“At the moment, we’re not bringing in a striker; they need to step up” — Yakubu’s message to Beto and Barry as Everton stall on signings | OneFootball

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Yakubu Ayegbeni has said pre-season goals can boost the confidence of Thierno Barry and Beto but has warned the pair that they must step up when the real action begins.

Barry and Beto were both on target during the 4-0 win at Dundee earlier this month, before drawing blanks during disappointing displays against Bolton and Stoke.

Everton have been linked with signing a centre-forward this summer, but there has been no movement on a deal to date, leaving Beto and Barry to compete for the Number 9 role.

The duo combined for 17 league goals last season, with only two sides to avoid relegation scoring fewer goals than Everton in the Premier League.

Speaking to ToffeeWeb in our latest Once a Blue conversation, Yakubu said scoring goals always improves confidence, but said summer strikes count for little if the pair cannot replicate it in the Premier League.

“Save the goals for the league!” Yakubu challenges Beto and Barry to step up amid Everton striker uncertainty

“I see strikers who score goals in pre-season, and then, when it comes to the league, they struggle. I always used to say to myself, save some for the season! Don’t score every chance in pre-season.

​”I think it will give them confidence. They’ve been struggling with scoring goals. It’s good for them to score goals and give them confidence. But, as I said, we want them to keep the goals for the league! That’s the most important thing for us.

"In pre-season you learn a lot, learn from your mistakes. There are so many ideas in your head because you learn from last season. I spoke to my mate after Barry and Beto scored against Dundee and we said, we don’t need those goals in pre-season, we need them in the league! I hope they can bring that confidence to score goals in the Premier League. We need those goals in the Premier League.

"We struggled a lot in the league, and we really need them. At the moment we’re not bringing a striker into the club, and these two need to step up.

"Beto’s been there for three years now; he needs to step up. He can’t score one or two, and then go six or seven games without scoring. We need strikers if we want to play in Europe next season, and they’re experienced now. We know the Premier League is the toughest league in the world and it’s been hard for them, but they need to step up."

Minik Hansen 1 Posted 29/07/2026 at 11:39:22

I see what he is saying. At least there's eventually a mystery to uncover from our two strikers. Beto had some good goals, there must be more -- still we need a new striker and/or a winger/midfielder to make it easier for them.

It took a couple of seasons for Calvert-Lewin to excel, but he was unfortunate with a couple of injuries. I wonder what's coming from our strikers, that's the beauty of football.

Gaute Lie 2 Posted 29/07/2026 at 11:47:58

Barry can't run, and seems uninterested. He is an unusually bad header for a guy his size, and is just overall bad as a frontman.

If anyone wants Barry, sell him ASAP. Or let him go on a loan. It hurts to see him play, and his work rate is very poor.

Beto tries, at least, but is not up to it, unfortunately. We need a striker now!!

Jim Bennings 3 Posted 29/07/2026 at 12:04:57

Just watching Beto and Barry play they, both look so damn awkward, neither of them possess the subtlety to be a cool header finish like l our own former Yak.

But neither possess the raw nasty angry 'bull in a china shop' aggression to be a nuisance on a regular basis either.

Out of the two, I'll imagine defenders prefer facing Barry than Beto, as Barry just seems to offer very limited fight against physical opponents.

Mark Murphy 5 Posted 29/07/2026 at 12:11:51

"I always used to say to myself, save some for the season! Don't score every chance in pre-season."

What a load of cack! Sorry, but it is.

Brian Wilkinson 6 Posted 29/07/2026 at 12:22:25

I feel a whole lot more relaxed now... here's me thinking both are shite.

Thank you, the Yak, you've restored faith in me.

Clive Rogers 7 Posted 29/07/2026 at 12:23:28

Apart from not putting the ball in the net often enough, neither of them is good enough at hold-up play or keeping possession.

Martin Berry 8 Posted 29/07/2026 at 12:35:15

Looks like we're in for another hard season unless we get these signings at right-back, defensive midfielder, another wide man, and at least one more striker.

Ray Jacques 9 Posted 29/07/2026 at 13:14:45

I would feel better if Yakubu could still play. Beto and Barry are not good enough, its that simple

Jack Convery 10 Posted 29/07/2026 at 13:58:35

If Moyes is really intent on bringing in DeCrap, god help us. Any other club would have moved Beto on by now, despite his 100% effort.

As for Barry, whoever thought he was a centre-forward needs sacking. Maybe he's scouting Delap as we speak.

Steve Cotton 11 Posted 29/07/2026 at 14:38:31

The Yak is only 27

according to his new birth certificate

Anthony O'Sullivan 12 Posted 29/07/2026 at 15:10:17

If we only have those two I'd be playing both together in these pre season games. They both need time on the pitch and confidence. And you never know added both might complement their styles.

Daniel A Johnson 13 Posted 29/07/2026 at 15:12:32

A Championship strike force if I ever saw one.

If we get off to a bad start, we're pretty much fooked with these two upfront.

Tom Bowers 14 Posted 29/07/2026 at 15:40:16

I agree entirely with Jim Bennings.

You cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear and that's what both Barry and Beto are.

Sure, given the minutes, they will score goals... but not often enough and their general all around ability (ball control, hold-up play etc) leaves a lot to be desired.

Everton at going nowhere until that situation changes.

Mike Hayes 15 Posted 29/07/2026 at 16:37:51

If Barry and Beto played up front together, the best formation is 3-5-2 or 4-4-2.

The other shite isn't working! 🤷

Clive Rogers 16 Posted 29/07/2026 at 16:58:23

Liam Delap was apparently really poor for Chelsea against Sidney last night.

Jay Harris 17 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:03:44

Neither Bambi nor Beto are up to the job and we have had long enough to assess that.

But given we can't even find a right-back, does anyone have confidence in our "Elite" recruitment team to find the answer???

Do any of us believe that, given the status quo, Spurs, Leeds, Forest and Fulham will finish below us again in the coming season??

My god, even the mighty Ipswich have brought in 2 wingers that we were supposedly interested in.

All I can say is this expensive "Elite" recruitment team can't hold a candle to Thelwell and that sums them up.

Kevin Molloy 18 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:13:22

Clive, yes, this move feels inevitable, all the usual indicators.

High Value, piss poor, didn't want to come last year. It's all there for us.

Brian Harrison 19 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:14:25

Jay @17,

I think most Blues agree with you that neither Barry nor Beto are the answer and, as you say, they have had long enough to know these two aren't good enough.

But just looking at the goal stats for last season: Dewsbury-Hall scored 8, Ndiaye 6, Keane 3, Grealish 2, Gana 2, Garner 2, Tarkowski 2... the rest scored 1 or no goals.

So maybe we need wingers and midfield players who have decent goal-scoring stats as, even if we had Harry Kane, I doubt he would score 20 with this group.

Also, maybe Moyes needs to get more players in the box when we attack. Last season, we did well to get 2 or 3 at most. Yet Bournemouth and Brentford regularly had 4 in the box on many attacking occasions.

John Collins 20 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:23:46

Good post, Brian.

Think I'm right in saying this: We have only had one striker, in all the seasons Moyes has managed us, who scored 15 goals.

The rest of Moyes seasons, the top scorer was between 8 and 11 goals.

100% down to the manager's tactics.

Mark Murphy 21 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:28:24

I could see Aznou and Garner as wingbacks in a 3-5-2 but who would the midfield 3 be? Dewsbury-Hall, Hackney and ... ? (Rohl? Iroegbunam?)

And where would George play? If it's just to accommodate Barry and Beto, I'd rather not, thanks, although I do feel Aznou could play that role with Mykolenko behind him in a back three with Branthwaite and O'Brien.

I've just won my first Ballot ticket so I'll be at the Palace game. If my predicted back 4 of O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane and Mykolenko turns out, it will be my last ballot application pending change.

Tony Abrahams 22 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:39:32

Delap, has been poor since he went to Chelsea, but according to the media, he his now going to cost more for whoever signs him.

Dibling has been poor since he signed for Everton, and according to a lot of fans, we would now be lucky to get £15M for him.

According to a lot of Evertonians, the silent Friedkins saved Everton... but, according to many others, they are sucking the fucking life out of the club.

It looks like we are going to lose our most entertaining player, but maybe if he reads Mike's suggestion @15, he might have other ideas.

We waited for a new stadium for years... believing it would help herald the start of a brand new beginning. But it's getting that bad that I'm now beginning to miss Goodison Park simply because I remember how many times the fans inside that stadium helped save the club from being relegated.

If things don't improve, then I expect one of two things: anger or apathy. But if the team do begin to struggle, then I'm not sure Bramley-Moore Dock is going to be a place full of defiance like Goodison was.

Kevin Molloy 23 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:47:30

I'm starting to be concerned this 'no talking' shit is deliberate Tony. A subliminal message to the fans, 'we're not interested, it's our club now'. Similar to when those gobshites bought Wimbledon and turned it into MK Dons and moved it 200 miles away.

We may look back on that severing from Goodison as the moment the club was finally taken away from the fans. I get the impression TFG would be much happier with a more transient less assertive fanbase, heading in the West Ham direction.

Andrew Grey 24 Posted 29/07/2026 at 17:57:46

I think we need to slice Beto & Barry in half and stick them back together, length-ways or at the waist, who knows.

The result would look weird but you never know! Or maybe we do. :)

Mark Taylor 26 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:01:50

With this transfer window being so quiet, a thought struck me about how much money we really have.

We maybe think we already had George and Rohl but the transfer fees for both are out of this year -- £40M plus. Add in Hackney and I'm wondering if that's it, apart from maybe a loan or two or a very cheap deal.

I'm not convinced we are able to operate in the markets that people think we should be operating in. I suspect and fear that any significant signing has to see an outgoing or two.

Tony Abrahams 27 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:06:33

The only time William Kenwright used to stay quiet was when the team were doing badly but we have been told these Friedkins never communicate, Kevin, so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt.

If things don't improve, then I personally think that it's up to us fans to start showing these owners with a complete fan boycott of the friendly against LOSC Lille.

Let the fans have a jolly in Germany, and then make these people realise that it might be their money (How much money have they actually poured into our club?) but it will always be our fucking club.

It's not our club, Tony…. Doesn't mean we don't hold a hell of a lot of pull, if we could just unite for once.

Andrew Ellams 28 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:09:03

Problem there Mark T is that we also down Grealish, Coleman, Gana and likely Ndiaye now too.

The paper-thin squad is smaller than it already was.

John Collins 29 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:24:05

I'm in for blanking the Lille game.

They're that much financially in front from buying Everton, they probably won't be arsed if we do though.

Mark Taylor 30 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:27:08

Andrew, true... but, if we sell Ndiaye (which I think we will), I think that will fund some more business.

But I have a horrible feeling it won't all be re-invested.

Andrew Ellams 31 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:28:39

Probably half at best, Mark.

John Collins 32 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:30:55

Did we spend £115 million in last summers window?

Will we spend similar this summer window?

Where the fuck is all the dry powder?

Dale Self 33 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:33:24

Jack 10, haa haa ha!

And good gawd, can we please postpone the Lille friendly, they will make us look soooo baaaad.

If Moyes brings in DeCrap, there is no hiding from the fair criticism due. None of this, 'Let's see what he does first' stuff.

Oh yeah, one more thing, I am uncomfortable with Yak doing what an Everton manager or front office type should be doing. Maybe I'm off but this seems like some shirking of duties.

Dave Lynch 34 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:35:12

The biggest problem this team has is the fucking manager, who has to be complicit, as he was with Kenwright, with regard to signings.

Let's face it, he is feathering his nest by not being vocal and at the same time taking the fans for dickheads.

I seriously despise this club now: no ambition, no foresight and no hope. The ginger twat must have a transfer kitty.

Joe McMahon 35 Posted 29/07/2026 at 18:54:41

The only hope is that all promoted teams do worse. Leeds Utd and Nottm Forest will defo outdo non-scoring Everton.

Warning signs were laid bare with the final 7 games of last season. He (Moyes) is not a steady-the-ship manager -- ask Sunderland fans if they want him back!

Brian Harrison 36 Posted 29/07/2026 at 19:09:56

I think it's been a long time since there is such negativity from the fans but the lack of signings the results against Bolton and Stoke can hardly lift the spirits.

I keep seeing adverts from the club telling the fans to come and visit our restaurants and watch the World Cup, come and hit golf balls onto the pitch, and laterly even drive through movies.

Quite ironic you can watch a movie from your car at Hill Dickinson Stadium but most days you cant get anywhere near the stadium in your car, even on non-matchdays.

But how about TFG telling the 50,000 that turn up on matchdays what's happening with our club? We have been in the wilderness for decades and sadly under this new ownership, it looks like it's going to carry on.

The excitement of going to our brilliant new stadium is waring thin. We hoped this would be the new beginning but it looks like only the venue has changed and not much else. We have become a Bottom 8 side with little expectation of change.

Raymond Fox 37 Posted 29/07/2026 at 19:22:58

Relegation for everyone connected to the club will be disaster. I can't believe Moyes especially and the owners can't see that we will be in real danger if we don't get some substantial reinforcements. For that reason, I think the owners will react.

Moyes won't want to be associated with taking us down after all these years in the top division; he won't be satisfied with the present squad. He's the manager but it will be the owners who will decide what's spent and when.

Darren Hind 38 Posted 29/07/2026 at 19:42:23

Yeah, let's get the excuses in early this time. People supporting Moyes are sending the wrong message back to TFG.

Accept shite. Expect more of the same.

Derek Knox 39 Posted 29/07/2026 at 20:31:50

Tony @ 27, I have been saying that for a long time, not specifically the game v Lille, but a boycott nevertheless --especially when TV are there.

Plus a few banners and posters, 'Moyes Out' outside the ground, or even inside, gets the message across loud and clear by the silent suffering majority!

If we act like sheep, we will get treated as such!

Mike Hayes 41 Posted 29/07/2026 at 20:51:06

A boycott is a good idea but are there enough die hard fans that'd go for it?

Doing it with the TV being there is a bad idea, Sky and the pedo lovers (non advert channel) already “hate” us, this would just add fuel to that fire. 💙

Stu Darlington 42 Posted 29/07/2026 at 21:28:40

Asking these two to step up implies they are capable of stepping up and that somehow they have been under-committed last season.

I don't believe so. I think what we've seen is all we are going to get. They are not of the quality we need to make us a threat to the Top 6.

Unless the powers that be have the guts to admit that and put feasible measures in place to remedy the situation, I think we could be in deep shit next season, particularly given our very suspect defence.

Mike Hayes 43 Posted 29/07/2026 at 21:52:53

Christy - ideal for us then 🤷🙄💙

Ian Horan 45 Posted 29/07/2026 at 22:13:18

I think Beto and Barry are doing their own boycott in front of goal...

Jamie Sweet 46 Posted 29/07/2026 at 22:23:49

Minutes per goal from last season amongst the main strikers:

Haaland = 109 Sesko = 148 Thiago = 149 Gyokeres = 158 Ekitike = 163 Beto = 172 Welbeck = 173 Watkins = 177 Pedro = 177 Richarlison = 177 Mateta = 184 Calvert-Lewin = 194 Barry = 237

Interestingly, some as bad or worse than Barry all seem to be players that we have had strong links to:

Woltemade = 237 Brobbey = 274 Delap = 1,092

Take from that what you will.

Brendan McLaughlin 47 Posted 29/07/2026 at 22:26:11

Boycott?

Didn't happen when arguably the worst owner.. Blue Bill was in charge.

Didn't happen when arguably the worst owner... Moshiri was in charge.

Not going to happen when the jury's out on TFG.

Sean Kearns 48 Posted 29/07/2026 at 22:55:55

We go from relegation certainty to 13th place in a spanking new digs, the new season hasn't even started yet and mf'ers are already wanting a boycott?!?! What planet do people live on?

I know we live in the age of instant gratification, something of which I regularly remind my children. Didn't think I'd see it from grown fellas…

Our manager has managed the 3rd most games in Premier League history and I trust him more than I trust all you combined. Let's back the lads and give them 10 games before we get emotional.

Crikey we almost went out of business a couple seasons ago. Our squad, our reputation, and our business was damaged during those dark days but we are rising from the ashes. It's not going to be quick…

I've been waiting 36 years to watch good football, one more won't hurt…

Many on here wanted Thomas Frank and Graham Potter once upon a time... 🤣 😂 how did that go? Thomas Frank was holding Brentford back as it transpires. They have been better since he left!!

I'll take Moyes all day.

Dale Self 49 Posted 29/07/2026 at 22:58:34

How about a few cots out in front of the stadium with some signs reading, "Spare change for transfers"?

Dale Self 50 Posted 29/07/2026 at 23:00:44

Sean Kearns, you football drama queen!

It was not in any way near certainty.

Look again, damn it, at how many points 18th finished on.

Sean Kearns 51 Posted 29/07/2026 at 23:01:54

Dale, we were in 18th place with 30 minutes left in the entire season!!! Dyche was taking us down but Doucoure saved us from doom… never forget Leicester won on that final day.

We were 18th with 30 minutes left of the season!!

John Collins 52 Posted 29/07/2026 at 23:04:31

I'll take Moyes all day.

Take him to the Scottish FA Headquarters please, bud!

Sean Kearns 53 Posted 29/07/2026 at 23:16:45

We may well still end up with Richarlison, Grealish, and Ben White for all we know. There is still time!!…

But if Jake starts at RB for the first game of the season, I'll be the first one with the pitchfork.

Brendan McLaughlin 54 Posted 29/07/2026 at 23:41:38

Just looked at some betting sites tonight.

Arteta obviously the most unlikely manager to be sacked.

Moyes... second most unlikely.

Dale Self 55 Posted 29/07/2026 at 00:02:32

Damn, Sean. Wrong season maaaan.

That was not the least bit clever.

Sean Herbert 56 Posted 29/07/2026 at 00:02:59

Sean @50, trust Moyes to do what exactly? Give us permanent mid-table seasons? Play defence-first football? Stick with the same 11 players even when getting battered week after week?

Because it certainly can't be trusted to win trophies, he hasn't won one single domestic trophy in his entire managerial career.

I wouldn't trust him with a junior school team.

Bob Parrington 57 Posted 29/07/2026 at 00:45:05

Jim @ 3 The first sentence in #3 says it all.

How on earth their awkwardness and related lack of balance was not spotted by our scouts is beyond belief.

Sean Kearns 58 Posted 30/07/2026 at 01:25:01

Sean #58: Trust him to get us top half, maybe Europa League football with this sorry crop of players.

He has one year left on his contract, and we are run by penny pinchers… so the chance of him being bounced out before his contract ends is absolutely zero unfortunately.

I'm not saying I like the fella's style, but it doesn't take a genius to know that he's not going anywhere this season, and that we'll finish about mid-table at worst.

Any other manager would struggle to do anything with the crop of players we have, so it's not just Moyes. Our team isn't great. Besides Jarrad and Jordan, I don't think any of our players get into a top half team.

Hopefully by the time Davie's time is up next summer, our squad is younger and fresher and can be handed over to a better manager. What could even Pep or Zidane do with no right-back and Mykolenko on the left?

Tyrique George is a good start; Delap, whilst not a world beater, would still be better than Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum that we have now.

Hopefully it's Tarkowski's last season too; then, next summer, we get a fresh start with a younger team and new manager. That was the plan this whole time, I believe. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that.

Paul Griffiths 59 Posted 30/07/2026 at 05:04:20

“I see strikers who score goals in pre-season, and then, when it comes to the league, they struggle. I always used to say to myself, save some for the season! Don't score every chance in pre-season … I spoke to my mate after Barry and Beto scored against Dundee and we said, we don't need those goals in pre-season, we need them in the league!"

What asinine comments. I hope that The Yak is not being paid for this crap.

As for his erm ‘views', there is nothing so far of any note that has not been said by one or many more of us. The Yak trots out the company line for his free seat.

I can't wait for a sentence or two in this series that actually questions what is happening at our club.

Paul Griffiths 60 Posted 30/07/2026 at 05:08:51

Derek Knox: 40: 'Plus a few banners and posters, 'Moyes Out' outside the ground, or even inside, gets the message across loud and clear by the silent suffering majority!'

What impact will banners and posts have on absence and silence? Saint-Daniel-the-Absent will not give a shit; Saint Angus-the-Silent will do what he is told.

We are already sheep!

Paul Griffiths 61 Posted 30/07/2026 at 05:11:11

Dale Self 51:

How about a few cots out in front of the stadium with some signs reading, "Spare change for transfers"?

You do realise that cots are things to put babies in?

Paul Griffiths 62 Posted 30/07/2026 at 05:21:44

Anyone spot the differences, inconsistencies, and contradictions between Kearns (55) and Kearns (60)?

(55) 'We may well still end up with Richarlison, Grealish, and Ben White for all we know. There is still time!!…'.

(60) 'Hopefully by the time Davie's time is up next summer, our squad is younger and fresher'.

As it surely will be if we end up, as you hope Mr Kearns, with Richarlison (29), Grealish (31 in September), and Ben White (29 in October).

Par for this course.

Derek Knox 63 Posted 30/07/2026 at 07:15:41

For all those defending and extolling the Ginger Bellend:

Last season, last 8 matches -- a possible 24 points -- how many did he achieve? 3!

Now any other Club would be sacking their manager with that sort of poor return... but No! He is hailed a hero on TW by some. Please get real!

Mark Murphy 64 Posted 30/07/2026 at 08:46:40

PG #61 I refer my learned friend to #5. Complete and utter tosh from the Yak.

Mike Hayes 65 Posted 30/07/2026 at 08:48:28

Eddie Howe anyone he’s just left Newcastle 🤷💙

Paul Griffiths 66 Posted 30/07/2026 at 08:53:55

Nice one Mark. The Yak is talking utter toe-the-line shite and nothing that refers, as I had hoped, to his life and career.

I'd much rather hear him talk about himself than this toe-the-club-line shite.

Who is next, I wonder, Osman, Howard, Jagielka, Hibbert, erm Sharp?

How about Big Nev or Shandy Andy?

Paul Griffiths 67 Posted 30/07/2026 at 08:55:47

Mike - 67 - he says that he is leaving to take a break from footy mate.

Darren Hind 68 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:01:16

The Yak has not been paying attention.

If he had been reading TW this week, he would have learned that the dynamic duo have been a snip for £60M (+ £120k per week). Their joint efforts are as good as having a top player......

Their inability to control a ball to allow the team to move forward doesn't matter. Beto is a 1-3 striker and it doesn't matter if they can't take a simple penalty... because they don't count!

Mike Corcoran 69 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:20:36

Just get Delap, at least he can control, pass and run with the ball.

We need all inclusive -- not Barry and Beto.

John Collins 70 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:27:33

"If he had been reading TW this week. He would have learned that the dynamic duo have been a snip for £60M (+ £120k per week)."

I'd be very surprised if any poster on here had posted them words, tbh.

Paul Hewitt 71 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:27:40

Eddie Howe.. Not a chance.

Makes Moyes look like Pep.

Brendan McLaughlin 72 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:32:03

Mike #72

At this point I'd settle for just half bored.

Paul Griffiths 73 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:32:30

TFG and their crack recruitment team at this moment as I type have made a ToffeeWebber -- Mike Corcoran -- wish for Delap.

They need to pull something out of the hat soon. We kept being told it's only a month chill but no longer.

We have to assume that this expensively assembled crack recruitment team -- led by Cox who has no recent experience of clubs in our predicament -- have been put together to put an end to last minute panic buys.

An expensively assembled crack recruitment team should not be making last-minute panic buys.

Mike Hayes 74 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:37:15

He’s ideal for us we haven’t seen any footy for years 🤷🥳

Tony Abrahams 75 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:39:09

Brendan @49, of course it's not going to happen but something that I'm certain will start happening if things don't improve, is we will begin to see more and more empty seats inside the stadium.

Hopefully it doesn't happen…. As I sit here smiling at your description of your arl mate Blue Bill😂

Steve Brown 76 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:43:24

John @ 73,

There was someone who was trying to claim that Beto and / or Barry's output was better than Calvert-Lewin's last season. He screened out penalties to make his point -- someone had better tell Haaland and Mbappe that penalties don't count as real goals.

Darren put them right, but I can't remember who it was.

Steve Brown 77 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:48:47

Paul @ 76, is it that we have a crack recruitment team or that our recruitment team is on crack?

Based on what we have seen so far this summer, I am beginning to wonder.

John Collins 78 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:50:33

Neither of them will ever be as good as Calvert-Lewin, Steve. No comparison in centre-forward hold-up skill.

Not much in it though regarding goal scoring. Beto: one goal every 5 games; Calvert-Lewin: one goal every 4.5 games.

Never forget the booing when the kid went off with a broken cheekbone. Disgraceful

Paul Griffiths 79 Posted 30/07/2026 at 09:55:47

Steve - 80,

Mate, we have not had a single scrap of evidence as August looms of what the fuck this recruitment team and their dynamic stats machine have done. Nothing.

Time is ticking. Did we pay Cox a shitload of money for last-minute panic buys?

Dave Lynch 80 Posted 30/07/2026 at 10:22:50

Personally I don't think it will matter who we sign, it's our playing style under Moyes that's the problem.

For a time last season, we had, Grealish, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall and Garner on the pitch, all the ingredients for passing moving footy.

Instead, we have Pickford smashing it out from the back. I was no fan of Calvert-Lewin but it's no coincidence that he flourished under Ancelotti playing joined-up footy.

Clive Rogers 81 Posted 30/07/2026 at 10:35:29

Every other club seems to be outspending us.

Tony Abrahams 82 Posted 30/07/2026 at 10:37:14

It's easy for me to make such a suggestion, Sean @50, because I will hopefully be on my jollies and wouldn't be going near Bramley-Moore Dock for a pre-season friendly, even if I wasn't -- unless I was working.

Instant gratification? I've watched Everton through thick and thin; I, like thousands of others, have completely stood the test of time and, when I walked into Bramley-Moore Dock for the first time, my initial reaction was “What a fucking stadium!”

Since that first day against Brighton, it's been mostly as boring as sitting in an airport departure lounge on the way back from your holiday after seeing your flight has been delayed for a few hours.

When FSG put the ticket prices up, a lot of Liverpool fans walked out on a designated minute and, whilst I heard a few cynical people saying it was a waste of time, their American owners didn't think so and immediately had a rethink over their pricing.

Dyche was taking us down because Dyche was in the hot seat but he came into a club, that was completely on its fucking knees, and I mean completely on its fucking knees. The directors had deserted us, the chairman was doing his usual sneaky little routine of deflecting the blame away from the total ineptitude of him and his fellow directors.

(Remember Ian Wright backtracking on his original statement giving Evertonians stick, because he had heard a different story from one of Kenwright's friends?)

Dyche did a remarkable job, and I for one will forever be thankful for the job that he did in helping keep Everton in the Premier League. He probably spoke to TFG when they first arrived, heard what they had to say, and thought to himself, "I've had enough of this place, I'm off."

Instant gratification to me, Sean, would be someone from inside the club just talking openly and honestly to the fans and telling us what their overall plans for the club actually are, because at the moment we have got silence, complete and utter silence… And actions that simply don't inspire.

Edward Rogers 83 Posted 30/07/2026 at 10:38:02

Eddie Howe now available. just sayin'

Andrew Ellams 84 Posted 30/07/2026 at 10:38:22

Clive @ 84, there's families going to Tesco and outspending us.

Clive Rogers 85 Posted 30/07/2026 at 11:11:23

Andrew, 87, yes their prices are terrible.

Jack Convery 86 Posted 30/07/2026 at 11:14:24

What Tony said @85. Spot on.

Mark Taylor 87 Posted 30/07/2026 at 11:53:24

Some obvious solutions here. First, we need a Clubcard.

Second, taking inspiration from The Fly, we need to get hold of those telepods and have a go fusing Beto and Barry. Not sure what we'd get but it has to be an improvement.

The mess that arrives in the final telepod can be sold to a Saudi club, they'd hardly notice.