Calvert-Lewin out of Everton's season-opener

Signing a couple of decent forwards should have been a priority when we sold Richarlison, and now look where we are with three days to go to the start of the season.

We ar a laughing stock.

Burning out a young player by relying on and playing him too much early in his career?

Where is the back up? Where has it been?

It's not really a surprise to me that he is suffering burn out and injury in what should have been his developmental years.

A warning for those who want the kids playing every week.

Young and hungry thought right?

We needed two forwards regardless plus creativity from midfield which had been devoid last season.
Rondon isn't the answer (he's suspended) but lets get real he isn't going to make any difference.

I truely despair.

And there I was being all positive.

I still am!!

We all knew this would be our undoing if he got a long layoff.

Dele false 9 anyone? Looks like our best option without Calvert-Lewin.

Admittedly there are very few who can replace what Dominic offers, but then again do we really need an old-fashioned centre-forward in this modern game, however, we do need a goalscorer and now any strikers that Everton chase will make greater financial demands and their clubs will put a premium price on them moving to Everton.

I feel very sorry for DCL because he will likely miss out on a place in the World cup squad, but I feel more sorry for Evertonians as the mis-fortune seems to go hand in hand with supporting this club of ours. Rondon can play up top but he's not likely to be the answer even in the short-term. At least the club still has time to find a replacement for Dom, but have we got the cash?

As for forwards, Richie is the only one of class. and he'd fecked off. Looks like we are set for relegation !

27 year campaign….not pacified with another winger we didnt really need are we?

Agree we have never built a squad big enough to rotate around to prevent burnout.

1. Could be a blessing in disguise, as the board only moved when things get desperate. Things might get more of a sense of urgency now.

2. If we land Batshuayi no way will he be available on Saturday with because of the time frame or who the opponents are.

3. I prefer the signings we have made so far to our disastrous cash splashing, Bewster's Millions days. What a total spunk of money that was. Moise Kean?

I'm old enought to remember Roy Vernon and Alex Young being our main goalscorers in the 1962/63 season I don't think we had anyone in that forward line much taller that 5' 8" Young and Vernon scored 40 odd goals or mre between them and our team scored 88 goals.

Rather than go and buy someone in a panic and regret it. I'd like to see us use the forwards we've got, play a different game and see how we get on. Instead of legging up the wing and trying to plonk it on someone's head. Use the ball on the deck and play the passing game. we've got Gray,McNeill and Gordon who are good footballers. could we not use their skills to score, rather than just provide!

I swear I could sign for a certain club nearby and I'd end up with 20 plus goals in my debut season, but Everton could sign, Messi, Ronaldo and Benzema in their prime and they'd probably get 15 goals between them in an Everton shirt, if they stayed free from injury.

I actually do think Dom got heavy physical punishment as a late teen, early 20. I actually agree with you that putting that age in as a battering ram forward is daft. However, the likes of Rooney, Milner, et al didnt do too bad from 16 year old starters did they.

Gotta lose that growing bug bear youve got fella.

Without Rondon, then we must play Dele as a False 9 with Gordon and McNeil either side. Gray to come on in the second half.

It's the best we've got at the moment.

Without Rondon, then we must play Dele as a False 9 with Gordon and McNeil either side. Gray to come on in the second half.

It's the best we've got at the moment.

I'm not apposed to having some players with experience to compliment the young team Frank's building.

Id have puki if we get desperate, mobile, can finish, links play, drops in deeper works hard and different to dcl.

I hope gorgon doesn't end up over played.
At the 60min mark he's blowing most matches, I Hope we don't get over reliant on him and he ends up burned out.

Dont know why we didnt give Ellis Simms more time personally speaking.

Dont know why we didnt give Ellis Simms more time personally speaking.

This 18 points in August is looking crucial.

I totally agree we have had too few recognised goalscorers for it seems ages and Lukau definitely was a good one. I just don't want to see us rush into another iffy signing through panic. I'd just like to see how we get on with a better defence and stronger midfield, feed the forward players we've already got for now.

On an unrelated note, just spotted Chelsea have paid £16m for Villa's 18 year old midfield general Chukwuemaka. Surely that puts the likes of Loftus-Cheek, Gilmour, Ampadu and Barkley further down the pecking order (or at least with worse long term prospects). Maybe more attainable now.

I know you meant Gordon, but in case you didn't I wouldn't worry too much about overplaying Gorgon as two of the sisters are immortal and the other is one very bad lass.

Fashion Shoot?

Gary @22. Most successful teams I've ever known are usually a blend of young potential, established players and experienced ones.

I'll agree with you on Milner. Not so much on Rooney. Washed up too soon. Maybe that was his personal life and how he looked after himself and I think that's the important thing when you look at players. Also how they are coached and managed. Especially in the modern game. Mina at 27 is the ripe age for a centre back and a very talented footballer. If we can keep him fit.

Lee. Believe. We're going to Wembley and Europe next year.I'm a fool, but that's where I start. My son and brother will shake their heads at me. Mrs Danny will disown me. But that's may starting point and expectation.

Forever

We could do with getting Broja in, even on loan, would be a possible solution to this. If not Kevin Thelwell will have to move fast. We needed more goals in the squad before this injury.

I doubt he is a long-term answer to the strikers position but he could be used as a sub until we get a new striker in.

They have known their budget for months and should have addressed the situation weeks ago. I personally think Lampard preferred Broja but surely when it was rumoured we and West Ham were interested, he chose West Ham. They pulled out because of his wages.

We should have then decided we take him or we don't. But no, we are still dithering about which striker we should go after, and now we will likely start Alli in a false 9 – I am sure that will give Tuchel sleepless nights till Saturday.

The buck lays fairly at Lampard's and Thelwell's door, nobody else.

We will have to make do and mend but it gravely handicaps us without having kicked a ball, since we already have a fragile squad.

Deeply concerning.

Tony 3 - if true that is really awful, that's basically his season done. May as well get a long term replacement in now as who knows what he'll be like when he comes back.

Typical Everton - sell our best striker to balance the books, don't bring in a replacement of any sort (over a month on) and the remaining senior striker gets injured just before the season start. Believe Rondon is suspended (probably a blessing) so we may be going into the first game of the season with literally no senior striker available. Looks like we're back to the days of Marcus Bent...

Just could not make it up at Everton - never ever learn. Amateur stuff.

We now hope Batshit presumably comes and is available for the 2nd game. Chelsea now know we're desperate so any loan fee has just gone up. Can't see us signing someone else in the next 72 hours unless we get lucky with a loan or this will force the club to up their bid for Cornet to get him in asap.

We have a whole month to sign a long term replacement if the ACL rumour is true. In the short term get a loan and/or Cornet. If we get both we may be ok in the interim.

Jeez.

But we don't have to have a big man, the opposition know you only have to control dcl and we are fucked.
Salah was never an out n out stricker,Messi played off the left or right Ronaldo was a winger their teams set up to get them into the scoring positions.

Gray can do it, McNeil hopefully too gordon should be getting more it could be their time to shine.
I'd play dele against Chelsea. McNeil & gray either side and let gordon come on when they are tiring.

I'd ease gordon into this season as if he doesn't hit the heights of last year straight away it may knock his confidence. Having McNeil & gray allows that.
523 / 352 hopefully gana & Allan kicking lumps out of them.

But we've definitely got scorers in the team and players who can play another style.

I really hope we don't go rushing out and buying someone who the club will be lumbered with for years... we've still got some of them.

Yep, both Gana and Allan do the job on the opposition; but they're also clever players too and can improve our chances of threading through the opposition defences.

Crikey, Everton are already in a mess upfront even before a ball is kicked before the new season starts.

Zero luck. How come we get these losses to key players, but no-one else does?

Then again… Niasse is a free agent.

How about the club has been that badly mismanaged for a very long time, and have got very little room to manoeuvre because of this absolutely ridiculous mismanagement?

The strategic review has found the solution, and they are going back to the tried and tested pragmatic system that helped turn an English institution into "plucky little Everton" because our club is in survival mode once-a-fuckin-gain.

Perhaps, he's gone to sign for some other club and it's all a smoke-screen? Regardless of the truth of the matter, Everton definitely need another striker.

Maybe this will get them off their fat arses and buy/loan another forward but this is Everton so I won’t be holding my breath.

Maybe it is part of a swap deal with Chelsea for Broja and another player.

We don't know the extent of the injury yet! We needed striker reinforcements anyway so we are no different really than yesterday.

Rushed transfer business is more often than not, bad business. I'm with you, Jim, who wants another Walcott or Tosun sucking wages for years?

I don't fancy Batshuayi, loan after loan and no-one wants to take him. Broja would be the one. Long-term signing, developing player, loads of scope to make him better. I hope they are doing their best to get him. Now West Ham are out of the race the price may come down without a bidding war.

,

Need reinforcement up front. But play a front 3 of Gray, McNeil and Dele (Gordon can be swapped in too) in a dynamic attack and see what happens for the short term.

Calvert-Lewin is a one-dimensional forward. For him to excel, the team needs to be set up to his strength.

Liverpool and Man City don't play the whole time with out-and-out strikers. Richarlison wasn't a conventional striker either.

If Gana comes in to act as a DCM, an improved back time with Tarkowski, Mykolenko in, and hope for a bit of a break on the injury front.

I am an eternal optimist!!

Broja on loan or Dennis permanent seem the obvious options out of existing links as both can play central or wide. Really need some goals now!

But he needs to be at his physical best for those attributes to come through, if constantly working his way to fitness before inevitably breaking down, his potential will be unfulfilled. All the while leaving us handicapped.

We must sign as back-up, absolutely must.

For Saturday, Dele in a false 9 with Gordon and Gray flanking him.

It doesn't seem to matter what Everton do in the transfer market, it all goes wrong. Spurs wouldn't have a spare they could loan us, would they?

Crackerjack pencil if anyone can name the last striker we bought after Lukaku???

I've never known nothing like it since I started following the blues.

I'm puzzled by the Broadhead situation. I feel Simms (heading and shooting) and Dobbin (pace) have potential to be better than him. But at age 24, he is currently better overall than both albeit as a try hard, injury-prone, not enough end product. But he hasn't played pre-season, neither has he been linked with a move. So is it just that no-one rates him?

I imagine he'd be an awkward fit as a direct replacement for Calvert-Lewin and in fact may be worse in that role than a makeshift Gordon, Gray or McNeil... but somehow I find myself rooting for the lad.

Obviously not of the same level but he reminds me of a mate of mine at the University of Manchester football team. A diminutive scouser with a good brain and heart of gold but just lacking quality. We ended up ditching him for a lad from Bolton in the poor man's Shearer mould. And yet, we all felt bad about it, lol. It defies logic but somehow I'd love Nathan to make the breakthrough.

Step forward Yerry. Excuse the pun.

I have a feeling Lampard is happy for Broadhead to 'seek a new challenge'. The lad never really threatened the 1st team bench nor the Welsh senior set up. For me, at 24 he's lower league quality.

My choice would be Jordan Larsson.

Is he available at the weekend?

Moshiri has said judge him at the end of the window.

Everton = farce!!!

We're paying dearly for Mr Moshiri's mistakes and the other feller's presence. Over his nearly 30 years, slapping pictures on Goodison's walls, like a giant scrapbook. Don't mind the pictures, it's the actual state of the club he's got us in, that does my head in.

It might be that if we can't bring anyone in during this window, maybe Dobbin or Simms (or both) are recalled until the winter window (is there one this season with the world cup on?)

If we've got the money and the Manager and DoF can pick their top choice; then great. Otherwise, a loan is the option that is maybe a better, rather than wasting any money we have,buying another rush job centre forward..

If we haven't got the money then we'll have to make do and mend, this season

Ps. Brian I seem to remember mad Mick scoring a goal at either end at Anfield. One for us and one for them! I think we drew 2 all.

Lyons never scored v them although robbed of a clean headed winner in a Goodison derby, I think in '73 in the Alan Waddle derby (only goal he scored for them). The ref that day, yea, you guessed it: Clive Thomas.

Lukaku was the successful one, scored plenty of goals and was sold for nearly three times what he was bought.

I think that profit has been washed away, just on the signings and wages of both Niasse and the Turkish Paul McCartney, and this just leaves Salomon Rondon, a free transfer, to complete the quartet.

I know we signed Rooney and Richarlison but one was bought to play number 10, and the other was a better wide man who likes playing down the middle, but four centre-forwards in 10 years?

Apologies to anyone I've missed out but, along with our strategic review, how inept can a supposedly top-level football club, actually be?

Proven, quality striker who keeps himself fit and works hard.

Don't understand the continued links to Cornet as he is not an out-and-out striker. Dele as a false 9 for Saturday, new boy off the bench. What a farcical club.

Lukaku aside, we've been missing that type of regular goalscorer / true striker for literally decades.

I know that a lot can be said for spreading the goals out amongst the team and the 86-87 team springs to mind in that sense. But most successful teams have that 20+ goal-a-season striker. And back up. We currently have neither.

I am going to predict we start the season without a striker if Calvert-Lewin is out. If we bring someone in, it will be later in the window.

Unless Everton surprise me. Sometimes they do. In fact they always do, just not always in a positive way!!!

They are not prolific but Tarkowski needs to announce himself to Sterling, like he did to Richarlison, soon as.

According to various stattos, eg, PremierInjuries.com, we had the worst injury record in the Premier League last season. Not nice to see us continuing where we left off by starting with injuries to key players before the season even kicks off.

It's even more difficult to explain when we have no European commitments increasing the number of matches played and the risk of injury.

Add this to a small squad that included a lot a deadwood and it's not difficult to see why we struggled last season, especially with the insult added to injury of sendings-off.

I just hope the rumours are wrong for once and Calvert-Lewin just has a knock, but even then small injuries seem to last months at Finch Farm.

I think I'll wait till it's confirmed before I piss my pants on the Internet.

How many times last season did we hear these rumours break first on Twitter and then it gets confirmed by the club about a week later.

Wouldn't be quite so dismissive of El Bobble. “My mate's text” however, you are right to take that one with a pinch of salt!

Can we panic now?!?

Absolutely spot on. We have signed 4 out-and-out goal scorers in 10 years; apart from Lukaku, none of them were good enough to wear the famous Number 9. When you think of the history of great centre-forwards at this club… and now struggle to buy a decent one.

All I read on here is posters saying we need a defensive centre-midfield player or an attacking-midfield player, but completely ignore the main problem with this squad, which is a goal scorer.

We have a squad full of players who don't score goals – how the hell are we supposed to win enough games to survive without having people to put the ball in the net???

Just to remind everyone, other than Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, nobody at this club scored more than 5 league goals last season. So, having just sold last season's top scorer a month ago, most sane people would have made replacing Richarlison's goals a priority.

But Dumb and Dumber – Lampard and Thelwell – brought in a centre-back, a full-back, and a midfield player, but no striker. Yes, it was nice to see Dwight score 2 goals but his record shows so far he isn't a 7- to 10-goal-a-season man; hopefully his goal tally will improve.

I hope next time Lampard does an interview, they ask why – over a month after Richarlison leaving – has he not replaced him? And seeing we came very very close to relegation last season, how – without adding goals to this squad – does he think we will survive relegation this season?

It looks to me as if he has been rushed back on numerous occasions over the past 10 months, given the frequency with which he subsequently breaks down.

I honestly think that's one of the reasons why that club across the Park pick up fans all over the UK, Europe, World. They have a history of many high goalscorers for the last few decades (look at them now).

Maxwel Cornet is not a striker but he will create and score, he saw off Manchester City in the Champions League. He would have made a big difference to Everton (more than Calvert-Lewin), and £45 million Sigurdsson ever did do. Unfortunately it looks like for us he's off to West Ham

It was inevitable that Richarlison was leaving. We got £60m.

If Newcastle were prepared to pay £50 I’d have sold DCL too.

I think we should’ve built a new attack with £50m. I’m talking 3 players.

With someone like Belotti available on a free I’d have pursued that.

I’d have pursued Damsgaard too. I’d have pursued Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson. Options like Broja also available. Cornet. Dennis.

Instead all the eggs went in the DCL basket and we now have Dobbin available for the opening day and after that Dobbin and Rondon.

Where on earth are the goals going to come from?

The players in our squad minus DCL and Andros who are supposed long term absentees - between them scored 23 goals in 38 games last season.

Reports so far range from a blown ACL to a broken nail so let's wait & see eh. At least we won't have to suffer Rondonaldo for the first 3 games. And maybe we'll sign Batshuayi anyway (after the Chelsea game).

Tony 80, this post sends a shiver down my spine, not an imaginary one either. To avoid another bottom six scramble we need more goals. With the World Cup the season is weighted towards the start, we have to have some more fire power now. Quality back up to DCL is looking now as season defining.

Also, if we are not getting ten goals from each our other forward players in a season questions need to be asked. Allowances could be fairly made with an abundance of assists, but we need way more goals other than the 15-20 reasonably expected from DCL. Same goes for the attacking midfield position.

Joe, it would be disturbing if Cornet went to West Ham, I think he would have helped with our goal tally and given us a few options up front too. Are we keeping our powder dry to sign a no1 attacking target? Or are we so financially screwed we can’t pick up a 17.5m obvious bargain when one comes along. (On acceptable wages 67k, and who wants the move too).

Rumours are Cornet is 'close' to signing for West Ham.

News reports Newcastle want to sign Cornet.

Nottingham Forest table bid for Cornet.

I got 99 problems but a Cornet ain't one.

I mean, seriously.

No adequate replacement for Richie and now this..

Rondon is useless and there is nobody else.

A fine mess you have gotten us into already Moshiri.

Clubs at the bottom of the food chain tend to get their business done very late in the window once the big boys have done their bits and pieces.

We are at the very bottom of the food chain thanks to the sins of the past.

All is not lost, if there is a long term issue with DCL better to know about it now than during the last week of the window.

As your previous post said, hardly any striker in 10 years won't fix itself. I think goals were one of our problems last season and in previous seasons but you can't just buy a striker and hope you score more than your shit defence and midfield let in. Shore up your defence and you don't need to score as many to win matches or points.

We can all see Richarlison's goals and threat need replacing so I'm sure Kev and Frank see it too. Even if he stayed, I'd of liked another striker.

My veiw is that they are trying to tighten up at the back while hopefully adding some goals from midfield. Calvert-Lewin got 5 in 17 while half-fit, he is a good player no doubt. So you can't blame them for saying he's going to be the main man.

It's just bad luck he's got injured, should've been wrapped in bubble wrap till we got cover.

Is Cornet the answer though? I'm not convinced... Is Rashford gonna play? There's a loan there, I am sure.

With Calvert-Lewin, I'm going stick to my previous stance.

Played too much at too young an age because we haven't had alternative options so suffering burn out.

Another observation. As impressive as his physique looks, has he "muscled" up too much in the gym? Muscle tires quicker than fat. And a finely tuned body is more susceptible to injury.

Maye someone can email this to Everton so they can pick one themselves before all the armchair experts choose their favourite.

Someone else has just texted me to say he's out for 2-3 months, and when I said I heard he'd done his ACL, the reply was no DCL.

I'd be happy with Cornet or Dennis coming in. Dennis is slightly better in the air and may be a better centre-forward to replace Calvert-Lewin. Or what about Moussa at Lyon? Apparently available for around £10M. I'd take a loan for Broja too at this point; I'd imagine someone arriving from Chelsea on loan (Broja or Gilmour or Loftus-Cheek?).

We need some goals.

Are you suggesting we shouldn't be doing deals with other companies and does this extend to buying players?

Yakubu had his 21st birthday party while he was at Everton… he was 40 at the time!!

He is set to be sidelined for at least 10 weeks, ruling him out until November.

This might be a 'guess' on behalf of Football Insider, trying to get the jump on other sites; however, is that guy who converted his penalty against Kyiv available?

The first match I took my youngest brother to was Swindon at home. I think we won 6-2 and Barlow scored. As I jumped up and turned to him to celebrate, the poor lad had fallen asleep! He was probably only about 5.

His middle name is Howard on my insistence. My other brother is called Alan, but that was my Dad's shout. I'm named after my Grandmother's favourite Irish song, so I got the short straw!!

Does that mean your full name is Danny "Rosalie" O'Neill?

I take it your Gran was a Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy Fan... Jesting, of course – you meant Danny Boy.

Thanks Barry. I needed a laugh. Just need Frank on hand to hold his jersey down for him as he takes to the field vs Chelsea.

Seriously though. The Roma deal for Belotti is not done yet. He’s on a free transfer. Offer him more wages than Roma and see how we get on.

All's whilst the club ships out three of our four strikers (Rondon doesn't count) leaving us with none after one injury.

We are the brow-beaten husband of Bill Kenwright's Nora Batty. Only he doesn't use abuse, he just pulls on that “We'll be okay” nature we've all allowed ourselves to slip into over the last 3 decades.

When the fuck will enough really be enough, and we realise we are ran by an imbecile?

We don't just need back-up, we need a quality forward signing, probably two. There was not enough goals in the squad even before this injury. Calvert-Lewin may well come back fighting fit in December, there's also a risk he won't be the necessary 100% all season.

My foot is proper crocked right now and it's properly depressing me that I can't get out onto the fells to do some walking and so I'm hunting around for a decent foot / podiatry clinic to help me. X ray says "Nothing to see here" but the pain would say otherwise.

I cannot imagine how it must feels to be supremely fit and be playing for Everton and then this suddenly happens. I guess he'll get great treatment but nonetheless, the old brain will struggle to cope with the re-hab, I'm sure.

I hope he gets well soon and I hope Mr Thelwell that you were already on it because we needed a top striker anyway... here's hoping.

Start planning for life without him as he's developed into an upfront Bbamin. Can't rely on him going 10 games fit. If Frank and his team get through this, he really will be the real deal. Making or breaking of him, to be honest.

He's 25 and played just over 160 games in 7 years for us, hardly running him ragged. I just think he's one of those unlucky injury-prone players from the Yerry Mina school of glass legs.

There won't be many goals in this squad so it's a relegation warning from Day One unless Thelwell gets some goalscorers in. The writing is on the wall.

Only last season did he suffer an injury that kept him out for so many matches where he appeared in just 17 games from a possible 38. Not a player I would regard as being injury-prone, just one very bad injury and it would seem another one this week.

As for being used too much in his early career, the fact he had to run the channels up front on his own, so often, probably didn't help his development.

Just the Everton School of Fuckwits – you would never hear a professional footballer at a top club risking that.

Ambitious but risky – a bit like when we failed to land Zouma a few years ago.

Tuchel seems to want Broja to stay – and indeed currently he's their only orthodox striker with Lukaku back with Inter and Werner (who is not very good) likely to return to Germany.

There are still lots of strikers options at sub £15M but we may only have money for loan or free.

That may leave us with options like Vydra, Mousset, Locadia or Henrik Larsson's son Jordan.

Belotti, ex of Torino is also free but he may understandably be hoping for a Champs League club to come in for him – so may only be available to us if he's been left on the shelf at the end of the window.

I remember being amazed that this slim, young lad could turn out virtually every week, battling against big centre-halves. I did wonder how long that could go on for, and thought it would be better if he could have some rest periods.

In 2017-18, starting the season as a 20-year-old, he made 32 league appearances.
2018-19, 35 PL apps.
2019-20, 36 PL apps.
2020-21, 33 PL apps.

Not many PL games missed, just 10 in the last three of those seasons. And I wonder how many times he played when not fully fit?

As for the much-hyped strategic review, was there nothing in it about having enough strikers on the books?

Of the 20 clubs in the Premier League this season, I suspect we are the least well-prepared. Of course, time will tell.

I don't much like the phrase, but in terms of our luck, the timing and irony of this is so Everton that.

I can't see Calvert-Lewin ever being the same player he was prior to last season's injury. The athletism will most certainly be gone now after this, much like Michael Owen, whose dynamic changed so much after the age of 25.

Time to plan without Calvert-Lewin and plan now and the future without him. If he makes a guest appearance now and again, great.

Tweak the formation for Dele or Gray upfront unless it's time for Dobbin to make a name for himself. I don't envy the manager.,

It's all about complications unfortunately.

Whenever it's anything like the knee, that's going to reduce some powers from the game, it's a tentative way back and if it is true that it's just a month then it will probably be October before he's back starting on the pitch I'd imagine.

I just hope they aren't downplaying it to avoid an uproar.

I still can't fathom how or why we have neglected the striking options once again.

Relying on 1) luck 2) Frank and his coaching team to produce some tactical magic and togetherness and 3) Thelwell to have an outstanding end to the transfer window!!

Just a thought on Benitez who I'm glad has gone but actually did okay with no money, getting rid of Digne for Patterson or Mykolenko cost neutral, I have a feeling, will be a great decision.

Unfortunately, one of the things that McNeil was signed for was his crossing ability. With no Calvert-Lewin for the forseeable future, that changes things a bit. But Dele is more than capable of goal-hanging and pinching a few goals.

Definitely time to play the false 9 or whatever trendy shit it's called. None of the Sky darlings have played with a big strapping target man for years, so maybe it's time for us to join the modern world.

My Dad attended the Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School in Garston. I could have be a Colin to make the set!! It wasn't to be and I hold no grudge!

A bit harsh on Werner there, Robert. I don't think it's worked for him at Chelsea or in the Premier League so far, but a very good player. I watched him live a few times and in the right team, like any player, he's got goals in him.

Now any team we approach will boost the price if we want to buy as we seem to only have a leaky pee pot to offer them. Even a loan fee will be upped now. I hope none of these guys play poker because they would be skint – maybe they do!

The freebies on offer are thin on the ground for quality but you would expect that at this stage of the window. However, there are a few who 'might' do a job. According to TransferMarkt, the best centre-forwards currently looking for a club (by value) are - Belotti, Jordan Larsson, Lys Mousett, Cavani, Diego Costa and Keita Balde.

Belotti - Italian International, age 28. Was Captain of Torino. missed 15 games in total, through a muscle injury last season. After his second spell out of action - he missed 9 games - he played 13 games, missing one with a recurrence of the same injury and scored 6 goals.

Jordan Larsson - Swedish International - age 25. Spent last season at Spartak Moscow before leaving on loan to AIK in Sweden (April 2022). In all he played 34 games, with 7 goals and 2 assists. given he left Moscow in a hurry due to the War in Ukraine, it may be harsh to judge him on those stats. The previous season he played 30 games for Spartak Moscow, with 15 goals and 5 assists. He asked to be released from his contract and left Spartak in July 2022.

Edinson Cavani - Argentinian International, age 35. Played 25 games for Man Utd last season. Scored 2 goals with 1 assist. Missed 19 Premier League games with various injuries.

Lys Mousett - age 26, last season played 7 games in the championship with Sheff Untd before going pon loan to Salernatana in italy. He played 6 games in Italy. For Sheff Utd he scored 3 goals and none in Italy. He missed 10 games in Italy due to injury. The previous season he played 13 times for Sheff Utd, No goals no assists.

Diego Costa - Spanish International, age 33. Very little football since being released by Athletico Madrid August last year. Played in Brasil Aug 21 until Dec 21. 15 games, 5 goals 1 assist. No injuries whilst in Brasil.Was released in Jan 22.

Keita Balde - Senagal International. Age 27. Played 26 games for Cagliari in Italy, last season. Scored 3 goals with 2 assists. No major injury concerns. Missed 2 games with tonsilitis.

So slim pickins indeed. You takes your pick and makes a choice. Over to you, Mr Thelwell.

Burnley (our new favourite watering hole), released Matej Vydra. He played CF for them.

'll get me coat.

Why is Thelwell taking his time to replace the only two strikers we've had in years?

It all depends on what your game is based on, if it's speed, then agreed, Michael Owen is a great example, lost a bit of speed. As for Calvert-Lewin, hopefully, he'll recover from this setback.

Jack, you'll need more than your coat. :)

Calvert-Lewin has been a regular for five seasons. His best return was the Covid hit 20-21 season when he scored 16 goals. His best return after that was the season before when he managed 13.

He's hardly a prolific scorer. He gets 1 goal in 3.5 games. We need a better striker whether he's fit or not. A top club needs a who scres 1 in every 2 to 2.5 games.

At West Brom, he became second choice after Rondon. His attempt to force a move to Spurs spectacularly misfired and made him a bit of a laughing stock.

He's still making a living from the game and fair play for that but maybe proof of needing good advice to have a truly successful career.

We obviously can't afford a decent striker at the moment, and rushing in and bringing in one just for the sake of it, is what has got us in this mess to start with. With the free agents mentioned, they're either injury-prone, not interested in joining us, or just crap.

Let's get real. Do you honestly think Cavani would even consider coming to us at the moment? Plus we couldn't afford his wages.

If it's a month out, great – Dominic returns and we carry on... But what if it turns out to be as serious as some suggested earlier today, what then?

The club says "Well, you know, we thought Dominic would recover and guess what – the window is shut now, we'll revisit it in January!"

I know I'm an old cynic but I cried foul last year at Goodison when I thought that Everton were short-changing their loyal supporters and, although the Calvert-Lewin incident is unfortunate, it is a reminder that – strategic review or not, not much has changed.

I await my slice of humble pie should the club pull a rabbit out of the hat, but it's more likely they'll pull a hat out of the rabbit.

I just don't get it.

The game is about putting the ball in the net, and we've got an injury-plagued Calvert-Lewin and a geriatric Rondon.

Going to seriously cause an issue with our goals in the side.

Calvert-Lewin looks like he might be going down the Dean Ashton, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves etc…. route. Once these continuous injuries begin it usually means the end is nigh.

Thank Christ we've got Rondon in the wings.

In the meanwhile, we try and turn a young right winger into a replacement striker via right-back and now he's fucking goosed.

So, in over 15 years, we've spent hundreds of millions and ended up with a worse striker than we ever even had under Moyes.

Hahaha, fuckin hell... If ever a club has been so mismanaged, I'd like to see it. Jeezus wept.

Roll on Saturday.

Better to blow £13M on International stars like Niasse or the relegation fodder being linked today!

But not only did we have to address replacing Richarlison's goals, we didn't have another front player get anywhere near double figures, so getting in one striker was not going to be enough given the level of striker we could afford.

And let's not kid ourselves, Lampard would have been well aware before he joined that his predecessor was only allowed to spend £1.75 million, so he knew that he wouldn't have a lot to spend, and he will have been made aware of his budget for this window. So the fact that he has used what little money we have to strengthen other areas is down to him and Thelwell.

Being a prolific midfield goal machine, I thought the first thing he would look to address was our poor goal return from this group. When he first joined, he wanted us to play out from the back, which all the top teams do, but quickly realised if he carried on with this game plan, with players clearly unsuited to this style, it would only end one way. And even moving towards a stricter defensive 5 at the back still nearly had the same result as playing out from the back.

I think that Lampard wanted Broja to replace Richarlison, but when West Ham met Chelsea's asking price, it looked as if that door had closed, but West Ham wouldn't meet what Broja wanted and moved on. I still think Lampard is still hoping that Chelsea will let Broja go on loan and we will get him but rumour is that Newcastle and another unnamed Premier League club is also after him.

But in our position we needed strikers in early and the injury to Calvert-Lewin has just compounded that idea. I am sure Lampard and his coaches realize that a poor start to the season plus the lack of goalscorers could make this another tussle with relegation.

Also, you have to ask why were Simms and Dobbin allowed to go on loan with no alternative strikers purchased?

Depending on Rondon after last season was absolutely shocking, Moshiri and Kenwright are the Dumb and Dumber.

As to solutions, I doubt we will find a satisfactory one because that is not what we ever do. We have to hope that something good happens, unforeseeably.

Dries Mertens has turned down Juventus. Now 35, he's played 75 games for Napoli in the last 2 seasons, scoring 23 goals, with 11 assists. He's got to be better than Rondon surely and he's a free agent.

Thelwell, tell Kenwright to contact Bobby Brown Shoes and get him to put in a good word. He's part of Belgium's plans for the World Cup and needs a team pronto.

My second thought was that, although Moyes had us very prepared for his last season, the only other time he maybe had us prepared was when he brought in Andy Johnson and Lescott, although my memory might be deceiving me there.

Walter Smith was prepared once, I think, but that was a failed gamble by Peter Johnson, and must have been over 30 seasons ago. Since then, I can only remember another two, out of over probably 30 seasons, that Everton have been remotely prepared to go and compete, from the off.

I missed Sandro Ramirez off my list earlier, so we have actually signed five centre-forwards in the last 10 seasons and continued to progressively go backwards ever since. Not that it was much better before, unless you're happy with never trying to win a trophy, even though this is something that football is definitely all about, imo.

Villa 2016 repeating at Goodison.

As for Calvert-Lewin – if the club is saying a month, then it looks like he's out for the season. Remember last season's absence started with a knock and out for one or two weeks. Two major injuries on the bounce means that it's very unlikely he will ever reach peak form again and his saleable value will have just been halved overnight.

Gutted for the lad because this will also likely be curtains for his international career. But serious questions really need to be asked about the fitness and medical support. Something was clearly wrong when he was left out at Blackpool 'as a precaution'. Our woeful injury record in recent years cannot simply all be written off as bad luck.

This is a deal negotiated by Mr William Kenwright before he reorganised the new pragmatic board... What a Chairman!!

He can't play against Chelsea - so it's probably going to be a a false 9 of Gray or Alli. Might be okay for a one off.

The free transfer market offers fairly limited spoils (many posts cover the options).

We all know about Broja but the loan market might also realistically offer the likes of:

- Mariano Diaz of Real (not good enough for them but still quite good)

- Martin Braithwaite of Barca (ex Borough striker only on their books due to striker emergency)

- Pinamonti of Inter (really good young striker pushed down the reckoning by Lukaku so likely to go on loan again)

- Zirkzee of Bayern (although they may choose to keep him because of the sale of Lewandowski)

- Choupo-Moting of Bayern (ex Stoke striker somewhat confusingly on the books of the German giants)

- Delap of Man City (son of long throw merchant Rory)

Pinamonti and Zirkzee would be brilliant as loan with option to buy. We can only dream.

I am surprised that Lampard rates Rondon higher than Ellis Simms or Nathan Broadhead? Must be holding out for a loan agreement with Chelsea for Broja?

We can't really rely on Calvert-Lewin anymore to be always fit.

If Dom's is a Grade 1 then that's where the "one month out" talk is coming from, it is less serious. Grades 2 and 3 are three months. I'm not sure if the club have given that detail out yet.

Regardless of any of that, we need more goals in the team anyway. Cornet and Dennis have been continuously linked, are of a good age, actually would want to come to Everton as it's a step up, both proven they can score a good few at Premier League level for struggling clubs.

Get either of them in and Broja in on loan too. Two out of the three would do it. It will need some near-impossible work from Thelwell, but this is the nature of the job at Everton. If he can do, this should see us mid-table and possibly even fighting for a cup. There must be viable alternatives to these three players to consider too.

Well, let's remember we nearly got relegated with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin up front and finished 12th the season before with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin up front.

Yes, we need a striker, but we also need a better midfield and defence, so getting in defenders and a midfielder was our priority to stop letting goals in.

Holding out for Broja feels like a repeat of Giroud.

O'Neill it is. Puma Kings getting cleaned and polished.

Best news all week that and looking forward to the game and a handsome victory courtesy of an O'Neill hat-trick!

We had no large scale money and knew we had to sell one of the star players and lose a host of the underperforming and overpaid.

The window isn't over and we're on the way to a better balanced squad with some of the holes filled. We play Chelsea at the weekend and may yet sign one or two of their unwanted players next week after the fixture. There could – and probably should – be other signings from elsewhere before the end of the month.

We still need to lose some of the fringe players and we'll end up keeping some who aren't good enough.

Benitez left an awful mess with an underperforming team and a poorly balanced squad that was misfiring in just about every way imaginable. No need to recant it all.

I'm almost certainly in the minority but I think we're in a much better place than we were on the eve of last season when the unwanted Benitez was in charge. Small steps, I know and, yes, we have to sign at least one forward who can play in the first team.

We simply can't rely on Dom even if he is back soon. The season is in the balance again just as things had started to look better.

What have we become under our dream billionaire owner??

To be fair, Benitez didn't leave an awful mess. He inherited an awful mess and added Townsend and Gray for £1.7M which probably saved us from the trap door. He was let down by piss poor ownership making bad decisions and failing to see what his appointment would bring.

Frank is in a similar position now with his hands tied behind his back and expected to pull rabbits out of the hat.

For fuck's sake, we are still pissing around trying to get Gueuye on the cheap to the extent we may lose him.

What happened to the strategic review that was supposed to be underway???

He get's injured in pre-season. Only happens to Everton's players.

He missed a lot of last season and they didn't have any contingency plan (don't get me started on Rondon).

Calvert-Lewin is no world beater but he would have at least given us something to aim at but now there is nothing.

We have to look at keeping Chelsea off the score sheet to get anything from the first game and keeping clean sheets is not our forte in any game.

I really think underwhelmed will be the height of his career. He is not a great striker but, if he is injury-prone, he will never produce what is needed.

Simple BK!

Makes me think about the day to day condition checks done at Finch Farm.

This if true is bad injury and could miss most of the season.

So the lack of a back up striker is a priority to fix now.

Not much time left for a Saturday, but we shall see.

I'm with Jim that we have to get the midfielders Gordon and Gray to be creative with Dele and also get on the scoresheet. This along with keeping clean sheets is a really big hopeful path to survival because long balls to Rondon ain't gonna cut it.

Frank Lampard has a massive task on his shoulders this season and that's keeping us up. Hopefully he can get this mish-mash of a team to somehow play football and, against all the odds, we see the making of a top manager. A very tough task indeed with this squad.

Sadly, if it does go pear-shaped, it will be him out the door and we will be left with another strategic review by our illustrious leaders to fix the problem they themselves caused.

Cavani is 35 and, despite our plight, I'd say we'd still pay him more than most other clubs scratching around for a free 35-year-old.

It seems that Frank was told by the board at the end of the season: “Well done for keeping us up, we were pleasantly surprised. We don't think you'll need much help from us this time around, so just work your magic on the existing players and we'll be fine to scrape 17th again!”

There is clearly no money left for meaningful transfers, so we let both our back-up strikers out on loan for the season… I mean, Man City played without a striker and won the league!

We are not City and us fans deserve a club with better organisation than this. Heading into a new season with no available striker at the club is absolutely shocking, but we really shouldn't be surprised by now. What a joke.

Then we need to sign Borja.

Don't get me wrong – I love both players when fit... but they are rarely fit, and therefore an expensive liability. Unfortunate but true.

Tin hat time for me. Funny how Duncan Ferguson is considered a legend when he was pretty much in the same category.

I'll get my coat.

Bring it on guys and gals. As I said - for a bit of fun!

I'll start with Begovic - he's a reasonable height and quite strong. Pickford will be goalkeeper. So why not?

That's a good question about Nathan Broadhead being on the club's Squad List of Premier League players. He was not listed on last season's 25-man Squad List.

I would have said he gets a pass because he's an Under-23 player, but that's under the old rules – and he's now 24, so can't really qualify as Under-21.

Still, his registration is with Everton and I think all it takes is an email to the Premier League at least 75 minutes before kick-off for him to be eligible to play. I believe the new 25-man Squad Lists have to be submitted after the end of the Summer Transfer Window but can't find the date.

The management team obviously didn't think Dobbin was quite ready. Even in the few occasions he's appeared, he's been put wide of the 3. Seems at this stage of his development, he is considered more of an attacking midfielder.

The owner said judge him / Everton by the end of the transfer window. That is 1st September, not this week.

I honestly don't care who lines up for Everton on Saturday. But I do know that I'll be cheering them on.

Yes, it's frustrating and I feel that as much as anyone. But for the Moyesites and those who pine those days, standard right? Go to the wire. The reality is that it won't change until we have change.

At the moment, the Strategic Review feels like being seen to say something. I won't credit them with doing anything because nothing has changed. Self preservation springs to mind. A check box exercise in an attempt to keep the restless natives quiet.

Well don't be quiet. Support the manager and the team but don't let them off the hook.

27/35

I know we are short up front now, but he is 19... I think we may have done the right thing farming him out on loan rather than sticking him under the pressure of expectation of the Premier League.

I quite like Cavani, despite his age, he knows where the goal is, knows all the tricks, is free, could do a better job than what we have for a season?

I was struggling to find the deadline for clubs to submit their 25-man Squad Lists but I think you're right — I'm sure it's within a day or two of the window closing.

He might get toughened up playing in the first division although he might be safer there considering the amount of injuries occurring at Finch Farm during training matches.

I too, alas, am old enough to remember 62-63. When the pitches were very heavy, Catterick would put Jimmy Gabriel at Number 9 and use the Golden Vision out wide where there was room to play. Both Young and Vernon were lightweight highly mobile players and Gabriel was a very skilfull battering ram.

An accurate description of the Strategic Review. I always thought that the Permanent Strategic Plan, as named by the Chief Executive, had that objective. The review of it was to keep it on track.

I can understand fans' frustration. I have been scouring the internet for evidence of life in this transfer market since last week. The objectives have been clear from the start. But a "make-do and mend" attitude is proving a real drag. , as it did last season.

An up-and-coming talent!

I'd've liked to have seen Dobbin closer to the first-team set-up this season. I hope they are managing his Everton career and not managing him out of Everton.

My only really watch of him was his cameo against Norwich. Not a great match and not great opposition, but he didn't look out of place.

High hopes for Lewis Warrington. This season could be too soon, but keep him around the first team squad. Mentor and nurture.

Now, here we are on the verge of a new season and our only serious striker is out for a month. It's as though every manager we have had since Martinez has had some kind of aversion to buying a striker.

I know Koeman brought in Calvert-Lewin but at the time he was supposed to be one for the future. Well, now is the future... so did he turn out as hoped?

They all appeared to think they could turn him into the next Alan Shearer. A pretty unlikely outcome. Youngsters have come and gone. The current ones, Broadhead, Simms and Dobbin, are all to be loaned out and probably won't make it anyway.

A poor state of affairs to say the least. Yet our never-ending quest for wingers, midfield players and defenders shows no sign of abating at all.

I mean even Everton can't be that stupid. Can they?

All his bullshit talk of low blocks, pivots, transitions and positive play.

JUST BUY A FUCKING STRIKER!

Crazy to think it was Richarlisons goals that saved us and he's gone. Where are the goals coming from. We are royally fucked.

Clement said Lampard needs to be backed too fucking right. At the end of last season the mantra was this should never happen again this season were arguably in worse shape.

Utter fucking incompetence of the highest order. Our new stadium will open to championship football.

Everton have been taking chances in transferring in injury-prone players and do not have depth for injuries in various positions. On top of that is the questionable ability of Medical Services to have players available for training.

At least three previous managers have had problems with players not available for selection, which have had a significant impact on the team's performance. Lampard's will be no different.

Hopefully an even better alternative is forthcoming.

Cavanni?