Everton must solve Calvert-Lewin conundrum to make progress after first away win

The defeat of Ipswich on Saturday was the first away win for Everton this season and in fact since last December when the Blues beat Burnley by the same scoreline.

Iliman Ndiaye and Micheal Keane's goals sealed the victory and gave the visitors three vital points but there were worrying failings in attack yet again.

On a number of occasions Dominic Calvert-Lewin in particular missed clear-cut opportunities to sooth any nerves

This is a narrative we have seen repeatedly for a long time where the former England international has fluffed his lines when in front of goal.

Calvert-Lewin has plenty of qualities and they were once again on display as he led the line with energy and commitment and showed his pace, willingness to run and ability to dominate in the air.

These qualities are essential to how the current Everton team is set up to play under Sean Dyche and it has been reasonably effective.

However, the issue of his wayward finishing has never been resolved and continues to undermine his contribution to this Toffees team.

It is becoming a major problem that the centre-forward leading the line in the Premier League cannot score goals with any regularity.

There was a time when it seemed as though Calvert-Lewin might become a player who was able to score something like 20-odd goals a season, which would make him a complete number nine.

Under the manager-ship of Carlo Ancelotti the Sheffield-born player bagged sixteen goals in that campaign.

Since then though he has seemingly gone backwards and now appears to be a less effective as a goal-scorer as the seasons go by.

So what can Everton do to change this situation?

To a considerable extent this is a question that only Dyche of course can answer as the current manager.

As we all know, Dyche's default approach is that long-ball strategy using a lone centre-forward in some variant of a 4-2-3-1 formation. The problem is that this approach starves the Blues of creating and scoring enough goals.

To some extent the club's summer transfer business has sought to address this with the signing of Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom.

While Ndiaye has been a great success and has already endeared himself to Everton supporters, Lindstrom has struggled to make an impact.

Ndiaye has though been playing largely on the flank with Dwight McNeil moving inside to operate as a sort of number ten.

To some extent this has worked quite well and McNeil has been perhaps the Toffees best player so far this season with a team-leading four goals and another three assists.

One possible solution is to move Ndiaye up alongside Calvert-Lewin to play as a second striker. The former Sheffield United and Marseille star can operate as a striker and has done.

That would mean a change of formation and tactics perhaps moving to a 4-4-2 with McNeil then moving back to a wide position.

Such a switch might though negate his increasing influence and success something I have wanted to see happen for a while now.

Another alternative would be to try a 4-3-3 with McNeil one of three in midfield and Ndiaye and another attacker playing either side of Calvert-Lewin.

There are two other aspects to this.

The first is the future of the 27-year-old forward. Calvert-Lewin's contract is up next summer and so far he has not signed the new deal that Everton are offering.

If he continues to stall on agreeing a new contract then the club have a big decision to make whether to sell the player in January and re-coup something or let him leave for nothing.

The other aspect to this is what happens with Amando Broja the forward Everton brought in on loan from Chelsea right at the end of transfer deadline day.

Broja has been injured ever since he joined the Blues and so far has not played a minute of Premier League football since.

If he does finally get fit and start playing well that might make the decision a bit easier.

One additional factor is Sean Dyche's future with The Friedkin Group closing in on a takeover and there are constant rumours that Dyche wil be replaced.

However this all plays out Everton need to find a way to score more goals while they tighten up the defence.