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Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell slammed as Everton ‘career-defining’ verdict shared ahead of clash v Bournemouth
Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell must be questioned for bringing Neal Maupay to Everton, according to Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley.
The former Toffees boss Lampard and current director of football Thelwell signed the striker for £15million from Brighton last summer.
He has scored just one goal from his 27 Premier League appearances this season, but could be in line for a start against Bournemouth on Sunday (28 May) due to the injury struggles of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“The problem for the Blues – who have scored just 33 goals in 37 games – all season has been that they have no viable like-for-like replacement for the England international and whoever Dyche selects, they will bring considerably different attributes up front,” Beesley wrote for the Liverpool Echo. “Given how high the stakes are, it could be a career-defining call for the 51-year-old Blues boss.
“The man Everton brought in for £15million from Brighton & Hove Albion early in the season as Calvert-Lewin’s supposed main alternative was Neal Maupay.
“There’s just no way that the diminutive 5ft 8in Maupay can slot in seamlessly for someone like 6ft 2in Calvert-Lewin who is one of the most aerially-dominant centre-forwards in the Premier League and such a mismatch invariably must bring question marks over the recruitment policy by director of football Kevin Thelwell and former manager Frank Lampard for bringing him to be deployed in such a role he is incapable of fulfilling.”
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Poor decision
In hindsight, the pricey signing of Maupay has not been a good move for the Toffees, or indeed for the player himself, with the striker failing dramatically to hit the heights he reached at Brighton.
The forward was regularly on the scoresheet for the Seagulls, but his goals have dried up completely, with Maupay netting his only goal for the Toffees back in September.
Ironically, his strike earned his club all three points in their 1-0 win at West Ham, with that goal potentially proving to be monumental in Everton’s Premier League safety.
It remains to be seen if Calvert-Lewin will be passed fit for the huge clash with the Cherries and, if not, who will take his place in the starting XI.
Sean Dyche simply won’t care where the goals come from against Bournemouth, as long as they come, with Everton dangerously close to dropping down into the Championship.