Everton hopeful about extending Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stay

I’m a fan of his, but I think everyone has got themselves ready to move on so this will upset the detractors who thought they were rid of him.

I’d defend him ability-wise, but we’d need to believe we can keep him fit.

I'm not sure Football Insider's sources are one hundred percent reliable. has there been any confirmation from Goodison News?

Funny. Big Dunc's stats are broadly the same. 9 years I think, 272 appearances, 72 goals.

If he’s fit and can stay that way then, yes, I’m for it.

If there are any question marks over his fitness though then he should probably become someone else’s problem.

If he stays, he will be useful to have in the squad and it won't be the end of the world.

Key for him, whether he stays or goes, is to stay fit and is used correctly. He's never been prolific, but when used properly under Ancelotti, he was at his best for a period.

Beto is Beto. We've not seen enough of Chermiti to judge him yet, but he is only 20 years old, so injury free, he is an option. I doubt we will retain Broja, even on loan and for me, he's not an out and out striker.

Dare I say it, if Dominic stays and is injury free, it might take the priority off that position and allow us to focus on the right hand side and a creative midfielder.

No thanks.

Calvert Lewin averages 1 goal every 3 games for Premier league minutes played, and he can't stay fit as good as touch that hes got.

Beto is 1 in 2, and remains fit - and appears to have a physique that can handle the demands.

Assuming we sign a first choice number 9, it's who would be the better back up?

I'd think the better bet is to release Dom, and keep Beto as someone to put in, if say a Delap or equivalent needs taking out of the firing line.

The question is can we afford for a £20m striker to be a back up.

Beto looks capable of getting 10-15 goals a season, and on that basis I would keep him.

Strikers who can finish more than 1 in 4 chances would be a welcome change

far better footballer than Beto and when 100% fit can give defenders a torrid time. We can’t get a fee for him but we can get one for Beto. Yes Beto scores but he’s also prone to barren patches, think it’s pretty much a 50/50 between them, but like I say keep DCL, sell which is the key part Beto and boost spending power ?

Moyes was quite candid in his press conference. And realistic. We could finish 17th, but can finish 13th. Wants 3 wins from the last 3 games. All good. Until he spoils it by saying we probably go into the Fulham game as underdogs.

However, encouraging words about Harrison Armstrong, who is back training at Finch Farm. It doesn't sound like we will see him until pre-season, but the manager spoke highly of him and there is the interview on the club website with him having just signed a new 3 year contract. He seems very level headed and is a good player with potential.

I’ve always liked, and defended, this lad. Put him up front with Richarlison and a decent winger and we’d be back in business.

Stats can be distorted imo, especially when I remember DCL, breaking through and playing a lot more as a wide midfielder than he played up front.

I have always liked him as a player and feel that he has been a victim regarding the way the club, was run for years.

I personally don’t think Beto is the answer but, one thing he has shown is that we definitely needed freshening up at the top of the pitch because it feels like Dominic, has been the only genuine centre forward in our club for years, which is absolutely pathetic when you think about it

Let him go. Get a better one.
No sentimentality towards him at all.

Well one of the jarg sites reckons he's had his contract offer withdrawn.

18 goals in 97 games in four season, works out at £1.2m a goal from his wages.

Will be interesting who he starts tomorrow up top. That will point to who Moyes wants to keep.

Gaute #13

"Let him go. Get a better one"

Revolutionary And foolproof!

An excellent back up striker. Just not quite at the level you want of the star man.

Noooooooooo!!! Same old Everton.

When will we ever fucking learn!??

Colin (11),

Moyes categorically ruled out Richarlison – his statement was pretty strong: "We have zero interest in getting him back." So, that is pretty much that.

I support the idea of selling Beto for a few quid (but given how the deal was structured when we signed Beto, we might still owe money to the club that we bought him off).

I think Calvert-Lewin will come good for Everton, but not more than a 2-year deal.

He is only as good as the players around him. Like any other striker, he needs the service from crosses or through balls.

But he has done his best playing as the lone striker with Pickford's long ball hoof and very little or poor service. Change the players around him and he could do a job for us.

I am still in the 'keep him' camp, even if this means we don't get someone else in. I offer this perspective purely because we have so much to do in so many other areas of the pitch. Also because he is potentially a valuable asset who could be sold on next summer, ensuring we retain our investments.

If Beto went and we kept Calvert-Lewin, we could then invest in someone who could challenge him and push him onwards. He is a quality target man with excellent hold-up play, I know many will point to his goals return, injury record, dress sense or whatever but he could still do a job. With better players around him, he will do well, I think.. .if he can stay fit.

[Puts on tin hat, ducks...]

Calvert-Lewin's strength is his contribution to team shape, which might appeal to Moyes. He also works hard in training, though apparently a lot of it is gym strength training, rather than resilience training, which is a weakness in the Everton regime .

I agree with Tony, he has been a victim of bad coaching and management at Everton over the years. He was overworked from the start in the centre-forward role with little proper coaching support. Ancelotti did improve on that, showing the potential he had.

I always felt he deserved better from Everton. Duncan Ferguson's coaching contribution was poor. His main thing was carrying a kitbag which made him look busy. Walking about with a kitbag must be the equivalent of walking about with a clipboard.

Would you be interested in this player?

- Free transfer, hence an inflated wage (like Tarkowski);

- Decent track record when playing in a good Premier League side (13 in 36, 16 in 33) albeit faded as the quality of the side plummeted;

- 4 in 11 for England;

- Some injury problems but had been getting back to fitness before recent setback;

- Excellent in the air (in attack and defence) and thrives on crosses into the box.

' ... and thrives on crosses into the box'. And there's the rub, Robert.

Great post, by the way. I want him to stay.

We've had a few one-season wonders but, over the Moshiri debacle, he has been easily the best footballer we have had. In 70 years of watching football, I don't think I have seen a player so ill-used. Often a cop out for team mates and managers who have used the twat-it-up-to-him tactic to shirk their own responsibilities.

I shake my head in disbelief when I hear people compare him unfavourably to Beto. No harm to Beto (a lovely man) and has something to offer, but do you remember what he was like when Dyche asked him to play the "DCL" role ?

That said, I think it would be better for Calvert-Lewin as a person to move on. There is a section of the fan base (usually the stattos) who will never quite get that he has rarely been employed as an out-and out "striker" and will continue to judge him by using the stats by which they judge out-and-out strikers.

As previously demonstrated, a top marksmen when employed as such. Unfortunately, I think it will be at another club where that will be proven to be the case.

Chris Wood spent most of his career being ill-used in the same way and foolish stattos lambasted him throughout that period (and he didn't even do a bit of fashion modelling). But look what happened when he was finally used as a striker.

Colin, I wouldn't go as far to say the best player, but the best striker in the period you mention.

We've had many strikers who have not been used or supported properly at Everton down the years.

Even Duncan Ferguson, who I don't necessarily share the views of some on, wasn't supplied properly a lot of the time.

I'm trying to think, but I think the last time I remember us changing our style to suit and get the most out of a striker was the season we had Lineker. We adapted the tactics to play to his strengths and he scored 40 goals in one season, all competitions. And that was without European football that we should have been in. 40 goals in his 57 appearances for us. Remarkable really.

Others might be able to fill in the gaps if I've missed someone since then.

I don't think Moyes will start Calvert-Lewin today, but he will feature at some point.

Danny, we're playing away against a team with better players. We are underdogs.

Besides which, it's about taking pressure away from his players...

Danny,

I didn't give your opinion. I gave mine. Hope that`s okay.

If you're going to disagree, you need to give an alternative best player in the Moshiri Era.

But know this: If you are going to offer your favourite Tarkowski — the guy whose errors and imaginary injuries had us languishing near the foot of the table — as your best player, don't expect a reply.

I know the script. Doesn't matter how many games he cost us, he can do no wrong on TW.

I'd put pressure on the players, Rob. It's motivational, not deflecting expectation.

We've played a few teams recently with far better players and done okay.

Let's hope it's just his poker face and behind the scenes, he is giving them a Churchillian speech to get them up for it and inject some belief into them that they can win.

That's the reason I hope Spurs beat Manchester United in the Europa League Final, Danny.

“I always win a trophy in my second season”, the Spurs manager said. He has had a poor season, even though he lost a lot of players to injury.

With the press lining up to ridicule him (just my own opinion because I think this is how the press mostly work), his team have kept on fighting for him, and now he has a very good chance of backing up his words.

I suspect Dominic is only interested as no other clubs have moved in (as far as we know). If he stays fit, and if the training team work on his finishing (with his feet).

That's a lot of ifs, and at 28, I don't think he's going to turn into the striker we need and want.

There's two things there Tony.

The media always have their targets and he has been one. They love smelling blood. They are like sharks, and he winds them up as much as they wind him up. He never hides though.

Flip it around and they have their untouchables.Arguably our manager is one. Thats fine, I want to see him do well, but I don't appreciate the press continuously telling us we should be grateful with our lot.

9 years is a long time in the modern game - it's a long time to be in any job for (and my own personal best is also 9 years) so I wouldn't be at all surprised if he left. That said, he said a few things recently which made me think he wants to stay with us.

Personally I think he's an okay striker. He's no world beater –- but nor is he a panel beater.

Injuries have obviously curtailed his career of late and he'll never be prolific so is it time for both parties to move on? Probably yeah.

I'll always have a soft spot for him, but he's not someone whose ever really stirred me or got me out of my seat so will we miss him in that sense? Probably not.

Colin @24.

I tend to agree there.

Joe # 30, Calvert-Lewin is not the main forward we want. I agree. But two things:

1. It is a squad game. We need players of the quality of Calvert-Lewin, McNeil and Garner on the bench if we're to progress.

2. Who is the forward we want?

Obviously it would be great to get one of the really highly sought after players like Sesko, Gyökeres, Ekitike, Samu or (perhaps not) Moise Kean. Unfortunately we cannot afford or attract this type of player.

Who is next?

Players like Delap and Bierith may already be out of reach too – and to be honest it's not entirely clear how good they are. Delap didn't impress last week and this is the only good goalscoring season of his career so far (made easier by Ipswich's kamikaze attacking style that has seen them relegated).

Having poured through things over and over again, I see good potential in the likes of:

Santiago Castro: 8 in 33 appearances this season for Bologna.

Evan Ferguson: 1 goal in 21 appearances this season for Brighton and West Ham.

Both these guys have more ability than Delap and Bierith – but are a touch younger (both 20) and haven't scored as many either.

Next season, with us, I would be surprised if either scored more than about 10 or 12 goals (and it could be more like 7). However, in the space of a few seasons, I could see both of these players becoming good enough to be the main striker at a Champions League club.

Look at Cunha – definitely Champions League quality – but it has taken him to age 25 to hit 15 goals in a season for the first time after spells at Salzburg, Leipzig, Berlin, Atletico Madrid and a few seasons at Wolves after his £50M transfer (during all this time his goalscoring record has been patchy to abysmal despite obvious talent).

So I wouldn't be so quick to see the back of Calvert-Lewin despite his obvious limitations.

One of my gripes with Calvert-Lewin isn't just his goalscoring, it's his all-round play and inability to create or beat a man.

I'm bored to tears of having a target man Number 9 in our side.

Players like Delap offer you way more in general play. He can run with the ball, and he can finish. And he's a pain in the arse… three things Calvert-Lewin is not able to do at all.

And yes it's hard to tell because he plays for Ipswich, but I like his all-round game a lot.

How many goals do you think Delap would have scored for us this season, James?

No idea, Robert, but in the last 4 seasons, DCL has scored 5, 2, 7 and 3 goals in the Premier League. That's a grand total of 17 goals in 4 seasons.

Delap scored 12 for relegated Ipswich just this one season alone.

You see my point?

Just had to watch the Palace game and that was a great diving header to win the game. I rate him highly and also recall that under Silva he gave their CB's a torrid time.

He does what he wants, as it is his future. I would be happy if he stayed.
I am amazed no one has been on here slagging his fashion sense.

If we can't afford players better than an injury ravaged Calvert-Lewin, then what was the point in TFG buying Everton!?!

Let's get serious. This squad needs investment of £200M plus just to attempt to get into the Top 10.

If we re-sign Calvert-Lewin, it will show to me that TFG are not serious and see Everton as a downgraded Roma.

He's probably a £20M asset if he's in contract? That in itself makes it a no-brainer to re-sign him if the wage is right.

His goal -coring stats are hard to judge. He was played as a lone 'first defender' when fit for the last few years.

I would have thought that the only doubt for us would be his fitness. But we've got medical professionals who can make an educated and informed assessment on that one.

I was very confident he'd go when Dyche was at the helm. Why on earth would any striker stay? Assuming they could get similarly paid elsewhere.

But it's a slightly different Everton now. He might actually get some service.

Think you've hit the nail on the noggin, Ernie.

Irrespective of whether fans rate him or not, he's a £20M asset (or more if he finds pre-injury form) if he signs.

Part of Calvert Lewins reticence regarding wages, is probably derived from the fact that whilst younger at Everton he was playing with and being selected over players who were on far higher wages that he was.

Quite a few Centre Forwards were signed who did not cut the mustard.Some became Millionaires and saw out their contracts laying on Couches at Finch Farm.

We were all sickened by it and you can image it putting Calvert Lewins head away with it

We don't know if Calvert-Lewin will stay. We don't know how much will be invested by the owners in the summer.

We can judge them then.

We've got a match today. I expect Dominic to play at some point and I hope he scores. Whether he is here or not next season is irrelevant today.

Well said, Ernie, my sentiments exactly. Keeping Calvert-Lewin would not display a lack of ambition by TFG as Ryan implies, it would show they are businessmen.

You protect your assets, even if it means letting him go cheap 6 months later. We have invested heavily in Dom over the years and I hate to see players go on a free.

Needs to move on - if he’s not scoring in games he’ll get hounded worse than before especially if it’s true that there’s been a contract offer on the table for a while.
Another injury and that’ll be the fans on his case 🤷💙

James # 37,

I do see your point.

But I think you're under the impression that Everton are a lot better than Ipswich. I don't believe that's the case at all. Player for player the clubs are quite close. You could make a good case for Davis, Johnson, Hutchison, Philogene, Enciso and Delap all being better than their Everton counterparts.

I think part of the reason Delap has scored so many this season (compared with 8 and 4 in the Championship in the past 2 seasons) is the high quality attacking play of Ipswich. That has come at the expense, however, of defence - the reason why Ipswich are already relegated.

Personally, I think Dyche would have kept this Ipswich squad in the Premier League but they would have scored far fewer goals.

We've played very conservative football in order to stay up - although it's got better under Moyes. I don't think Delap would have scored as many as 12 goals in this system had he been at Everton. Maybe more like 7 or 8.

Personally I think it’s all about fitness; confident about keeping DCL fit and I’m in favour of resigning (assuming a not ridiculous wage can be agreed), but if not so confident then say thank you and good luck.
Incidentally, I was really impressed with Encisco last week. Forget his goal that he’ll probably never repeat, but his all round attacking play was exceptional and caused us more problems than most. I wonder how much Brighton would want?

We never learn, honestly if we give him a new contract I'll scream, his injury record is shocking, I also want us to move on from a target man type forward, its a new era in a new ground, let's see some new players, James I agree about Delap but I think he's got higher aspirations than us

Ernie @ 41.

I assume you looked up his value on some net site like Transfermarket.

Their values are given in Euros(€).

Therefore he is worth around £16.85m.

On an internet site.

Now factor in he is a Free agent at the moment, yet it appears not one club is interested, why would anyone then make a move for him if we 're-sign' him, and thus have to cough up £16.85m when they could take him for free ????

I disagree with many posters on here.

DCL play and all round performance is poor.

Offside, frequently including his and others goal(s) being chalked off.

Slow. Without pace. Inability to beat opponent with ball at his feet, to gain a goalscoring advantage.

Terrible 1 on 1.

First 5 minutes, will chase players down on a high block. Not at all after that.

Unable to shake off defenders in the box.

Rarely gets on the end of crosses. His ability to make telling runs into the box is non existent.

More recently on his last full performances, lost all or most of his aerial duels. No tackles. No assists.

Many on here are saying that if we get players around him or if we played somehow differently.

Hmmm.

Everton for almost my entire 60 years have, when they had a big number 9, never had anyone or put anyone as a partner alongside them. It gets worse. They frequently lump balls up to the solo 9 with no one running in to pick up or feed off won headers.

Duncan Fergusson recently stated that he won the ball in the air, knowing no one was ever going to be there.

At Newcastle, Shearers job was to get to his nod ons, which proved highly successful.

Its weird. Its nuts. But Everton never ever do it, despite booting the ball up in the air to the 9, who is almost always alone. In fact, watch Doucoure, its rare to see him within 10 yards.

So if we did keep DCL and did the usual hoof it forward, he's on his own.

Given his inability to get on the end of crosses, which we do put in, his inability to beat the keeper, 1 on 1, offsides, massive injury liability, and his past 4 seasons scoring record and assists, he is a no for me.

Its my opinion that his time has come to nought.

Move on.

Even the very best players have weaknesses, the difference is we watch every minute our players play and their faults are more obvious.

When viewing other teams' players, we are often watching highlights on the TV which gives a distorted assessment of them.

We are not going to attract the very best players, at least not for a few years that is, so I wouldn't be too hasty writing our players off.

The positives:
giving him a new contract will give us value in a resale.
He is a good footballer and is good in the air and holding up the ball.

The negatives:
He refused a new contract after we looked after him during his injury ravaged years.
He is very poor at converting chances.
He has become injury prone the last few years.

My question is if he was at another side would we want to buy him and the answer for me is a resounding no.

We have a couple of young lads coming through that are good goalscorers surely it would be better to develop them as squad players and we have Chermitti who looks promising and we have Beto who may be clumsy and technically weak but he sure knows where the net is unlike DCL.

I would concentrate our spending on quality wingers, a MF general and a right back and see where that takes us until January.

Robert #22, he hasn't thrived on anything in a very long time. The man simply can't score.

Setting aside the injury record, over the past four seasons when he WAS on the pitch, he has scored a goal every 375 minutes.

To put it in the loftiest terms, that sucks. That's horrendous. Rondon was better. Tosun was better. The Straq was better. Niasse was WAY better.

This is the real DCL, not the guy who scored 16 five years ago.

Now, all that said, he's an excellent overall footballer. Dominant in the air as a target man, fine holdup play, excellent touch on layoffs, works like hell, and the best defender in the club on set pieces -- better than Tarks or Jarrad or anybody.

If the the system Moyes wants is one where the striker is a headpiece and the attacking mids score the goals, then Dom is fine for the role.

But if what we need is a striker who scores, Beto rings the bell twice as often as Dom. Consistently over the same four-year period, and at an even higher ratio this season.

At some point we'll need a top goalscorer, but I doubt it will come this summer. For the moment I'm on board with a durable goal-getter over a fragile footballer.

I think DCL will stay and sign a new contract and lets see how he does under Moyes, maybe a transformed player, but as we know his fitness is always a problem.
We have Beto and also Chermiti who will thrive under a full pre season so were not short of strikers..
I think Moyes will be saying we can save money on buying a new striker and use the money elsewhere.
I think centre midfield will be the big shake up and expect more physicality to be added there. A right winger and a new right back who can cover the left back KW Peters ?
I don't expect more than 4/5 new players to be brought in, but they will be key,
Harrison, Doucoure and Young released. I think Lindstrom will get another 12 months if it can be arranged and Charly signed permanently.

Martin, after yesterday I see a chance that Alcaraz could just be the 10 that we seek and we can buy him at low cost, surely it is a no brainer? McNeil and Ndiaye either side could be perfect. Ironman will be in the MF mix and Mangala could be the defensive mid to fight for places with Gana and Garner. Problem is that it leaves a slot for only 1 up front and who can that be without big money outlay. Is Chermiti any possibility? Beto, DCL? I don't believe that Everton need to panic but must ensure that they buy well at RB, a squad player LB and perhaps another good CM given that we need a squad not a first team. We have some decent players coming through and professional people running the club at last. I see potential now.

Because of the dire situation our previous owner, board and dof have left us in squad wise, with no academy players anywhere near good enough, together with FFP"s latest reincarnation, its not beyond possibility that most if not all of those exiting will be offered short length, better term contracts. Meantime a long term hunt is made for permenant additions.

We are going to a state of the art stadium with a right state of a squad.

Ahhhhh. Everton

Geez, Martin F #56, already? You have no idea what "state of a squad" we will have going in, because the team in charge of our signings isn't even aboard yet and the real transfer window is over a month away.

Patience. And have a little hope.

It’s a definite no from me. Problem is he’s not half arsed and his record is shite. Made it clear he wanted out a long time ago but has since realised no other club wants to take the risk.so why should we. At best offer him a pay as you play with bonuses added for 10 plus goals next season. Otherwise shop him out. Everton need to move on and stop this sentimentality shite. Thanks DCL but no thanks

Mike G
Im making offerings and devotions to Elpis and Spes (they sound like shady lawyers).
But are Greek / Roman gods of hope.
Even the bible has a God of Hope, which seems to run against the "There is but one God" chant, however it has no name, only that it has internet connection with the Holy Spirit.
I emailed of course !!!!

I have questioned Calvert-Lewin's drive to improve. There have been times when he looked like he could grow into a specialist striker but our squad limited his growth. He never developed that sixth sense for the ball path that is the mark of an exceptional striker. The physicality of this league made him easy business for most in form defenders. His anticipation of the ball and his body positioning made it seem like he was a bit soft for the Premier League. It's not like he was consistently pointing into a lane and not receiving a pass, there was a real lack timing due to a slow squad and a counterattack strategy.

Without knowing how much we can turnover the squad, we can't dedicate the resources for his potential return to form. Using those funds for preserving his value for the next time he wants to test the market is exactly the distraction Everton needs to avoid.

It is not clear we can sign the type of player to make him a threat. Just because Alcaraz and Beto work well together doesn't mean the same for Calvert-Lewin. The option value of money and time spent on him is too high, we need to move on.

It's all down to what sort of contract he wants, he has hardly set the world on fire for the last number of years.

I am just favouring him resigning, but it's a difficult one to decide yes or no.

When he's good he's great, but he's injured too much.
Tbh - I'd keep him and give Moyes a season to sort him out.

Given his injury record, why would anyone buy him??

The only reason to keep Calvert-Lewin is because we cannot fund the purchase of almost a whole new team.

Beyond that, Calvert-Lewin really needs to move on.

DCL turned down a contract extension a year ago because he wanted more money. Let him live with that decision and warm some other club's bench.

DCL is an excellent footballer. Unfortunately injuries and a lack of goals has stopped him from reaching the next level. For the returns he gives to the team he just too expensive to keep on.
We need to look elsewhere for a main striker. Beto should be kept on as well as he is scoring and he has great spirit.

Calvert-Lewin has ploughed a lone furrow up top alone during the Moshiri years and has scored some crucial goals during plenty of abject seasons so I think he deserves credit and thanks for that.

Unfortunately his injury record over the past 4 or 5 seasons has been abject; however, that's not necessarily Dom's fault. He's just one of those players whose body looks like it's reached tipping point.

It will likely be that he'll be unable to keep fit for long enough and play enough matches to score enough goals to warrant what he probably wants which would be a fairly long-term contract on relatively high wages.

Thanks for the service, Dom, but time for the club to start acting like a business and make sound decisions — not make decisions based on sentimentality alone, as we've been burdened with for decades.

Brendan, his injuries "aren't necessarily Dom's fault"… well, who'd have thought!

Hope he stays and gets a chance to play in a team where he isn't required to run himself into the ground chasing long, doomed passes down the wing. He is better than anyone we can afford.

You cherry picked part of a comment I made previously to make no point at all.

Andy how do you know Dom is better than anyone we can afford?

The answer to that is you don't know that do you.

Answer this question as you're clearly Nostradamus what use is Dom to the team if he's rarely fit enough to play as has been the case for quite a few seasons now?

You cherry picked part of a comment I made previously to make no point at all.

Andy how do you know Dom is better than anyone we can afford?

The answer to that is you don't know that do you.

Answer the following question as you are in the know, what use is Dom to the team if he's constantly breaking down and picking up injury after injury?

Shameful if true...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr4zzn412gyo

Serious question. The football World knows Dom is out of contract end of season. Does anyone know if any other club is interested on free?

I still hoping somehow we can unearth a Jamie Vardy, like Leicester did from Fleetwood. 200 goals, ill take that!

Joe, he sacked / switched agent. Then had his new agent begin renegotiations with Everton.
He was allegedly of interest to Man Utd, Forest and Newcastle. Then Wolves. Then Sheff Utd I think ? Basically nothing since end of April.
But who knows what goes on behind the scenes and out of sight of the joke reporters made up crap.
All I can say is it seems no one wants him on a free.

Cheers Martin. I remember Newcastle rumour in January but that died.

The way he's played for us recently in cameo appearances suggests to me his head and mind are already gone.

A shame we won't get any money for him but like Duke, if he thinks he can get paid more (apparently +50%) elsewhere then fair play. We need better players, better value and better fitness.

Broja's loan has been a disaster through injuries but I'd like to see him on loan again so we can judge him fairly, if the staff believe he can stay fit.

Mangala another I'd like to reloan and judge his full recovery from injury.
The other loans, not good enough.

Come on now. DCL, at best, is yesterday. We now have new owners who are forward thinking and his scoring record coupled with his injury record belong in our inglorous past. We need to move on and the sooner the sentimentalists realise that the better.