2020/21 Dominic Calvert-Lewin

[Barnfred 55]

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.

You must have been watching different games to the rest of us mate. He was absolutely awesome away to Leicester and very good against Chelsea and Arsenal too, dominating the opposition defences. Even though he wasn't scoring he was still being praised by pundits.

Also, you obviously know little about conditioning of top footballers. He was out for 3 weeks and would have been totally rested during that period to give his hamstring every chance to heal. That would definitely leave him short of match sharpness that would take a few games to recover. We've seen it also effect the likes of Allan, James and Digne this season. Have you been equally as critical of them.? If so, fair dues.

One thing we can agree on is that he returns to the form he showed earlier in the season, and hopefully 2 goals in the last 3 matches will take some of the anxiety away and he starts to slot again. I agree that the performances against Leicester and Newcastle are not good enough.

 

[Lanolin]

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.

That's a very strange reaction. I don't think anybody's saying we should sell him so not sure why you're putting it across like that. Maybe some people think that we might do better as a team with someone offering a more rounded threat and scoring less goals, it's hardly a crazy theory so not sure where your big huff is coming from tbh. I mean last week you were saying he was better than Aguero and his wek you're saying 'yeah but he'll never be able to shoot with his feet though'. You can see why I might be a bit confused, i'm sure.

 

[james2805]

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.

I agree regarding I probably wouldn't be backing him to slot. The annoyance for me is that he has shown glimmers of being able to do it. That over the top ball against West Ham in the cup he scored for example.

Or maybe its because he only had 1 touch to bring it down and 1 touch to finish. More instinctive I guess. But still a glimmer.

Think there was another through pass goal from him in that game too.

Just needs to start slotting those more often, more consistency. Otherwise we're gonna be relying on crosses into the box to score too much.

Need to be able to mix it up and hit through the middle at times too

 

[BlueStevie35]

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.

I would, he’s done it before

 

[Kurt.]

I agree regarding I probably wouldn't be backing him to slot. The annoyance for me is that he has shown glimmers of being able to do it. That over the top ball against West Ham in the cup he scored for example.

Or maybe its because he only had 1 touch to bring it down and 1 touch to finish. More instinctive I guess. But still a glimmer.

Think there was another through pass goal from him in that game too.

Just needs to start slotting those more often, more consistency. Otherwise we're gonna be relying on crosses into the box to score too much.

Need to be able to mix it up and hit through the middle at times too

I look at the teams around us and their striking options, same scenario 1-1 every time I’d back

salah
Mane
Rashford
Cavani
Vardy
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Banford
Sterling
Aguero
Jesus

And many more in the league to be honest

 

[hallamblue]

I think King next to him instead of Iwobi will help, he worked well with Wilson.

 

[catcherintherye]

That's a very strange reaction. I don't think anybody's saying we should sell him so not sure why you're putting it across like that. Maybe some people think that we might do better as a team with someone offering a more rounded threat and scoring less goals, it's hardly a crazy theory so not sure where your big huff is coming from tbh. I mean last week you were saying he was better than Aguero and his wek you're saying 'yeah but he'll never be able to shoot with his feet though'. You can see why I might be a bit confused, i'm sure.

I hope it didnt come across a big huff mate, just different views!

I'm not sure I said he was better than Aguero, but as of today, yes he is better than the 32 year old Aguero who is almost at the end of his career and ravaged with injuries. Is he better than a prime Aguero? Definitely not. Can he be? In my view, probably not. I'm all for the idea footballers can get better, but at 23/24 hes not going to become a whole different player.

That being said, Ageuro who is exceptional cant do some of the things Dom can. Hes can head balls in from 8 ft in the air the same way Dom can. I think there can be an over focus on what people can do, and more of a focus on what they are able to do.

As for the final point, it's a fair enough assertion. I'll be honest that I'm nervous of the idea. I had a similar belief the last time we had a similar goalscorer in Lukaku and it didnt work out that way at all. I'd also say, in general his all round play is very good, far more so than Lukaku.

To me the case against DCL is more that he is reaching peak value and that as a club, this might be a good moment to cash the chips. You look at Richarlinson last year, we didnt, and he has lost a lot of value since the .

You see that theres not much more improving he can do and that while hes performing to a world class level, hes not necessarily a world class player (if that makes sense)?

I can see some sense in that. You hedge that Moise Kean can come good and Richarlinson will kick on. Everyone will have a different view on it I'm sure, but 100m in a market where King goes for 2-3 and Ings has 12 months left on a deal is tempting.

 

[Joey66]

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.

If you watch MOTD last night he ran from an area which was most the of the pitch length overtaking everyone pace to burn disappointed he never scored that goal, but he scored our winner he can't please some posters on this thread 15 prem goals already .......

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.

Utter rubbish why would he join Leicester- they will win nothing.....

 

[Joey66]

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.

It wasn't though the facts say he scored our winner......

 

[PhilM]

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.

I agree, to an extent. I definitely don't think he's a great finisher in those positions and as I mentioned last night it's been a weakness for a few years now.

With Lukaku on the other hand, you'd pretty much think he was nailed on to score in those positions as he was so confident with one-on-one situations.

However, I know if you swapped the role around with poaching in the box or trying to control the ball then Dom would win all day, while Lukaku would moan.

My point being it's a horses for courses scenario, and I think it'll all boil down to subjectivity - what people perceive a top striker should be doing.

It's definitely an area of his game which DCL should improve, however I think he has many other areas of his game that are very, very good.

The real benchmark will be how many goals he scores because if he's regularly banging them I think I'll excuse him for not scoring one-on-ones all the time.

 

[paultheblue]

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.

I agree mate I do see improvement with him but I don't see the quality that many others seem to see.
Twice last night he had the chance to put the game to bed but fluffed both of them. Top 4 strikers finish those chances off , I am not knocking the lad I just think to get where we want to be he is not good enough.

 

[COYBL25]

If you watch MOTD last night he ran from an area which was most the of the pitch length overtaking everyone pace to burn disappointed he never scored that goal, but he scored our winner he can't please some posters on this thread 15 prem goals already .......

Utter rubbish why would he join Leicester- they will win nothing.....

Would you let him get naked with your missus Joey, that’s what every one really wants to know ?

 

[lesbattersby]

I look at the teams around us and their striking options, same scenario 1-1 every time I’d back

salah
Mane
Rashford
Cavani
Vardy
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Banford
Sterling
Aguero
Jesus

And many more in the league to be honest

Sterling missed a 1 v 1 last night as well

 

[Joey66]

I agree mate I do see improvement with him but I don't see the quality that many others seem to see.
Twice last night he had the chance to put the game to bed but fluffed both of them. Top 4 strikers finish those chances off , I am not knocking the lad I just think to get where we want to be he is not good enough.

I don't agree he scored our winner we paid a fortune for Rhico who missed easier chances........plus that pitch was like a skating rink ......DCL should have bagged two I agree, but when you win 2-1 with him getting the winner fault finding is pathetic he had a really good game still a lot to learn that will come .....the doomongers on DCL have almost disappeared, but one fault , and they pounce on to it with ifs and buts.....

 

[Sharpattack]

I just watched Sigurdsson’s goal again and at the time wondered why he was there instead of DCL. At the start of that move there were 4 players further ahead on the pitch than DCL. His success earlier in the season came because he was in or around the box, or certainly going full pelt in there, but now he’s dropping deeper or going wide to get involved. He should realise he’s there to score. Someone should tell him he’s not Messi.