Everton were held to a score draw against Sunderland last night as the strikers struggled to make an impact once again.
David Moyes was visibly furious with Thierno Barry after he missed a sitter to put Everton 2-0 up in the first half.
Beto didn’t do any better when he came on to the pitch before the hour mark, so yet again, the lack of a prolific striker is holding the Toffees back.
So, with that said, Moyes should seriously consider handing a very talented striker in the academy a chance in the first team.
Everton striker Braiden Graham.
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
David Moyes should give Braiden Graham a chance
Beto and Barry have scored just one Premier League goal between them this season, so something quite clearly needs to change.
Moyes is well aware of Braiden Graham, who is considered one of the best youngsters in the Finch Farm academy.
Graham, who joined from Irish side Linfield in 2024, has been banging in the goals for the under-18s and 21s.
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The 17-year-old has been playing well above his age group with the reserves and yet he’s looked out of place at all, in fact, he’s flourishing.
Graham has 11 goal involvements in 19 appearances with the 21s, so the next natural step in his development would be to go out on loan or come into the first team.
What kind of striker is Braiden Graham?
As evidenced by his goal below, Graham is a much more nimble centre-forward and would be considered a fox-in-the-box type.
The 2007-born clearly could struggle with the physicality of the Premier League, however, Moyes could counteract that by playing Merlin Rohl in the number 10 position.
German football expert Ruairidh Petre explained that Rohl’s best position is as an attacking midfielder, so he could almost become the target man like Maroune Fellaini was, which would take the pressure off Graham to hold the ball up and win his aerial battles.
Clearly, it’s not ideal circumstances for Everton, but it’s certainly worth a go, or perhaps Graham could be used in cameos off the bench late on in games.
Graham has been labelled ‘deadly’ in the academy sphere, so he’s probably a more polished finisher than Beto and Barry, even at this age.