Lampard comments on strikers, Calvert-Lewin and Everton worrying

Frank Lampard has been quoted saying that while Everton are looking at new striking options in the transfer market, whoever they bring in has to be short-term cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Everton boss has indicated in these statements that he still sees Calvert-Lewin as central to his plans, when the former England international eventually returns to fitness.

These comments worry me because they indicate that the Blues’ manager isn’t looking for long-term alternative reinforcements, which I think is essential.

Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems have become so severe that I really don’t think he can ever be relied upon to lead the line for the Toffees’.

He missed most of last season with a succession of injuries and now he hasn’t even kicked a ball for the Blues’ in this campaign and he’s again out hurt for who knows how long.

And, on top of that I question his attitude and commitment to Everton’s cause. He seems to pick up rather too many of these slightly mysterious injuries and he often appears more interested in attending fashion shoots than scoring goals for Everton.

Given all this I really think the club need to look at alternatives to him as I just don’t see how you can build an attack around a player who is so unreliable.

So, with all this in mind, I think the Toffees’ should really be looking at alternatives that enable them to vary their attacking tactics and approach.

I’ve also mentioned before that in many ways Calvert-Lewin’s qualities as a centre-forward are not ideally suited to playing a more fluid, modern style of football.

That would mean something like a front three with interchangable forwards, ultimately similar to the way that Manchester City and Liverpool in particular play.

Lampard has said he wants his Everton teams to play in a more flexible way and has experimented with variations of a 4-3-3 formation and an attacking front three.

In the opening two games of the new season for example, he has used a front three of sorts with Anthony Gordon, Demari Gray, Dwight McNeil and Dele Alli.

This hasn’t worked not least because Gordon isn’t suited to playing as the central forward or false nine in that sort of three-man attack.

And, Calvert-Lewin is a more traditional leader of the line and so this kind of gameplan wouldn’t seem likely to suit his strengths as a striker.

Richarlison could have played centrally in a more fluid frontline, but obviously he’s gone after moving to Tottenham earlier this summer.

I think Everton need to find a forward (or preferably two forwards) who can give then that degree of flexibility. rather than just a short-term replacement for DCL. But, as usual all we can do is wait and see if, or presumably when, the club get new forwards in.