ian Jones 169 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:06:23 Thank you, Michael, for entertaining the AI-generated article. It's not to everyone's taste but I was working on something for my business, was using ChatGPT and for my own entertainment thought I'd ask ChatGPT for its opinion on DCL. First effort was to give me an in depth review of Data Control Language!I'll hopefully submit Part 2 tomorrow... Ian Jones 170 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:13:01 Brian,'I'm really looking forward to seeing Dom run out at BMD next season. UTFT.'For which team? :) Liam Mogan 171 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:14:34 DCL in SQL, to DCL at CF. A nice swerve there, I GRANT you that, Ian. Brian Williams 172 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:29:01 Ian.Let's wait and see eh? 😉 Brian Williams 173 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:31:55 Kevin.There is the "very" rare occasion where I do make a good point. Kevin Molloy 174 Posted 31/05/2025 at 14:41:38 Brian, yes indeed. This is not the first time I've checked on things I thought took place in the recent past and have had to reverse ferret. It's that bloody Matrix malfunctioning again. Steve Brown 175 Posted 31/05/2025 at 15:01:52 Danny, I really admire your patience and calmness in your interactions on TW. I could learn a lot from it!Qualitative and quantitative information is critical, but human judgement does play the critical part - making decisions.Where statistics do help is to provide a factual basis to counter-act something claimed vehemently that is self-evidently nonsense. Stu Darlington 176 Posted 31/05/2025 at 15:13:17 Very interesting to read all the statistics tennis about Beto v Calvert-Lewin, but the bottom line for me is that Calvert-Lewin is not, nor never has been, worth £130 grand a week to Everton Football Club.If we are to be competitive in the top half of the Premier League with aspirations for a place in European competitions, we need better quality players.He, in my opinion, is not the goal scorer we need to take us there. Neither is Beto for that matter, so which is better may form an interesting discussion in the pub, but to me is totally irrelevant.If Calvert-Lewin is re-signed next season on what is sure to be a comparable deal or better, it would indicate to me that the club are not really serious about competing at a higher level.Let's close the book on this one, and use his freed up wages to try and attract a young striker or two with quality and pace and hopefully a potential sell-on value. Danny O'Neill 177 Posted 31/05/2025 at 15:25:13 Steve, I talk nonsense most of the time mate. Maybe I should pay more attention to statistics.I love reading with interest those who do. It educates my narrow blue mind. Steve Brown 178 Posted 31/05/2025 at 15:36:49 Danny, you definitely dont talk nonsense at all mate.Far from it. Mick O'Malley 179 Posted 31/05/2025 at 15:59:10 Stu above, I completely agree.For me it's time to move on, the lad is unreliable regardless of his hold up play etc. He's not on the pitch enough for me. New ground new start, let's move on, Robert Tressell 180 Posted 31/05/2025 at 16:07:48 Interesting article – with AI offering some thoughtful observations as it typically does.I think Calvert-Lewin would do well in the 3-5-2 that Inzaghi plays at Inter – with a more talented forward / striker alongside him – and quality balls into the box from from wide areas. Not necessarily as a starter, since Thuram is better. But an option from the bench.In my view ,he would be a good option from the bench for quite a few Champions League regular clubs. Ex Stoke "star" Joselu did a good job of being a limited, muscular focal point for Real recently, and Calvert-Lewin is certainly better than Joselu. A fair few lesser clubs like Napoli or Leverkusen etc could do worse.By now, he really should just be an option from the bench for us -– but our lack of money / extreme cost cutting have meant we over-relied on him for too long (exacerbating the injuries at the same time).If he were coming to the end of his contract at, say, West Ham, I am pretty sure there would be a lot of fans saying he should be our number one target - a no brainer on a free for a striker with a good track record when playing (which he has hardly ever done at Everton) in a decent side with good width and full-back play. The wages are high, yes, but offset by the lack of transfer fee. Indeed, you could see why Moyes might be quite keen given there won't be lots of quality striker options within budget. So it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him stay – although I think that would probably be an underwhelming outcome for both parties. If I were him, I would be heading abroad either for pay check (Saudi) or experience (Serie A or La Liga or Bundesliga) but it might depend on how he feels about uprooting wife and child. Martin Mulrooney 181 Posted 31/05/2025 at 17:14:28 I like DCL, I appreciate his strengths and I appreciate the thankless task he has had to endure under previous regimes But, I believe Beto outscores him under similar conditions, and goals win games Beto for all his perceived faults is a a genuine goal threat and physical threat, going towards goal.And to compliment it all, Beto seems to genuinely just fucking want it, like really fucking appreciate his situation as Evertons main striker. It makes the fans root for him, we love a good hard worker who seems genuine Ed Prytherch 182 Posted 31/05/2025 at 17:27:03 I don't think that Beto vs DCL is an issue. Beto has a contract and he will remain an Everton player unless we receive a very good offer for him. The question is whether or not DCL gets another contract. That will depend upon what he wants and what the club thinks he is worth as a backup striker, like Callum Wilson at Newcastle. Dennis Stevens 183 Posted 31/05/2025 at 17:29:54 I agree, Ed. It's really DCL versus who else we could get to replace him. Beto & Chermiti are already under contract. Stu Darlington 184 Posted 31/05/2025 at 20:54:29 Ed@182DCL was offered another contract.He chose to turn it down because he thought he was worth more money.He wasnt.Why are people still concerned whether he stays at the club next year?Hes not suddenly going to change into the next Haaland or Sako.Let him go,move on and use his not inconsiderable wages to invest in new talent.Hes obviously not that desperate to remain at Everton. Paul Kossoff 185 Posted 31/05/2025 at 00:20:03 Colin 7. I was with you up to "Oh, and if we can get Grealish on loan"….You lost me then.😀I would definitely give Calvert-Lewin a new contract, not an improved one though.Did you see how he left the Newcastle Utd centre-half not knowing what day it was? A bit more composure and that would have been goal of the month contender. With a second reliable striker in the squad Dom's game time can be managed and hopefully less injuries. Bill Watson 186 Posted 01/06/2025 at 01:14:07 His goal ratio of 1 in 4 is the worst of any post War Everton centre-forward I can remember — and that figure includes penalties. Although Beto's hold-up play isn't as good Calvert-Lewin's, he'll score a lot more goals.It's time we stopped paying huge salaries to players we rarely see! Danny O'Neill 187 Posted 01/06/2025 at 05:38:48 I like that post, Stu @184.It will obviously come down to whether the player wants to stay, and if the manager and club want to keep him.Not being one to get carried away with rumours, I've not heard much in terms of interest, but who knows what is going on in the background?I agree Bill. For me, the big frustration with Dominic is how much we haven't seen of him, not his performances. I won't lose sleep if he leaves. I won't be disappointed if he stays. Paul Ferry 188 Posted 01/06/2025 at 05:57:50 Jesus, AI-generated articles. Can we please not encourage this, MK. Don't give Ian plaudits. He had fuck all to do except type a few words correctly. Sources. Statistics. And now lazy problem-ridden AI masquerading as opinion. Did you lack the creativity and insights to come up with your own work, Ian? Martin Farrington 189 Posted 01/06/2025 at 10:44:29 I just generated my own AI model.But lets not get into that right now. Ahem.Put bluntly he is a waste of money. A bad investment.Look at the real stats, goals, assists, chances. Dreadful at all for last 3 seasons.Actually isn't hardworking. Does not chase down after first 5 minutes. Is outperformed in the air 1 on 1 vs defenders, losing most aerial duals.Inability to score in 1vs1 ie keeperChances missed and off target. Offsides. Lets be clear, no one is going to play to the perceived "strength" of dcl and "formation" that suits him. End of.His injury record is wretched.He had his time, opportunities and failed.Say thank you and goodbye. Bob Parrington 190 Posted 01/06/2025 at 11:00:41 I don't care what the stats show. It's time for Calvert-Lewin to go. No heart left in his game. He needs to go to a different team. Let's just grow up and accept he's a gonna. Time for a change. Bob Parrington 191 Posted 01/06/2025 at 11:06:05 Martin, looking at aged, pencilled censuses, we might be distantly related. By our views, er, maybe that's true. Ha Ha! Kevin Molloy 192 Posted 01/06/2025 at 11:11:51 are you really in a position to be handing out lectures on the sins of laziness and not setting a good example when you've burst into print taking the Lord's name in vain on the Sabbath 'Paul'? Danny O'Neill 193 Posted 01/06/2025 at 11:13:30 Dominic clearly divides opinion.I try not to judge him on performance. When on form, and with the right service, he's played well for us over the years in mostly poor and deteriorating teams.He's still only 28 and in better team with better players around him, he would deliver a better outcome.At 28, he still has a lot to offer. Whether that is with Everton or not, is out of our hands. Rob Halligan 194 Posted 01/06/2025 at 11:48:48 DCL is your classic target man. Any long balls in the air to him, 9/10 he will beat his marker in the air, but invariably ends up chasing his own flick ons. He needs someone to play alongside him, in the old Toshack and Keegan style for the RS back in the 70s. Unfortunately modern day football now dictates that most teams mostly play with only one out and out forward, with the supporting players coming from deep. I think for DCL to shine for us, he needs someone alongside him, which, unfortunately doesnt look like happening. Kevin Molloy 195 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:17:32 if you're gonna put him in a 2 Rob I think he'd need to be a much better footballer and much more prolific. I think his real value (which not many others have) is his strength in holding the ball up on his own whilst surrounded by 2-3 defenders. ie as a one up front. there is a real value to that, in that it means we can have 5 in midfield. if we put him in a 2, and he got us 15 goals and held up the ball as he does, I don't' think that compensates for losing the 5 in midfield. Jason Li 196 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:23:01 When a great team is camped in the other teams half a lot more, then in a team like this Dom can jog closer to the box like Haaland or Ronaldo and have less chances of injury, waiting for the ball to come in from wide in the air or a cut back. Obviously this team is no-where near with the current players compared to what was available in Carlo's team, never mind teams like City or Arsenal and Chelsea. My thoughts are if Alcaraz is going to occassionally do the quick transition bit from defense to striker so the team can stay semi-defensive if he loses it, then another player who can score 1v1s would be an ideal player to match. Lineker mark 2 basically would be the most idea type of striker. Les Callan 197 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:24:36 Rob @ 194. There is nothing “ classic “ about him at all. He has no aggression, no power and little striking ability for a centre forward. Dave Hickson. Now theres a classic centre forward for you Bob. ( Or target man as you put it ). Rob Halligan 198 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:34:03 Les, I meant as Classic from years gone by. Had he been around in the 70s and 80s, when a target man was common, I think he would have been far more productive. None of this running the channels stuff like he sometimes does now. But then again, he might have been too lightweight back in the 70s and 80s.He certainly wouldnt have been a Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton or Dave Hickson style of centre forward. He simply wouldnt have lasted two minutes back then. Raymond Fox 199 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:38:27 As Ed @ 182 says Beto is on our payrole, CL is not now.I like Beto, if he doesn't get bad injuries he will score plenty goals for us I'm sure.I also like Calvert Lewin and if left to me I would keep him, I do appreciate he has as many negatives as positive aspects to him and you can argue either way.I just lean towards the best bits of his all round play. Rob Halligan 200 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:38:42 Steve Brown 201 Posted 01/06/2025 at 12:50:38 Dominic Calvert Lewin is still on the Everton payroll until 30th June, therefore there is still time to negotiate with him. Liam Mogan 202 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:01:25 Maybe a team in the Club World Cup will pay a premium for DCL so he can play in it. Danny O'Neill 203 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:13:28 Good point Rob.I wonder how a fully fit Dominic would fare playing with Charly and Ndiyaye in support? You're going into 4-3-3 territory there.Liam, I still don't understand that club World Cup thing other than one more money grabbing initiative. But then it doesn't surprise me. Maybe one day we will play in it. Mal van Schaick 204 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:24:37 Two different players. Beto hustle bustle strong, good on the ball when taking his chances, but without the aerial presence of DCL, but Beto still manages the flick on and occasionally gets a header in the opponents area.I keep Beto and offload DCL, and recruit a quality forward or two, if we can get them for the right price. Brian Williams 205 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:36:31 Beto good on the ball.Now there's a phrase that stretches TW credibility. 🤣 Robert Tressell 206 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:42:21 We saw Inter use two up top last night in a 352. Okay, they got battered! But that wasn't the formation's fault. Indeed the formation / tactics were in many respects what got Inter to the final against considerable odds (see Link - which points out how Inter have massively overachieved).As we saw in the semi v Barca, Inter use width well - stay competitive in midfield by matching up a central trio against that of a 433 - and pose a real threat with two strikers.So I think DCL could do really well in that sort of formation - alongside a more technical / talented striker like Martinez. We won't see it at Everton under Moyes though. But DCL might be asked to play that way if he goes abroad. Kev Johnson 207 Posted 01/06/2025 at 13:49:12 Danny (203) I really like the idea of Ndiaye and Alcarez playing behind Mr Spearhead, although I'm seeing it as more of a 4-3-2-1. It could also work in a 3-4-2-1, making use of the fact we have three good CBs (with Keane in reserve, if he stays). I know the Red Mancs play the latter formation, but they do it ever-so badly so it's not necessarily an argument against that set-up. Andrew Ellams 208 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:07:59 If we can get another N'Diaye to play on the right hand side and two good overlapping fullbacks then we'd improve straightaway. Also, would love to see Angel Gomes playing alongside Gana. Ian Jones 209 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:08:18 Paul Ferry.'Yes, you're correct. I didnt write a single original thought, just asked AI for a take on Calvert-Lewin as a player. Apparently, thats worse than Tarkowskis panic passes to Pickford.If Beto can run around like a toddler on caffeine and still start, Im allowed some robot help.Just wanted a quick read, not a three-hour VAR debate on Mykolenkos crosses.So yeah, no genius here - just me, a bot, and a bit of common sense.'By the way, that was AI's response to your post at 188. Am too lazy to think up my own response to your post 😀. Danny O'Neill 210 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:10:18 Totally separate, but it looks like the club has gone with the supporters' vote and the old Pump House at BMD/Everton Stadium will be converted into a pub / restaurant and be call Prince Rupert's. Although apparently only available to members and those with access to the stadium.Interesting they are calling the plaza Village Street.This as well:It will join three other distinctive bars on Village Street which are The Queen's Head, Dixie's Sports Bar and Kendall's Social.It's starting to happen. It's going to be different, but as my sister said yesterday, it will be a while before many move away from their County Road rituals.Apparently the Pump House has links to providing power for the Docker's Umbrella. Sometimes we do get it right as a club. Respect the past, look to the future. Brian Williams 211 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:21:07 Danny, those are the "pubs" within the stadium not outside and doesn't involve the pump house.Village street is within the stadium. Christy Ring 212 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:26:20 Whether you're for or against keeping Dom, this argument that he turned down a new contract is utter nonsense because at that time we were playing total negative football under Dyche, DCL was used as a headless chicken, totally isolated upfront, running the channels and having to run on to his own flicks, with no support whatsoever, our fullbacks never crossed the halfway line, and an owner who was trying to sell the club, so would any footballer with a brain, seriously consider signing a contract, not knowing what direction the club was heading? Martin Farrington 213 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:33:00 Bob P, great minds and all thatLes @ 197. Spot on Danny O'Neill 214 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:33:51 Thanks Brian, I just know that my seat is in the West Stand.I'll probably still go to my usual haunts in town and for probably a few years, around County Road.Old habits don't leave you easily and the New Lady is only 2 miles away from her Grandmother, overseeing her. Dale Self 215 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:39:54 Since this looks to be the first AI offering of an article, and being the end of season, I am hoping we can discuss TW's intended adoption of this technology.We are in a first wave where Large Language Models, its proper name, do return output that is of the quality of perhaps what a grad student researcher may produce. However, this is already a dated outcome tied specifically to what is available in the search universe. Do we all really believe expert opinion and analysis will remain out in the open to be trawled by the AI behemoth?I don't want to get weird about it, I am genuinely interested in what this community thinks as it is the largest open group I can observe. Sean Kelly 216 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:44:05 Jeez jizz and theres me thinking AI was to do with cows and sheep Liam Mogan 217 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:50:09 I suspect it's a bit of a Pandora's box situation, Dale.Now that AI is out there and developing almost daily, any attempts to minimise its access to content will fail. It will find a way around it? Dale Self 218 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:55:46 Duplicate, I am in the woods. Dale Self 219 Posted 01/06/2025 at 14:55:50 Liam, I am going to sit for some others to weigh in but thank you very much for that response. I got some stuff but I don't want to push the discussion in any particular direction early on. Liam Mogan 220 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:00:56 I work in education Dale and we get approached daily by some new AI company that's going to revolutionise teaching, administration, logistics etc. The pace of change is quite startling and that's just in a very small sphere. Paul Kossoff 221 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:19:01 Paul 188. 100% agree Paul. No place for it on an opinions based site. If this is encouraged in the end we won't know is if it's Micheal or a robot. What do you mean, what's the difference?😀 Bet most of the journalists will use it in the future. Get Arnie in and terminate it. Paul Kossoff 222 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:27:33 Andrew 208. "Also, would love to see Angel Gomes playing alongside Gana." Seriously? Why don't we get Pineapple Philips in as well to complement him, then we'll have a midfield destined for bottom four. Angel Gomes,? Jeeeez!!! Liam Mogan 223 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:30:30 Angel Gomes is only 24, out of contract at Lille and a current England international.Not sure I'd put him in the same bracket as a past his best Kalvin Phillips, Paul? Paul Kossoff 224 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:39:32 Liam, if we are going to go back to bring in so called proven pros, then we will end up with a team of Walcott's. Players that think they don't have to try anymore. Gomez contracts ran out tells you a p!ayers not wanted. He offers nothing that will improve us, much the same as Phillips,or Grealish. We have to bring in younger signings that have to prove how good they are, not so called internationals. If top teams in the premier or Europe are looking at him then maybe I've missed something. But again, how many failures continue to go to top clubs,Players and managers. Tony Abrahams 225 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:40:43 Dale@215, I honestly believe that the robot will completely take over the human one day mate.It might be very hard to comprehend but my feelings are that its going to become completely inevitable one day Stu Darlington 226 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:44:35 Christy@212Whether you accept it or not DCL turned down the new contract he was offered because it didnt meet the increased wage he was looking for.At no point that I have seen did he refer to the negative football we were playing or the ownership troubles of the club as reasons for refusing to sign.If he had been offered the money he wanted he would have signed regardless of the turgid football we were playing.Hence we can only assume his motives were pecuniary and therefore your argument that he turned down a new contract “is utter nonsense” does not stand examination.For the record I am not a Robot,although I do own up at my age to one or two cyborg parts! Liam Mogan 227 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:46:21 Past it at 24, Paul? Bit harsh that mate?Lille wanted to re-sign him but he let his contract run down to get a better move.He only made the England squad last year and a host of Premier League teams are after him? From what I've seen he's a tidy young footballer with potential to get better.I wouldn't put him in the same bracket as Phillips, Grealish and Walcott etc. Who you rightly say we should be avoiding Ian Jones 228 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:50:04 Reading between the lines, my AI generated article about DCL has been received with mixed opinions for reasons I understand so I won't ask Michael to publish the follow ups, Part 2 about Beto and the comparison between DCL and Beto in Part 3, which showed how AI suggests they could work together. Paul Kossoff 229 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:54:31 Liam, I didn't say he was past it, I just don't think he's that good enough to take us to a team challenging for a European place. I hopefully will be proven wrong if he signs. I wonder if he could do a Gana job? Liam Mogan 230 Posted 01/06/2025 at 15:59:17 Doesn't look like a Gana type to me, Paul, so probably not. He may well not be good enough, and we probably won't even sign him anyway as he will be wanting 6 figure wages as a free signing.I wouldn't see it as a negative if he did sign though as he's still young, has been playing CL football and has room for improvement. Steve Brown 231 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:13:35 Paul, are you sure you are thinking of the right Gomes? This is Angel not our ex-player Andres, who also plays for Lille.This player is 24 years old, won 4 England caps last year and has represented his country at all levels. He has decided to run down his contract so he can move on a free transfer. He is a very good prospect, and has played for England as a holding midfielder. He has also played box-to-box and as an attacking midfielder. Paul Kossoff 232 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:40:24 Steve, am I thinking of the right Gomes? P!ease! By the way, I would rather have Andre back than some over hyped let's make some money on him by putting him in the England squad and raving about him before he kicked a ball in the game. They done the same with Mainoo, hyped to the nines,he's this,he's that. First name on the team sheet. Any good? Um, nope! Over hyped? Um, yup! Paul Kossoff 233 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:49:34 Ian 228. You are bound to get negatives, especially on here. Well done for trying a different slant on an article. I don't like AI because it will rule everything if we let it, and we won't know what's real or created by a computer. If you can take the criticising, then put them up. Liam Mogan 234 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:49:50 You don't rate Mainoo either, Paul? You're a hard man to please! Robert Tressell 235 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:56:50 You would be an excellent judge on Britain's Got Talent, Paul. I see you as the Simon Cowell of ToffeeWeb transfer rumours. No messing about - just press the buzzer and send them packing. Paul Kossoff 236 Posted 01/06/2025 at 16:57:12 Liam, he's over hyped to the max. I'm not a hard man to please: Everton Champions League, win a cup, and Liverpool relegated! Not too much to ask… 😀 Liam Mogan 237 Posted 01/06/2025 at 17:00:19 I'd be happy with that, Paul.But Mainoo? I think he was arguably England's best player in their run to the Euros final last year. Found this season tough, but anyone would in the car crash that is Man Utd under Reptile Jim. Kev Johnson 238 Posted 01/06/2025 at 17:01:27 Sean @ 216: Yeah, I get what you're saying, but sometimes you have to give AI a wee bit of a hand. Eek! Paul Kossoff 239 Posted 01/06/2025 at 17:01:34 Robert, I would fuck them all off no problems, and that Callow bastard along with any so called talent and the judges!👎👎👎 Andy Crooks 240 Posted 01/06/2025 at 18:33:32 Paul, I assume Amanda (the lovely Amanda) Holden is not include in your negativity. I understand she's a Blue. Well, in my mind at least. Colin Crooks 241 Posted 01/06/2025 at 18:45:02 AndyWhen we played Chelsea in the final - A car pulled up close by where we were collecting our tickets.Mike Parry of "talk shite" notoriety got out of one side to the jeers of many. Amanda Holden got out the other side wearing nothing but an Everton shirt. You could hear a pin drop Danny O'Neill 242 Posted 01/06/2025 at 19:04:27 Andy and Colin,She's a blue. Plenty of clips of her in an Everton top and this one.LinkI hope it doesn't give you a sleepless night.I remember being outside Silverspoons at that final, Colin. A gang of Chelsea supporters had hired an open top bus to take them to Wembley and drove past us. They were doing the Harry Enfield "Loads A Money" thing, waving bank notes at us, and got an Evertonian "welcome"!! Dale Self 243 Posted 01/06/2025 at 19:28:31 Liam 220 and Tony 225, I see you are both in the inevitability maybe the singularity camp. While I think AI will revolutionize much in the mechanical and operational areas, I tend to think a lot of what could get on the web has now suspended. New forms of underground will form depending on area of interest. And Ian, a human apology for brushing past the op and going to the AI part, although we humans have already kicked that carcass, the debate that is.While I agree the AI generated stuff will be out there while people borg up, it is a decent thing to question every step of the way. 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