I think most of us agree that Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a really good game against Ipswich if you forget about his failure to convert at least two one one-on-ones with Muric. If he had scored one, it would have given him an enormous confidence boost and Everton an even more comfortable win.
This was not the first time that Dom’s ability to take relatively scorable chances has cost us in recent games. As I said earlier, apart from that, his play as a lone striker has been very good, giving us a focus of attack and an out-ball. But when does Sean Dyche say enough is enough, and think about replacing him?
At the moment, Dyche doesn’t have to answer that question as we have no fit player to replace him. However, in maybe 4 weeks time, Armando Broja will be fit enough to give him an alternative and a real selection problem.
It’s been quite a long time since we have seen Broja in action so I went and found his selected highlights to remind myself what he was like when fit and I was quite surprised. For a bustling and aggressive striker, he has very fast feet and exceptional dribbling skills. He also has a very good turn of speed.
When putting all these skills together, he comes into his own when one on one with a defender in a foot race. I can’t say what his hold-up skills are like if he is required to play the lone striker role trying to get on the end of Jordan Pickford’s long kicks.
Would this cause Dyche to change tactics? From his highlight reel, it would be fair to say that Calvert-Lewin is much stronger in the air and at bringing down Pickford’s clearances.
However, if we say the main job of a striker is to score goals, then in limited highlights, he does convert… but to me, he does not look like an out-and-out striker. Lukaku he is not!
When fully fit, he did cause chaos to opposing defences due to speed, close control, and aggressive running. So maybe come December, after the next international break – but knowing our luck, he will play for Albania, score, get crocked, and miss another 2 months.
Meaning either Dom will have got the contract he wants or he will be on his way. It’s easy to see why we have Broja on loan – as an injured player as a cover for Dom if he leaves – and why we were the only club to be patient enough to wait for him to get fit. A good piece of business by Kevin Thelwell.
Until December, Dom has a few more games to find his goalscoring boots. If he does and stays, Sean Dyche has a nice problem. Or, if he leaves in January, we get maybe £20M and we have new Number 9. Either way, I think for once Everton have got things right. Unless of course Dom leaves and Broja is a dud!