Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton

Seems idiotic but you have to be slightly off-kilter to support a team that delights on one hand and causes chaos on the other. Fortunately I wouldn't have it any other way. Part of being a Blue.

For Saturday, I hope Godfrey is back to add some strength to the back. Preferably with Mina, but that is merely my point of view.

Glad to see Iwobi showing what he can do and, up to now, we have forwards who have taken us away from the rank dullness of last season. Please keep it up.

I hope Saturday comes quickly. Brighton are a good team from what I have seen so far. However, we are Everton and it is on the cards and in the stars that we will hand them a 3-0 thumping.

Back to bed and no more dreams about Everton. All the Best to Rafa and the team. COYB.

3 points away... no matter how we get them.

Most of us don't like lazy players or players not loyal to the club but I think, whilst James is indeed not a great grafter and often goes missing or doesn't like the physical style games, he really can turn a game in a second and score a goal out of nothing. He still has that little bit of magic that you want to see and will excite you. It's a team sport and, in my eyes, there is always room for a player like that. Think Gazza and Ginola with us.

Elsewhere, I think Godfrey for Keane would be a sensible switch as poor Michael has made a very hesitant, slow, nervy start to the season and he will cost us more goals.

A lot more optimism around Iwobi the past week with many of us shocked that he was voted the most skillful player by his teammates, so I heard. Rafa seems to rate him as well and maybe he can coach him to deliver more final passes and crosses like the one for Gray last week.

Gray looks like a great buy already with such amazing pace; I think we will see him create loads of breakaway runs down the wing but, like we saw recently, will he have anyone caught up with him to cross it into?

I hope Calvert-Lewin gets his toe sorted quickly as he's getting on the end of moves but his finishing isn't quite there like other top strikers. He often hits it straight at the keeper, I've noticed.

Anyway, it's an important away win for me if we are to stay in touch with the big boys.

We know Brighton will have plenty of the ball so let's be positive on the break and hit our forwards early with crosses, just like we did against Southampton. Make no mistake, these are beatable so let's continue to put a marker down early doors this campaign and be solid from the word Go.

We are overdue a clean sheet but I fear we won't get one with Michael Keane starting. However, if it's Godfrey, Mina or Holgate, then you never know.

Full support as always, Blues – I'm going for a 1-0 win with a surprise goalscorer and match-winner... maybe a midfielder?!

Onward Evertonians! 💙

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Doucouré Allan
Gray Iwobi Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Suns: Begovic, Holgate, Kenny, Gomes, Gbamin, Townsend, Kean, Gordon

Godfrey for some pace in defence, Gbamin if he has recovered sufficiently, if not, Davies. Doucouré more advanced in midfield again. Townsend will be important to replace a tiring Richarlison or Gray.

I'm more worried about Richarlison if he'll be mentally up for it. Same with Keane for different reasons.

I'm optimistic and I'm gonna check the odds on Everton winning.

I would still like to see James play a part for us. The early games of last season were some of the best times to be a Blue in recent years. He was central to that. If we do sell him, then we need a similarly creative player.

3-1 to Everton. Richarlison 2 and Calvert-Lewin.

Expecting a tough game tomorrow but I'm hoping our new found fighting spirit sees us through to a victory and a clean sheet, 0-2 Everton COYBS!,

I hope we aren't interested in Maupay as we've had enough non scoring forwards over the years.

Hopefully Godfrey is back, but he did say – surprise, surprise –Delph is injured.

Seriously, get rid to anyone who will have this joker

He's obviously forgotten which side of Stanley Park he's on as his former club actually gets two points for a draw, don't they?

Steve Ferns, any chance of a profile?

Does anyone know if Kean can actually be included in the squad following his red in the cup?

I am no Steve Ferns but I can say that Díaz was one of the stand-out performers in the recent Copa America and is well thought of here in Colombia. In fact, I heard many state there was no more need of James as Díaz filled that gap.

Not sure I'd go that far, but he certainly got a few bums off seats when he ran at defenders.

What an omnishambles that fella is.

Under Ancelotti or Silva and before that, those managers clearly indicated which players were available or unavailable for selection. I can understand him keeping the transfer business confidential on James (as let's face it, if he can't find a move, he is still an Everton player until January at least).

I'm just wondering what the latest is on Ben Godfrey? Surely a guaranteed starter in the first eleven. Haven't heard his name mentioned once. I saw a video on the official site and it looks like he wasn't involved in the training preparation for Brighton.

I don't know how Benitez operated previously to joining Everton, but I think that perhaps Covid is a factor in failing to give a full run-down on each and every player that is available or unavailable.

I think that it is good for a manager to keep his cards close to his chest as much as possible, with or without the Covid factor.

Remember when Allardyce's line-ups were posted on various social media sites, well before the kick-off? That was due to a leak from Finch Farm by some rogue element and not a Big Sam tactic though.

Obviously I'd prefer a win but all away games are tough whoever are the opponents. Here's hoping.

Brighton usually struggle for goals but not against us so I feel there could be a few goals in this and hopefully 3 points for us; cue a 0-0 draw then.

We just need to cut out the silly mistakes and keep Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison on the score sheet.

It is early days yet but I have more confidence in the Everton team than last season, to create enough chances to win...

But tomorrow, I will hit Victoria Station for about 10am and be looking forward to it. Even though I've passed through that station many times, I can never remember if it's a Wetherspoon's or O'Neill's in the middle, but either way, that's my start point!

I guess the squad selection will tell us a lot about the various rumours floating around.

After all these matches wondering to what degree we will set out to spoil the game, I'm actually anticipating good fast attacks coming from our boys tomorrow.

There are several reasons for this but, when I analyse why, after years of following almost out of duty, I'm all excited on the eve of a match, I keep coming back to the same reason. Why has my dread of more embarrassment turned to anticipation and expectation? Who's upset my post-match demeanour?

I'm pointing the finger directly at Demarai Gray.

Who told this lad he could swan into our club and start driving at defenders?

Who told him it was acceptable to leave defenders for dead with an electrifying change pace?

Who lead him to believe that it was okay to put in crosses inviting the centre-forward (and a growing number of others) to get on the end of them?

Somebody needs to have a word with this fella. Have you noticed how many of our men have started bursting into the opposition box, expecting a delivery???

Evertonians have been looking for a pacey winger who can go past defenders and produce the final ball for years and years. They're still looking for him on transfer threads now... I know it's early days, but I'm beginning to believe he's already here.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

Heaven forfend Everton players driving at defenders

Link

You're welcome

I'm sure Darren is talking about wide men driving forward and crossing the ball, and this is where Big Rom spoiled himself at Wembley in the next round for me, when he drove through but never had the awareness to square the ball across the goal for a tap-in, allowing Rooney to get back and clear a certain goal!

I doubt I'd have been able to walk 5 or 6 miles round a golf course either, as the throbbing in my leg was still very painful as of last night. Bit different to sitting on a coach for five hours tomorrow morning.

Hopefully I can make the next TW golf day, horse fly bites permitting!!

Agree with all that. His best performance and his worst performance in two rounds.

But that Saturday night against Chelsea was one of the highlights of the last 10 years, that says something of course! He still gave us lots of decent memories though.

Rob #51, glad you're feeling better but sorry you missed the golf. I'm looking forward to DK's report on how the day went!

This is why I'm hoping the rumours about Eduardo are true, because he always looked like he could become a top centre-forward, and has also been a scorer of some great goals.

Tomorrow's team and bench should, I suggest, be a real pointer as to how the owner intends to proceed this season and beyond, by way of the next four days.

Have to say, my very favourite goal I saw in person was actually a bit different.

A routine match and win in an unassuming game at the time in winter 1986 at Goodison against Norwich as we marched onto the title.

Sheedy receiving the ball outside the box. Many talk about his patience and calmness on the ball in that Bayern Munich match. In this one, he too showed the same patience as he looked and waited. Then ridiculously lobbed a scooping pass over the defence for the on-running Heath to volley into the goal. Great finish, but it was the brilliance & improvisation of Sheedy that was a joy to behold especially from my position in the middle of the lower Gwladys Street as it happened right in front of me.

Nostalgia kicking in. No place for that tomorrow!

I often wonder if transfer speculation filters down to the players, of course I am hoping that some may see 'their position under possible threat' and put in a bit more effort. I dare say on paper we have the artillery and guile to get all 3 points, but translating that to grass is not always 'a given'.

Just realised too who the referee is: Jon Moss. That doesn't inspire me with any confidence, and his history at not keeping up with play, and giving dubious decisions, generally never in our favour, doesn't augur too well either.

COYB

Brighton are nothing to worry about. We've got goals in this team (always did, we just didn't bother).

I'll predict a watchable and fairly comfortable 3-1. 3 fast, exciting goals and one absolute calamity at the back.

I have a feeling that our new found approach will take us back to the days of being the best of the rest. That might represent progress in the league. I'm not sure if it will be progress overall.

Given the freedom of the park, they can cause problems but I see us as a superior team and fully expect us to score a couple of goals. Our Achilles heel is, of course, our central defence. Michael Keane must be in the "last chance motel" by now.

Let's hope the sea air keeps him concentrating.

I would have given that goal 10/10 (I have previous) if he had finished with the same grace as Gray did a couple of weeks ago.

The brute force he showed when playing skittles with the Chelsea defenders deserved a finish of the highest order. Still a great goal, of course... but, when he swung his left foot like a golf club and made contact with the inside of his left heel to send it bobbling into the corner, I had to remove a point.

Harsh ? Maybe, but even in his finest moment, old scuffer couldn't help himself.

BTW: You do realise he left 5 years ago, giving you the finger. This is an Everton website. If you want to idolize him till the end of time, you may want to find a few fanboy websites that will be delighted to hear from you... Most people on here would prefer to talk about Everton players.

When we signed Bolasie, I believe he fitted the bill of a pacey winger who could go past defenders and put a good cross in. Plus he had a very good understanding with Lukaku. But then he was buggered with that ACL injury.

When Walcott came here, he was one of our best players in his first season, with pace on the wings. He was nowhere near as good in subsequent seasons. Gray is very good, as you say, and let's hope it stays that way, but it's early days.

Like you have absolutely no faith in Moss or his mate Mason 2 of the worst refs I have ever seen. Neither keep up with play and both make decisions that nobody agrees with. I think the Euros showed that most refs from other countries are far better than our refs and they also showed how to use VAR correctly in fact in most games it was hardly ever called upon. The reason being that they used VAR for clear and obvious mistakes not hairline offsides, mind with that other useless ref Mike Riley in charge of our refs and how VAR is used nothing surprises me.

For me if you look at 95% of refs they are all self employed people who can take the time off from their jobs to officiate, but guys who are not self employed have very little chance of making it up the ladder to ref at Premier League games. So maybe the FA need to set up academies for young aspiring kids who want to be refs, we do it for players so why not refs, then kids from all backgrounds can apply and who knows we may actually produce good refs again. It was no wonder that not 1 English ref was used in the last World Cup but did it ring any alarm bells absolutely not.

Brother waiting, although it sounds like his choice of watering hole is the first place he saw when he left the station & one of those typical railway pubs! We can sought that out when we get there!!

Squad choice today might give us a good indication about goings out and I guess we'll still have to keep guessing on the inbound.

Massive thanks to Martin Nicholls & Peter for sorting me out. I owe you big time.

COYB

Can the read ?

But guess what; once in, the locals were fine and we mingled & chatted without issue.

Men in Black shirts, just let supporters mix. Like dogs on a park. If ypu socialise them, they'll have the occasional spat, but 99% of the time, they're fine. It's not 1983