28 Apr 2019 19:16:10
DCL reminds of players we have had in the past such as Bent and Anachibe - plenty of running around and closing down but very little end product at the moment - time will tell but I would give the lad another season.


1.) 28 Apr 2019
28 Apr 2019 20:04:49
For me he's already better than both.


2.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 09:38:01
He is still only just 22. Give the kid a break. He is keeping Tosun out the team and the manager thinks highly of him. If he was 26 or 27 I would get all this stuff about him. But he has played a handful of games. Some on the wing. He came into an inconsistent side and has done ok. We paid how many million for Tosun? Yet DCL gets picked. Our own fans have such high expectencies and yet when a raw kid comes in they start questioning him. He should be tied down to a long contract and played when there is no one better than him in our squad. like now. Yes his finishing has been poor at times. But did you hear Alan Shearer talking about him the other day? He said that he really likes the look of DCL for a young kid he can put himself about. He holds the ball up well. He brings others into play well. His only downfall being his runs int the box. He should aim more for the penalty spot and aim to get in front of defenders. but this is something he can work on in training and at only 1 month into being 22 he has time to develop those skills. Ok Alan Shearer is not the greatest manager around, but he knows about center forward play. Silva knows about young players. I would suggest if he is keeping Tosun out the team and he is making the manager pick him ahead of Richarlison up front, then he has something. My own opinion is he reminds me of Graeme Sharpe. When he arrived as a young kid, he couldn't even get in the team at first and look how he turned out. DCL is big, strong, works hard, is developing his first touch and hold up play. He has a great attitude. He is a team player. He is young. He just needs time.

{Ed001's Note - people have no patience, it took Ian Rush 3 years (yes three full seasons) before he got going and people were doing the same about him. The whining about Rush got so bad it drove away the greatest scout in English league football of the era, the one who had brought in all the players, Geoff Twentyman. Sometimes you have to have patience in a player to emerge and there is a player in DCL. He will never be a Rush-type scorer, but he is going to be an excellent link player.}


3.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 10:36:18
Geoff Twentyman. now there is a character Ed. But yes I hear all of these comments and would just add that Jamie Vardy started his career at Sheffield Weds in 2002. He was released and went to Stockbridge Park Steels. Then to Halifax Town and in 2012 was playing for Fleetwood Town after a few other non league clubs. In 2012 signed for Leicester City and played in the Championship. He has been their regular center forward since and scored a bagful of goals. So really didn't get going until 25 years old. And into the Premiership in 2014 at the tender age of 26/ 27. And the rest is history. And people are knocking DCL at 21/ 22?

{Ed001's Note - exactly mate. Some players mature later. In Italy they are lucky to get near a first team before the age of 24.}


4.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 10:50:48
Look I am for giving the lad another year to see how he progresses but we really do need another striker ( Tosun also needs more opportunities IMHO ) who is going to score goals. yes he is young and time will tell but to say he has played only a handful of games is no excuse - looking at stats he has played 74 times for EFC - quite a few of the bench plus some time loaned out.


5.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 12:51:08
Goodison mate, my post was not directed personally at your comments. There have been a few on here knocking him. But he is only just 22. Look what Ed says about Ian Rush and Italian players not playing 1st team until 24. The fact he is only just 22 means he is ahead of schedule for development of a stiker. not that he is not good enough. Please understand that some players are very fortunate and have the physique and ability to start younger. Rooney is an example of that but most strikers in the Premier League are not ready until mid 20's. That does not mean they are not good enough. Like I said Vardy was playing non league mid 20's and look at him now at 32. There are a few players that make it before but most have certainly not played 74 games on their 22nd Birthday. That to me says he has great potential . not that he is not good enough.


6.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 20:27:37
So loan him out to stocksbridge park steels.
Only joking. Give him time and some quality competition and he will do ok for us.


7.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 21:30:19
I suppose I am looking at the bigger picture. Yes I would love for us to be very successful right now. However, realistically we have to build a squad with some mature players and some youngsters coming through. So whilst he is keeping Tosun out (who was bought for a few million and was successful at Besiktas) and gaining experience, I think we should persevere with him. He is certainly rated by those who know what they are talking about. If you look at our performances over the last 10 games he has come on leaps and bounds. Yes he missed a few and yes you can see the inexperience, but like I said a month ago he was still 21. That is worth remembering.