GRADING QATAR WORLD CUP 2022 KITS PART 2
Everton’s finishing let them down on Monday night as they failed to kill off their game against Crystal Palace and ended up dropping two points.
Michy Batshuayi’s late goal earned a 1-1 draw for Palace but Everton should have been out of sight by that point.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison both had clear chances to put the game beyond doubt and we had an exclusive interview with Nigel Martyn after the game between two of his former clubs.
He feels Calvert-Lewin can do most of what England teammate Harry Kane can do, apart from finish as reliably as the Tottenham man.
“I like both the strikers but they don’t strike me as being natural finishes in the mould of a Thierry Henry or Ian Wright,” said Martyn. “Presented with those chances they had against Palace, they really should have gone on to win the game.
“Calvert-Lewin when he’s through, it looks like he’s happy just hitting the target. When you’re through 1v1 like that, you do need to hit the corners – and it seemed he just hoped rather than believed he’d score.
“It’s just practice and having a slightly calmer head in front of goal. It seems like he tenses up a little bit.”
Gary Neville said on Monday Night Football that Calvert-Lewin is an erratic finisher and wouldn’t be the man for England to send on during Euro 2020 if they need a goal.
When we put those comments to Martyn, he said: “I get where he’s coming from. His all-round play as a lone striker – workrate, able to run both channels, good in the air – he’s as good as that sort of stuff as Harry Kane.
“But Harry Kane has got the finishing as well, from 20-25 yards and in from there. He’s very clinical. I don’t think Calvert-Lewin is the worst at finishing.
“He’s better when it’s instinctive and when he’s got time, he doesn’t quite have that cool head you need in front of goal. Gary Neville is probably eluding to an Ian Wright, someone who will put it away if the ball falls to him in the box.
“He does what Harry Kane does and is probably more mobile but Harry’s probably just got the finishing over him.”
Calvert-Lewin looks to have established himself as Kane’s deputy for England ahead of the European Championship, which tells you what a good season he’s had.
One area he has improved is sniffing out chances in and around the six yard box, which is where most of his goals come from.
And if England deliver the ball to that area when they need a late winner or equaliser in the summer, Calvert-Lewin will more than likely be there to tuck it away if he’s on the pitch.
Nigel Martyn speaking to Everton News: Archive
