‘Grealish needs to enjoy football again’
Phillipe Senderos, former Everton defender, speaking to BoyleSports:
I think for Jack, he just needs to enjoy his football again. I played with him at Villa, and I was really excited when he moved to City.
But recently, if he’s not getting the minutes, because of the competition, because of everything at City, then in a World Cup year, it’s always important to be playing.
I’d be excited to see him anywhere, because I think he’s a great player, always amazing to watch. Hopefully, wherever he goes, he plays well, because he’s a fantastic talent.
Moyes: ‘I feel privileged’
David Moyes, Everton manager, speaking on Sky Sports:
It’s remarkable. A day in history. Thankfully we’ve got a fantastic new stadium, we now must get a team to match it. I’m hugely privileged. For me to be back as a manager here is a great thrill for me. I’m the fortunate one who gets to lead the team out here.
We’ve not scored many goals in pre-season. I wanted to give Barry a little longer to settle in but we need to score. I don’t know if Grealish is ready yet but we wanted him in the team.
Grealish’s time to shine
First of all, how the hell is Jack Grealish wearing a jumper in this weather?
And second, why does he feel the need to have his hood up when it’s a gazillion degrees? Honestly, I’m sweating just looking at this picture.
Anyway, now to the main reason for this post.
Grealish has been given his chance today by David Moyes after only getting a brief amount of time to show what he was about on Monday.
He’s the club’s new poster boy and he simply has to show what he is all about again, because it’s been so long since we have seen him play at his peak level of performance.
Can he muster up a masterclass today?
Heavy police presence at Selhurst Park
This picture says a lot, doesn’t it?
Crystal Palace asked for more security given the tensions between the two clubs, and they certainly got it today.
Nottingham Forest’s team bus was escorted to Selhurst Park by the police, which you don’t see too often.
Palace also put out a statement warning fans not to chant inappropriately.
‘Far from ideal situation at Forest’
Ashley Young, Ipswich Town full-back, speaking on Sky Sports:
It’s a really different and indifferent situation at Forest. As players you tend not to take too much notice of what is going on off the pitch, but for them, finishing 7th in the Premier League, qualifying for Europe, to hear about the manager’s situation with the owner is strange.
The transfer window is about to close, all you want to do is get on with things and play matches, that situation is not ideal.
No sign of anger in Nuno
This is nice to see.
Despite everything that is going on in the background and the circus of a press conference on Friday, Nuno Espirito Santo is all smiles.
This isn’t exactly what I was expecting to see after what he said ahead of the weekend, but still.
Maybe his quotes haven’t affected how he is working, and his squad, which would be good for Forest.
Espirito Santo: ‘We are not so close’
Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest boss, speaking on Friday:
I have always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very, very close, almost on a daily basis. This season, not so well.
I always believed that dialogue and what you say, or your opinions, are always valid. Because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us.
Our relationship has changed. It’s not so close. It’s not on a daily basis. It’s not good, everyone at the club should be together but it’s not the reality.
Nuno’s big bombshell
Well, we simply have to talk about this.
I was preparing to just discuss the budding rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace today, but then Nuno Espirito Santo dropped an absolute bombshell on Friday.
He claimed that the ‘relationship has changed’ between himself and owner Evangelos Marinakis, and not for the better. The main takeaway from that line was how angry he seemed when he said it.
Even if things are bubbling away behind the scenes, managers don’t usually come out and talk about it. It was a very brave move for Nuno to do so.
Now, his future is clouded with uncertainty, and nobody knows whether today will be his final day in the job at Forest.
That’s a pretty mental sentence to write given that Forest finished seventh last season, got back into Europe, and smashed Brentford on the opening day. There should be no threat to Espirito Santo’s job whatsoever.
But there is, and nobody knows what the future holds.
Glasner: ‘Forest didn’t demote us’
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace boss, speaking on Friday:
It could be but the verdict came from Uefa and not Forest. They didn’t demote us. We are facing a very good squad, who are very ambitious, but we will be competitive.
A new rivalry
What a narrative we have at Selhurst Park today.
Six months ago, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest had no problems with each other. There were just two teams in the same league that played each other twice a season. Nothing more, nothing less.
That’s not the case anymore.
After Palace lost their place in the Europa League to Nottingham Forest because they were found to have breached the multi-club ownership rules, due to John Textor also owning Lyon, things changed.
Things got really juicy when it came to light that Forest had written to UEFA to express their concern about Palace, although they claim they were just seeking clarity.
Now there’s real beef.
At the Community Shield, Palace fans chanted, ‘F*** UEFA, f*** John Textor, f*** Marinakis.’ They hate Forest now.
It’s kind of fitting that this game falls in between Palace’s two Conference League qualification round legs, doesn’t it?
I have a feeling this is going to get tasty.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Why change a winning formula?
Despite having Douglas Luiz, Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee now at his disposal, Nuno Espirito Santo has stuck with the team that put three past Brentford last week.
The new trio of signings are all on the bench.
Crystal Palace Team News – Devenny STARTS
This must feel weird for Crystal Palace fans.
For the first time in a very long time, there is no Eberechi Eze in a Premier League starting line-up for the Eagles. Instead, Justin Devenny takes his place.
Marc Guehi does start, however, despite rumours linking him with a move away.
Brighton Team News – Welebeck STARTS
Guess who’s back, back again… Welbz is back, tell your friends.
OK, that’s cringe from me, my apologies.
But anyway, Danny Welbeck is back in the mix for Brighton as he replaces Georginio Rutter in teh starting line-up.
Everton Team News – Grealish STARTS
Now it’s time for Everton fans to get even more giddy.
Jack Grealish comes in to make his first start for Everton, as does fellow summer signing Thierno Barry.
They are the only two changes from Everton’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road on Sunday.
Moyes: ‘A new romance’
David Moyes, Everton boss, speaking on Friday:
[It is] a new romance. We’ve got a new stadium that we can fall in love with. A long marriage has a lot to do with how the team is and what team we put on the pitch over the years to come. Can we make that marriage last with the supporters and everybody at the club? I think that’s the next bit.
We’ve built a brilliant stadium, now the job is to try and build a brilliant team and get to a point where we’re more competitive than what we are. I’m quite confident we can do that. It’s a difficult window and it might be a difficult year for us as well but we’ll get the building blocks down and hopefully we can start moving things along.
Excitement at Everton
There is a buzz in the air down on Bramley Moore Dock – I haven’t seen Everton fans this excited for their first home game of a new season in a very long time.
I mean, unless you live under a rock, we all know why.
As I said, today is the start of a new era for the Toffees as they play at their new stadium for the very first time in the Premier League.
Now, I’m going to admit something. I have some Everton fans in my family who have been season ticket holders for a very long time. No, that doesn’t mean I’m an Evertonian, but I do have family from the area.
Anyway, they usually don’t get to the ground until 15 to 30 minutes before kick-off, but today I got a FaceTime call at midday from my very excited uncle to show me the Hill Dickinson Stadium. They were loving life.
I imagine the atmosphere is going to be incredible when the players walk out for the very first time.
If you hate noise and you are watching, put some earplugs in.
Super Sunday
How are all your heads this morning?
Given that it’s a Sunday, I imagine that some of you are feeling a little fragile after Saturday’s excursions. Don’t worry, I have the perfect cure.
Sit back, grab a cuppa, and enjoy the Sunday show. This is the schedule:
- Everton vs Brighton, 14:00 BST
- Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest, 14:00 BST
- Fulham vs Manchester United, 16:30 BST
New beginnings
The time has finally come.
For the first time in 133 years, Everton are playing a home match in the top division of English football in a stadium other than Goodison Park. Crazy, isn’t it?
The Toffees faithful have been able to attend some test events over the summer, but now it’s time for the real deal as they take on Brighton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Not the best name, but it still hasn’t killed the excitement.
After their result away at Leeds last week, David Moyes’ men will be desperate to make sure they start the new era in the new ground with a win.
It’s not going to be easy, given that they are playing the Seagulls…
We are also going to provide you with updates from Selhurst Park as we witness a new rivalry take shape between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.
Rivalry? Yes, rivalry. I’ll tell you why later.
Anyway, that’s enough of an introduction, let’s get crackalacking guys.
