Former Everton full-back Michael Ball shares his views on David Moyes' eyebrow-raising defensive selection at Brighton
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Maxim De Cuyper of Brighton & Hove Albion is tackled by Jake O'Brien of Everton. (Photo by Ben Peters/MB Media/Getty Images)
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The big talking point when the match with Brighton kicked-off was David Moyes’ selection of four centre backs across the defence. I have to admit, it made me smile when I saw the team sheet - even as a former full-back.
My first thought was back to the days of Walter Smith - I played in a win at Blackburn Rovers when we started with seven defenders on the pitch! It brought back memories of having the biggest right back I had ever seen in Richard Dunne.
I had wondered whether this might be a tactic Moyes would deploy at some point now that Jarrad Branthwaite is back and I could see some sense in it - that is a big and strong backline and, with Jordan Pickford behind them, it is a solid base that, in theory, allows the players in front of them to go and have the freedom to express themselves.
It is a gamble though and the problem on Saturday was that Everton started poorly and I do think some of that was down to the selection at the back. For all the advantages you should get in terms of height and strength, it is quite a negative approach and one that concedes some of the initiative.
This was a Brighton side that, although talented, had won just once in 10 games and if Everton started well, pressed hard and put them under pressure there was a chance they could struggle and that the home supporters would start to get anxious. That back four set a different tone though, it suggested Everton were happy to sit back and - whether they were or not - Brighton certainly dictated play in that opening 20/30 minutes and had good chances through Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma. Everton have been guilty of allowing teams to get into a rhythm, especially at home, and that happened again on the south coast.
While Everton were fortunate to get into the break level, they came out really well after the break. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had those two chances and Pascal Gross’ goal came against the run of play - though I did think the goal could have been prevented had Everton stopped the cross or tracked the runners better.
Thankfully, we got back into the game and it was brilliant to score in the last minute like that, it really did feel like more than a point as a result. But while I was pleased, I was frustrated too - like Leeds United it was one good half and Everton need to find a way to play well for more than 45 minutes of a game.
Going back to the defence, I did think Branthwaite did well at left back. It was a big ask for him after his injury. I felt sorry for Nathan Patterson though, I thought he was unlucky to lose his starting spot and wondered whether, with Vitalii Mykolenko injured, Patterson could have started and been given the freedom to push forward.
Everton have done that before under Moyes, using the more defensive-minded Tony Hibbert to stay back to allow Leighton Baines the opportunity to be more adventurous on the left. We did see Everton look threatening when Patterson came on and he put a few good balls into the box - something Thierno Barry needs now that he is becoming more settled in the Premier League. It was James Garner’s cross but that was how the equaliser ultimately came - Everton getting the ball out wide and then crossing in.
So we saw what can happen when you have natural full-backs on the pitch. I know it is Fulham away next up but I would not like to see that centre back approach at home - it allows teams to come onto us and we don’t want to be passengers in games.