Talking points in the aftermath of Everton vs Brighton

When Ndaiye joined Everton, he shared a story in an interview:
“Someone said to me, ‘Imagine you scoring the first goal at the new stadium.’
It would be a quiz question for so long — ‘Who scored the first goal for Everton at the new stadium?’”
Ndaiye continued:
“At that moment, my daughter, who can’t really talk yet, said, ‘Dada’!
Great answer! That’s my target.
I’ll be very proud.”

Wonder who bought the first pint or sausage roll at the new stadium? Less important than the first goal, granted!

Talking points. Grealish had an outstanding game. Iro pit himself about and looks like a force in midfield. Gana was his usual enigmatic self everywhere challenging and winning the ball back and overall we stood fast, dug in, and got the win.

Get Dibling and Luiz in and a quality right back and we are sorted for this window,
.

How much do you think we should offer Forest to get Luiz in, Mal?

If Patterson goes to Seville and Everton won’t sanction a loan until we get a replacement, who will be the right back we sign.

Anyone have any suggestions who it could be?

#4. I didn’t realise he had gone to Forest. On a loan though. May be after his loan finishes we can go back in for him. We will no doubt have other targets.

As I mentioned on another thread - apart from all the razzamataz of being the first game, we’re now aware of the noise that can be generated at the new gaff - it’s a bear pit already. And, when Grealish, Ndiaye, DH, Dibling and Barry really start clicking together, no team is going to want to come to us.
What a 12th player to have. Haven’t felt this optimistic about Everton since the 80s.

Hector Fort, Ryan? Patterson out, Fort in sounds credible to me.

Luiz is still a Juventus player and has just gone on loan to Forest for the season, with an obligation to buy next season.

As for right back, I've no idea. If will come down to Moyse and the recruitment people.

Unless they feel O'Brien can carry on there with Garner filling in when needed. Not ideal and I've rather we brought someone in.

Ndaiye. Last goal at Goodison, first goal at Bramley Moore.

Great day, good result and in the last 30 minutes I thought we started to play really well but let’s not get too carried away. At halftime Brighton could already have scored 4, hit the woodwork twice, Wellbeck clearing the bar from less the than 6 yards out and Tarko’s back pass!
That said I do think the second half performance and if we get Dibbling in and a quality right back and I do think we are in a stronger position than for several years and should be looking for a top 10 finish this season

Also - small point, good to see Grealish tracking back and putting a couple of decisive tackles in, hope he keeps that up.

I'll bet Mykolenko will be looking forward to getting back and owning the left, a la Baines & Pienaar.

Dibling, a combative central midfielder, and an attacking full-back, please!

Now that the buzz has died down, objectively, we were very lucky not to concede 2 or 3 goals. They targeted Garner, who really struggled, as did O'Brien, but what scared me, again, was the giving up territory in vast amounts to Brighton, sitting back and thinking we had enough to hit them on the break.

Barry never won a challenge, and tiny Tim and Gana bit at heels but always seemed to be chasing the game. So my concerns were Barry, at the moment not good enough; Beto, more of a handful but honesty not a Premier League striker, will he ever be?

Tarkowski was somewhere looking for Goodison Park because his head wasn't at this game. Still get the feeling we are several players light. Surprised Chermiti isn't getting a look in, Armstrong too.

We still look unbalanced, not just defensively but midfield and up front.

Yes I agree there were some downsides but Brighton have two quick wide players who cause problems against most teams. We dodged a few bullets and Moyes has to deal with those problems. We are top heavy at the back and that can be a problem against quick players.

Tarkowski did win a lot in the air but we do miss Branthwaite.

Gana is decent going forward but lacks in defensive tackling and a little speed, nearly cost us dearly.

I was surprised Beto didn't start, but hopefully it's a clean fight for the shirt.

Not a bad move yesterday tbf.

I agree, Ian, there has to be a consequence for playing appallingly.

If we had any defenders, then Tarkowski would suffer the same fate for his abysmal performance yesterday.

Most of the bullets we dodged were shot by ourselves. Tarkowski misjudged a header to let Mitoma in to hit the bar, and then chose to pass back to Pickford without looking.

Gueye was knocked off the ball far too easily by Minteh for the Welbeck chance. Dewsbury Hall's handball probably a bit unlucky, but his hand was up to be hit by the ball. Their shot that hit the post took a wicked deflection.

We had the 2 best players on the park in Grealish and Pickford, and could have scored another if McNeil had his shooting boots on.

Totally need a right-back this week, to allow O'Brien to move to centre-half. He has to be eyeing up Tarkowski's place.

So many thoughts.

Firstly, I won't lie, I thought Jack Grealish would be the next Bale and play more golf than football. But I am happy to be wrong on that one. I really enjoy the way he wants the ball but also wants the opponent.

Several times, including his first assist, he actually waited for the opponent to come to him before beating him. This frightened the shit out of me until I realized he is not being arrogant but just trying to draw attention away from and create space in the box. I don't think anyone has done that (successfully) in a blue jersey for quite some time.

Ndiaye, on the other hand, attacks the opponent by running at him. Two different tactics that worked brilliantly for the first goal.

When Dibling arrives, there is going to be a headache choosing the Number 10 starter – they can all play there. Nice also to see McNeil come on and make a contribution. Throw in Armstrong and we have 5 players all claiming the Number 10 position but also giving 3 options in each of the wing positions, albeit some unnaturally so.

After we signed Dewsbury-Hall, we seemed to have lost interest in David Luiz. I never considered them to be “like for like” but now it seems that it was one or the other with KDH being cheaper, younger and more excited by the project. He is growing on me. He seems to have versatility and intelligence. And leadership.

Speaking of, I was quite excited when O'Brien sat down with cramps and our captain started warming up on the sidelines. Pity he didn't make it onto the field for the last few minutes. I definitely thought his start against Southampton in the Goodison farewell was an emotive decision but no room for that on Sunday!

I have always been an admirer of Garner, especially after he turned down Forest (who I am growing to really despise after this window). He does have a few games a season where he has an off day but generally determined and effective if not pretty.

No mention of Barry. I thought his performance gave reason for optimism. But rumours of Beto's demise are exaggerated.

Not very often that Tarkowski gets a more negative rating than Keane but we do need to start planning both their replacements.

Overall, I'm happy with the squad (assuming today's transaction is completed). Good balance of a) flair vs efficacy; b) experience vs youthful exuberance; c) known ability vs precocious talent. Also more leaders! I loved after the game how Pickford spoke with casual certainty that Jack Grealish will fall in love with our club. COYB.

Those two goals don't get scored yesterday with Beto on the field.

The two contributions by Barry were both very polished, especially the first. That flick was when the alarms started flashing for Brighton. It was 10 seconds before the ball was in the net, but they were in trouble as soon as he put that ball into the path of whoever took it over. Suddenly we had them on the break.

I think he's going to be a top player, if never a natural goal scorer.

Barry won his fair share of challenges and was much more problematic for Brighton than Beto. Garner struggled initially but grew into the job as the game went on.

The only real chance they had that wasn't self inflicted by Tarkowski or Dewsbury-Hall was Welbeck's. We were the better side and thoroughly deserved the win.

The stadium is magnificent and the noise coming off the South Stand was something to hear at times. Finally good to see Everton players carrying the ball forward.

Still lacking in genuine pace up front which you need for a counter attack because that's the way we play, especially away.

I hope Dibling has got a bit of speed about him and we deffo need a very pacey right-back.

If we can get rid of the unforced errors, we’ll be fine.

I’m sticking to my forecast on the live forum before Leeds: my head says 7th, my heart says 6th. In any case it’s European football next year.

There’s just a sense around this team now with Grealish

I'm not sure about the calls for a midfielder. I am all for depth in numbers, but we already have 9 and that will become 10 if Dibling signs.

We have other priories. It's looking like defence. A right back, allowing O'Brien to make up 4 centre backs, to satisfy Moyes' statement a few weeks ago, that he wants 2 back up players in each position.

As for a striker, I can only see that if we send Chermiti out on loan, as we'd need another in there.

Have already posted on the defensive midfield pivot on the previous thread.The defence was not as good as against Leeds and Everton were lucky. Both Keane and Tarks where at sea at times when a ball was played into the gap between midfield and their defensive line, but did play ok the rest of the time.Keane did show the skill he does have for connecting right for a pass or strike.

Moyes against Leeds had not have a instructed attacking midfield pairing, just a failed attempt at a low block. Garner came under pressure to stay deep as Alcartz continually drifted inside leaving him exposed Nidaye was isolated.This also left to Leeds pressure on the defensive midfield pivot and no attack.

Against Brighton he did have a attacking midfield pairing of Dewsbury and Grealish, Nidaye and Garner were able to tuck in and link up with the pairing.This was very difference than the Dyche like low block of the Leeds game with it's fear and negativity instilled by Moyes.

Moyes had to make a change in the forward line Barry for Beto to justify his lack of forward quality outburst, which was due in fact to the lack of ball progression due to his negative tactics.

Beto would have been better at keeping Brighton at bay.They had too much space to work in at times. Barry looked ok with good touches, but it would have been better with Beto.

Struggling to see how you fit Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibling, KDH in same side. I’m not seeing KDH as the ball winner alongside Gana yet.

That’s before Alcaraz and O’Neil get mentioned.

Good to have competition for places I guess.

Just need the same for both fullbacks and defensive midfield.

Love that Colin (10) - poetic continuity over from the final Goodison 2-0 home win. Now all we need is to fill the stadium with passion and noise and atmosphere and make new history and great stories. Our home is so much more than a place - it's the people, the stories, the memories, the laughter and tears, the roller coaster ride we love to love, that what distracts us from everything else... The smells might be new, the views better, the route different but the blue blood will never change. Let's make BMD a blue fortress and a beacon of hope after too many years of misery.

Our new stadium should be renamed Dodge city just for the Brighton game, because that's what we escaped from on Sunday. How we not only won, but a clean sheet is down to two things, a very large slice of luck with cream on it, and poor finishing by Brighton, they hit the bar and post's four times, sitter and penalty missed. Great we started with a win for our first premier league game, but if we play like that again we won't be that lucky. Wolves away after the Mansfield game, hopefully the cup can give one or two reserves a chance to shine, if not we must bring in at least one defender, preferably one who can fill different positions. As I said, we got away with that one on Sunday, we mustn't paper over the defence being all over the place, and Tarkowski playing as if he's being filmed by that TV show he was on, married To The Game."Right James, we want you to fk up on the pitch and look like a right dope, so we can use it in the next episode, and make sure you look right at the camera when you cock up." I remember my teacher at junior school at football practice, telling me, don't let the ball bounce. You would think Tarks, would have learnt that by now. And maybe he can use the old green cross code, look right, look left, and look right again, then you can pass. Married to the game? Keep that up Tarks and you will be heading for a divorce.

I quite like Jimmy G but it is a stretch to claim he kept his winger quiet in both games. Minteh literally ran rings round him. Sometime I wonder if scoring a goal (and it was a great goal) covers other shortcomings.

We need an alternative to LB for rotation and when Myko is injured. If the young Bayern lad isn't ready, then someone else, if only on a loan. Provided we get a real right back who can also overlap, then we can make do with O Brien as back up there but that also might mean an extra CB. The ideal option would be Ake who can play both left CB and LB.

Assuming Dibling or ano right winger signs, then I think that is as good as we can do this window. True another DM would help, if only a long term successor to Gana, but I think we can make do there with Jimmy G, Ironman, maybe KDH or even Armstrong if he can be coached to play there.

Striker is another matter but those are rare and not in our wheelhouse right now. We could sign a promising kid, but we have two of those in Barry and Chermiti.

Slightly off topic but I was on the Strand today and saw a new daily bus service I wasn't aware of. No.2; Liverpool One-Everton Stadium-Sandhills; Sandhills-Everton Stadium-Liverpool One Circular.
More or less every 30 minutes.
Handy for anyone wanting to see their stone in the Everton Way (now open every day) or visiting the shop.

A quick question on how people found the logistics? Whilst there were queues to get in the store and for the concessions in the plaza they didn’t see any evidence of the issues people were predicting.
Personally I travelled from Hooton to Sandhills before the match and walked to James Street to catch the train back after the match with no issues, obviously it was a nice afternoon for a walk!
Just wondering what other people’s experiences were?

Reading many comments on here its just as well we won because I get the feeling some are just chaffing at the bit to criticize. Yes they had chances to score but they didnt take them how many times have we said that about Everton. I was a little concerned about the atmosphere no need the fans were brilliant, I got inside the ground even before the players came out to warm up and even that early you could feel the atmosphere building. Looked at many of the different posts and don't see any from Michael Kenrick, who said Grealish was just a player who waves his arms about dives and looks like a tart in a hair band. Nothing could be further from the truth the only time he went to ground was to make a terrific sliding challenge on our goal line to stop a scoring chance. The goal he laid on for Ndaiye was pure class.

Nice to hear Troy Deeny on match of the day praise young Barry, and suggested that Beto was a disgrace against Leeds, cant argue with any of that. A mention for Michael Keane who has played well in both opening games unlike Tarkowski with his negative pass backs. James Garner was MOTM according to David Moyes but I would have had Pickford for his 2 outstanding saves and while the critics keep suggesting alternatives for England he keeps proving them wrong. Gana gave another very good performance and Tim did OK as well. But you cant ignore the presence that grealish is having and will have. So can we have a bit more positivity guys yes everything is far from perfect but you wouldn't have known that from the singing of the match going fans after the game.

Finally to the muppet on the mike the playlist before the game is We Built this City ( 3 stadiums), Thats why they call us the Blues, There she goes, the siren and Z Cars.