Dominic Calvert-Lewin turns his back on 9 years at Everton

Looks as if it's an image taken from somewhere...assume it's a genuine post etc... if it is, then a new era begins.

Class message from him too if it's his message!

It's probably the right time to move on. He'd probably get grief if he didn't score in preseason — fans would be right on his back.

Wonder if his wife has had a word given the unwarranted abuse she got?

Who's better? Him or Beto? (Please let's not start that again!)

I don't blame him for wanting to seek pastures new.

Yes, he had his injuries but is that his fault? He's an erudite and likeable man with potential for better, alas not with us. I wish him well and his parting message was class.

Interested to see where he rocks up next.

He showed what he could do when he is well managed and will go on to do more of the same wherever he ends up if he finds the right support.

Unfortunately for us his injuries and our playing style held him back but he did contribute massively to our survival.

For very different reasons, that night at Goodison is up there with them.

He needs a restart somewhere new, and hopefully he stays injury-free for a while.

He gave us 9 years, so I hope he does well in his future career.

I think it's time for a fresh start for Domonic and Everton.
We can only speculate why he wants to move and have no idea of whether a contract offer was made or refused.

I wish him good luck and I hope he stays injury-free, no player wants injuries.

I would be amazed if he settles for Leeds.

Some crucial goals admittedly, but not enough goals in the years he's been at the club.

He isn't a good striker of the ball, particularly at one one-on-ones. He never has been to me, apart from a short spell with Carlo. Though good ability with his head.

Classy message to say bye though

I agree no player wants to be injured, but we're a business, and he's too many times injured.

Money best spent elsewhere.

With Beto under contract, I'm going to be brave… and with little money…I think Vardy would be very good for us on a 1-year contract as an alternative to Beto.

A lot of what you say is what a lot of others are thinking.

But you mention Vardy. I also think he'd be useful and not necessarily in place of Beto.

I could see the logic in retaining him as a free transfer (whilst acknowledging the downside of high wages). Seems like the club has tried to do a deal but it never looked like his heart was really in it. So it's best to move on.

After Jonathan David, he's easily the best free transfer striker in world football - so is unlikely to be short of offers. Hopefully he goes abroad as it would annoy me to see him playing for another Premier League side.

If we are to move forward then we need a better quality centre forward than Dom, no dig at the guy, but for me we need to aim higher and pull out all the stops for a top class centre forward.

Really?!? A guy that hardly ever plays and seldom scores is the second-best option available on a free this summer?

Loan deals it is then.

Beto is a bulldozer, and we know he's clumsy, but under Moyes he was causing havoc. Defenders bouncing off him. I think we could switch them: one starting, one coming on, etc.

Vardy still has bit in him (he's on record saying he's only left Leicester City for another season in the Premier League). I think we would be perfect for him.

He ain't going top end, though I still think he'd be good for Arsenal if Mikky doesn't get the cash for a top-dollar signing.

Re the dog's abuse, I thought I would, haha!

For those that say we have money I still think we have to be careful thanks to the lunacy of PSR and amount of players we have lost

I've just never rated DCL. Good decision for all to part ways if he is our top earner

Social media abuse he got though…I don't agree with

Let's move on

I thought that too, bit snidey sounding but maybe not meant that way?

He will have to go down as one of our best signings in the last decade at only £1.5M and he has scored many important goals for this club. I never had any issues at all with his off-the-field antics and never saw it detracting from his performances on the pitch.

Saw somewhere that he played the exact same amount of games as Duncan Ferguson and scored one less goal. And yet his legacy may feel quite different. I wish good luck to him. If he stays fit, he'll be a very useful player for whoever gets him.

He made sure — after 9 years of very mixed performances, where the club stood by him through endless injuries and all his mental health problems — that he could walk away a free agent, having spurned a very lucrative contract that would have allowed the club to charge a substantial transfer fee for his registration.

That I think is shameful. The least he could have done in return is made sure we got a decent transfer fee for him.

His wife and children obviously come into the equation when he is considering his future. He must have good offers elsewhere, a club further down south would be my choice.

That's another asset that's walking away for nothing, you can't make players sign contracts if they don't want to, but the control is little too much in players hands nowadays.

Good luck to him, that third goal against Palace was worth absolute fortunes.

Shame Dom suffered so many setbacks but he defo leaves with my respect and a new start will do him good. Hope he goes to Serie A where I'm sure he will do well.

Jamie Vardy – gents, that's not even funny. He is finished and do you want his Mrs around?

He will probably announce in August after his agent plays clubs off against each other.

I don't think any club will care re his Mrs. He still scored for a very poor Leicester City team in the Premier League.

He is still quick and to my memory (possibly wrong), we haven't had one of those for quite a while.

We can't sign loads of players for big fees this summer. He's polar opposite of Beto and I think that's a good call re opposition defenders.

Leeds is about his level.

A distinctly average player who had the smattering of great games.

He has suffered badly with injuries. Some of his problems may have been in his head as much as his body, but that wouldn't make them any less real.

I think a spell abroad would be good for him and his family; best wishes to them wherever they choose.

He has been great but let's set our sights much higher than him. I think he will end up having a swansong at Wrexham or a Championship team. No offence.

The time is right, for both parties, to move on. He's never really played anywhere else, there's a section of the fanbase who don't like him and never will and he's had a lot of injuries that have legitimately used up fans' patience.

He needs a fresh start and we're consciously trying to embark on one. Part ways, stay friends and thanks for the memories.

Good luck to you and your family, Dominic.

After all said on done, family come first.

To me, Calvert-Lewin has always given his best, and has had to play for numerous managers in often difficult and testing circumstances. We all know he has been unlucky with injuries, and if I were advising him, I would encourage him to move on in the hope that his luck will change.

We know Everton have been generous employers, but I don't believe Calvert-Lewin has taken advantage of that generosity. Time for him to move on, that's how the contract system works, so it's best wishes, and thank you to him from me.

We need an alternative to Beto as a sub is all I mean, ie, our right back situation is none the better. We have no cover for Mykolenko too. And no Doucoure. Plus we have no strikers coming through.

I just think the bigger fees should go on those positions. If we can grab a saving on a player who may just have a good year or so left later as a proven Premier League striker up front, once Beto knackers 'em out perhaps.

I'm really not sure what a player has to do to earn the respect of some people. It shouldn't be the incredibly high bar that is being set.

He has played for us for 9 years. Bought for a pretty insignificant sum. Led the line in a largely defensive effort. Suffered injuries but returned more than anyone would expect from a £1.5M initial outlay. The fact we had no-one better post-Lukaku isn't on him.

He seems a nice lad too, if that matters to anyone as it does to me.

I suspect he'll head overseas so I'll wish him nothing but the best of luck. After his run with injuries and crap tactics, he deserves a bit of good fortune for the tail end of his career.

Hope all his 'critics' are happy.

Let the next scapegoat step forward!

I don't like the headline but MK is brilliant at this sort of stuff. It's a decent article, the kind of thing that he does so well.

We know where we stand now. Good luck to Dom, I hope and expect that he will wish he had stayed.

I think he is a fine footballer.

There were several ways both parties could benefit from Dom's valuable service to the club. His decision to test the market was selfish and poorly timed.

Completely within his right to do so but so clumsy that it hurt the club.

I hope I leave with your respect. [I'm not sure you do respect me…]

I'm going elsewhere so I can keep growing. [It was impossible to do that here.]

And this Up Yours isn't just from me, it's from the wife. [We both know why.]

We will spend much bigger this summer on decent additions and first teamers… and how we need it!

Surely he does thank the fans?

Whilst I could see Vardy at Everton on a 1-year contract, I can't see it happening. Think the family connections might get in the way. I can see Vardy at Leeds or Forest.

And Dom does thank the fans.

Michael, I also thought the 'turns his back' part of the headline was a bit harsh but then read your follow-up post, I see your point.

By all accounts a decent guy who always gave everything. Good luck, Dom.

For Everton, it would be a risk spending high wages with a diminishing goal return. All the best, Dom, thanks for the better times.

“Celebrating goals at Goodison Park, feeling that roar, is an experience I’ll carry with me forever.“

They've given him nothing but abuse – even when he's fractured a cheekbone and tried to carry on.

“Thanks, fans — you slated me for fashion choice with sexist abuse, you booed me when I fractured a cheekbone, you ridiculed me for opening up about mental health, you slated me for not scoring with very little service… Thanks, fans – you've been great!”

But I think if you don't want to thank the fans but don't want people to notice, you don't do a list of people you do want to thank, and then leave the fans off that list – that smacks of wanting to make a point.

I think once he gets settled somewhere else, we must brace for the 'exclusive' 'Our Everton Hell' by Mr and Mrs.

He does thank the fans

He starts to address the fans from this point.:

'Above all, I want to speak to you, the fans. Your passion is the beating heart of this club. Whether times were good or tough. Your unwavering support never faltered.'

The last part of this section is:

'My hope is that I leave with your respect, knowing I always sought to uphold the values of this great club. Thank you for everything.'

I think the last 4 words explain his gratitude.

As was mentioned much earlier by Julian, way back at 6, he's an erudite man. I'll add I think he's intelligent. He's not going to spend ages working on his goodbye message and not thank the fans.

Dom only played at 75% under Dyche so as not to get injured, and it worked. But Moyes runs centre-forwards into the bloody ground and, if your going to play up top for Davey, then you have to work your absolute bollocks off.

I think this is why Beto has been successful and fruitful in this position, he's a more than willing runner and he also has a bit of luck about him too (yes, I believe in all that)….

Also, Dom is always offside, more than any player I've ever seen. I suspect he doesn't trust his hamstrings so he tries to save an ounce of effort by playing the line too close and its pissed me off for about 2-3 seasons.

This is elite sports, sentiment is only reserved for the very very few, such as our Seamus. Peace out, Dom lad, good luck and all that.

But Beto has been great and,if we get Richarlison back, I'll be pleased. And you know there is always a shock or two near the end of each window… <

Have we ever finished in the top half of the Premier League with Dom as our Number 9? Enough said.

The childish abuse from insecure man babies about his modelling career, the abuse recently heaped on his wife, and of course the incredible hard luck with injury, he seems to have managed to shoulder with some class.

The injuries were incredibly frustrating for us supporters as well as him, and he never scored enough goals, but he was a tireless worker and a skilled player and boy when he did score, they were often important!

I think he'll do great at an aspirational Championship side chasing promotion. I wonder if he'd consider joining his best mate Tom Davies back at Sheffield United?

Anyway, best of luck to Dom. End of an era really!

When you see some of the utter shite written on here, it's no surprise he couldn't wait to get away.

I don't know what message you read, but he definitely praised the fans.

I'm not sure my point is exactly rock solid.

I don't know why some get irate about a headline. The write up is a very balanced assessment of Calvert-Lewin's Everton career. When those of us who write articles, we always have to think of a headline, usually in the context of what we are writing about. I don't see anything offensive or abusive in Michael's.

As for Vardy. No from me and nothing to do with age. As always, it's all opinions.

I wish him and his family well.

His photoshoot, published in November 2021, resulted in a massive backlash from lots of fans and he's been unable to do anything right by them ever since.

I never expected Dom to score a one-on-one. Nor did I genuinely anticipate more than 10 goals a season from him. Something he had only achieved twice. I read his average was 0.24 goals per game, which is just about okay if we are being generous…

Still, I couldn't help liking him… but I sincerely hope our future striker ambitions are higher than just ‘okay'.

Big headed, thinks he's worth more than a safe known club to play for? He's very well liked at Everton, he won't get more than a short honeymoon elsewhere.

I liked him and think we are a better side when he's in it. Hopefully whoever we get is a goal scorer — Dom wasn't.

"His photoshoot published in November 2021"

Handbags at dawn, methinks. 😁

For all his shortfalls, he is awkward for defenders and bullies them. One of the best examples I saw from last season, was not his goals. It was at Newcastle away. Their defence was so bothered by him, he took 2 or 3 of them out of the game, creating the space for Alcaraz to have a free header and score.

I immediately thought of the well known pizza ad slogan 'Domino Hoo Hoo'.

Perhaps that could be a lucrative move for him.

Got dogs abuse even his missus too from so-called fans. Did the thankless job Dyche told him to do that destroyed his confidence; sometimes it's best for all concerned if you call it a day.

He needs a fresh start, so does the club. So be it, but thanks for the memories, Dom.

So, in true Everton tradition, we love him. But he is well short of the class required to spearhead the team in the seasons ahead.

I thought that he should have been transferred last summer but he would not agree the personal terms and Everton missed out.

It isn't offensive Danny, but Michael still had to give Calvert-Lewin a sly dig with the headline.

I'd still like to know what offer the club made, he's probably going to get a big signing-on fee wherever he goes.

He is a good striker but not great. Injuries too have affected him. I wish him all the best.

In terms of Dom, I do think now is the best time for the parting of ways as we both need to head in a new direction now.

He's been a steal at the money we bought him for in 2016 but he just never had enough predatory instinct in him to be at the top, in my opinion.

As for where he ends up, well, I personally would not be surprised to see him move to Italy and play there.

I can't see a club like Arsenal or Newcastle going for him; obviously Man City and Liverpool won't touch him.

What it does do now, however, is make our search for two strikers imperative.

We can't rest on our laurels here, there are many things to do.

And yep, Ed, I always considered him our best defender on set pieces.

Wishing the best for him, especially health.

The comments at the time were utterly appalling.

He either feels he can get paid more elsewhere or wants something different, probably the former as it seems he has been talking to the club about another contract. Or maybe the new owners have a different outlook on wage levels given that there is no news on Gana or Keane yet, unless the club are leaving it to the player to make the announcement, and Doucoure's departure.

Business is business, whether we like it that way or not.

Writing that an out-of-contract player has turned his back is without doubt a dig at the player. Michael's disenchantment with Calvert-Lewin has been open for some time and whilst Dom was pretty crap one-on-one, he scored some good goals, including the Palace header.

I have often posted that the worst thing he ever did (as Robert says above) was that fashion shoot for which some never forgave him, which says a lot more about them than him. Add to that the vile messages sent to Dom's wife and it's easy to guess why he has decided to leave.

He was a good player for us, tried his best, and injury prevented him from developing into a top class striker. I hope his move works out for him.

"Above all, I want to speak to you, the fans. Your passion is the beating heart of this club. Whether times were good or tough. Your unwavering support never faltered."

His comments on the fans is not included on the BBC Sports page… why would the BBC leave his praising the fans out?

Straq scored one league goal for us. One.

I'm glad someone has finally picked up on the positives from Beto's clumsiness, because I've been boring everyone sat around us at the match with that one, to the point where I think they're all glad we're being scattered to the four winds at the HD stadium?

Because in a team game, everyone brings different things, but it's about being effective as a collective for the benefit of the team, we can't all be Messi.

Don't get me wrong, I get as frustrated with him as everyone else. But there again, so do defenders, because you can't predict what's coming, and whether by design or just pure luck, 9 times out of 10, he seems to bumble his way past with a combination of sheer strength and his fair share of awkwardness?

But, no matter how much of an oaf he looks, it simply works, and his improvement is clear to see since the arrival of David Moyes. From someone who just wanted us to get shut of this “lumbering oaf”, I'm now interested to see what the future holds with further work on his development.

There again, it would've been similarly interesting to witness Calvert-Lewin's development under the new regime, but we can now consign him to the long list of ex-players and what-ifs?

On the plus side, we're likely to bring in a minimum of two recognised forwards and maybe a third depending if Chermiti goes out on loan.

It wasn't just a fashion shoot though, he dressed up as a coquettish schoolgirl. An appalling decision.

Unfortunately you had the misfortune to play under some dire managers, Ancelotti excluded, who played negative football, making it impossible for a striker to flourish.

Sad to see you go but maybe it's the right decision.

You defend his right to dress up as a schoolgirl?

How about the fact that the club totally mismanaged him, his injuries and general well being? Every time he was injured, he was rushed back, played poorly in short cameos, and injured again in 5 minutes because he was still injured.

He was a great lad, an exceptional footballer and would have been a top long-term International at a decently managed club, as Everton weren't while he was with us.

He lost the club money? Totally hilarious — the Club lost a fortune by its pathetically poor management and not only of Dom.

His fashion shoot was brilliant, at least he had some class as well as being a footballer.

As for the Vardy shouts, no thanks… well past his sell-by date.

We've finished in the top half a few times (perhaps not recently) with Calvert-Lewin in the team as a regular. Whether he was our Number 9 is a different point.

One of my coaches at school who used to rave about the Dutch and their Total Football concept often said 'Every number counts when the team plays as one.'

Probably end up at somewhere like Wigan.

Good player at times

Bye bye move on ….

I loved aspects of his play and think he without fail played with a tremendous attitude. He was a bit let down by the managerial changes and instability at the club, and by his own body/bad luck with injuries but on his day he was a tough player to play against.

His finishing for me was weak for a striker - how many one on ones have we seen him miss - and that is why for me despite all his qualities I'm not sad to see him go and after the nonsense with his missus and social media I can understand that the time feels right for him to move on.

A parting of ways is best for both the club and player.

The club needs an injection of different choices and options up top with a new dawn about to start at our new home.

Let's hope those dealing with the transfers make better decisions than their predecessors and the team gets additional genuine goal threats from midfield and up top.

But who cares?

It has about as much relevance to football as Big Dunc's pigeons and Tony Hibbert's love of fishing (with the inevitable fetching wellies and waders combo).

He was supposedly offered a contract, but has chosen to walk away for something new. His choice by the sounds of it.

I can't comment for others, but personally, I'm not sure why his fashion shoot caused such outrage amongst some. It didn't bother me. I just wanted him to get fit and start playing regularly.

I liked that read Peter @99. Especially the closing piece. Time to move on. We have Beto for all the uncertainty he creates, but that includes with opposition defenders. Hopefully, someone is now inbound to join him.

Cascarino said a while back that DCL was playing like someone carrying or protecting an injury. Has had his day and he won’t be uprooting any trees anywhere else.

I certainly won’t miss his one on ones against any keeper when you know you can go and put the kettle on since the result won’t be a goal.

I’m pretty sure we have something better already lined up. And that is probably one of the reasons he has decided to go.

Good journey Dom and thanks for the good things that I've seen you do on the pitch. 5-1 at Brighton was superb, the 3rd against Palace too of course. Thank you Raymond at 105, why do our own fans need to be so spiteful.

I couldn't care less about his fashion shoots etc but the personal abuse he and his family received was totally unacceptable.

His best season was with Ancelotti who told him to stay in the middle but we then had players like James, who could actually pass a ball to a blue shirt. Since then the service from the likes of Harrison, Doucoure & co has been dreadful. It didn't help that Dychball meant he had to deal with long punts, usually to the right wing and when he did win the ball there was often no support.

Having said all that, his overall PL scoring record is less than 1 in 4 and that is unacceptable from an Everton centre forward. His work rate and effort couldn't be faulted but he wasn't a natural goalscorer (he was signed as a midfielder). I agree it's time for him and Everton to move on and I wish him well in his physical and mental health and at his new club (as long as he doesn't score against us lol).

He signed off in true D C-L style by missing a simple one on one, seconds from the end v Newcastle!

Your conclusions, however, are spot on.

Andy #103, obviously he was profoundly disturbed. He's brought it up literally dozens of times.

Steve, so it's not him that 's got the problem with him wanting to dress up as a school girl, I'm the one who is odd for noticing it? is that right?

Peter # 99 is spot on but for the record I don't wish him well. If he had any scruples he would renew his contract under Moyes and help the revival. I have no time for "Judas" types.

Dominic split the fanbase, for some he was great at leading the line by himself and for others he simply wasn’t good enough.

For many his parting statement is class, while others don’t see it that way.

He could have signed a new contract and let Everton make a few quid, but he chose to run it down and make himself a lot more money.

I liked him but could probably count his really very good moments on one hand, so I will wish him well, in a similar way that I think he has wished everyone well in his leaving notes, but now he’s not an Everton player, he won’t really bother me anymore.

My final thought is that if players didn’t have everything in their favour already, especially compared to the players of yesteryear, and even more especially since the Bosman ruling, they also now have the current rules around PSR, helping to put the noughts on their next contract.🤷‍♂️

The contradiction imo Christy, is that Everton’s problems started when DCL got injured under Benitez, and we only started to recover when he got injured in one of Moyes”early game, and when Beto, came in Dominic, wasn’t really missed, imo

There were other WTF moments of greater concern, like doing the HT interview while we were pummeled by Spurs. There is also a variety of technical football issues such as lack of physicality and finishing strong chances.

Keeping Dom goes against the general concensus view that we need to improve across the pitch, excepting Branthwaite. We have seen him deployed for some forward dirty work under Dyche but there are strikers who figure that out and make it work. Dom could not find the reliable form on which durable supply partnerships are built.

This discussion shares some aspects of the Seamus situation. Without insulting Dom, I did wonder if his presence in the locker room was a distraction; the team form and chemistry seemed to really pick up as Beto became the expected starter.

This is a guy who was, initially, played as a winger. When he switched to the middle he was starved of service either from the flanks, or through the middle.

His only hope of receiving the ball was by out-jumping two giant Neanderthal type defenders, no wonder his legs are knackered.

So all the best Dom. Another under appreciated Everton forward who I’m sure, like Lukaku, will find a more fruitful career elsewhere.

I appreciate that Michael may not think too highly of DCL at times but it would have been nice to get his name correct in the headline title :)

"coquettish school girl."

I couldn't have spelt it to save my life. Have you typed it before?

What on earth are you thinking of " shy school girl".???

For fuck's sake, no one, absolutely no one on this thread, other than, you has made this such a personal issue. Seriously, stick to football, your fixation is "deeply weird".

I can think of a certain manager who also let his contract run down preventing Everton from making a few quid

Everton can now move forward with, hopefully, a more consistently fit poacher.

You couldn't have spelt Coquettish?

Oh no! That is me so busted.

A top drawer hold-up No 9 on his day, I wish him and his family all the very best. 💙

Then I think of the stick Jeffers, Rooney and Antony Gordon all took after each making the club a fortune and realise that life has completely changed.

Money has taken over the whole fucking world, there's greed everywhere now on a scale that has never been witnessed before. But when Moyes went to Man Utd it was different, because he was asked by Sir Alex!

Suffered from a terrible lack of service under that other clown Dyche and terrible luck with injuries.

I wish the lad nothing but good luck at his next club.

Up until the second half of last season, he was still our best option and although Dom is a better footballer, Beto is a better forward imo because he causes havoc and more likely to score.

The goals against Palace and the RS will live long in my memory and I thank him for those moments.

As for his fashion sense, I am quite old-fashioned in that regard and find it a bit odd. But if he saw what I wear, he may well think the same. We all have different views and tastes, life would be very boring if we didn't.

To judge and openly mock someone though is totally unacceptable, those who do should be ashamed of themselves and either need to grow up or simply shut the fuck up. All it does is cause the recipient a lot of anxiety and stress.

Good luck, Dom, no regrets and now is probably about right for you and your family to move on and tread a new path.

Yes, the darkest era in our history arguably… in my entire life, I have never hated any Everton team or squad as much as I have vehemently hated this team from the last 3-5 years. It's been a dark dark decade and I think of the young fans who have had their dreams crushed and shat on every week by their so-called “heroes” putting in little effort…

The squad rotation is happening before our eyes and there aren't many left now from those god awful few years. It's only really Mykolenko, Gana, Tarkowski left now and the end is nigh for them too.

And at least they were the ones who were bearable, but even they can still do one. That squad played under 3-5 managers and were all shite every week...

Okay, rant over. Soz.

Him dressing up as a school girl (is that even accurate? Do you think Scotsmen in kilts are dressed as schoolgirls?) may seem weird to you but it feels different to him and many of his generation.

I don't see that he is under any obligation to wear things that the fans approve of in his own time surely?

Some of the comments on here today are just embarrassing.

Mr Barkley cost us around £30M, didn't he?

Imagine one of the reasons Calvert-Lewin dressed up as he did was to trigger perma-offended and deeply insecure people like you.

Everybody can have their opinion on him as a player and that's all that matters really.

My opinion is that he's been a very good player for us. He had an excellent spell prior to a bad series of injuries.

He was very raw when he arrived but I recall him being incredible in the air at a very young age. He developed his game into a very capable lone striker. I have never doubted or questioned his commitment for us and he has spent much of the last few years battling to win headers from hopeless and continuous long balls pumped up the field.

I am not convinced now that he is completely clear of his injury problems and for that reason, and because of his age and the likely economics of a new deal, I do feel it is probably best to say thank you, shake hands and move on.

I would not begrudge him finding his form at another top side.

A bright new blue dawn awaits, we pray. May your future trips be filled with better football and better finishing than these mostly turgid years in recent decades.

About Calvert-Lewin not highlighting his deficiencies, I am not at all surprised and agree it is not something most humans do, in any walk of life, when they change employer. Those that do offer real honesty though, I find that to be a mark of class.

We all have different definitions of class and taste though, of course, whichever side of the pond one resides.

Calvert-Lewin was not my cup of tea as an Everton striker due to his lack of predatory ability and instinct.

I think he has delusions of grandeur in terms of his level in the Premier League. His record speaks for itself. 1 goal in every 5 games over nearly a decade is crap really.

The statement is a bit over the top for an underperforming player in terms of chance conversion over the entire long period, in my view.

Goodbye and good luck to him.

You may well be right that younger generations don't see the harm in this. I think they have been primed to accept the gradual degradation of our society, and I would place men dressing up as schoolgirls firmly in this category.

When you throw out group norms from our formerly Christian society, we enter the Overton Window, which can be moved along as it has been.

30 years ago, a man dressing up as a woman would have been odd. A man dressing up as a schoolgirl would have been unthinkable. But look at us now.

This is not an organic process, we've been led along, by using key influencers like footballers. Its success can be shown by the fact that hardly anybody now is prepared to object to men dressing up and posing as shy schoolgirls.

They feel much happier in shouting down anyone who objects to this weakening of moral norms.

Good luck for the future.

If Everton are to progress, they need better players than Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

He cost peanuts. A fair few more expensive strikers replaced him and were not as good.

He got injured. Bentez played him when he was injured and stuffed him.

He was pretty good. He thrived under a manager who knew how to get the best out of him and brought in players who gave him service. I suspect he, and his suitors, will be thinking of that period.

Best for everyone that he moves on. I'd like to wish him all the best.

Looking ahead, let's stop imagining the 20+ goals a season striker. There ain't many of them. We'll be better off spreading the goals around the team.

Seriously, I see what you're saying but honestly who cares. There are lines in the sand to be drawn all over the world but it is utterly meaningless to fret over this.

It's the whole point. This shifting of the Overton window is the source of our problems in my view and we need to resist it. And this is a particularly egregious example.

§ I hold no real enmity for Calvert-Lewin, it's the process that is the concern.

On his day, pre injuries he could beast defenders. His hold up play was a strength, but the team was never set up in a way to take advantage.

In a good team, that plays him like Carlo did he will get goals, but he rarely created his own chances. I can see him getting into a fairly decent level club, but not as a starter.

Beto has his limits, but he finishes well, and the team have been playing to his strengths, getting the ball behind the defence for him to run on to. DCL was poor in that respect.

Shame that there was no fee incoming, but given how much he cost he goes down as an excellent signing. But his time is up.
Everton need a more accomplished forward.

You are of course entitled to an enmity over the process as you call it, but I'm not sure it's ideal to make Calvert-Lewin a figurehead of such enmity when he plays for the club that you support. So long as what he is doing has no obvious impact on his ability to perform on the pitch, I see no good reason for the abuse he has suffered.

He's scored big goals that deserves credit and thanks.

We have needed better than he can provide, not his fault.

I don't think he has left well and it will be pretty easy to move on. He doesn't figure in any conversation about the best Everton forwards.

But who cares? It has about as much relevance to football...

And yet you thought it was necessary to introduce it in this thread @65! You claim it was the real turning point in Dom's Everton career and that it has been glossed over in this article?

Strange.

I wish him well.

I disagree with you but I think we can do that and agree on other stuff.

Everton need a more accomplished forward.

You're right, Jim, but I doubt we'll have one for next season.

I thought he had made his mind up from the start of this season that he wouldn't be signing a new contract and would be looking for the best option regarding his next move.

That's his prerogative and he's got his wish. I think he could have left in a better fashion but wish him good luck and good health in the future.

He should give back that money that he hasn't spent on hair products. 🤣🤣🤣

The club did offer him a contract which was very performance based apparently. However, he and his agents wanted more cash than his current contract and a guarantee of first choice striker if he was fit – no chance!

The club now has real business heads on board and a manager who knows a bit, that just wasn't going to happen – he did not deserve an increase on his current contract based on performance and injury record, nor any guarantees.

Everton have hopefully turned a page, no more huge contracts for ordinary players – the lessons from the past need to be learned.

It will be interesting to see if those of us (me included) who did not rate him were correct in our assessment that he is no top striker.

That's right, you glossed over the big turning point in many fans' attitude to Calvert-Lewin in your otherwise very detailed article.

And the issue that marked that turning point has no relevance to football. Not very complicated?

The club did offer him a contract which was very performance based apparently.

However, he and his agents wanted more cash than his current contract and a guarantee of first choice striker if he was fit .

Where did you get those details from, Oliver?

Streets won't forget! 🤣

Best £8M any club ever made

I know Calvert-Lewin is on a ‘free' but it will end up the same result.

Most overrated player at our club for as long as I can remember and now runs his contract down so we get no fee for him. Class, my arse.

At least we got his wages off the books. Will he get to face us again? Only if we get relegated. See ya!

So glad you agree we are all entitled to our own opinion on this site.

For example, "Calvert-Lewin was shit" isn't opinion – it is a statement that says "Please ignore anything I say".

Don't hear the same complaints when Everton sign free agents who have run their contracts down at other clubs.

We were supposed to be signing Tete on a free, which may not be happening as Fulham have offered him an improved contract.

If he signs with them, is he doing the right thing by a club that have paid his wages when injured? Has he 'used' Everton? If he signs with us, is he a traitor?

It's all a bit double standards really.

I don't post on here to get other people's approval, I post on here because I can — if you don't like the posts' content and it does not meet your approval… move on.

Good player, not great, but always seemed to give his best. Nice bloke, and scored a couple of iconic goals.

Nobody here knows the ins and outs of the decision, even those who claim to. He certainly leaves with my respect.

His form has been fairly quiet with the exception of one season where one of the greatest ever managers played to his strengths… and he still only got 16 league goals!

No one except Newcastle has ever come in to sign him with any real intent. Maupay had more interest!!

He is and has always been a half-decent striker who works hard.

Good luck to him. Did the job he was paid to do, scored some very important goals. But long and short, multiple teams have signed more prolific forwards in the time he has been at Everton.

Can't fault him for getting injured. He has the chance to get a decent pay day and maybe play for a team in Europe, or be a bit-part player at Everton.

No bad feelings, hopefully Moyes can get a bit of money and sign someone better suited to the way we play football.

We move on.

Personally, his fashion shoot has never cropped up in conversation at home or away games. Typical social media fluff.

Do you feel that opinion-based comments should go unchallenged when they patently fall short of the requirement of needing to have some basis?

Do you feel that approval is needed to challenge opinion or that acceptance should be mandatory? (Many do.)

I tend to believe that garbage should be corrected where it can be shown to be incorrect or to have no basis. Fair enough if it's just silly opinion vs opinion tennis, these are just things to ignore… but surely opinion has to have a basis?

Nowhere in life can opinion not be challenged; should a forum be different? Different views are great but discussion and resolution are even better, don't you think?

Do you feel that bullshit should be challenged wherever it raises its ugly head? If so, you'll agree that bullshit comments have to be challenged. As it happens, most comments and opinions raised here are good.

So there's no crossed wires, I fully agree that it's great that people raise posts which are based on opinion.

My view is just that posts and hence opinion may be justifiably challenged. Enough said from me.

It's somewhat re-assuring that you don't post on here to gain other people's approval.

But whatever your motivation for posting... people are free to comment. It's the nature of the beast.

Do you actually think he wrote that message himself? really?

Do you agree it was correct of him to run his contract down for even more money?

Looks like he could be going to Leeds or Saudi if it is to be believed. He is very poor at the job he is paid to do i.e. score goals maybe you think that is BS as well. I'm sticking to my OPINION Like I said if you don't like it Lump it. Take care and have a nice night xx

My Newcastle supporting friends already understand why “we” gave Anthony Gordon shit!

Personally, I thought the shite about his photo shoot and the injury at Villa was shameful but let's not fall into the trap of believing other clubs' fans are different, or better than ours.

Just reading various reports on Calvert-Lewin over the last 6 months or so, listening to various football shows etc.

Without doubt, Everton offered him a new contract when Dyche was in charge, that offer was withdrawn when Moyes took over apparently.

Do you think if Everton had offered him the reported £125K a week he and his agents wanted he would have left – I don't!

Look at the money the club has saved with Harrison, Doucoure and Calvert-Lewin moving on – all bang average players, costing the club £300k a week – madness when you think about it!

Also a question, do you not feel it is not really a challenge to an expressed opinion to compare it with something that was not said? Eg "Calvert Lewin was shit"

It's a professional sport and he has taken a chance to test the water elsewhere. There is absolutely no guarantee he will get a new gig or if it will be on better money than he was on with us or offered in a new contract. In my view fans need to get over the notion that a player owes the club anything more than the terms of their contract. Running down a contract is a risk for the player, especially, one that has on balance a pretty poor record.

I say thanks for some important goals for the club and best of luck. He is now a former player and I hope we can do better...surely we can find someone that can play over 30 games and score double figures a season?

I have just read your post Richard. And although it was designed to retract from DCL and compare him to a complete and utter waste of space. You have done one thing which is to make me consider the prospect of DCL joining Arsenal.

A free transfer. This should be a no brainer. He's free and he is absolutely peerless when chances are created for him and he's exactly the player that Arsenal do not have and precisely the one they crave as their style of play creates an abundance of chances with nobody clinical enough to finish them.

Wow. Honestly. I would say if he joins the Gunners and stays fit he'll be 20 goals no problem

Our centre forward for nigh on 10 years, and he scored a “couple“ of iconic goals. Nuff sed.

I think Calvert-Lewin is well capable of writing his own message. However, I imagine he probably had some advisors/agent checking to make sure there were no hidden meanings and adjusting where appropriate. I imagine at the forefront of his thinking was that he didn't want to cause a fuss on ToffeeWeb.

I really hope he reads these messages.

The other's played 240 games for us, cost us comparatively next to nowt in fees and salary, played his bollocks off when fit, played 43 games for England in internationals (at a much better goal-scoring rate given the much better quality around him in those games), yet still scored 57 goals for us.

Some of us, bizarrely, still deem one a "legend"- ha-ha, whilst describing the other as a "failure", also ha-ha.

Can we please sign a player or two, at least, who're not allergic to disturbing the opposition nets?

He has played for some of the biggest teams in world football and is Belgium's highest ever goal scorer. Not bad for a big lump who couldn't trap a bag of cement.

To be fair to the lad, he was raw, as a converted midfielder he at least put the effort in. I enjoyed watching him improve, he learnt how to lead the line by improving his hold-up play, first touch and shooting. A great leap too.

But in all honestly, he was, like many Everton players, a good to average striker if in the right team and set-up.

He wanted too high a wage for it to make sense for us to keep him whilst we have made strides reducing the wages over the last few years. It just wasn't value for money, especially considering his injuries for the last 3 seasons.

He could make a useful sub at an Arsenal, Aston Villa, or Newcastle Utd because of his threat in the air and pace.

Currently he'd suit Nottm Forest, Man Utd or Brentford. Wingers and forwards that will supply him with crosses and chances in the box.

I wouldn't be surprised if he moved to the German or the Italian league.

Played for 9 years and got paid a decent wedge. I think he's not fit enough for full-on 100% Premier League – Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday.

Anyway,, good luck and thanks for Palace and the derby goal (s?) – we couldn't have done it without you. Feel free to pop in and see us at the new place anytime you're passing.

Wish him well... just not against us obviously.

Sorry, I respect the right for anybody to express their opinion. Where I say 'unfortunately' is because some believe that opinion can't be challenged and is equivalent to fact.

"Opinions are like arseholes"

Hairy?

Mike, 85# Actually "The Stracq" scored 3 for us, but that wasn't really my point. My comparison is more that he (Beto) is a blunt instrument than a quality player that's needed.

Dom is (was) a far better footballer than Beto; sadly, the injuries, the role he had to do for the past seasons under Dyche, and the subsequent loss of form and confidence meant it was time to move on.

It's been said many times on here that any forward, no matter how good, would have struggled to score goals under Dyche. (In my eyes, an unfortunate necessity given the incompetence of ownership.)

Frankly, substituting Beto for Calvert-Lewin is hardly a significant game-changer (wins nothing in the air, first touch is dreadful, but causes havoc in defences, still misses one-on-ones).

Don't you just love opinions?

It's fucking pathetic what's been said on here about DCL. Call yourselves Evertonians… you should be ashamed of yourselves. Obviously too many names to mention!

It was a splendid well-written article, he has chosen instead to move on to a new chapter, one that will reward him with a nice juicy signing-on fee.

Best of luck wherever you go… but, as the saying goes, no one player is bigger than Everton Football Club.

I was gutted when Latchford left, as others will have been when Young and Ball left. I felt it when Lineker was sold, when we were forced to sell Richarlison… but I'm not feeling the same with Dom leaving. I feel Everton tried most of this season to try and get him to sign a new contract – he chose not to, that is his choice.

It is now up to Everton to move on and try and bring a proven striker in. In time, I think we will manage quite nicely without Dom.

Personally, I think it will work out for both parties in the long run.

Comedy gold.

Not having a poop at you, Rob.

No, a player spurns us and moves on, we are not party to detail, offer, only gossip and innuendo. What was he offered? What has he turned down? How much was he on? Has it dropped or increased? By how much? What has the manager said to him? Does the manager want him? Who was playing "Hard Ball"?

In amongst all that is the truth but that doesn't sell newspapers... well, rarely..

Ain't a cardinal sin — not even a sin in my book.

We fans drop players equally quick...

He moves on to greener pastures and we reduce our wage bill and will be able to try someone else who does not have to score a bucket load of goals to be an improvement.

We still don't even really know if the club wanted to keep him.

And as for the supposed foregoing of a transfer fee showing his greed... is not the opposite true? Our supporters want him to forego the kind of personal signing-on fee he'll get and instead sign a contract he has no interest in seeing out so a business can benefit financially? Who is being greedy exactly?

It's business and everyone involved has acted in good faith for a long period of time, as much as I can tell. And they've done it for 9 years. At that point, I would have thought everyone shakes hands and thanks each other.

So a replacement costs us £60M over 3 years as opposed to another 3 years with Dom would have cost £18M...

In truth, to protect the club, players' contracts must either be longer or renewed with at least 2 years left on the contract. We failed to do that and have consistently repeated the problem which the BBC pointed out in an article not so long ago.

£200M written off - lessons Everton must learn in pivotal summer

Nice guy, dignified farewell, and all that. But I won't miss him as a player. If we as fans do indeed miss him, then it will be an indictment of further poor recruitment rather than being reflective of what Dominic genuinely offered as a striker over a 9-year period.

I hope that we don't sign our next No 9 and he turns out to be as great as our recently departed one. He had no rapport with the fans, no kids wearing the iconic Everton No 9 shirt with his name on and not even a bloody song for him.

I guess some Evertonians expect more of their No 9 than others, hey? But could he trap a bag of sand?? You bet he could. Legend? I think not.

ps: Thanks for the response to the bullshit comment, Martin.

I'll leave my sympathies for every ToffeeWebber that never had the chance to don the jersey.

Nice goodbye message.

The guy stole a living

Dom has good qualities but isn't the whole package; it will be hellishly difficult to attract someone who is the ‘whole package' without netting any sort of fee for his predecessor.

Everton, too, should be better without him, particularly if we can add a strong, fast, relatively injury-free replacement.

Good, well-written parting letter. I wish him all the best!

And take the money with you. Good luck. UTFT – move on.

Did well to fight back from the injuries he had. When you've been out that long, there has to be a doubt that you ever can get your body back to Premier League level. Credit to him, I thought he was done 2 years ago.

At one time he did very well. Surrounded by younger quality players, he had a good quality about himself that was recognised by England. Quick, held the ball up well and could finish with service.

In recent years, that has gone. The quality of service to him has been more agricultural, his teammates more limited, and with it a realisation that his technique isn't good enough on its own.

I see a player uncomfortable in one one-on-one chances, and a player that rarely goes full tilt. No doubt fearful of another injury. Better technique than Beto, but without the appetite to match the effort.

I am disappointed we didn't get a fee for him. It's another example of the gross mismanagement of this club. I didn't believe investing another £15M in wages to him over the next 3 years was the right thing to do either. In Moneyball terms, we are buying goals, but 3 goals in 26 games for £5-6M a season is a joke. And at 29 next birthday, I can't see him getting less injuries at 30 or 31.

I can see him being a good impact sub for someone. A place where he plays 10 minutes a game and the noddy game against FC Farmers League. But that's no use to us.

Good bye, Dom. Here's to finding new heroes.

Reports have Man Utd in for him.

How many of you out there would be happy to change your partner after 9 years? I'm thinking quite a few. Not because you have fallen out of love but because familiarity isn't enough and a different challenge and different surroundings can give new focus.

Sorry he's gone but it's the correct decision for him.

Now… what about Gana Gueye?

Will he stay or will he go?

I'm not going to abuse the lad, I just thought he was a lucky lad to wear the Everton Number 9 shirt and didn't score enough to justify it.

Les, Lukaku has won Serie A twice since leaving us, scoring bags of goals for Inter, Napoli and Belgium. I wish he was still wearing our colours. Cue the predictable Italy "farmers league" nonsense.

There will have to be news today either way? I know which way you and I want it to go.

Also Michael Keane. I can't recall whether that's already been announced?

Never a deadly finisher, he was hampered by injuries and mindless “lump it forward” tactics by various managers but, at the end of the day, he still lacked that striker's instinct and “cleanness” of strike.

Class departing statement which I wouldn't be surprised he did write himself. He's a very educated, likeable bloke and did not cost us a penny. I wouldn't have signed a new contract in his place either, given that he now has complete freedom to do what he wants with the rest of his life. If that includes a career in fashion, so what?

After 9 years, it's probably best for both parties to go their separate ways.

I think the club had offered him to Chelsea the previous summer for something closer to £40M but Chelsea decided to wait. Maybe the player also? Maybe both. Either way, we got seen off after he had refused to extend his contract at Everton.

To your earlier point. It always adds to the frustration of losing a player who was well-liked, especially when they are local Evertonians.

I understand how the modern game works. Players demand moves or clubs decide to cash in, with agents lurking in the background engineering transfers.

So, I am not naive; however, I can't comprehend that, hypothetically speaking, if I had been offered to stay at Everton, there is nowhere else I would be even considering.

It was the same with Rooney. That one hurt. Okay, taking him at his word, the club told him he was being sold at a time he didn't want to leave. I think we all knew he would eventually go on to the top. But the selfish Evertonian in me wished he'd have signed the new contract and given us another couple of seasons. Even a young Rooney wouldn't have got us back to the top on his own, but it would have been great watching him for a few more seasons in a blue shirt.

Hard to think he's still only 39; the same age as Ashley Young.

It hasn't really worked out for Ross since leaving. A few flashes of what he can do, then injuries, loss of form and a fair amount of time on the bench and bouncing around clubs.

The other unfulfilled part is for him, in his next move. His big chance was in January and a pre-contract with a Top 8 club. But he got injured again. I don't think any of those top sides would have a spot as first-choice striker for him, he isn't good enough and too injury-prone.

So it's either abroad, which might suit him, or one of the promoted clubs. Rumour has it he was looking for £140k plus a week. I think that will be a struggle even as a free.

A good player, but no good when you're injured all the time. Good luck.

As for 'unfulfilled'... given his ball striking and finishing is sub par, being first choice for a Premier League team and playing for England probably represents over-achievement? He got that by being a hard worker and a dedicated athlete, until his body let him down.

Ernie, agree with your thoughts about his next move and the timing of any announcement. It would be great if it was one of the Milan clubs for all the fashionistas out there. Had to check my spelling there or my post could have taken on an altogether different meaning.

It might have been better if they let him come to us and persuade Dominic to go in the opposite direction, no money involved.

Being honest, they'll wait a long time to get the £20M off that Turkish club!

I said way back in a post on this thread that I could see him at Roma and being the first goal scorer at our new stadium.

Stranger things have happened.

You're right, that will be an interesting negotiation over the price and payment plan for Abraham. Italian clubs are notoriously difficult to deal with. Almost in a "cosa nostra" way.

I think we have to realise we will continue to scrounge around in the bargain basement for some time to come until we can offer players either, A) Huge wages or, B) European football on a regular basis.

Calvert-Lewin probably thinks he can achieve these things elsewhere and who can blame him?

It's a work contract, he's not a fan. And who can blame him or point fingers after the shameful abuse his wife got?

Good luck, Dom. I hope things work out well for you and yours.

"Calvert-Lewin probably thinks he can achieve these things elsewhere and who can blame him?"

Anyone who's watched him over the last 5 years?

He then had an offer from Everton which he decided against, wanting a new challange, if that new challange turns out to be Newcastle, then it's safe to say he ran his contract down knowing he would be benefiting from a bigger signing on fee, it's just that Dom pockets that money instead of Everton, fair play to the lad.

Be interesting to see where he ends up, but all the sentiments about the fans the club, the new stadium etc, I just cannot get my head round with such emotions and happy times, why he would not want to stay for at least a season in the new stadium, even if he only signed a 1-year deal with option to extend it

Everything he wrote just not add up to a player unhappy at the club.

Good luck to the lad. I hope he, like Lukaku, proves the doubters wrong. I just hope in Dom's case we can replace him unlike Lukaku.

He's been here 9 years, for God's sake. How many of us, stuck in the same place for many years, have wondered if it was time for a change?

He's served the club well, putting his body on the line despite the injuries. How soul-destroying it must have been leading the line in some of the teams we've had during his time here.

And yes, I know he was paid well, but he's human like the rest of us. I thank him for his contribution to our great club and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

Anyway, last one from me on this thread and back to Dominic. Without counting through the 250 posts, there are naturally divided opinions. I sense most wish him well.

Even before this announcement, I was always of the opinion that I wouldn't be disappointed if he stayed, but wouldn't be disappointed if we parted ways.

Now for a replacement.

And I'm seeing you in a different light too! 😳

Good luck to him. I hope he gets a good contract and enjoys the rest of his playing days whenever they may be. Players come and go, the constant is us.

To weigh in briefly on the clothing issue - I'll quote Eddie Izzard who when asked by a reported, "Why do you wear woman's clothes?" he replied, "I'm not, these are my clothes".

People can wear whatever the hell they like. If you don't like it, I'm afraid that's your problem, not everyone else's. It literally has zero effect on you or your existence.

Unless you're a conspiracy theorist who believes in hidden agendas within the media to try to do some sort of gender-seeding or some such nonsense.