[Albion] Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[casbom]

A wins a win against a very poor Everton team. As has been said, any decent team puts us to the sword in those first 20 min but it will take time to gel. Once we do, with returning injured players and new players (some defensive hopefully as well) joining, we will actually have a very decent team. Hopefully we gel more next week and the tactics of how FH wants to play like, is shown more than in just glimpses.

We will need to play better and have more composure against Utd.

As for Everton, play like that on a regular basis and they are going down.

 

[P.C. Beard]

No injury that anyone can tell, I think it was just a fitness thing, he didn’t have much of a pre-season (45 mins total) and probably was feeling it a bit

He looked like he overstretched and then limped for a few seconds in their box just before galloping back to his position when we lost the ball. Was taken off a minute later, so it looked like he had some kind of injury, but hopefully it was just a precaution.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

 

[Seagull58]

No injury that anyone can tell, I think it was just a fitness thing, he didn’t have much of a pre-season (45 mins total) and probably was feeling it a bit

There was an "incident" in Everton's box a few minutes before he went off, after which he was flexing his leg and limping before running back. I didn't see whether it was a knock he picked up or just cramp.

 

[jcdenton08]

He looked like he overstretched and then limped for a few seconds in their box just before galloping back to his position when we lost the ball. Was taken off a minute later, so it looked like he had some kind of injury, but hopefully it was just a precaution.

There was an "incident" in Everton's box a few minutes before he went off, after which he was flexing his leg and limping before running back. I didn't see whether it was a knock he picked up or just cramp.

Cheers, I missed this. Well fingers crossed it’s just a precaution

 

[Change at Barnham]

It’s an easy thing to say with 3-0 on the board tho hey we didn’t miss Mac Allister or Caicedo either but having watched our attempts to pass the ball in the first half I’m gonna say we did miss Pascal a little bit. It’s a good result but performance a few things to work on before we can say we are better than our next opponent

I agree, some of our passes were very sloppy in the first half, but our opponents were also.
They must be allowed a bit of slack as it was their first competitive game of the season and under a new manager.
Weiffer showed glimpses of what he could be but at times looked a little bit of a liability.

But after seeing JPvH at Leicester and Newcastle in his early days I wondered if he had any future at the club. So I know nothing.

 

[Eeyore]

My thoughts are a bit jumbled with excitement so I’ll just bullet point my assessment/thoughts in no particular order

- I thought we were pretty poor starting again, and looked nervous for the first 20 minutes or so. Everton pressed us well and looked fired up. It was a very physical half and we lost a lot of duels against a physical, stodgy Dyche side. We were caught in possession numerous times and really it was only a lack of attacking quality from Everton which kept us level in the first quarter of the game. Despite this, they only managed one shot on target all match, in the 4th minute, which was a save you’d expect a professional goalkeeper to make.

- Our first goal - a counter-attacking goal no less(!) - was class and Minteh is going to be outstanding. What a signing.

- I like Steele and have defended him frequently on here from some irrational and unfair criticisms, but he didn’t fill me with confidence today. Sorry to break out a very, very old football joke but he reminded me of Dracula. He really doesn’t like crosses.

- talking of crosses, I was really surprised by how little quality Everton possessed in this area given it’s their entire game plan. Long diagonal to turn the full back around (in this case they constantly targeted Hinsh all game) then a cross. Just a total lack of quality or invention from Everton.

- Everton were very poor after that first 20 minutes. The second goal absolutely killed them and they looked broken men out there.

- Mitoma felt all his Christmases had come at once. He was brilliant, yes, but he must’ve been salivating lining up against a 39 year old playing out of position at right back. He had Young on toast and the red card was as clear cut as you’ll ever see, absolutely stone wall.

- what exactly was Dyche thinking with that line up? I know he doesn’t have the best squad to choose from, but they have to be the slowest, most ponderous team in the league. Just no dynamism at all. They’re in deep, deep trouble this year and I think it might be finally be their turn to go down. Their squad is atrocious, they have absolutely no pace or movement up front or through the midfield lines

- player ratings

Steele - 6
Hinshelwood - 7
Dunk - 7
Van Hecke - 8
Veltman - 7
Wieffer - 6
Milner - 7
Minteh - 8
Mitoma - 9 (MOTM)
Pedro - 8
Welbeck - 9

Adingra - 8
Others n/a

- penalty decision was correct. When it first happened based on the stream I said “penalty” and it looked clear cut, but did wonder about Dunk and JPVH’s reactions being so strong. After a couple of replays it was clear it was never a penalty. My big question is what on earth was Calvert-Lewin doing?! He just needed to side foot that in the corner, instead he went looking for a penalty for some bizarre reason and essentially dived. I have no idea what he was thinking except low confidence. Sums up Everton’s problems. I think they might be f***ed. Good.

- I liked our set pieces. Straightforward, good delivery, good movement: much better than under RDZ. We’ll score a few this season

- all three of our goals were beautiful with direct, flowing attacks. We could’ve had a few more as our wingers streak away - thinking Adingra in the second half and Minteh scaring the shit out of Mykolenko for 40 minutes. Mitoma against Young was farcical. The most one-sided roasting of an opposition fullback since March bs Cucurella at the Amex, where Cucurella was subbed off in tears lol

Everton are a dirt poor side, but we put them away nicely. That said, we do need to improve in many areas, some players need to pick up the pace (Wieffer springs to mind) as getting caught several times the way he did against better sides will be very costly for us.

Mojo rating: 9

Wieffer seems to be reported as needing to pick up pace. It's often an issue for players from the Dutch league. Propper was the same when he started. That will correct itself over time.

 

[Javeaseagull]

Must admit I was surprised at their tactics which seemed to consist entirely of long diagonal balls to Harrison presumably because they thought Hinsh was the weak link. My memory tells me that McNeil has always had a good game against us yet they never gave him the ball, so was very pleased to see that.

That Kudus is some player ain’t he. Pity but you can’t win them all.

 

[dazzer6666]

On the way home. Not going to dwell on the stuff that needs to be improved, now isn't the time. Fantastic start for Fab. Great day out

 

[Super Sub]

There was an "incident" in Everton's box a few minutes before he went off, after which he was flexing his leg and limping before running back. I didn't see whether it was a knock he picked up or just cramp.

I noticed that too. Looked like cramp

 

[jcdenton08]

Wieffer seems to reported as needing to pick up pace. It's often an issue for players from the Dutch league. Propper was the same when he started. That will correct itself over time.

He did lots really well, lots of good tracking out of position and “hidden” work, and of course did superbly in assisting our second goal. But he also lost the ball a few times in very dangerous positions and could’ve been directly at fault for conceding the equalising goal if Calvert-Lewin hadn’t bottled it.

There’s an excellent player there but he’ll need to sharpen up considerably

 

[P.C. Beard]

I thought Wieffer looked excellent as the tough-tackling midfielder we've sorely lacked since Caicedo left, his timing of the tackle was excellent and his defensive positioning was spot on, bailing out Hinshelwood a couple of times.

He wasn't so great with the ball, but he won't have played in many games with the speed of a typical Premier League game. His assist for Welbz goal was lovely and I reckon he'll soon be up to standard in that department.

 

[Weststander]

View attachment 187350

Huge clubs dominating already.

 

[Dick Head]

Emphatically wrong, we're won

i new weird win

 

[jimhigham]

View attachment 187350

Looks super, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine how excited Leicester supporters must have been on the run in to their title season.

Still. Give it 30-odd games, eh?

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

All that and possibly two or three more serious footballers still to join us.

 

[papachris]

He did lots really well, lots of good tracking out of position and “hidden” work, and of course did superbly in assisting our second goal. But he also lost the ball a few times in very dangerous positions and could’ve been directly at fault for conceding the equalising goal if Calvert-Lewin hadn’t bottled it.

There’s an excellent player there but he’ll need to sharpen up considerably

I think Wieffer is an intelligent guy. He is learning the difference with the Premier League. Soon he will be a really important part of the team we won't want to be without.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I think Wieffer is an intelligent guy. He is learning the difference with the Premier League. Soon he will be a really important part of the team we won't want to be without.

I think he actually improved before our eyes today. The first 20 minutes I lost count of the times he gave it away and I had my head in my hands. By the second half he was running the show imo. Extraordinary .

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Early days, crap opposition, BUT that was an absolutely magnificent away performance. Bodes well for Fab. What a start

 

[jcdenton08]

I think Wieffer is an intelligent guy. He is learning the difference with the Premier League. Soon he will be a really important part of the team we won't want to be without.

Yeah I really rate him because he has so many attributes perfect for a key role in our new system. He needs time and to put in the hard work on the training ground in the coming months which I’m sure he will