Everton position by position: forwards

So we move onto the final section of the Everton team in our position-by-position analysis, with a look today at the Blues forwards.

This most glamorous and eye-catching position in the Everton team, is the one area of the side that actually looks a lot more settled and stable than any other at the moment.

That certainly wasn’t the case just six months or so ago, as once more the Toffees were struggling to score goals, even when they were creating chances.

Everton had never managed to replace Romelu Lukaku and his goals, when the big Belgian forward left for Manchester United in that eye-watering £75 million deal in 2017.

The club hadn’t spent that money replacing him much to the chagrin of many Evertonians. And so the Blues had been severely short of firepower ever since Lukaku left.

Last season under Marco Silva, the Toffees generally played with just one up front, usually Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the lone front man.

The young striker was still struggling to find consistency and enough self-confidence in front of goal. Although he wasn’t helped by Silva’s 4-2-3-1 formation that so often left him isolated and in positions where he couldn’t get into the right area to score goals in the first place.

Again at the start of this campaign, Everton had no real certainty as to who would be leading the line and who would or could, score the goals.

Calvert-Lewin was still the main striker but he was facing a real test this season. Could he make the breakthrough and realise his undoubted potential?

At first he was still having difficulty getting in the right place at the right time and his finishing was erratic and inconsistent. In the meantime, new signing Moise Kean was struggling for game-time and didn’t seem to have the confidence of his manager.

Things began to change when Silva was finally sacked in early December after a dreadful first half to the season.

First of all interim manager Duncan Ferguson, went with a 4-4-2 formation to improve the solidity and defensive resilience of the team. This certainly helped Calvert-Lewin, who now had a regular partner up front in Richarlison, playing off him and supporting his play.

When Carlo Ancelotti took over in late December, he persisted with this system and Calvert-Lewin alongside Richarlison, thrived.

Under the wing of the urbane and canny Italian, the two forwards quickly gelled and began scoring freely, especially Calvert-Lewin who was suddenly full of confidence. He was finding space, making the right runs, and finishing well. In fact for me he was the most improved player on the Everton team.

In the meantime Richarlison was becoming a truly dynamic attacking force, one of the most dangerous and effective forwards in the Premier League.

The only issue was the Blues third forward, Kean. Although he had a bit more time on the pitch under Ancelotti, he was still not able to find his feet consistently and his future is uncertain.

So given all this, should Everton consider acquiring any other strikers this summer?

Obviously to some extent this will depend on whether or not Kean is sold, or loaned out. There are many stories circulating about possible loan or other transfers involving Kean, so we will see what if any of them have any basis.

I’ve mentioned repeatedly that I would be reluctant to sell Kean or even probably loan him, given that Everton have spent so much money on the youngster only six months ago.

He’s not had much chance to really cement a place in the team. Lets give him a full season under Ancelotti and see if he can get a consistent chance to play and progress.

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But if he does move on, then I do think the Blues will need another striker. I’ve also said that I think that player should be an experienced, proven goalscorer to support the young forwards.

There are a number of those sort of strikers such as Olivier Giroud or Josep Ilicic, who I think would fit the bill. One other would be Dries Martens, the Napoli forward.

Everton have been linked with a move for him, Ancelotti of course knows him well, and it appears he is out of contract this summer unless he signs an extension.

Martens certainly has the experience and quality and if he is out of contract, then the Toffees wouldn’t have to pay a fee for him. He would give the Blues attack some needed extra class and attacking nous and although he is 33, if he came on a free that would still make sense.