Talking points in the aftermath of Everton vs Brighton

Everton secured their first win of the season after beating Brighton 2-0 in their official debut at their new waterfront stadium.

Nearly 53,000 fans were treated to a momentous occasion with goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner gracing the inauguration of the Hill Dickinson Stadium. It was a fine performance from the Blues to dismiss apprehensions and concerns resulting from the non-performance at Elland Road a week earlier.

Here are the major talking points from Everton’s 2-0 win over Brighton:

Iliman Ndiaye scripts history again

Despite signing for the club only last summer, Iliman Ndiaye has already become something of a folk hero for Evertonians. After making history by being the last to score a goal after 133 years at the iconic Goodison Park, he has now become the first to open the account for Everton in their official game at their new waterfront stadium.

Ndiaye’s performance yesterday was a breath of fresh air on the right flank, where his trickery, flair, and smart thinking allowed him to constantly find solutions and fashion out chances despite not being a natural right winger.

Jack Grealish raises the roof on first start for the Blues

Making his home debut after signing from Manchester City on loan this summer, Jack Grealish wowed and pleased the capacity crowd in attendance at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a match-winning performance. 

He looked assured, calm on the ball, and safe in possession, constantly finding his teammates in proper spaces and stretching the left wing. Unlike City, where he constantly had to hold the width, Grealish also came inside quite often to combine with the likes of Barry, Dewsbury-Hall, Gueye and Ndiaye.

He got two assists against Brighton, more than he has managed in his last two full Premier League campaigns. Grealish also drove at the opposition full-back throughout the game and looked more like his usual self than the shell of a player we saw in the last couple of years at City. There’s no doubt that when Grealish plays like this, he’s capable of raising the ceiling of the team to new heights!

James Garner’s versatility adds plenty to the squad

James Garner may not get the headlines often, but he’s a manager’s dream. A proper swiss army knife of a player who is capable of dropping 7/10 performances in various roles throughout the season.

A solid central midfielder who allows Idrissa Gueye to perform the role of the team’s metronome while also screening the backline, Garner has had to play at left-back due to Vitalii Mykolenko’s injury in the first two matches of the season.

He has done pretty well in that position, and not only has he kept his winger quiet in both games, he has also gone forward and helped his teammates in the build-up and final third. During the pre-season, Garner also slotted in at right back on a few occasions.

While Everton will probably sign another midfielder and a right-back before the end of the transfer window, David Moyes can sleep in peace knowing that he’ll be able to count on Garner’s versatility in any case.

Few pieces of the squad puzzle are still left to solve

The imminent arrival of Tyler Dibling this week is expected to complete Everton’s starting XI. They had been chasing a pacey right winger capable of taking on his full-back and creating chances throughout the summer transfer window and Dibling, one of the most highly rated young prospects in England, will bring more balance to the starting XI. However, a couple of question marks regarding the squad still persist.

At 35, Idrissa Gueye is no spring chicken and the Blues should start preparing for life after him with the signing of a number 6. Douglas Luiz had been a target for most of the summer before he opted to join Nottingham Forest. Adding depth to the midfield will allow Moyes greater flexibility while also managing the players’ workload. More importantly, signing a central midfielder will allow for cover when Gueye has to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations later this year.

Signing a right-back is also imperative, given that Moyes has had to trust Jake O’Brien as a makeshift option in that position. There are question marks surrounding Seamus Coleman’s fitness concerns and Nathan Patterson’s reliability. 

Even though O’Brien has mostly done well in this role, adding another right-back, especially someone more capable of going forward, will unlock an additional weapon in the arsenal. Everton had been interested in signing Kenny Tete as a free agent before he changed his mind and signed a new deal with Fulham.

A couple of strategic signings, maybe even on loan, along with Dibling’s arrival, are capable of powering Everton’s ambitions to secure European football next season.

---

Reader Comments (17)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---