2020/21 Dominic Calvert-Lewin

[Barnfred 55]

He ran from our pen box on that breakaway did everything right, but made a mess of his finish - baring that he had a very good game......

As per normal we get carried away on players, both good and bad. Many people in here were so over the top on Dom in slagging him off during his developing. Similarly, many on here have been over the top in their praise when he went through a very fruitful scoring spell.

The truth in the matter is that since his debut 4 years ago, we have seen a steady and consistent improvement in him season on season. He is now a fine all round centre forward of proven Premier standard, and deserved back up to Kane at International level. But he is most definitely not the finished article, at 23 he is still improving and developing. The one on one we saw last night is one such area of development, long distance shooting another and also consistency.

Hopefully those things will come, but even if they don't we already have a striker capable of scoring 20 premier goals a season if he stays fit. Not many of those around.

 

[Mkjjones]

With DCL he has a lot more than staying in that 6 yard box, he needs to do more when our team is beating the press, getting though the opposition midfield, he needs to ask the ball to feet, and with his excellent turn and strength he can start a counter attack, and end it as well.

 

[D410]

All strikers are selfish but he deserved to get ripped by Carlo for not playing Ricky.

Team Game with intelligence not strength.

 

[Saint Domingo]

We know what he is. He’s exceptional in the box, he’s probably the best in the league in the air, his close range finishing is very good, and he’ll work hard for the team. What he is not great at is scoring from outside the box, making chances for himself, or one on one finishing (although he is getting better). He’s always going to miss chances he should score as I don’t think he’ll ever be as technically good as an Aguero or Suarez type. Those types of players aren’t piling in headers like we saw against Spurs though are they so sometimes we just have to accept that even though he’s a very good striker he’s not a complete striker. Not many are though!

 

[Barnfred 55]

He doesn't have to score to have good games, but he's not scoring or having good games prior to tonight.

You need to expand on that. He may not have been scoring, but he was playing well throughout December during that excellent run of wins against top teams.

He was poor against West Ham but we know now he wasn't fit for that game, and didn't play well in either of the games against Leicester or Newcastle. At the top level it's very rare for players to come back from injury and hit top form immediately. With strikers, barren runs also affect form and confidence.

I'm much more concerned about the form of our other striker, Richarlison at the moment. He hasn't played well since the derby, and it's amazing really that we're as high in the league as we are without our most influential player contributing, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to Dominic.

Let us hope that both our strikers return to the form they showed at the start of the season as we'll finish top 4 if they do.

 

[larbert toffee]

As per normal we get carried away on players, both good and bad. Many people in here were so over the top on Dom in slagging him off during his developing. Similarly, many on here have been over the top in their praise when he went through a very fruitful scoring spell.

The truth in the matter is that since his debut 4 years ago, we have seen a steady and consistent improvement in him season on season. He is now a fine all round centre forward of proven Premier standard, and deserved back up to Kane at International level. But he is most definitely not the finished article, at 23 he is still improving and developing. The one on one we saw last night is one such area of development, long distance shooting another and also consistency.

Hopefully those things will come, but even if they don't we already have a striker capable of scoring 20 premier goals a season if he stays fit. Not many of those around.

This to a word, well said Banfred.

 

[Carloblues]

You need to expand on that. He may not have been scoring, but he was playing well throughout December during that excellent run of wins against top teams.

He was poor against West Ham but we know now he wasn't fit for that game, and didn't play well in either of the games against Leicester or Newcastle. At the top level it's very rare for players to come back from injury and hit top form immediately. With strikers, barren runs also affect form and confidence.

I'm much more concerned about the form of our other striker, Richarlison at the moment. He hasn't played well since the derby, and it's amazing really that we're as high in the league as we are without our most influential player contributing, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to Dominic.

Let us hope that both our strikers return to the form they showed at the start of the season as we'll finish top 4 if they do.

I don't know, I myself don't think he's played well for about 7-8 games including some of them games you mentioned. I don't buy the injury reasoning either considering he only missed a couple of games, maybe just been overly harsh on him but like to see him do more.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I think Ings would be a smart buy with 12 months to go. He works hard and can play off the striker. He would be available at a heavily reduced price. I think he's a similar level overall to King though a different type of player. It's smart business.

Sadly think he'll end up at Leicester as Vardy's eventual successor even more so if they can crack the top 4 this season.

With Kean likely out the door for £30 million + it makes sense to bring in another good CF to give us options particularly if we can qualify for Europe.

 

[riddick]

I am a big Calvert Lewin defender (people may have noticed) but there probably had to be a bit of realism of what he is and isn't. I can only think of 1 chance in the 1st half (the one with the left foot). It was a tame "decent" effort but not the finish of a top striker. Ultimately he is not a very good ball striker, relative to his position. His shot is not massively powerful, particularly on his left. You see Moise Kean lash balls at the goal with real power, it's not a strength of DCL.

He's a very good finisher with his head. I don't think he's ever going to be a prolific finisher though in terms of his feet due to that technique. He's good at getting tap ins. Ancelotti has worked in his strengths.

Bas Dost then? It's not an insult, it's just that Dost scored almost everything wtih his head and was/is sub-par with his finishing otherwise.

 

[Billy Dean]

Had a poor game yesterday. Both him and Richy look knackered. Hopefully King will allow them to get a bit of rest here and there.

 

[james2805]

He has pace to burn, a side of his game I'd like to see more of. His run from our half to get in position for the counter chance was great. Just a shame the finish didn't match the run. If he improves on those kinda chances he would be close to being a complete striker.

And another chance Richarlison was way better positioned if he just slipped him in.

In the box poaching.... 10/10
Outside the box or time to think 6/10

 

[Nymzee]

His movement and timing of runs has always been very good to be fair. Glad he’s doing it more often.

Finish at the end was pants but great curved run to stay onside and get the 1v1 from Doucs.

 

[Kurt.]

Imagine being 0-0 in an important game, 5 mins to go, ball over the top and Dom is onto it facing just the keeper 1-1, would you back him to slot ?

not sure I would to be honest. This is why I think a lot of our fan base massively overate him.

 

[catcherintherye]

The second one was when he ignored Richarlison and shot. I'm not sure not being able to shoot with your feet is an acceptable weakness in a top level striker personally. I think he's young enough and developing enough that it's something he can work on and get better at. If he doesn't then I think his career will start to flounder, because he can't just score from set pieces and nothing else if we're going to be successful. He has to add either the ability to score different goals or the ability to create more in the long run. I'm not having a go at him, as I say I believe he can do it, but I don't agree that we just shrug it off as one of them things.

Well hes scored 16 goals with it in just over half a season thus far, so I suspect his base level will be fine.

There can certainly be improvements, and in honesty he probably our most improved player over the last 4 years, but there is an innate talent too. I'm sure he will get better, but hes not going to have it as a strength.

If that's not enough for people it's fair enough. I'll be open to hear who else we can get, who is going to score us likely 25+ domestic goals outside of penalties and has evidence the top English league.

 

[catcherintherye]

Sadly think he'll end up at Leicester as Vardy's eventual successor even more so if they can crack the top 4 this season.

With Kean likely out the door for £30 million + it makes sense to bring in another good CF to give us options particularly if we can qualify for Europe.

Not a bad shout that with Leicester. I suppose it's our job to try and pip them!