I read some comments that pointed the finger at Moshiri. The real deal is that Everton has limited funds because we are building a stadium. It is one or the other.
Moshiri, for his past faults leading up to our current day PSR issues, has done brilliantly for us with the new stadium. But like Bill Kenwright once said, sadly this is no longer a millionaire’s but a billionaire’s game.
But even a billionaire cannot fund a team and build a stadium at the same time. Moshiri could have just walked without building the stadium! That is his brave legacy.
As for things on the pitch, Brighton were there for the taking but Sean Dyche messed up by picking his favourites like Young, Keane, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin – and that is the main problem on the pitch.
When I saw the lineup, I realized that we were in for a tough day. A lack of tactical (adventurous) nous from Sean Dyche is hampering us unlike his opposite Brighton counterpart in the dugout for the first time.
Why not use three centre-backs with five across the midfield and two forwards with Harrison and Mykolenko as wingbacks and take the fight to Brighton?
Keane next to Tarkowski was a disaster waiting to happen as both are not fast players. Anyone watching the first half would have noticed that Doucouré, Keane and Young were liabilities (too slow for the Premier League and out of form), yet Dyche kept them on.
Sticking with the 4-4-1-1, I would have tried Roman Dixon in place of Young from the start and played our new boy Jake O’Brien instead of Keane, Beto instead of the wantaway Calvert-Lewin, and Ndiaye instead of Doucouré. That would have been really impressive from Dyche; win, draw or lose. I might even go further by replacing McNeil with Lindstrøm.
Everton will have a tough season ahead if Dyche keeps depending on his favourites. With Calvert-Lewin and Branthwaite looking at leaving Everton, he should help them on their way rather than use them on the pitch and possibly bring down the morale of the team over the season.
I can also imagine the mood of the Everton team knowing that their prized striker and prized defender are not keen on staying around because they see greener pastures elsewhere.
We have to hope Kevin Thelwell is able to do a double deal (Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin) and get £60M plus cash from Man Utd with Scot McTominay and Wan-Bassika in the deal as well, that would be good for us.
If Beto is not up for the Premier League, then a swap with Atlanta for El Bilal and a few extra quid would be good for us as well. Getting Holgate, Keane, Gueye and Doucour¹ off the books (maybe to the Saudi league with decent transfer fees) and getting in fresh faces before the end of the month would be outstanding.
One thing more, we also need a left back. Just a thought!