Gabby Agbonlahor slams ‘shocking’ Everton attack live on talkSPORT, Ally McCoist agrees
Gabby Agbonlahor has fired shots at the “shocking” front line of Everton, with Ally McCoist admitting that this glaring weakness must be addressed this summer to move away from the relegation zone.
The Toffees survived the drop to the Championship by the skin of their teeth on Sunday (28 May), picking up a 1-0 win against Bournemouth to finish the season two points clear of the relegation zone on 36 points.
Speaking live on talkSPORT Breakfast, the pair of pundits slammed Everton’s blunt attack, which saw the club net just 34 goals in 38 Premier League games, and their top scorer, Dwight McNeil, amass just seven goals.
McCoist said: “Everton have had this problem all season, in terms of a lack of goals, and it is something they are seriously going to have to address next season.
“They got away with it again this year, they got away with it last year, and clearly stating the obvious there has to be some serious improvement otherwise, they will be in that position again next season.
“They have scored 34 goals this season, only Wolves have scored less,” Agbonlahor replied.
“That’s a shocking amount. That’s less than one a game and Calvert-Lewin has had problems, but he will be there next season, I am sure, and they need to go out and buy a top number nine.
“But who’s going to want to come to a club that keeps on fighting relegation.”
Groundhog day
It seems like Everton have been craving a top striker to partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin for years now, but time after time, they fail to deliver the goods in the transfer window.
The English forward can no longer be considered a dependable player over the course of a season due to his dreadful injury record, so at least one attacker needs to be brought into the club this summer.
After selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle in January for a fee of £45million, the Toffees should have a decent enough purse to spend this summer, but it will still take an effort to lure top-quality forwards to Goodison Park following the club’s recent struggles.
Yes, the fanbase and the history of the club more than play their part in making an incredible atmosphere on a weekly basis, but only four months ago, there were large protests on the streets outside Goodison Park and players being chased in their cars down the streets.
Everton are in dire need of a proven Premier League forward, but the quality they will be able to lure to Merseyside is still unknown.