 Wel, dyma'r toffi TV, dyma'r maths prefiyw. Crystal Palace versus Everton, 3 o'clock. Sellers Park, dywan o'r byd e, pa yna plays, of course. But we can watch it on Amazon Prime, so there you go. Am ti o'r un bai? It's John Blane from Bramley Moldoch, the stadium is built. We've said this before. We're just waiting for the plan of permission. Wel, ti'n ono, ar yw? I'm good, I'm good, yeah. I mean a bit of a busy day today, cos I've had to do my day job, of course, but we started the day with a new series of Everton Business Matters, with a new host, permanent host, succeeding your good self, cos you did the last one, and it's getting the band back together again, basically, yeah. Wel, rot, shall I then get the gig? I thought I did, OK, so it'd be fair. You did do OK, but no disrespect, mate. I think the best host we've ever had is Roger. Yeah. You know, a lot of horse trading, a lot of, you know, two-in-and-fro, between the agents, but eventually we landed him, and despite any rumour you may hear later, there was no transfer fee, so we managed to secure him without a transfer fee. He must be on a good work then. I'm sure he's happy, yeah. So Crystal Palace, obviously the top of the table clash, which... Sort of, yeah. Probably not many people would have said prior to the season keeping off. Obviously both teams have won the opening games. We'll talk about Palace in a minute, but from our perspective, going down there, got to be confident having me played for one foot and looking in good shape. Well, yes, indeed, and my memory as you get older might drift a little bit, but I don't... Sorry, I'm going to put the kibosh on this now, aren't I? I don't think we've lost down there since they came back into the Premier League, have we? And we've lost at home a couple of times, I think, but I don't think we've lost down at their place. And, of course, at the beginning of last season, which was probably the longest season in history, they were the first away game. And I think we've had a lot of nil-nils down there with them, so I've won things for sure, it won't be a nil-nil, will it? Again, you're probably just kiboshed there, it doesn't look like it'd be a nil-nil. We have drawn the last three games there, two of them being sort of nil-nil draws, of course. That's right. The end of one season and the start of the next, basically, but I think we go down there, confidence. Dave, like we said, they've started well, but so have we. And I think, Carlo, on the other hand, he's done his press conference today, said everyone's fully fit and ready to go. So we should be going down there, looking for the three-pointers, go to start as they've had and as tough a team as they are. We really should be looking for the three-pointers in this one, don't you think me? Oh, well, absolutely. And I think we have to make them play our game rather than we try and play their game. I mean, I know you say they've had a good start, but, well, they beat Southampton, didn't they? We then went on to get absolutely hammered by Spurs, who we beat and, of course, playing Man United first-time out. I mean, I think it all perhaps comes down to how Keen and Mina cope with centre backs and hopefully a hell of a lot better than the Lough and McGuire did because playing into the hands of their pace and movement up front isn't going to be good for us. But having said that offensively, we are just boiling hot at the moment. So it could actually be the opposite of those anemic 0-0 draws we've had down there the last couple of seasons and turn out to be quite a high score in game because I do think we will score goals. But as we've seen, we also have lapses which allows the opposition to get goals as well. Definitely. I mean, last week, you just rightly said, that United didn't cope well with them at all. And I think one of the keys will be, obviously, stopping the supply to Will Soha. He's the danger man, you know, IU is a will-and-runner and he's got obviously on just time's end, he scored last week's off doing OK and slump on the other side quite quick and strong. But cutting the supply to Soha will be, I should imagine, evidence, or part of evidence, game plan. Well, yeah, it needs to be critical because while Seamus is an old hand, you know, with Rodriguez is in front of him, then there could be quite a bit of space out there and I'd hate to see that we try and do what we've done in the past, which is change our game to suit the opposition because I think, as you say, confidence is high we're scoring a stupid amount of goals, we could have had more goals because we're not quite shooting on site, but when each game finishes, we have had a lot of shots on goal and hopefully at least been a bit more competitive. Mr Pickford will have less of a problem with his concentration and we won't have any silliness on that front. So I think all in all, yeah, it's a game we go to expecting to win, I think me, I always expect to have it to win, but I can be pragmatic and say be happy with the draw here. If we drew, I would not be happy to be honest. I think we've got more about us than them, we've got more about us all around the field and I think you're quite cute to use the phrase stop the supply to Zahar because if he doesn't get the ball, he's going to do anything per se and actually their game does revolve around him from an offensive point of view and having willing runners is great, but if no one's going to give you the ball, it doesn't matter. So Alan may be an interesting character in this but let's start on the front foot, start quickly and I think if we get in the lead, then I think we could have a really good day. Yeah, I mean, it will be difficult. Like you said, they beat Salbant in their own first game this season, but in both the games, that both teams have had Salbant in that 71% possession, at Seller Park and lost. Manchester United had 75% possession, at Old Trafford and lost. So quite clearly, ever. Counter attacking team maybe. Exactly, just cool. So and they're actually the quickest counter attacking team in the Premier League so far. Really? How's that start? It's been taken from two games, John. But how do they do it? Is it from one end to the other? Direct speed, it is. Oh, right, OK. So we know, but we know that's nothing. The only variation that we've seen in the past with Zahara and he has played through the middles. They've started with him through the middle. They play a 4-4-2, which is something. I'll just put it on the screen now. It's a 4-4-2. So they have Gwaterdon, Gold, Ward, Curiati, Saco, Mitchell at the back, Townsend, Macarthur, James Macarthur, who we know very well, and Geoffrey Schlough, and then they have IU and Zahar through the middle. So there'll be no surprises. That's the team that they've played both games so far this season. And they won't be surprised by our team either, will they? No, of course, because we obviously will expect another unchanged 11 from the two Premier League games. So both teams will know about them. Obviously ours is a variation, ours is a 4-4-3-3, mainly theirs is a 4-4-2. But Zahar is the chief threat. We know that's why he's been linked with Everton. That's why other teams like him. But obviously you're right there, I'll have a big game. I think it'll be a game that he's going to be key because if Zahar does start dropping into those holes and trying to pick the ball up coming off Keane and Mina, that's going to be a key area, I think, where we're going to really have to... Or if it's IU to try and release Zahar, then again, Alan's job in there is almost vital, isn't it? Because if they turn and Zahar gets a run on Keane and Mina, that's one where we'll have to be mindful of because he is very quick once he gets going. Well, we will. And if someone like Andy was here, I'm sure he'd have all these things off the top of his head, but if you want to be a typical warrior-type Evertonian, then you think to yourself, if we don't do what you say, which is cut off the supply, then we have to look forward to perhaps Zahar, or even the other fellow who's a big Rebus guy, but has got mobility, sort of finding in their way Alan. OK, so that's good. Go, Mez. Got to go then. And if they can come at it from the Go, Mez side, and as you say, get back at the back too, at least one of them doesn't turn great at the best of times, then we could have challenges. So it's tactically fascinating, but if we've got the ball and we use it when we've got the ball, then those guys can quite easily get frustrated. And one of the things we know about Zahar in many respects, and perhaps this is intuitive rather than statistical, but when he's hot, he's hot, but when he's cold, he's sub-zero and hugely anonymous. So let's make sure it's that one that comes out of the game, not the former. I think one of the things I would say with the new shine is what I've noticed in... I mean, we've done it in every game so far, but obviously two of the games have been much changed scenes. But what I've noticed with the new shine is how comfortable in possession we are, compared to what we have been. So where, as I say, maybe last season, it might have been a bit more of a 50-50 game, I think we will dominate the ball, and if we do keep the ball and keep possession and we just keep it ticking over, then your right to Zahar will become frustrated. A bit like Britsialasyn does for us when he's not getting in the game. He starts getting a bit... He's dropping further and further. Goes looking for it, yeah. And that's what we have to do for Zahar. We have to pull him into our half because he's not getting any joy. And that'll be keyboard. You said that you touched on it before. Offensively, we've been fantastic. We've had 85 shots in the four games. I think in the Premier League, we're averaging 22 shots or something like that. I was going to say, overall, from all games played, we've got to be looking at 15, maybe 20-plus shots that we're going to have in this game, if that trend continues. And our conversion rate has been OK, but it hasn't been fantastic. But even so, if you keep buying a ticket, eventually you're going to win, aren't you? And Richie's got some goals behind him now, which is good. And obviously DCL is doing it all, as the manager says, with one touch and very few touches. But the difference is, we've had plenty of seasons, we've had plenty of games, we've had plenty of possession. But it's been possession strofin it between the back four, not going anywhere. But now, we appear to keep possession long enough for Rodriguez to find a bit of space and we give it to him. And then the world is our oyster, isn't it? Because if we've got movement up front, particularly in Richie and DCL, and they are a handful for any defence in this league, he'll find them. He will, he'll find them. 11 of average and 16 shots in the Premier League in the opening shoot game to the conversion rate of 18.8%. Last season, we averaged 12 shots again with a conversion rate of 9%. We've improved double the quality, if you will, or the outcomes, and has a relatively modest increase in shots or chances, if that's what they are, but doing better with it. That's cool, yeah. Exactly, exactly. Crystal Palace have kicked off the top flight campaign with two consecutive wins for the first time ever in their history. That means they've never done three, then? Last time, we won three in the championship, which was in the 06, 07 season. Ever in the looking to win three, they're opening three Premier League games at the first time since 93, 94. That's a long time ago, isn't it? A long time, isn't it? Palace are averaging just 27% possession in the Premier League this season. OK, so they've not beaten us at home since they came back into the Premier League. They've never won three games in a row, having only just won two in a row in the Premier League ever. What could possibly go wrong? Exactly, and it's up to us to flip these narratives though, isn't it? It is, it is. Crystal Palace has won three goals in his two-league game so far this season, netting the winner in both matches, and it's won less than he scored in 38 games last season. How many has he scored, sorry? He's got three and he's opened two games. OK, so that's, he scores 75% of their goals. So far. This is a way of saying if he does a score, they're unlikely to... I think our tacticians don't struggle, they won't have struggled understanding what we need to do, which is to stop him delivering, isn't it? Which, as you say, is better done by stopping the source rather than trying to stop him. Definitely, and we can get a third defence, you know, we've obviously got three big lad's centre back, and we know all about that now, and we know about Coyati, you was a midfielder. But you're right, the real thing for us will be with Jarlas and Calvert Llew, and getting Hamers on the ball. And even someone like the Corite breaking into the box because it might be that these are defence. I mean, Roy Haltson, you know, people give him stick, but he's done a great job in the Premier League, whether he's been good enough to win titles is a different thing, but he's been a good manager of following, he's very good. You know, I think he's done a very good job of palacing. I think the one thing they will do, they'll be very well organised, and if they are blocking off Jarlason and they are blocking off Dominic Calvert Llew, then it's imperative that the Corite breaks into that box as well. And obviously, we're hoping that the two full backs can get on the outside, particularly when you've been in there, and give us some supply. And of course, the last time we won down there, James Coleman, our other full backs called the winner, we won 1-0. So, you know, it's been a while since we won there, but, you know, I'm reasonably confident, but I've also got that Evertonian in me that goes through all the stats that we just been talking of, on things, let's upset that narrative and then go and get the three points, because if we were to win tomorrow, it would be a fantastic start for the season. It would already be a fantastic start for me. Don't forget, as an investment analyst or adviser would say, past performance is no guarantee of future performance, and the thing about stats is it's all behind us. Yeah, of course. You know, and these things need to be in the moment. I mean, it's interesting for me anyway, if we talk about the emotional benefits of it's another unchanged team. But if you were going to make a change, would you? And if you were, where would you make it? Because I'm thinking, in my own mind, I was thinking of making a change that's associated with the team we're playing. I would personally have some concerns around Gomez, because as you say, we almost want to ball carrier to try and break the lines and decour a, as you say, could or should be that player. Then you'd naturally expect his partner in crime, which was going to be either Alan or Stephen Gomez, to step in behind and cover the bases. And I've just got some fears here that they could seek to try and isolate a Gomez that allows them to get at those two centre backs who, as we know themselves, if it's a one-on-one never mind, sorry, a one-on-two never mind a one-on-one with Zahar and those guys, then he might fancy his chances. So would you do an unchanged team or would you try and block that off? No, I would, because I don't think, I don't doubt... Not ready. ...isn't going anyway, because Carlos can fit, can fair, and he's not travelling anyway. Your other option would be Tom Davis not playing well enough for me. And then your only other one is Sigarton. And does he do that? No, he doesn't. So if it was an offensive change for Gomez, I'd put Bernard in there, because I thought he'd done it. That's what I'd do, yeah. He doesn't cover Bernard, he's another one. If you lose the ball, he's not getting back, and don't forget your knees are a physical side, and the one thing Bernard struggles against is physicality. Technically, he's fantastic. But what would that mean if you had Bernard to allow Rodriguez to be more inside, then de Corry becomes the covering player, doesn't he? Yeah, well, Alain will be the discipline. Moniz, the one who gets it. Yeah, but we'll end up with two, yeah. Well, I don't think he'll change it, because I think what Gomez will do, which we buy into the possession side of it, is he keeps the football, and he just keeps it ticking over. And I think Antelott, or David, or whoever it is who's doing the tactics, will be looking and saying, if you keep the ball, then they can't hit, yeah. But we have got to be mindful that if we lose possession and we're high up the pitch, one ball wills a housing. So it's got to be an interesting game, but it's a game definitely for me that we can win. Well, I agree, and it's what we said before, isn't it? If they haven't got the ball, it's not a problem. Yeah, you know, in the turnovers, we need to be mindful that we just don't get isolated a little bit. Yeah, and we... Sorry, I shouldn't say this, but I'm going to anyway. We don't got ourselves into a situation where a headless goalkeeper comes charging out of his box because he doesn't think his centre backs are going to get there. Yeah. So that's all the negative stuff. If there's a palace equivalent of your show, I'm sure they've got a hell of a lot more to be worried about than we have. Let's hope it plays out like that. Yeah, indeed. Yeah. Let's see what happens then. Thanks to John for joining me. Make sure you give the video a thumbs up. Subscribe if you haven't. And if you want more videos, join us on Patreon. We'll see you later.