Everton: Alan Stubbs delivers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto verdict ahead of Manchester United
Alan Stubbs has delivered his verdict live on air on whether Beto or Dominic Calvert-Lewin should start ahead of a clash between Everton and Manchester United on Saturday (9 March).
Beto was given the nod during the Toffees’ 3-1 defeat to West Ham on Saturday 2 March, missing a penalty before heading home the opener in the match.
While Calvert-Lewin has been a mainstay in Sean Dyche’s squad, when fit, the forward has only netted three times this season, with Everton struggling in front of goal.
Speaking via talkSPORT on Saturday (9 March, 8:09am), Stubbs said: “Everton have been creating chances but just haven’t been converting them. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in a really poor vein of form, so Sean Dyche made the decision last week to bring in Beto and he got a goal.
“He gives you work rate, he tries his best, but he does lack quality at times. In comparison to Calvert-Lewin, he gets in defenders’ faces and makes them uncomfortable, rustling them up, whereas Calvert-Lewin looks a shadow of himself. He looks like he has the weight of the team on his shoulders.
Asked by Natalie Sawyer if he thinks Beto will start against Man United, he replied: “I do. I think he’ll go with him. Where Everton are, I think he’ll give him a run of games. Thrown in last week, he got a goal. A big improvement has to come in scoring goals for Everton.”
Should Beto start over Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton v Manchester United?
Something needs to change at Goodison Park, with Everton yet to fire on all cylinders at all this season. Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure leads the scoring list at the club, with six goals, telling fans all they need to know.
The problems are obvious, but fixing them is a much harder job for Dyche, with few options to turn to as a saviour.
Though Beto did miss a penalty against the Hammers, his header was a sign that the Portuguese’s confidence may still be inside somewhere, and a run of matches in the starting XI could help bring that to the surface.
Despite earning four points back from an initial 10-point deduction handed to them by the Premier League, the Toffees are still only five points ahead of Luton Town in the relegation zone.
The team are currently experiencing a rotten run of 10 league matches without a victory, last claiming three points against Burnley in December, which has seen them slide down the table.
In other Everton news, Josh Wander has been spotted in talks with one EFL club chief as the takeover wait goes on.
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