 Hello, welcome to Toffy TV. It is a match preview, Everton vs Brighton at Gooderson Park, an opportunity to win three back-to-back games at Gooderson Park, Jack. How are we feeling about that? Yeah, all in the space of a week as well. It's uncharted territory, really, isn't it? Been a while since we've been in what you'd call good form, playing against the good side in Brighton as well, so it is going to be tough, but I think in recent weeks as well, especially in the league, we've probably shown slightly better form than they have as well. We know they're a quality side and it's going to be tough, but it's one that I didn't... I'm not as apprehensive about this game as I thought I would have been, having a large part of that is our current form. No, absolutely. Brighton, obviously coming into the season, you look at the fixtures and now they're one that you look at and you go, ooh. Especially after last season, last season was one of the most... I won't say embarrassing, but it's very much one of the most one-sided games I've seen at Gooderson Park for a very long time. We did not let a glove on them last season. It was like when they played those last season, it was like the awakening. It was like everyone just went, oh my god, Brighton are really, really good. And this ever isn't a really bad one. Yeah, yeah. And yeah, the manager still hasn't been sacked. Now David, excellent as a gooderson last season and obviously the end of that was a superb season. They got into Europe and now obviously everybody looks at Brighton and thinks, that's how you have to do it as a football club if you want to get yourself into those European positions and maybe higher. And obviously this season, Billy are very much doing good things as well, but Brighton are the model because they have a model and it's very successful. But you're right, just coming into the game at the moment, Everton are on a decent little run, a form. I said could be three wins in a row, but as I said three home wins back to back could be on the cards after Bournemouth and Burnley and then it could be Brighton, so the three Bs. But Brighton have gone a little bit off the boil haven't they recently? I think you've got to go back to, I think it's the 24th of September since they last won a Premier League game, three-one win over Bournemouth. They have won in the Europa League, they beat Ajax recently to Nell, but the feats at the likes of Manchester City, they obviously drew with Fulham at home recently Liverpool, at home recently they got battered by Aston Villa away. And they seem to have, after having a great start of the season by the way, when the Europa League hit they seem to have had a real struggle balancing that. They obviously got beat by Chelsea as well in the Carabao Cup, but they seem to have quite a difficult act balancing the Premier League with the European form. Well it's something they've never had to deal with before as a club is it in Europe for the first time in history. When you look at where a lot of their players come from as well you know they buy from smaller leagues, they're less popular markets. A lot of those players wouldn't have played continental football before as well, so it is just a learning cave for them. How well they do in Europe this season? Oh not I don't really know, but I think it will obviously affect them when we have been seeing that. Also you've got at the other side of things which I think could be getting made a bigger deal of if it were in Brighton is that they've lost some key players. Now Brighton are good at replacing their players, they're happy to sell players, it's their model but when you lose quality of players like Cachado and Alex McAllister it does take a hit out of you. I'm sure the players that they've brought in to replace them over time will do very well and it's Brighton isn't it, that's what they do. But in the short term with the combined difficulty of having midweek football as well in Europe maybe that's just been a hard learning cave for them. I think they might have a couple of injuries as well and I think it's just taken that little bit of sting out of them. I don't think they're quite as fluid or a little bit less dangerous on the ball than they have been in the last couple of years. They'll get up to speed with that players all get it again, the new players who they've brought in and adapt. It is the extra games, you know, do you want to think they won five of the first six games and then around the time Europe started that's when the wheels started to fall off. With some tough fixtures. Yeah of course but they've got the likes of last week against Fulham, the likes of Lam Tee was missing. It's a bit of a bad one that as well and Cisco injured, Danny Welbach's got an injury and Espeutium. Espeutium. I always get them wrong, I always get the pronunciation wrong. He's got an injury as well so the squad is thinned out a little bit and obviously that's going to cause them problems as they try and balance these two competitions and obviously they're going to want to do well in the Premier League but they're going to want to do well in their first season in the Europa League. I think they were second favourites in the Europa League by the way, behind Liverpool. But so far I think it's one win one draw and one defeat, they started with a defeat and recently obviously beat Ajax and they've got to draw the way it might say but they are still a very good side, the way they play football is the way any team wants to see them playing. The Zabi when he came in and took over from Potter, he really did seem to step them up on that next level. Everyone thought it was going to be doom and gloom, everyone thought it was going to be the end of the world for them but he really has taken them to that next level and it's not, I mean listen, they're not going to stay there all the time because that is a really high bar to set themselves up but he's done really well hasn't he? Yeah I think he made them a little bit more clinical than they were on the Potter, obviously they had done nice football as well and that was starting to really beat Fritz as well just to Potter left. That's why people thought it was a risky move for him because things were starting to go really well at Brighton. The Zabi came in and just took it to a completely another level and that's why they've got European football now. They're a great side and they've got some really dangerous players who will always be a problem. Even though they are missing some players, Brighton are the team who can probably get away with that better than some teams can because they are run very top to bottom, they have their way of playing, they have a club culture, the youth players are probably more adaptable, they know how the first team plays so even though the quality of the youth player who maybe comes in to fill that gap isn't the same, they know how the team works that he can perform in that same environment. Yeah and as we said about the injuries, obviously once you start getting injuries the quality starts being lessened a little bit. So yeah it is difficult for them and what we have seen as well from them is when they get beat they really get beat. We obviously went there and got beaten 5-1 last season but you look at the Villar result 6-1. There are such a weird side because they do score goals but they are so open as well, they really give you a chance. You get your tactics right and obviously if everything comes off for you then it creates such an open game and I think that's what's such an interesting part of this game because evidently in the last few weeks really I've had the tactics nailed down, they aren't massively open side and wait for their moments, they're not playing free-flown football, they're not using the moments and the set pieces a little bit more and the counter attack and that'll shoot, that'll shoot us coming Saturday won't it? Yeah well we've not been great at home recently, it's getting better. Like you say this could be our third home win in the space of a week but over the course of the season and the last few months as well it's not been great part of the reason is we're not that comfortable on the ball especially compared to a team like Brighton they were great on it. The good thing for us is Brighton will come and sort of approach this like a home game, they're going to come and they're going to want to get on the ball just like they only did midweek, they add over 60% possession, Brighton will probably have similar numbers and evidently are probably being that sweet spot where they like to operate with 36, 38% possession that seems to be where evidently most of the good work and they do leave a lot of space Brighton, they leave a lot of space through the middle and evident strength in recent weeks has been that spine, you know, o nan ar yn decorre two players who can really drive with the ball as well it's something we've seen in the 5-1 as well a lot of space in the middle for players like decorre and McNeill and Calvert-Lewin to just run for him. It's something we'll look to exploit again I'm sure but Brighton aren't soft, they'll look at how they lost that game last season, okay they won't compromise their entire playing style but they'll go how can we avoid this happening again that's where we need to be adaptable as well. Yeah, I don't think we should fear not having the ball, I mean, Brighton recently in the last game it's full and they had 71% of possession and ended up with a 1-1 draw, in fact when they played Villa and lost 6-1, you know, they had in that game 59% of possession, yeah I don't think we should fear it and we've allowed, you know, we allowed Ben and we'd like the ballmuff to have more of the ball, it will suit us, it's just, it's where and when you take the ball off the opposition and not allowing them to get too high up the pitch obviously. But yeah, it's obviously going to be a tough game. Let's have a little look at the Brighton side that drew 1-1 with Fulham recently. Jason Steele and Goll, Adam Webster Lewis-Dunk, Aigo in a 3 at the back, Pascal Gross, Del Horde, Adingre, Midfield, Matoeme, Adam Lelana, Belbe and Evan Figgs in the front. But let's just have a look at Matoeme's numbers for the season so far. 10 games, 3 goals, XG 2.49, assist 3 and XG 2.34. And obviously you can see by the heat map there, he's literally setting fire to that left hand side, isn't he? Cutting in, you can see exactly where he goes and what he wants to do and that will be, you wonder whether that will, the manager's decision will again on the right back be factored into those kind of things because we did say before the Liverpool game, the manager had the decision to make in terms of who he picked and you know, I don't know whether he thinks he got it wrong that day but pace and cutting in really, really did cause issues for actually the young to the point where he obviously got sent off. So this is the big decision for the manager to make. Yeah against the player who you know running down that left hand side and cutting in it has bred him but it isn't it. I think if he just watched 10 minutes of Matoeme, he does the same thing every time I had to show him inside but he's so skillful, he is a man of style on that left hand side and you know, I think Nathan Patterson's ends his chance. I really do, I think he was comfortable when he came in against West Ham. I think Ashley Young hasn't shown enough to be a guaranteed spot in that right back slot and I still think he's decent sign and versatility and we can't call on him if we need him but I don't think he should be a guaranteed starter in this team based off what he's shown and look, this is going to have to be a defensive performance from us at the weekend. I'm aware of that but Patterson does give us that extra option going forward as well with the option of an overlap round Jack Harrison on the right. I think it's time to put the trigger on Patterson. He came out the team and he needed to come out the team and he did because he was struggling but he's come back in, we've kept a clean sheet. Young's not covered himself in glory lately. Give Patterson a go, it's going to be a tough game for him but you know, it'd be a baptism of fire when a game is at home but if he comes through that, that'll be massive for him in the end of the year. I think that would be the only change in me. Let's have a look at the evidence he's not faced or beat West Ham last week. I think for me, obviously Patterson started the game against West Ham so it will be interesting to see what the manager does. Obviously he brought actually Young back into the side for the game against Burnley. I don't think there'll be any other changes. I think that will be the team that starts by the one position, the right back position. Whether the manager thinks he can cope with the pace, we'll have to wait and see. It's going to be interesting to find out what he does. The other players wanted to mention as well who arguably could be more of the player to watch them at home would be Evan Faguson who's had really good start of the season. He's scored five goals for Brighton so far. No headed goals, which I thought he would have been. Five goals so far. We saw him a marriage last season again in this fixture. Looks like he's got everything. This kid to go forward, there's a big centre forward. Looks like he's got pace, presence, can finish from outside the box. Intelligent football. He's well very switched on and therefore suits the make-up of that Brighton team. He's going to the top. He's already very good at five goals already. He's a handful because he's such a physical presence. But then his first touch, how aware he is of the players around him, especially in a team like Brighton, who have those runners in behind. He's a real handful and he's a player you do need to be very switched on again. Even on your best day, you might struggle against because he has that ability. He's only going to get better. So, him and Mattomer and especially Faguson are Brighton's danger men, aren't they? No, absolutely. It means obviously that the defence is going to have to be right on its toes. It'll be a different ask, physical presence. For Tach, he'll love it. But Antwight again, it's a different thing. Let's see how he does against them. He's come up against physical plays this season. It's how we deal with Mattomer on our right as well. But obviously, they've got a lot of good intelligent players. A couple of different connections with Llanar and Milner as well in this. It's a difficult game. It's a game that, if you'd asked me a few weeks ago, would not have been looking forward to it. But I am now. I am looking forward to it because I just think the level of our performance has gone up in the last few weeks. The consistency of our performance has gone up. The consistency of the side that we're putting out weekend and week out is there as well. We've got options on the bench as well. If we can keep that level that we've been at least then we've got an opportunity today to get a win. If we do get a win, I think if we get a win, we go four points behind Brighton and that'll show you that we're growing. It's about, for me, getting into that pack above us and not being in the pack where it's at five points above the relegation zone. It's being in the pack now for the mid part or the second pack, then you get another pack and then you get four packs now rather than where you slug at three. I think if we can get mid table or start getting the punch where you're not looking at every performance going, have we lost today where we're back down there? That's where back-to-back wins are so important in the Premier League. Selly, this time of the season, they shouldn't elevate you into a different place, a different feel. There's a calmness to the club, there's a calmness to the fans when they go to the match. It's not, oh, we lose yesterday. It's a big important game for both teams. They'll be back in European football next week as well. So, again, how does he juggle the two? Or does he even think in that far ahead? I don't know, but they've had a clear week obviously because they weren't in the Carable Cup. But I'd rather have had the Carable Cup in the week. I'd rather have played one and have that confidence and have the feel around goodness and that. Things are on the up. Yeah, and you want to be involved in the Cup competitions, don't you? It's the same for Brighton with Europe. That probably hindered them at points this season. You've got to take it because you want to be involved. This season, although it is a learning curve for Brighton, they're adapting. They still want to have success this year. They want to keep building on what they've established. It's been a tough couple of weeks for them in the league and they'll be looking to turn that round. That's what makes it a tough game for us. But look, we're coming in in form. It's a good test for us to see, are we level above where we were? Can we maintain that? I think it has the makings of quite an entertaining game. Yeah, it does. Hopefully, it would be great to get a win in going to Palace ahead of the international break. If we could go into that international break undefeated in these four games, I think mentally for everybody, there's been a lot of noise about that recently. You can't see the whiff of the trees, but hopefully, if things are starting to go one by one, it's not looking at the league table all the time. Sean Dice doesn't ever look at the league table, but if you're not looking at the league table all the time and you're not worried about what's going on below you and you're going, if that team wins, then maybe we can go up a place or whatever. Then we chalk that one thing off and then the next thing is. The next few weeks, probably four weeks or whatever, you've got the commission stuff. Obviously, we're desperate for something positive to come out of that. You know, whatever it is, as long as it's no points of deduction or whatever, but we come out of that and then the next thing is obviously the buying of the football club and it's just like, get through this little... You're just slowly chipping away. Yeah, yeah, you're getting chipping away or Mathew's articles, essentially. Because suddenly, there does feel like there's just a little... A little bit of light in the clouds shining through. Stadiums looking amazing. You're like, oh, that's something you are starting to think, oh, it's not as bad. It's not as bad as what it's been paying to dazzle. It's not as bad as you thought it was going to be. So, yeah. Let's get a little bit of optimism. Hopefully we get a win on Saturday and we start climbing that table and then we can all start feeling better about ourselves, can't we? Well, not about ourselves. I mean, I feel great. I feel something else. Feeling better about everything. Yeah. So, actually looking forward to going to a game at Godderson. Yeah, and that doesn't necessarily mean you expect a win, but it means you're coming in from a good place, doesn't it? Expect a good match. Expect a good match. And a good effort from us, regardless. Yeah, and a consistent performance that gives us the tools to win the game. So, let us know your thoughts on this one, your fanciers against Brighton on Saturday. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Make sure to give this video a like, subscribe if you haven't already, and join us over on Toffy TV Premier if you want daily live exclusive videos that are all over there. 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