Team News
A few talking points on the starting lineup. The big news was a first start for Hayden Hackney. The other talking point for the team was the absence of Jarrad Branthwaite. It was reported that this was as part of his planned reintegration into the squad. Tyler Dibling and Mykolenko return and Jake O’Brien started on the bench. David Moyes was starting with his favourite 4-2-3-1 with Beto up top.
Match Report
A lovely night in Stoke with Everton in their all blue kits. Everton were immediately on the front foot
and a nice bit of interplay only broke down when Dewsbury-Hall dinked a ball into the box and it was easily handled by the Stoke keeper. Interestingly, it looked like Dibling was playing at right ack with Hackney in front of him.
An early corner was recycled by the Blues and when it fell to George, he laced a shot just narrowly wide of the post. A very good start from the boys in blue. Stoke tried to slow the game down and get on the ball but Everton were pressing high. When George intercepted a pass, his pass was slightly overhit for Dibling.
Everton went off the boil and some lax defending by Tarkowski allowed Gallagher in on Travers but a great leg save denied the home team. It was then Everton’s turn to hold onto the ball. It was all a little scrappy. Beto did some fighting for the ball in the middle of the park with no end product. A nice ove down the right side saw Rohl deliver a nice cross but no one was there when the keeper spilled the ball.
The interplay on the left side between KDH and George was really good. However, Travers was the saviour again as Thomas drilled another shot on the goal. Everton were then hanging on as Stoke delivered cross after cross.
Everton then got the ball forward and Dibling was asking some questions down the right. Some nice footwork by Hackney drew a foul which led to a corner. Armstrong delivered it which was met by Beto but his header was deflected wide. KDH delivered the next one but Beto was called for a foul.
A great cross field ball from Mykolenko to Rohl was followed by a pass into Dibling who was outmuscled in the box. Stoke almost broke the deadlock as Mykolenko was left in the dust as Travers was required to make another super save when he tipped the shot onto the bar. Stoke were finishing the half on a high. A late corner was well defended and the half ended.
The second half started slowly with Everton only bringing on Tim Iroegbunam for Hayden Hackney. The game needed a goal but neither team could scrape a chance. Rohl recovered well to prevent a cross from the left. The resulting corner was well defended. Dibling finally got into the action and his lovely pass to KDH led to a shot which was tipped over the bar by the keeper.
The game was finally broken open when Stoke broke forward and the ball was laid off to Kelly who curled the ball outside of Keane and into the corner. A disappointing goal for Travers who had played really well. King immediately replaced him with O’Brien on for Tarkowski, Aznou for Mykolenko, McNeil for Dibling, Alcaraz for George and Barry for Beto.
Stoke almost made it 2-0 but for the good defending of Keane. Everton then settled things down with Alcaraz and Aznou trying to get things going down the left. KDH was withdrawn with Braiden Graham coming on to get another chance to impress on the left of midfield.
Stoke was at it again and a shot by Fawunmi snuck by the post with the thanks of King. With only fourteen minutes to go, Everton started to put the ball around the pitch but the final pass continued to elude the Toffees. Barry and Graham worked things well but neither were interested in shooting. Barry was scythed down on the edge of the box with eight minutes to go.
Charly Alcaraz grabbed the ball and lined it up for what might be first shot but it was blocked by the wall. Armstrong was withdrawn for Eli Campbell for the last five minutes. The Evertonians were streaming out of the ground to beat the traffic for their trip back to Liverpool as Barry drove forward but the ball was cleared by Stoke. McNeil delivered a great corner which was met by O’Brien who had his header rattle off the bar.
King was forced into a good save and he quickly got the ball forward. A late corner for Everton for a last gasp chance. It was the last chance saloon and as the whistle was blown we were going home without a girl on our arm!
First half decent, second half impotent. Zero shots on net. You don’t want to bring up the importance of minutes in the legs but I will say that we got some important minutes in the legs!
Everton’s Man of the Match
Mark Travers – This match would have been a cakewalk for Stoke but for the saves of Travers. He was sharp and his numerous saves kept Everton in the match. The goal that he did concede was and excellent one and his defenders needed to do more to close down the Stoke player. On early views, a solid backup for Pickford.
Instant Reaction
Another preseason match, another lack of scoring. As I mentioned in my last match report, we really haven’t scored a decent goal this season. Deflections and poor defending in the Dundee match gave us four goals. None on Saturday and now today. I may have mentioned that we need a right back for the past three years but we need to get someone who is a finisher. Period, full stop.
The first half showed lots of promise going forward. Our buildup play was quite good and the work down the left side with George and Dewsbury-Hall working well together to create a number of chances that went begging. Our interplay was intricate and the addition of finishing will produce results. Beto was poor and Barry was willing but unable.
The Merlin Rohl right back tryout continued today with the German playing the entire match. We have to agree that he is passing the test at this point. He made a couple of good defensive plays and was also willing to go forward. His ability to find a pass in small areas shows his growing confidence. Along with Travers, he was one of the positives for the match.
Our first look at Hayden Hackney was a good one. His quality was obvious. He is a fighter who can find a pass and slice open a defence at will. His work alongside KDH was very promising.
Player Ratings
Travers – A great save when Tarkowski coughed up the ball and allowed Gallagher in. Kept us in the match with four excellent saves before he was withdrawn after the Stoke goal.
Rohl – It seems that this lad can play anywhere. Another consistent outing for the young German. He was on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.
Tarkowski – Some early loose touches added pressure to the Everton goal. Nothing to write home about.
Keane – A solid outing for the CB. He didn’t close down the shot that led to the goal.
Mykolenko – Caught on the ball a couple of times in the early going. Some good link up play with George but his forward play was non-existent as usual.
Armstrong – A quiet, consistent game in the middle of the park.
Hackney – A hard working performance in the middle with lots of running and a willingness to find a pass. A good first impression.
Dibling – Got some minutes in the right back position at the start. Wasn’t able to get forward with Rohl in front of him and when the two switched, he just wasn’t willing to commit. A nice pass into KDH but that was it.
Dewsbury-Hall – As always, a solid performance in the middle of the park. Creativity and a great eye for a pass.
George – A great early shot whistled by the post. Consistently asked questions of the Stoke right back and his link up play with KDH was very good. Beto – Poor display from start to finish. No holdup play, no touch and no finish.
