Dominic Calvert-Lewin reportedly headed for the exit door

It's boring now. 😴

I've supported you since Day 1 but, if you think you'll be better off elsewhere, then off you go.

Good luck in the future.

I do fear a move will end his career rather than ignite it, but good luck and hope it works out.

Apart from the Nottm Forest murmur. Hadn't heard that one.

Playing in a defensive set-up for a lot of the time didn't help either. Also, injuries plagued him and he had the misfortune to play under some dire managers.

I hope he fares well wherever he goes.

I would like Calvert-Lewin to stay, he is formidable in the air, and plays best with a partner who plays to his strengths. Him and Richarlison were a great partnership.

It's a big caveat, but a fit and firing Calvert-Lewin could be a huge thing for us.

If he can stay fit...

I too would like to join you and many others who would like to wish him well. But for the club, it's time to move on.

Serious question, I'm not up to speed with players from abroad.

It's going to be a long summer

It's been said elsewhere. That mini-transfer window was only open to those competing in the FIFA Club World Cup. It was not applicable to us or anyone else not in that competition.

For everyone else, it was always 16th June.

From my memory the Richarlison/Calvert-Lewin partnership was far from great - in fact I remember posting about how they did not seem to gel at all and that there didn't seem to be any chemistry between them. I would often notice that when Calvert-Lewin was in a good position - Richarlison would ignore the easy pass to him and go for glory himself (generally not obtaining that glory) - and that as a partnership they hindered each other instead of sparking each other to the next level, though I thought that Calvert-Lewin was a much less selfish player and much more in the ethos of Everton as he'd take his knocks and not sit on the floor with a titty lip when he didn't get his own way - unlike Richarlison who endlessly frustrated me with his embarrassing antics.

Just an opinion and happy to be proven wrong by any stats experts out there!

He's potentially entering a second career-peak and some of the smarter clubs out there hould possibly act before the rest of the market misses out. He also has non-footballing value in that he's a youngish family man, marketable, 'trendy' and articulate.

In my opinion, whoever he turns to next, even if that's us again, will be lucky to have him.

Which deals have been done in this first window?

A number of Premier League clubs took advantage of the early window to bring in new players.

Manchester United completed their first signing of the summer by bringing in Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool, meanwhile, signed right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Link

Or he could score 3 all aeason at £5m per annum over the next 3 seasons. £15m to find out.

Danny, the window was open for any club whether in the CWC or not mate.

Seems it is predominantly them who have done the most of the big business.

I don't think we were going to do much until we had Hammond in the chair.

When I read into it after your post, there have been a few active. The neighbours have been busy.

What is eyewaterinw is how many players clubs have released. Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves and Burnley all in double figures.

Although, Wolves are £100M in profit and Burnley have brought in 4.

It's going to be an interesting main window.

On Dominic, it's been discussed enough. I've no idea. The latest update on the club website, which isn't really an update, is still reporting that we are in discussion with Calvert-Lewin and Keane's representatives.

As always, wait until there is an announcement.

With his injury record he is a risk for anybody, but he's free and gratias. He might even then not get what he wants each week but he will surely find another club in the Prem.

Contract length as well. Maybe a year with an option for more if he stays fit?? I just don't know.

Personally, if I was him and depending on his family circumstances, I would go for a clean break somewhere else. And I'm thinking the continent might be an option.

It's just interesting that the club hasn't killed it yet, when they have already made announcements about others.

It's a shame what's happened to DCL, but it probably is time to go our separate ways. Good luck to him

When I first saw Beto, I thought that his biggest asset was that he looked a real threat running in behind, and I think Dominic’s biggest asset has always been that if you give him decent service, he his very good at getting and keeping hold of the ball?

A partnership that might look that it’s been made in heaven, I thought, but when I have watched them playing together, neither of them have looked like they know how to combine their best assets.

Maybe these modern formations with teams often only using one striker, has got a lot to do with this?

Yes, there seemed to be no cohesiveness between the two, as you said, on paper they should have been a real partnership - although true striking partnerships seem to be a thing of the past with the formations now, unless you include the attacking midfielder as a striking partnership, which would have been Beto and Doucoure at the tail end of this season - again, hardy a match as the ball would be bouncing everywhere with those two as the heads of the team - though individually they have their merits. A player with a good eye for a pass will bring out the best in Beto, who I think we should stick with, despite his weaknesses as his strengths can be a real asset!

He scored 3 goals last season, which is basically no goals

What?

There seems to be a perception that Beto is a target man / hold up player. He isn't.

Beto's diagonal running through the lines onto through balls is his best asset. He worries and occupies defenders.

We got the best out of him when we started using him that way, with Alcaraz driving at defences and putting him in.

It could work, but for those two to play together, we'd have to change the shape, because I wouldn't want to be leaving out Charly or Ndiaye.

You're straying into 4-2-4 territory there for those who like formations. Maybe 4-1-3-2?

As it stands now, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, McNeil with Gana behind them, before we add to the squad. Dominic and Beto up front.

It's all guess work. Mention of Gana has just reminded me, we are going to lose him for at least a month in December with AFCON. Have we cloned him yet?

Let's see what happens with Dominic. I personally find it a shame he hasn't had the support (on the pitch), when he's been fit these past seasons. And that we haven't played the tactics that would better suit his game.

Beto could be have been the player to play off him.

I think he's gone, but the messaging seems to be that the club are still talking, so it's anyone's guess.

Does that mean he has declined or hasn't decided yet?

We better start getting our skates on truth of the matter.

I hope we don't have a typically Everton slow summer.

Our wage bill is going to plummet shortly. By the end of June it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s the lowest of all clubs other than those promoted (or thereabouts).

It’ll go back up of course as we restock the squad but it’s unlikely to be anywhere close to the stand out ‘big 9’ on wages - being the traditional Rich 6 plus Newcastle, Villa and West Ham.

For example, I saw one recent website (spotrac) saying Evertons wage bill was 75m when the official website says the wage bill double that

We could probably pull somebody out of the lower leagues that can bully defenders and hit that kind of goal return for a lot less money.

O'Brien. 35,000 p/w

Branthwaite 35,000.00 p/w

Garner. 35,00.00 pw

McNeil 25,000.00 p/w

Alcaraz 20,00.00 per week

Ndiaye 45,000.00 p/w.

I presume Alcarz is now higher with a new contract as these are last season wages.

As a comparison Mason Holgate was on 70,000.per week.

I'm always dubious about wages. Firstly, we don't know and it's mostly press talk.

Also, like a lot of jobs, base salary is different from estimated salary. So, using a more normal example, base salary can be £80k a year. Then there are benefits (private health, dental, life insurance, critical health care, pension, car allowance etc). So the 80k becomes more like a £120k package.

It will be the same for footballers. They will have a basic wage with add ons. Win bonus, goal bonus, league position bonus, clean sheet bonus, plus others.

That's just my unknown take. When I read £120k a week, I don't think that is their actual wage. The press most likely go with the potential maximum.

On the club website, I see the new membership scheme is available for those who require it.

The price has increased from the previous £35 to £60 a season. There are a few additional benefits.

I guess, we can't complain too much. We have complained about the club's marketing and lacking the ability to generate revenue for too long. I just hope they don't price out too many supporters.

For a centre-forward, it's pretty shocking, and for one on well over £100k a week it's laughable… but the joke's on us.

Even if Calvert-Lewin stays - I don't think we'll ever know whether he and Beto would be a good partnership at all. when was the last time Everton actually played with 2 strikers from the start of a top flight game?

That's up to the manager.

We're obviously talking names with what we know. There will be either replacements or additions to give us options.

There hasn't really been much to play with recently

Big man, little man used to be the tried and tested. Seems to have all but disappeared these days. Little strikers more likely to be a right wing forward or a 10.

Ferguson at United ditched the two strikers after europe failures being over run in midfield. Everyone else followed.

It wasn’t a top flight game, and I suppose countless Everton managers, had given up on cups, but it was another disastrous result, which I thought wouldn’t have happened if our midfielders, hadn’t wasted so many good opportunities to put our centre forwards in on goal?

I left Goodison, convinced that Luton, would stay up because of their effort and desire, but they have been relegated twice, which showed me what I know!

good examples, but that is going back over 20 years!

I think that's why most teams switched to one up front and this number 10 phrase came in, which is a supporting attacking midfielder/striker.

It can still be done, with the right individuals, whoever they end up being.

I'm not sure Moyes OBE, would be brave enough, but if you have the right players, 3-5-2 is the best formation from both an attacking and defending perspective in my opinion.

But everyone has to be switched on, the midfield has to work incredibly hard and the wing backs be extremely fit, as they will be doing "doggies" up and down the flanks as play breaks from attack to defence.

We'd have a good back 3 in Tarkowski, Branthwaite and O'Brien. I don't think we have the wing backs.

Although I do like 4-2-3-1 for overall balance and shape.

A genuine question, did he do it at West Ham or Sunderland?

From an Everton perspective I cannot remember 2 strikers starting a top tier match in the last 20 years - but it is more than possible.

Martin # 70, again, I agree. Moyes will not use a 352 (or 343 variant) and that is for the best. When he's used it in the past it is more like 541 because, like many British managers, he sees wing back as a defensive position, rather than a midfield position. So it just hands all initiative to the opposition and you end up with too many players back and no options to get the ball forward. Moyes does know his way around 433 / 451 / 4231 variants and he's pretty good at that, albeit a bit unimaginative and conservative.

But good luck to Dominic — he's been incredible value; when the chips were down, he delivered.

One anomaly season where he scores well, but then we spent every year since saying, but what if he can get injury free and rekindle his goal scoring.

New stadium, new manager, new owners, new money, new direction, new strikers!!

"Maybe Moyes can turn him into a 15-20 goals per season striker."

Nah, he could only do that if he was a 30-35 goal-a-season striker.

I trust the club to find the midfielders who can get the ball to him rather than buying a replacement. He will score.

Have I missed something? (Had a siesta!)

I can say no more because it is so divisive. It's just between me and the owners now.

If we had midfielders who could get into the box and score, it would take the pressure off the strikers and create more chances for them.

Get the right midfielders would be my strategy.

Will he receive a similar amount of vitriol as DCL?

Will his refusal to wear a shirt with a rainbow coloured number on, in the past, be dragged up just as DCL's fashion shoot/s has/have?

I don't know why, but it reminded me of Jan Molby.

The Dane wasn't blessed with pace, carried a bit of timber shall we say, but (cough), was a great player. On your point, when he spoke in English, he had a stronger Scouse accent than me!!

I gave up criticising players for moving on years ago. Maybe it's an age thing as I count the years. They move on for a variety of reasons.

The club decide to sell. The player decides to move. Agents influence. Player couldn't settle, especially with the advent of foreign players.

We have no control, so I've stopped criticising the player. Whatever happens with Dominic, and it still doesn't seem decided, we will see in the next week or so when the window opens again.

No vitriol from me to Gana, just thanks.

He's had a fantastic career, some of that with Everton, who he has given 150% for and will always be welcomed back.

You only have to watch his recent interview earlier this year to see how much the club means to him. And they aren't just words, they are words from the heart.

Seeing him dancing to the Jordan Pickford song at the final game against Newcastle was brilliant.

Gana, his preferred name, handed to him by his father in respect of his grandfather, will be fondly remembered by a lot of Evertonians, regardless of what decision he makes for him and his family.

It reminded me about David Platt who I think turned up in Italy speaking the language. All in the planning!

I also noted that the RS fans were up in arms when he was going for nowt, don't seem to have been as vocal now that there has been a transfer fee involved.

And yes, we're better than the other lot and many others.

'The price has increased from the previous £35 to £60 a season. There are a few additional benefits.'

I don't recall the existing prices (ones at Goodison etc) or what the levels were. The last time I paid was at the time pre covid when I used to go to Goodison with my Dad. He then became too immobile to get to the matches, so unfortunately haven't been since. But I'll sign up this year and even if I don't get to see any live matches, I hope my meagre contribution will help somewhere along the line!

However, I saw that Forever Blue+ is £60, Forever Blue is £35.

Took a bit of digging to find the different levels as the Forever Blue+ was pushed to the front.

To be fair, am currently viewing the site on my mobile with one eye open and one hand typing so a laptop might be better to view on.

Just a note, I always think the Forever part of any membership deal, and not just in relation to Everton, suggests that it should be what it says, Forever, a one off fee and not annual but hey ho.

I purchased the £60 option for my son. If he can't use it, at least we will be able to transfer a ticket to a fellow blue.

I'll have to look up the difference in benefits.

I'm just hoping that now the Goodison thing has died down, the benefits will kick in.

It has served me well over the years, but towards the end of last season, it was worthless. It was only the goodwill of generous friends and family that got me in.

And occasionally masquerading as a home supporter at the odd away match.

There is always a way when following Everton!!

Many kopites have supported TAA since he first broke into the team. They loved him and feel that because they loved him, he somehow owed them his loyalty for life. No so of course. The guy has ambitions to try other things. leagues, Cultures and now they feel utterly betrayed. They feel he has cost their club millions because he chose not to restrict his own options by signing another contract with RS.... That's because they are fucking idiots.

I say most of our fans are superior to that rabble across the park, but unfortunately we have an element within our fanbase that is toxic. This element has always been present at our club. Indeed they are present at every club, but I don't really care about other clubs.

Maybe its a sign of the times. Maybe it is the anonymity afforded by social media, but in 70 years of watching football. I have never before heard the sort of hatred directed at Calvert-Lewin.

The bizarre thing is. Some of the people who make these relentless attacks and accusations demand and expect the same loyalty the kopites expected from TAA. They're not going to get it

I`ve said for for a few weeks now. The sooner DCL leaves the better for all concerned.

Off the official website, the matrix of the difference between levels of membership.

Link

I do wear glasses for driving but in my defence, am currently in bed lying on one side with half my face squashed into pillow so only one eye visible, phone held with one hand, with the other hand used for typing too much info.

Lucklly, I don't declare my day open until around 8ish.

For those who read the posts upwards, this one will make no sense!

Have managed to get tickets in the past through the membership although needing to watch the games from the Park End due to ease of access for my Dad, Stub Hub were my go to at times and would get decently priced tickets. I understand the underlying issues re these ticket resellers but they are a useful resource especially if tickets are acceptably priced.

Agreed, access to tickets should be easier at the new place once the initial excitement and interest has reduced, but I can still see that being next season.

Good luck with your ongoing quest for tickets, although you already seem resourceful.

You are correct. I don't understand the animosity towards Dominic. He is going to look after his career, and I think most supporters will understand that.

He is one player. We've seen them come and go. We care about Everton.

Before my time but, if the stories I was told are to be believed, Evertonians used to turn up at Stockport County to watch Alex Young after he left Everton.

Similarly, my dad insisted on watching Southampton if they were on Match of the Day when Alan Ball was playing.

We reconciled our differences with Wayne Rooney, who is recorded as saying he didn't want to leave, but once he was told that the club were selling him to Chelsea, he stood his ground and told them if he was being sold, it would be on his terms and he would choose the club.

Don't always blame or slate the players. It's more often the club that makes the decision. Even if they force the player to hand in a transfer request to get a deal done.

Caveat. My opinion.

I tried a similar grid for the website I work on and over complicated it with too much info. but I include the rates.

I can't edit the previous post.

Forever Blue+ = £60 (reductions according to age).
Forever Blue = £35 (reductions according to age).
Forever Blue Digital = Free for all

I'll look at the reductions to see if any apply to me...