Beto — If Attitude Alone Were a Determinant of Footballing Success

Ah Beto.

Was never going to be good enough but I couldn’t help but like him.

As you say Lyndon, play the ball in front of him and more often than not he would score but his hold up play was negligible and he always seemed to be wrestling with whichever centre half he was up against instead of trying to win the ball.

Hope he does well at his new club.

One of the most likeable players we've ever had in my time, he was awkward, clumsy, frustrating but he could finish and the joy on his face was endearing.

I always remember him fondly and wish him all the best for the future.

And his finish against Them in the last Goodison derby was as composed as any striker you'll ever see.

We had better get a #9 in today.

Best of luck to Beto in a gorgeous city. Always tried. Never let us down in terms of commitment. Like Barry, ultimately below the line we need in the PL. TBH, I might have preferred to have Beto as back up to we assume Balogun than Barry.

Best of luck to him.
Thanks for the goals.
Very happy to see him away- nowhere near good enough for P.L.
I am reminded of “ his second touch is usually a sliding tackle” as a description of players with poor control, bur for Beto he rarely had a second touch, because his first was usually so poor.

I think Beto leaves with the best wishes of all Evertonians, just for his effort alone, some crucial goals and who could forget the solo, high speed lap honour around Goodison as mayhem prevailed all around him after Tarkowski’s late late equaliser against the shite.

There should be no reason for us ever to buy such a limited player ever again.

Only joined the club because we were poor, we could defer any transfer payment / commitment for a season and we desperately needed a physical target man as cover for DCL's period of serious injury.

The comment from Italian fans at the time was "he plays like his feet are on upside down". Which is true.

It is also true he worked his socks off, scored some important goals and scored at a decent rate also (certainly outscoring some much more glamorous expensive signings in the division). He did his job.

But that lack of technical ability is a real problem.

With the odd bit of compromise / pragmatism, future signings for the time being should be players with technical ability to (as an absolute minimum) grace a Europa League final - and really be Champions League potential (albeit not track record). Otherwise how do we ever reach that level?

I Wish him all the best...Not the number 9 we needed but not Stracqualursi level type of player either. I was at Florence 15 days ago, I am sure he will have a great time there.

I liked Beto. Similar to McNeil in that he had his limitations and off-days but he leaves us with some decent memories and would get a good reception from Evertonians on returning.

I enjoy your contributions on these pages, Robert, they're usually well written and argued.

I found it surprising yesterday that Gabriel Jesus has ended up at Barcelona for £8.6M. A few weeks back you replied to one of my comments saying he would be a dreadful acquisition for Everton when I mooted him as doing a job for us. I know you disagreed and I accept we have been burned with over-the-hill players in the past but I'm pretty sure he would have converted some of the three chances which Barry squandered at the weekend. I still think he would have been an option worth looking at but maybe his wages and lack of European football would have made us an unlikely destination. He's a good finisher and has won things.

Anyway, it's not an option now.

Less than 11 hours to find a right back.

Robert@6

Robert given the present achievements of our expert recruitment team,do you think your last paragraph in @6 above has any chance of happening?

If you do,I just wish I had your faith!!

Scored 25 goals in 113 appearances for us, I believe.

Given that he was often subbed, or came on as sub, that perhaps equates to around 60 or 70 lots of 90 minutes.

And given the way we have played over the last three years. I would suggest that is getting on for a decent return of goals.

As for his first touch, many Blues criticised Lukaku on that score. When it comes to strikers, I am more interested in their last touch.

Thanks for your efforts, Norberto. Good luck in Italy.

I agree with all those who have wished Beto well and thanked him for his effort and some important goals. He clearly did not have the technical ability to be a premiership team centre forward, but he clearly did his best.

Stu @9, absolutely yes.

Craig @8, sorry for the earlier comments. It's a bit too easy just to tap away and not really articulate things properly (or politely). Jesus, as you say, is absolutely a better footballer than Barry. However, to get in position to score more goals than Barry he (a) needs to be fit and (b) needs to be arsed. His reported £265k pw wages are a bit of an issue too...

Anyway, here's his recent record:

2025/26: 3 in 14
2024/25: 3 in 17
2023/24: 4 in 27
2022/23: 11 in 26

He's skilful, no doubt about it, but that is a worrying decline in form and fitness sustained over the past 3 seasons. I strongly suspect he will find it easier to score goals and motivate himself as a Barca substitute playing champagne football against much inferior opposition almost every game. Less so fighting hard against often superior opposition in a much tougher league.

Rather than spend money (fee and wages) on a past-in Gabriel Jesus, it would be much better for us to hunt out a 16 to 21 year old with the same technical ability.

Both Norton-Cuffy and Harwood- Bellis have gone elsewhere in the premier league.
Thankfully we found another double barrelled name in Maitland- Niles!

We have had less talented centre forwards than Beto - Bernie Wright and Denis Stracqualarsi spring to mind - and many with greater talent but a poorer attitude. Beto could never be questioned on his willingness to fight for the team. Scoring from through balls was obviously his main attribute as a striker. His first half goal against Chelsea in March from Garner’s pass was one of the best examples. That strength was too easily nullified by teams adopting a deeper block leaving Beto to struggle like a fish out of water linking up with his teammates.

Overall though he delivered as much as we could reasonably expect from a player signed by a club in desperate circumstances both on and off the pitch. He joins a Fiorentina side, bottom of Serie A with no goals and no points from their first two matches. That will be a familiar scenario for a wholehearted player who gave his all for us at a time of acute crisis. He most certainly leaves with everyone’s best wishes.

You can only give what you have.
Limited on skill but not on heart.
All the best Norberto, wish you well.

Two Beto moments: I live in South London near Crystal Palace. A couple of years ago I was at the local game. This one was shortly after Alcaraz arrived and Beto seemed to click with him. He scored possibly the best Beto goal of his time to set us on course for a win - a thunderous shot after a mazy run where he seemed to follow the ball as much as control it. What really struck those of there was the incredible effort he had put in throughout the entire game. Can't recall seeing a player visibly put so much into a game. He looked totally shattered at the end as he came over to acknowledge the support. The second one was away at Brighton last year. He came on as a late sub when we were chasing the game, missed a couple of chances, but never gave up, and then nabbed an equaliser.

A really extraordinary player and we should all wish him the very best. No doubt he will be welcomed back.

Obrigado.

Really didn't suit Moyes system.Looked good running onto a through ball.Our new striker has failed his Medical. Richarlison to the rescue.He can head a ball.