Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton

Dont like the sound of that

It may be that he had been recovering from the original injury but something is still not quite right inside the joint, and that has become more apparent as he upped the physical stress and strain on his knee as he tried to get back to full fitness.

On the one hand, you could argue that professional players should be strong enough and fit enough to avoid injury, especially considering how much we pay them.

On the other hand, they are merely human, as are the physios who have to assess them and do the right thing to get them back in shape.

So yea, 7 weeks wasted... unreal.

The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the body (I'm a massage therapist so I know a little bit about anatomy) and initial diagnoses can change during rehabilitation.

Nobody has 'wasted 7 weeks' because they would have been monitoring him closely, and clearly initial scans showed no reason for surgery (always a last resort). From what I'm reading, McNeil has come back and tried to train but broken down again, leading to the requirement for surgery.

Not everything is as black & white as you might think when it comes to injuries.

I have to say that with the degree of expertise and the cutting edge technology available these days that Mcneil would have had extensive scans at the outset and regular scans, maybe weekly, going forward.

As I say, with the level of expertise available you'd expect a diagnosis and prognosis that would, barring unforeseen setbacks, have come sooner than this.

I know every injury is different but if he's been out since the 4th of December I'm a little surprised that after seven weeks it's only the fact that McNeil himself has said "It doesn't feel right" has prompted a return to the specialist for possible surgery.

I accept that surgery is a last resort as the player is likely to be out for 4-6 weeks minimum following the surgery (from Moyes himself) but I still think seven weeks to get to that point seems a long time.

Especially strains, like hamstrings and on joints, like knees. In a similar way to how in international athletics, injuries like these are commonplace.

The same article spoke also of how when you are super fit with low body fat you are also more susceptible to colds and viruses.

I worry about his injury more than the others. An avulsion on the big toe doesn't sound like much but if you can't get it to take like it was originally, I'd think it would permanently feel ‘off' and you might have to relearn even basics like running or shooting.

We need depth on the bench and even at 80/90% fit, they could prove useful in the coming games.

The rigours of playing a contact sport at high speed and full-on impacts will still test even the fittest bodies just because there will always be limits to what stresses are absorbable without something giving way. Increased speed will obviously increase impact stresses, other things being equal.

Obviously we have to go to win every game but Leicester next week is yet another “must win”. Same team and attitude as last week please.

It's good to have people like James (5) who know a little bit more from his occupation as a massage therapist. Let's just hope there's a happy ending. [Sorry, James… couldn't resist!]

Whilst I'm happy with Moyes and the improvement in team performances, I feel Brighton's passing game is a huge test and I'm not expecting anything from the game.

But we are creating better chances and playing in a more upbeat manner. I hope the players keep going, even if we fall behind, and keep their discipline to prevent needless suspensions and injuries.

Moyes seemed confident of bringing players in before the end of the window.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18X7zf2uCR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

So no, you cannot assume that an MRI would provide the kind of perfect clarity you're expecting.

The "g" word was used and no fume. The Moyes hold is unassailable!

I'm not as sure as you about track athlete injuries. Carl Lewis went 13 years after high school without a significant injury and he was certainly highly trained but a car accident ended his streak. His coach Tom Tellez was very good and he knew how much work his athlete could safely do.

MRIs have to be read and sometimes there is doubt about the cause of what is seen. I went through that with my hip last year, but generally they are accurate.

I was essentially just regurgitating and paraphrasing an article I'd read a bit back tbh.

His form has fluctuated and I think he missed West Ham away on 9 November due to a knee injury. He then came back in for the next three games before missing all of them since.

So is this our fault for rushing him back?

I'm a Chicago Bulls fan. In early January 2022 our star guard Lonzo Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus. He was projected to miss three to six weeks. No ligament damage or anything, just the meniscus.

He was out of basketball for 33 months. He returned to the court in October 2024 and started a game for the first time last week.

There is no higher level of sophistication in orthopaedic medicine than what is used to treat NBA players. Yet this happened.

A 2-2 draw!

We have to keep Mitoma quiet, not sure who we pick to best do that? Would love a win, would settle for a point.

We just might get something, UTT.

Jimmy Garner can provide the deliveries and so we need him back up to speed quickly. I am not sure Moyes will drop Doucoure for Jimmy but hopefully he can get a run out for at least 20 minutes.

I do not see the starting 11 changing from last week. I hope Armstrong is also given a run-out. Hopefully while in a winning position. As has been mentioned above, we need to keep Mitoma quiet during the game.

If I remember correctly, over the years we've been told certain players will miss a game due to a knock or slight strain only for them to disappear into a black hole for weeks and/or months on end.

I was thinking the other day that coming though as a kid at Burnley and then playing for Dyche at Everton, has he ever been in an attacking team where he has support, runners and instructions to get to the byline? He could be transformed!

There is now nothing at all that anyone can do once PH (to his good friends) has made his prediction. We can only start preparing ourselves today for a 3-1 loss.

Made up for Rob and Liam (and Neil)!

The first test event is against Wigan U18s. PH has us down for a 4-1 defeat! 😄😄😄

The teams below us are less likely to get something than us.

We have 20 points from 21 games – very very close to 1 point per game, which is clearly better than the 4 teams below us.

I think we will stay up and have at least 4 or 5 points to spare, that is if we don't lose too many important players through injuries.

Colin, and others, I agree, we have a poor record. Benitez got rid of our Medical Director and the McNeil situation is odd. Why has it taken this long to decide he needs surgery?

On we go. I'll see some of you in Brighton.

Our Mr Hewitt, and (Gobshite) Merson has us down for a battering ! :-)

Not all Pauls please Derek (don't get me started on our fecking Derek's). I think that we will win 2-1.

Brighton in the last seven started with four draws followed by three wins. Oh shite, so tomorrow is a win and they will start their four game losing streak match after us. Shite. #i'mwithhewey

4 draws
3 wins
3 losses.

COYB
UTFT
FTRS!

Enjoy the game pal. I think we can sneak something.

I once spent a week in Lewes not so long ago and did not drink a single pint of Harvey’s Best Sussex Bitter because I fecking hate bitter. The kopites of beer.

It's nice that Manzanilla. Very dry though.

Mark. Sherry reminds me of 1980s weddings when the grown ups were trying to be sophisticated whilst we ran riot in the Metal Box Social Club and played football and the Crown Green bowling green. Nice pitch!!

Danny, I know I talk shite when with you mate but believe me there is a MASSIVE difference between an Amarillo o Fino from Jerez to the shite our granny’s drank at Christmas.

A cold fino or 3 in a tapas bar in Andalucia before a good tapas variadas is an experience.

But for tomorrow the Harvey’s will have to do, whatever them damn yankees might say.

UTFT

COYB

Aug 17, 2024: Everton 0-3 Brighton (Premier League)
Feb 24, 2024: Brighton 1-1 Everton (Premier League)
Nov 04, 2023: Everton 1-1 Brighton (Premier League)
May 08, 2023: Brighton 1-5 Everton (Premier League)
Jan 03, 2023: Everton 1-4 Brighton (Premier League)
Jan 02, 2022: Everton 2-3 Brighton (Premier League)
Aug 28, 2021: Brighton 0-2 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 12, 2021: Brighton 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Oct 03, 2020: Everton 4-2 Brighton (Premier League)
Jan 11, 2020: Everton 1-0 Brighton (Premier League)
Oct 26, 2019: Brighton 3-2 Everton (Premier League)
Dec 29, 2018: Brighton 1-0 Everton (Premier League)
Nov 03, 2018: Everton 3-1 Brighton (Premier League)
Mar 10, 2018: Everton 2-0 Brighton (Premier League)
Oct 15, 2017: Brighton 1-1 Everton (Premier League)

Seems Moyes believes it is Harrison’s confidence that is the issue and will work on it, maybe look to put him on the left side with McNeils injury and move Ndiaye inside could be an option for me, that’s if we do not get someone through the transfer window.

I fully expect to see Danny singing I do like to be beside the seaside come 4.55 tomorrow and a pleasant journey back home

Keep the faith Blues.

I do still occassionally, enjoy a pint or two of bitter, but I much prefer draught to bottled.

I truly do miss draught "Buckleys Bitter" which was prevalent in my locals when I first started drinking. They were bought out by Brains of Cardiff.

Brains produce a very nice pint of bitter too - but its not Buckleys.

She did a very good Oxford doctorate with their top early modern French historian Robin Briggs on something like disciplining women in early modern Languedoc. Her book academic The Voices of Nimes is very well respected. So she has cred. in spades, though I thought that her programme on England's witch-hunt was pretty awful.

I think she's married but she was pretty open about bisexuality in Oxford.

Don't know if it's the same these days but I could swear it was made from fermenting baked beans due to the flatulence it used to induce the next day.

I once cleared the whole of my law class at uni after a particularly ripe one following a heavy session the night before.

I imagine we'll see the same lineup and hope that Lindstrøm has another good day on the right flank. Brighton have plenty of bright players and the likes of Mitoma and Minteh will fancy their chances running at O'Brien and Mykolenko.

I've heard that Moyes was impressed with Garner in training this week and imagine we'll see him at some point, will be interesting to see where as Gueye and Mangala have looked a solid and able central pairing lately.

A draw here would be very respectable and hopefully put us an effective 6 points ahead of Ipswich (as our goal difference is currently much better).

So clinical finishing today and Lindstrom, Calvert-Lewin and O'Brien to get on the scoreboard. Everton to win 3-0.

The money is on a Brighton win or a draw but we have a decent chance if we can lift our game just a bit. If Iroegbunam and Garner were played in, I would fancy our chances much better. A draw would be acceptable for me at least.

As for Ms Lipscomb, I don't think I could resist that magical combo of brains (history) and beauty.

Of all the tv historians I still miss that old tosser, David Sharkey despite him being a Tory fuckwit.

As for the game, don't Brighton have loads of players out through injury?

I see Lewis Dunk is a doubt for the Seagulls today. Brings to mind a less conventional historian. A dunk in Philomena Cunk, anyone?

OK, the demographic is only 5 but the only people I know anti-Trump are not Americans.

Contrast that to Thatcher when all the Americans loved her, which maybe explains the Trump thing, and I only know one Brit that did, and still does!

They might have a great scouting system and play some lovely football but they are nothing special at all. They may beat us today, but we've definitely got a decent chance and with DCL now being given soke chances and Ndiaye/Lindstrom looking much more enthused, hopefully we can get something. I definitely fancy us to score at least one.

Safe journey to everyone travelling today.

Anyway, I hope all those brilliant away fans have a great day at the game and come home happy Blue Boys!

First stop after the match on the way home for a couple of pints of Higsons bitter. Fabulous nectar and later Cains. Happy memories.

Will be interesting to see how Moyes sets up away to a decent side.

And of course the Doucoure problem persists. I guess they're trying to solve it through the market but would be good to see what the plan is if we don't get someone in.

I was just looking at Brighton's last outing – the 1-3 away win at Old Trafford. They're a talented attacking side and with Webster coming in for Dunk they won't be particularly weakened.

But we showed on the good run of draws against Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal that we can soak up pressure. The issue is posing a threat on the counter and set pieces.

Hopefully Lindstrom and Ndiaye are able to get forward and support Calvert-Lewin. O'Brien to get his first league goal from a Charlie Adam inspired set-piece masterclass?

That being the case, I wouldn't be surprised if Doucouré scores today.

Hopefully Dom has learned from last game that staying central (mostly) pays dividends in terms of scoring chances. Mind you, Ndiaye and Lindstrom providing regular contributions both personally, and to Dominic helped.

More of the same please.

Then the promotion of Baines to the first team coaching group, a new set piece coach hired. The change of formation which allowed us to get more men in the box, playing the ball up closer to DCL also paid dividends.

Today will be a lot tougher than Spurs were last week but I am sure we will not just sit back and allow Brighton to come at us for 90 minutes. For the first time in months, I am actually looking forward to watching us away from home.

A great day for watching the blues and playing football.

Being realistic they are a good team, happy with a draw.

Too tired to think about a bevvy. Been up since 4:45 this morning.

Coaches left Goodison at 7 am and, looking around our coach, it looks like everyone is falling asleep already. Will be bouncing on the way home though! 🍺🍺🍺💙💙💙

However, if he watched those games, he should know to play Harrison on the left! What do you think?

I agree with Brian #120. We could not carry on with the same style and tactics under Dyche, as we were on a downward spiral, so for Moyes to take a different view and inspire some confidence within the squad is refreshing for the players and fans. If we get some consistency and results to go with that, I am hoping that we gain a better league position.

Laurie (118) Yes Laurie, Doucoue is certainly due a goal, maybe he has been saving himself for today and get two, he’s done it before at Brighton!

If Moyes has watched any games this season that Harrison has been involved in, Harrison will be putting out the cones and nowhere near the team.

I can't see that switching wings will miraculously improve his ability to pass a ball to a teammate!

Certainly understand the hundreds of reds travelling North; however, I reckon most will be coming from Heathrow and Gatwick after flying in. The reds coming in from Norway and mainland Europe will be flying in direct to John Lennon

I did hear a rumour – don't believe it for a minute – that 37 local Reds had managed to get tickets for the game…

I like the way he's speaking about Calvert-Lewin, praising his performance but challenging him to score goals when the chances come.

We do need to be watchful of injuries with McNeil and Broja gone for a while, we definitely need more players in.

I reckon we can get a score draw or a win today. I expect us to create a few chances and get a goal or two.

Let's stick one over on Fatboy Slim. He was always crap.

COYB!

He was positive about Harrison but he also said the player needed time to get his confidence back. At best he might get on as a sub, if needed.

Last week was a good performance against another off-form team but today at Brighton will be different and the defence needs to come up big especially in containing Bitouma on the wing.

Those Reds getting tickets would be freebies off players or fan in the know!

Better today than tomorrow! Safe travels mate, UTFT 💙

If we could send Harrison back and use his loan for a traffic cone, it'll be better than him!