2021/22 Dominic Calvert-Lewin

[Eggs]

We're in a relegation battle because too many people thought that too many of our players were better than they are.

All players have a price at which a club is well advised to sell. DCL's is falling with every passing week. And let's be honest: he's been of no use to us this season. Therefore, if we can get a decent price for him, it's a no-brainer to sell as will will still have no DCL but we will have, say, €40m to play with.

…no, we’re in a relegation battle because the club appointed a manager who was not only a dreadful coach but also caused division throughout the club (dressing room, training staff, boardroom and fans). He set out every game to consolidate, resulting in us invariably going a goal down.

It’s very difficult to survive that.

 

[Zatara]

The way fans have turned on Dom is grim. I honestly don’t get it when a player we know is very decent goes off form and people will say stuff like he isn’t arsed, his heads been turned etc.

Dom did an interview where he said he’s doing extra shifts in training, frustrated by his form but people still slate him.

Just don’t get it myself.

I dont think its a straightforward as this.

Personally, Ive been a supporter of DCL's for a long time now. I'm also someone who believes we should have an English core of players.

Logically that would mean those like Pickford, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gordon and DCL. All 'young' for their respective positions and from u20 to full England internationals who appear to have 'the right attitude' with potential to improve further.

However, when it comes to DCL specifically:

1: He's been injured or getting back to fitness for what appears to be 95% of the season. Are their going to be limitations to his game and is there a risk to keep him?

2: When you take a look at the 'football italia' thread in 'world football' you can see some of the amazing strikers back in the 90s. Away from the top English teams weve seen players like Yeboah, Yakubu, Ravanelli and more...is DCL a matchwinner like these players who can win games on his own or do we need to build the team to cover his limitations?

3: Due to the clubs poor (un)strategic spending mistakes we look likely to operate on a sell to buy basis. For a £50-60mil fee and taking into account 1+2 above is it possible for us to sell DCL and reinvest in a potentially superior player?

Really this 3rd point can apply to Richarlison, Pickford, Godfrey, Gray and DCL...can we sell and buy the next 'Yakubu/Yeboah/Ravanelli' or even the next Rooney/Ronaldo etc?

4: After the season weve had and the decline of league performance over the past 7 seasons, could it be time to rip up most of the squad and back Thelwell and Lampard to put their stamp down?


TLDR
1: Is he going to be the same pre injury player?

2: Do we need to build a team around him and is he worth it?

3: Could we sell and invest in young players who are potentially far superior?

4: Should we just relax and back Thelwell + Lampard to sell anyone and rebuild?

 

[Uuuuuurgh plop plop]

I dont think its a straightforward as this.

Personally, Ive been a supporter of DCL's for a long time now. I'm also someone who believes we should have an English core of players.

Logically that would mean those like Pickford, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gordon and DCL. All 'young' for their respective positions and from u20 to full England internationals who appear to have 'the right attitude' with potential to improve further.

However, when it comes to DCL specifically:

1: He's been injured or getting back to fitness for what appears to be 95% of the season. Are their going to be limitations to his game and is there a risk to keep him?

2: When you take a look at the 'football italia' thread in 'world football' you can see some of the amazing strikers back in the 90s. Away from the top English teams weve seen players like Yeboah, Yakubu, Ravanelli and more...is DCL a matchwinner like these players who can win games on his own or do we need to build the team to cover his limitations?

3: Due to the clubs poor (un)strategic spending mistakes we look likely to operate on a sell to buy basis. For a £50-60mil fee and taking into account 1+2 above is it possible for us to sell DCL and reinvest in a potentially superior player?

Really this 3rd point can apply to Richarlison, Pickford, Godfrey, Gray and DCL...can we sell and buy the next 'Yakubu/Yeboah/Ravanelli' or even the next Rooney/Ronaldo etc?

4: After the season weve had and the decline of league performance over the past 7 seasons, could it be time to rip up most of the squad and back Thelwell and Lampard to put their stamp down?


TLDR
1: Is he going to be the same pre injury player?

2: Do we need to build a team around him and is he worth it?

3: Could we sell and invest in young players who are potentially far superior?

4: Should we just relax and back Thelwell + Lampard to sell anyone and rebuild?

Mate he had 1 good season under Ancelotti. A season when we played counter attack at home because no fans were there and the whole team was geared up to get crosses in to him. He still needs about 14 shots on target to find the net.

He's just not a natural goal scorer and if we had one then he would find himself a bit part player. He's also now suffered a long term injury and our track record with those is that he will never stay fit again. Get him gone, if someone is daft enough to pay £40+ million then I'd snap their hand off.

 

[Zatara]

Mate he had 1 good season under Ancelotti. A season when we played counter attack at home because no fans were there and the whole team was geared up to get crosses in to him. He still needs about 14 shots on target to find the net.

He's just not a natural goal scorer and if we had one then he would find himself a bit part player. He's also now suffered a long term injury and our track record with those is that he will never stay fit again. Get him gone, if someone is daft enough to pay £40+ million then I'd snap their hand off.

Prior to the start of this season he had improved every year. So i dont think its black/white especially when you see what he 'could' bring to a team.

£40mil wouldnt be ideal in isolation. £60mil is a no brainer and £50mil is interesting i think but it depends on how much a better replacement would cost.

I think if you look across the planet for 'younger and technically superior' players who also can be match winners while having a high ceiling for improvement theres not many around these days.

Heres a link to the u23 centre forwards that could be seen as replacements.

Most valuable players

www.transfermarkt.com

When you factor in affordability and attainability and finally suitability and adaptability then its quite a limited list.

I'm a big fan of Amine Gouiri but to get the best out of him we'd need a better midfield + play the ball on the deck + have goalscorers either side of him.

He plays for Nice so wont be cheap...

 

[hallamblue]

…no, we’re in a relegation battle because the club appointed a manager who was not only a dreadful coach but also caused division throughout the club (dressing room, training staff, boardroom and fans). He set out every game to consolidate, resulting in us invariably going a goal down.

It’s very difficult to survive that.

I think that's too simplistic. We had a terrible run of results at the end of last season, which showed we'd been papering over the cracks, then we couldn't buy players due to financial restrictions, and lost Siggurdson because of events outside of football. Benitez didn't help, but he was just one of a number of factors.

 

[Uuuuuurgh plop plop]

Prior to the start of this season he had improved every year. So i dont think its black/white especially when you see what he 'could' bring to a team.

£40mil wouldnt be ideal in isolation. £60mil is a no brainer and £50mil is interesting i think but it depends on how much a better replacement would cost.

I think if you look across the planet for 'younger and technically superior' players who also can be match winners while having a high ceiling for improvement theres not many around these days.

Heres a link to the u23 centre forwards that could be seen as replacements.

Most valuable players

www.transfermarkt.com

When you factor in affordability and attainability and finally suitability and adaptability then its quite a limited list.

I'm a big fan of Amine Gouiri but to get the best out of him we'd need a better midfield + play the ball on the deck + have goalscorers either side of him.

He plays for Nice so wont be cheap...

You should take those tables and charts with a massive pinch of salt. Look at Moise Kean, 12th on the list and I'll guarantee that he will fade into oblivion.

There's more to football than "potential" and "ceiling for improvement". Look at Tim Cahill, it was all pure attitude. You can't coach that, you can't refine it. It's just a burning desire in them to succeed.

 

[Methuselah]

He needs a manager who can kick his ass.

 

[hallamblue]

The main thing is we have a replacement lined up and a price agreed before we sell. Historically we've sold players and then had no idea what to do with the money, and other clubs have rinsed us.

 

[Gilbert..]

Mate he had 1 good season under Ancelotti. A season when we played counter attack at home because no fans were there and the whole team was geared up to get crosses in to him. He still needs about 14 shots on target to find the net.

He's just not a natural goal scorer and if we had one then he would find himself a bit part player. He's also now suffered a long term injury and our track record with those is that he will never stay fit again. Get him gone, if someone is daft enough to pay £40+ million then I'd snap their hand off.

I'm afraid there is an element of truth in that and i think many deny it. Im also not sure of the exact stats but how many were assisted by digne in that 6 or 7 months. I think its high. Which does in fairness to him suggest if you give him good service he can get his head on then he is good in that respect. But also says he creates little off his own talent and he isnt the type who creates of finishes off his own back.
I look and looked at him prior to ancelotti and saw a potential bullying Everton number 9. The perfect example being the goal v spurs on the opening day with ancelotti. The cross(digne) was what ive wanted to see from him. That aggressive get the fck out of my way this is my ball attitude coupled with the fantastic header. By far his biggest strength.
The away game at burnley was a massive disapointment for me. At that point our biggest game of the season and i thought the one thing we really needed from him was to be aggressive up top. He was tame and timid.
Has he made a name for himself in 6/7 months under ancelotti and thought im now better than Everton? I dont know. And Everton are as much to blame because as stated this fella should be getting pumped with crosses esp at Goodison to get the best out of him. He doesnt and hasnt ever really stretched teams in other parts of his game. So it should always be use what he has. Crosses into the box.

 

[blue61]

Sell, buy a false number 9 who could wear Doms false eyelashes. Sorted.

 

[Zatara]

You should take those tables and charts with a massive pinch of salt. Look at Moise Kean, 12th on the list and I'll guarantee that he will fade into oblivion.

There's more to football than "potential" and "ceiling for improvement". Look at Tim Cahill, it was all pure attitude. You can't coach that, you can't refine it. It's just a burning desire in them to succeed.

Its literally a list of every known u23 player in world football...

Theres pages and pages of them.

 

[blu87554]

I dont think its a straightforward as this.

Personally, Ive been a supporter of DCL's for a long time now. I'm also someone who believes we should have an English core of players.

Logically that would mean those like Pickford, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gordon and DCL. All 'young' for their respective positions and from u20 to full England internationals who appear to have 'the right attitude' with potential to improve further.

However, when it comes to DCL specifically:

1: He's been injured or getting back to fitness for what appears to be 95% of the season. Are their going to be limitations to his game and is there a risk to keep him?

2: When you take a look at the 'football italia' thread in 'world football' you can see some of the amazing strikers back in the 90s. Away from the top English teams weve seen players like Yeboah, Yakubu, Ravanelli and more...is DCL a matchwinner like these players who can win games on his own or do we need to build the team to cover his limitations?

3: Due to the clubs poor (un)strategic spending mistakes we look likely to operate on a sell to buy basis. For a £50-60mil fee and taking into account 1+2 above is it possible for us to sell DCL and reinvest in a potentially superior player?

Really this 3rd point can apply to Richarlison, Pickford, Godfrey, Gray and DCL...can we sell and buy the next 'Yakubu/Yeboah/Ravanelli' or even the next Rooney/Ronaldo etc?

4: After the season weve had and the decline of league performance over the past 7 seasons, could it be time to rip up most of the squad and back Thelwell and Lampard to put their stamp down?


TLDR
1: Is he going to be the same pre injury player?

2: Do we need to build a team around him and is he worth it?

3: Could we sell and invest in young players who are potentially far superior?

4: Should we just relax and back Thelwell + Lampard to sell anyone and rebuild?

I'm afraid there is an element of truth in that and i think many deny it. Im also not sure of the exact stats but how many were assisted by digne in that 6 or 7 months. I think its high. Which does in fairness to him suggest if you give him good service he can get his head on then he is good in that respect. But also says he creates little off his own talent and he isnt the type who creates of finishes off his own back.
I look and looked at him prior to ancelotti and saw a potential bullying Everton number 9. The perfect example being the goal v spurs on the opening day with ancelotti. The cross(digne) was what ive wanted to see from him. That aggressive get the fck out of my way this is my ball attitude coupled with the fantastic header. By far his biggest strength.
The away game at burnley was a massive disapointment for me. At that point our biggest game of the season and i thought the one thing we really needed from him was to be aggressive up top. He was tame and timid.
Has he made a name for himself in 6/7 months under ancelotti and thought im now better than Everton? I dont know. And Everton are as much to blame because as stated this fella should be getting pumped with crosses esp at Goodison to get the best out of him. He doesnt and hasnt ever really stretched teams in other parts of his game. So it should always be use what he has. Crosses into the box.

This is all right on the money.

People seem to forget pre ancelotti there wasa lot of doubt on dcl for the same reasons as today: can he convert chances into goals.

People suggested to carlo if perhaps, dcl could be converted into an inzaghi type forward. Inzaghi was a forward who would make the most of chances even if he wasnt that technically gifted. Ive seen him play many times. The tap ins, the open goals, he would score them.

""we will train more with dominique to make him more effective for the opportunities he gets, then well see"" carlo said. With rodrigues and sigurdson next to richy, dcl got passes, crosses delivered on a platter. In the first 6 months he seemed to have come alive with 2 hattricks as a highlight. Then he got injured and only came back around february 2021. We had several éasy'games against low table teams the next 8 or 9 weeks. The staggering amount of misses by dcl, again, made him give that earlier quoted and linked april 2021 article, where he stated criticism on dcl is fair, and that he would talk with him.

In a way ive never seen dcl operate again as in that small window at the end of 2020.

Im all for guys who admit they cant live up to legends - and by now its very clear dcl will never be an inzaghi, but at least work your socks off. Indeed, as that game at burnley showed, dcl seems more bothered with adjusting his hair than running, blood sweat and tears. This is what ive seen many times with him and why im more than finished with having patience. If arsenal or newcastle want to buy him for 40 milion lets do it today. I rather have richy - not a center forward - leading the line than him.

Another point worth making: inzaghi played for a counter attack milan. Large parts of games they got outplayed, only for inzaghi to win the game in the last 10 minutes or so, completly against the grain. For a moment that is nice but your whole team needs to be able to absord pressure, high press and what nott. We dont have a team for that play. Nor should we want to want that. Its not very good for PM play in the 21st century.

 

[Bluestar]

…no, we’re in a relegation battle because the club appointed a manager who was not only a dreadful coach but also caused division throughout the club (dressing room, training staff, boardroom and fans). He set out every game to consolidate, resulting in us invariably going a goal down.

It’s very difficult to survive that.

So years of poor recruitment, no transfer budget and an insane injury crisis had no impact?

The trajectory was set a long time before Benitez I’m afraid.

 

[Zatara]

This is all right on the money.

People seem to forget pre ancelotti there wasa lot of doubt on dcl for the same reasons as today: can he convert chances into goals.

People suggested to carlo if perhaps, dcl could be converted into an inzaghi type forward. Inzaghi was a forward who would make the most of chances even if he wasnt that technically gifted. Ive seen him play many times. The tap ins, the open goals, he would score them.

""we will train more with dominique to make him more effective for the opportunities he gets, then well see"" carlo said. With rodrigues and sigurdson next to richy, dcl got passes, crosses delivered on a platter. In the first 6 months he seemed to have come alive with 2 hattricks as a highlight. Then he got injured and only came back around february 2021. We had several éasy'games against low table teams the next 8 or 9 weeks. The staggering amount of misses by dcl, again, made him give that earlier quoted and linked april 2021 article, where he stated criticism on dcl is fair, and that he would talk with him.

In a way ive never seen dcl operate again as in that small window at the end of 2020.

Im all for guys who admit they cant live up to legends - and by now its very clear dcl will never be an inzaghi, but at least work your socks off. Indeed, as that game at burnley showed, dcl seems more bothered with adjusting his hair than running, blood sweat and tears. This is what ive seen many times with him and why im more than finished with having patience. If arsenal or newcastle want to buy him for 40 milion lets do it today. I rather have richy - not a center forward - leading the line than him.

Another point worth making: inzaghi played for a counter attack milan. Large parts of games they got outplayed, only for inzaghi to win the game in the last 10 minutes or so, completly against the grain. For a moment that is nice but your whole team needs to be able to absord pressure, high press and what nott. We dont have a team for that play. Nor should we want to want that. Its not very good for PM play in the 21st century.

Disagree with a couple of things...

1: Judging DCL on anything this season apart from the 3 goals he scored at the beginning is extremely harsh. Hes clearly not been fit OR hes suffered a lasting issue due to injury.

2: Inzaghi was offside so many times, he must have broken a record for it. Class/lethal finisher of course but really played on the shoulder which was very different to how weve used DCL -- the only similarity that Ancelotti highlighted was "one touch finishes".

3: Totally diagree about counter attacking being out of date. You look at our 541 formation that weve been using recently and imagine that setup with real quality players added in a few positions....it would be incredibly effective against teams and a leveller against the top sides.

 

[Drico]

…no, we’re in a relegation battle because the club appointed a manager who was not only a dreadful coach but also caused division throughout the club (dressing room, training staff, boardroom and fans). He set out every game to consolidate, resulting in us invariably going a goal down.

It’s very difficult to survive that.

The problems go waaaay deeper than the appointment of one man. Until the fanbase as a whole realises that, the board will continue to mismanage our once-great club.

And, sorry, but many of our fans massively overrate many of our players. After this season - and last six months of the previous season under the best manager in the world - it should be clear to all but the blinkered that the players are simply not good enough. There needs to be a massive, ruthless purge of our playing staff come the summer. The alternative, inevitably, will be the sacking of yet another manager come Christmas and another mindless go on the merry-go-round.