One Night in Köflach

It was a few weeks ago I realised Everton were playing in Austria while I was on my travels in Sofia, Bulgaria.  I looked it up Köflach and checked on the map and realised I have to get back to Prague soon anyway to fly home...  so I might as well give it a go.

You don't know what to expect with trips like this and I simply had no idea what Köflach was gonna be like.  I assumed it would be beautiful as Austria generally is.

Well I took a 20-hour train ride from Romania to Graz which was hell itself.  Graz is not far from Köflach so stayed there one night.

Next day I got up bright and early and went to the train station.  I met a few blues and we sorted a hotel out on arrival, then it was time to hit the beers.

About 13:00 we started on them, so quite a while until the 18:30 kick off.  Its a beautiful place Köflach anyway.  Picturesque scenery.  You can see why they come here every season.  It's very nice and peaceful in the countryside.  Worth a trip next season anyway.

Well, the beer flowed and before we knew it it was about 17:00. Time to head to the ground....

Got there and it was €10 in.  It was sound inside as you could jut get beers as and when you liked throughout the game.

I looked out onto the pitch and a few of the players were sitting round.  I scanned through them: Martyn, Dunc, Hibbert, McFadden, Yobo, Clarke (hasn't he left?) and then flamin Radz!  Don't know what he was doing there but none of the other player were talking to him.  Good!

So we went down and a bit later Moyes came out and came over to us.  He was sound as they come.  Smiled for pictures and answered questions openly and I think honestly....

• Has Trevor Birch resigned? 
  DM: I don't know.
• Yeah right! 
  DM: No seriously I don't know.  I hope not but I've heard something like that.
• Is Tommy staying? 
  DM: I don't know.  I hope so.
• Are we signing Tim Cahill?  
  DM: We've got NO money.

He reiterated that quite a few times. "We've got NO money!"  Deary, deary me!   He moved on after a while and next Dunc came over.  He was top draw as well....

• You playing tonight, Dunc? 
  DF: Not tonight no.  The next few games maybe.
• Are you taking the pay off? 
  DF: No. I don't wanna play for anyone else.
• Where will we be playing next season? 
  DF: In the Premiership, hopefully.
• Where will you be playing next season? 
  DF: I don't know. We'll have to see.
• Are you gonna retire?
  DF: Maybe, aye.  I'm not playing for another club.
• No? 
  DF: No.
• Are you getting the ales in Dunc? 
  DF: Aye here's 100 euros get everyone a drink.
• What happened at Leicester last season? 
  DF: Haha

He was sound.  Saw Hibbert later as well and he was top also.

Anyway the match....

Weir lead them out as I did my best to take the match seriously.  Not an easy thing to do though considering where it was and the nature of the game.  That Ausie lad Eddy Bosnar lined up alongside him and didn't look very good to be honest.

The match was crap with Ossie in the middle probably our main threat during the first half at least.  Steve Watson did well though with his usual endeavour and work rate.  It was his header that caused the goal actually.

Good work by Kilbane on the left and a good ball in which Watson met.  The keeper saved/fumbled and Campbell followed up to bang it home: 1-0.  The chant of "We're gonna win the league" had to make you laugh.

After that the somewhat unconvincing Bent was put through, I forget who by, and should have done better with his one-on-one.  Good save though by the keeper.

The match was very stop start from then on a the ref was a bit of a fusspot, blowing up unnecessarily and frequently.  Not much else happened I don't think before half-time.  Bent and Carsley both had long range efforts which were both saved comfortably.  Richard Wright was a bit of a spectator.

There were a couple of changes at half time.  Weir swapped with Stubbs and Chadwick with Campbell (who didn't do too badly). Chadwick looked like a First Division player though and I don't think he'll cut it.

We were abysmal in the second half as Zeleznik took the game to us a bit.  Wright still had nothing to do though as Stubbs was in bravely a lot of the time.  Everton's only efforts which I can remember were a 30-yard free kick from Bosnar and a Bent flicked header from a corner which went wide. Otherwise - crap.

The game was ticking away when two streakers ran on which made me laugh and the ref immediately called a halt to proceedings and that was that.  We stayed round for a while and went to a few bars and drank the night away before trailing off home at about midnight.  Good stuff, crap game.  Expected nothing less to be fair, though, as it is only pre-season and it is Everton.

Ratings (if they matter):

• Wright: Nothing to do but looked lively. 7
• Naysmith: Usual stuff. Getting forward and making a few tackles. 7
• Weir: Usual tidy play. 7
• Bosnar: Wont be good enough. Cracking free kick though. 6
• Pistone: Couldn't pass to save his life. 5
• Kilbane: Good stuff and looked to be enjoying himself. 7
• Carsley: Usual busy work rate but unfortunately he's a Division One player. 6
• Osman: Did alright; looked lively; has a big season to come, methinks. 7
• Watson: My MOTM.  Always wanting the ball, working hard and getting in good positions.  Played his part in the goal as well. 8
• Campbell: Played pretty well and scored.  Two in two games now! 7
• Bent: I do hope he gets better! 6

Subs:

• Stubbs: Good, solid and brave. The usual I guess. 7
• Chadwick: Not cutting it. 5
• Turner: Don think he got a touch. 6

Paul Traill