“‘Never Replaced Him’: Sam Allardyce Says Everton Still Feel the Absence of £30m Star”

Everton has been stuck in a prolonged slump, with several ongoing issues plaguing Goodison Park.

One person familiar with these problems is Sam Allardyce, who managed the Toffees during the 2017/18 season.

According to Allardyce, one major issue he faced back then remains unresolved: Everton’s inability to score goals, particularly since the departure of Romelu Lukaku.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, Allardyce highlighted the club’s failure to replace Lukaku, a prolific scorer during his time at Everton.

The Belgian striker’s absence has left a lingering void that Everton has struggled to fill for years.

Everton Still Feeling Lukaku’s Absence

Allardyce discussed the ongoing issues at Everton, emphasizing their lack of goal-scoring options.

He pointed out that Lukaku’s departure marked a turning point for the club’s offensive struggles.

“Sean [Dyche] has always been good,” Allardyce said. “But Everton have had a lack of goals since I was there, even before I went.

They sold Lukaku, and the goals were gone. They’ve tried and tried to replace him.

For a while, it looked like Calvert-Lewin might be the answer, but with injuries and inconsistent form, it seems he can’t score regularly.

Without goals, it’s always going to be a struggle.”

A Persistent Scoring Problem

Allardyce’s assessment isn’t far off the mark. Everton currently shares the dubious honor of being the Premier League’s lowest scorers this season, netting just 10 goals in 13 games.

This issue is nothing new. Since Lukaku’s exit, only one Everton player—Richarlison—has managed to score double-digit goals in a single season, and even he has since left the club.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin once appeared to be a solution, but his injuries and inconsistent form have left Everton without a reliable goal threat.

The team’s inability to find a consistent scorer has hampered their ability to compete and climb the league table.

Missed Opportunities

Adding to the frustration, several former Everton forwards are thriving elsewhere.

Moise Kean, who struggled to find his footing at Goodison Park, is currently excelling at Fiorentina, while Neal Maupay has been performing well for Marseille since leaving Sean Dyche’s side.

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku, the player Everton has never adequately replaced, continues to shine.

Now at Napoli, he has contributed nine goal involvements in just 12 Serie A matches this season after joining the Italian club for £30 million in the summer.

Moving Forward

Everton’s inability to secure a reliable goal scorer has become a glaring issue, one they must address if they hope to turn their fortunes around.

Goals win games, and until the Toffees find a forward capable of filling the void left by Lukaku, they are likely to remain mired in mediocrity.