Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

Should Everton restructure their strike force

By Matt Townsend

PERTH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Odsonne Edouard of Celtic scores their team's first goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park on February 14, 2021 in Perth, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
PERTH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Odsonne Edouard of Celtic scores their team's first goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park on February 14, 2021 in Perth, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

The Toffees need more goalscoring talent and competition for their existing strike force, which has struggled at times during the campaign and become over-reliant on Dominic Calvert-Lewin for their goals.

Then there is the possibility, however slim, that another club might make a bid for the England centre-forward this summer after this breakthrough season. If that were to happen and the suitor offered a big fee then it could be tempting for the Blues to consider selling him.

It’s a situation that might be interesting because while Calvert-Lewin has his strengths I’m not convinced he can be that clinical finisher that Everton really need. And in addition, his qualities tend to force the team to play in a certain way that I think can sometimes be counter-productive.

Calvert-Lewin is a big, powerful, fast target man who is excellent in the air and works hard too. As I’ve said before he is very much like a traditional English centre-forward.

These are all excellent qualities, but to be effective he needs to play as the focal point. And as he’s not a natural finisher also usually requires a lot of chances to be created before he scores.

That means that the attack has to be set up around his strengths and that might not always be the best and most effective way for the side to operate.

It sometimes seems the Toffees become too predictable and tend to end up playing a rather crude, long ball game with a lot of high, hopeful balls into the box. Frankly at times this season the team has resembled a side that Sam Allardyce would be very comfortable with.

Home/Transfer Rumors