Competition for places at Everton has hardly been fierce across the last few years, hence their underperformance.
After all, there is simply not enough quality throughout the squad, and that at times can breed a dangerous level of comfort.
Stars feel they are guaranteed their spot, and therefore lose that edge which makes them feel like they are constantly playing for their place in the side.
With a few key names, that has become evident.
However, with their finances healing, so too has the first team, with a handful of recent additions at least offering Sean Dyche a little more to work with.
And now, Theo Walcott thinks one of these stars is pushing a first-team regular.
Theo Walcott thinks Beto should be starting for Everton
And with good reason too, given how Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled not just this season, but for the past few years really.
At first, it was fitness that plagued the 27-year-old, who suffered from an unrelenting run of injury setbacks.
Since regathering his physical condition though, his form has avoided him as well, scoring just seven goals from 26 Premier League starts last season, and having only managed two this campaign from an expected goals tally of 3.46.
Now, with Beto scoring off the bench last night, Walcott has lobbied for the Guinea-Bissau international to usurp his former teammate, telling BBC’s Match of the Day: ‘They will be very relieved, and Beto now who is putting a lot of pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin right now.
‘Again, Everton fantastic. Getting a result’
Theo Walcott also claimed that Calvert-Lewin got bullied vs Fulham; perhaps another reason why he thinks the pressure is ramping up on his place in the team.
Should Beto or Dominic Calvert-Lewin be starting for Everton?
The argument over who deserves to start up front for Everton is one that has raged ever since Dyche signed Beto, with the £50k-a-week striker setting them back £25m.
It was a huge investment at the time, but one which suited their current plight as it allowed them to defer payments to comply with PSR.
Since then, he has earned an unwanted label, as a striker who causes chaos with his disruptive energy, but perhaps lacks the finesse and control of Calvert-Lewin to make it stick.
But, having done what his striking counterpart had failed to do across the last five matches, Beto is surely pushing that previously nailed-on striker spot.
The current Everton manager has built the bulk of his system around Calvert-Lewin, and so to drop him might seem odd. But it’s hard to keep playing him ahead of an alternative who knows where the back of the net is.
Beto gave an emotional interview after the Fulham game, which further exhibits how much this all means to him.
Leave a Reply