Ben Crawford - Hope at last
Everton’s performance at Brighton on Monday was as good as any away performance I can remember.
Sean Dyche finally dropped Michael Keane and trusted Nathan Patterson at right-back, which was a long time overdue in the fans' eyes. A near 10/10 performance from almost every starting player was coupled with ruthlessness in front of goal that has seldom been present for Everton this season.
Dwight McNeil has entered the conversation for player of the season; Jordan Pickford proved why he is England’s number one, and Abdoulaye Doucoure is earning every possible contract extension that may come his way.
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In truth, none of us Blues know how important the win will be. Should the season ultimately end in relegation, then it means absolutely nothing. If it serves as the springboard for a strong end to the season that sees Everton’s top-flight future secured, then it is as important as any win this century.
Luke Davies - Who has kidnapped Everton?
To begin, it is hard to believe the team that beat Brighton on Monday was Everton.
A performance any Everton team throughout time would’ve been proud of, never mind one struggling at the foot of the table. The first half in particular was mesmerising, with Dwight McNeil putting in a flawless performance.
Another highlight was Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has been transformed into an attacking threat since Sean Dyche took the reins at Goodison Park. It is baffling to think he was frozen out and on the verge of leaving in January. The second half brought a disciplined performance, dropping deep and counter-attacking when we could, as seen late on for the fifth goal.
This must surely give the players the belief and confidence to move forward and bounce into the three remaining games. They haven’t just beaten a fellow struggler - Brighton have been and will still be mentioned as contenders for Europe. Every player on that pitch on Monday came away with their heads held high, and they deserve all the plaudits they get.
Moving on, Evertonians are still by no means relaxed or under any illusions that this relegation battle is over, but we can still enjoy Monday’s result for now at least. The Blues take on the tough task of rampant Manchester City this weekend.
This game, sandwiched between two European semi-final ties for City, may play into Everton’s hands. Yes, Pep Guardiola’s ‘second string’ could still challenge for the title, but the potential resting of players may give Everton hope in such a pivotal game.
In terms of the line-up, Jordan Pickford starts, of course. How good has he been of late? It will be hard to change a defence that defended so resolutely last time out, so I would stick with the centre-half pairing of Yerry Mina and James Tarkowski, with Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson in the full-back roles.
Moving up the pitch to the midfield, can you really change the trio of James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Idrissa Gueye after winning so convincingly? No, not at all; they all need to start.
Furthermore, the jury is still out on Alex Iwobi for me; personally, I prefer Demarai Gray, but I think Sean Dyche clearly prefers the Nigerian, so I am not opposed to Iwobi retaining his place. Dwight McNeil also starts - no debate at all on that one, I hope! Leading the line will be Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has looked in fine form and fitness since returning to the side.
To summarise, of course, this is a more than hard game, but a point would be huge. With the new belief and proof that they can win matches, I am hoping Everton can at least get something. If they get beat, that’s not a disaster. However, a safety blanket would be pleasant. We shall see!
Paul McParlan - Amazing at the Amex
Where did that come from? It certainly caught the betting companies by surprise, as some were offering odds of 8-1 against an Everton win on Monday.
Let’s hope some travelling Blues took the gamble and their winnings helped subsidise the cost of the trip to the south coast. It was the perfect performance, with Everton reminding their much-praised hosts that there is simply no substitute for Premier League pedigree.
I wonder if Lianne Sanderson, the former England Lioness who said on Sky Sports last September: "Are Everton a bigger club than Brighton? I am not sure!" Was she watching? Clearly, football history is not one of her specialty subjects!
This was the best Everton display in a long time. It had everything, precision passes, sublime skill, fantastic finishing, and defensive durability. It was a tactical masterclass from the 'Ginger Mourinho'.
His decision to recall Yerry Mina added a steely resilience to the team that had been absent recently. The resurgence of Dwight McNeil has been astonishing.
From a forlorn figure under Frank Lampard, he has become a match-winner with a series of superb goals and superlative crosses. His mazy runs and dizzying feints are unlocking defences.
Last season, it was Richarlison who kept Everton alive; this time it might just be McNeil. Instead of looking like yet another waste of money, he is turning out to be the bargain of the season!
Everton’s away form has improved considerably, with only one defeat in their last six. Now it is time to deliver at Goodison Park, where four points from the next two home games may be enough for survival.
On a Sunday afternoon a little over six years ago, Ronald Koeman’s Everton, spearheaded by Tom Davies, totally outplayed Pep Guardiola’s side in a magnificent 4-0 victory that lives on in the memory of anyone who was there. I really hope that Sean Dyche has shown the video of the game to the team this week to inspire them.
It will be a tough challenge against a Manchester City side chasing the treble. Nevertheless, they will surely stumble at some stage, so why not at Goodison?
Suddenly, after the win on Monday night, Everton supporters have faith in their team again. They annihilated a side that was chasing a place in Europe. Once again, the betting firms have Everton at 8-1 to win.
We upset the odds on Monday; wouldn’t it be brilliant to do it again on Sunday?
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