Match Summary

Faddy: visit home

Everton visited the old stamping ground of Jamie McFadden for their second pre-season kick-about.

And it was all about Faddy, who was highly regarded at Fir Park and was made Everton team captain for the day.  But Gary Naysmith and Lee Carsley both missed this one.  Naysmith is in a lengthy recovery phase following surgery on his ankle/foot back in May, while Carsley has a knee injury. 

James Beattie, the player most in need of match practice, was missing from both starting line-up and bench, as was Simon Davies, who both withheld due to minor knocks.

The game was something of a disappointment, with Everton being the better team as you might expect, but ominously unable to exert the killer punch that will be so vital for this season's campaigns.

Four of the newly signed young professionals from Everton's Youth Academy also travelled with the squad and the first three of them got a game of sorts with the seniors: James Vaughan, Stephen Wynne, Christian Seargeant, and Mark Hughes.

Michael Kenrick

Minute-by-Minute

2 mins - Tim Cahill was left to run off a knock after a late challenge by Scott Leitch.

6 mins - Leon Osman fed the ball to James McFadden, who skipped past two challenges before firing a left-foot effort agonisingly wide of Gordon Marshall's right-hand post.

16 mins - McFadden glided past full-back David Keogh on the left edge of the Motherwell penalty area and drilled in a cross to the near post which was deflected into the path of James Vaughan. But before the striker could produce a shot referee Iain Brines stopped play, penalising the teenager for a foul on Stephen Craigan.

24 mins - A perfectly weighted ball from Tony Hibbert hugged the right touchline and played into the path of James Vaughan. The 17-year-old used a burst of pace to get beyond left-back Paul Quinn and deliver a low cross from the by-line. With Marcus Bent waiting, keeper Marshall did well to intercept the ball

26 mins - As the Blues began to tighten their grip on proceedings a flowing move between Osman and Cahill ended with the Aussie midfielder teeing up Bent on the edge of the Motherwell area. But the striker's right-foot shot sailed over the bar.

30 mins - McFadden forced Marshall into his first save of the game. He received the ball wide on the left of a crowded area, cut back on to his right foot and fired a shot past an array of defenders. Marshall did well to hold the well struck effort close to his body with Bent lurking on the six-yard line.

33 mins - Jim Patterson produced a cracking slide-rule pass to send Scott McDonald scampering through on goal for the home side. But the quick thinking of Nigel Martyn snuffed out the threat, sliding in at the striker's feet just inches from the edge of the area to gather the ball.

36 mins - A pin-point cross-field ball from Bent coupled with a delightful first-touch from Osman provided Everton's next chance. The midfielder's close control allowed him to penetrate the right side of the area but his shot was well blocked by Quinn.

38 mins - A flowing attacking move had the home side on the back foot. McFadden fed Osman on the edge of the box. The midfielder used the overlapping run of Cahill to wrong-foot Keogh, creating the space to fire a left-foot shot which beat Marshall but cannoned back off the crossbar.

43 mins - Li Tie fired an effort well wide of the keeper's left-hand post from 25 yards.

46 mins - The Blues made three changes at half-time, introducing Richard Wright for Nigel Martyn and David Weir in place of Tony Hibbert. But the substitution which got the travelling fans most excited was that which saw Mikel Arteta entering the action. He replaced Li Tie in the centre of midfield just 24 hours after signing in at Goodison in a £2.2M deal from Real Sociedad.

56 mins - Joseph Yobo delivered a decent early cross from the right which picked out Vaughan seven yards out. But the teenager couldn't get sufficiently above the ball, his header flying over the bar.

57 mins - Vaughan was withdrawn in place of Duncan Ferguson, who received a warm welcome from the Motherwell fans as he entered the fray.

75 mins - Substitute Marc Fitzpatrick lashed an effort high and wide from 25 yards as the home side

80 mins - Per Krøldrup exited the action after an impressive performance, replaced by youngster Stephen Wynne.

82 mins - James McFadden rifled a drive inches wide of the target from 12 yards.

83 mins - McFadden turned provided, dashing to the by-line before delivering a cross to the back post. Seargeant had time to take the ball down on his chest before unleashing a shot but it flew over the bar.

88 mins - Marcus Bent produced a diving header at the near post but the effort was deflected wide of the target for a corner.

from EvertonFC.com

Painful to Watch

Like all of us, I’m itching for the football season to get up and running and was dying to see a game, any game, yesterday.  I wanted to go Austria — couldn’t afford it.  I want to go to Thailand — can’t afford it.  I want to go to Istanbul... guess what?  Can’t afford it.  I guess we have more pressing and important European trips to come soon anyway.

I could afford a long trip up the M6 to the attractive proposition that was Motherwell FC.  Gaz told me he’d pick me up at 8am but with Gaz you normally have to give him an extra half hour on top of anything.  I couldn’t believe when he pulled up just after 8am.  So we stopped off at the garage, fuelled up and bought more Red Bull, snacks, sandwiches and newspapers than you would care to shake a stick at.

The drive up was hassle-free and very quiet.  We couldn’t believe how soon we were in Carlisle and then again how quickly we had reached Motherwell.  Finding the ground was not a problem either.  We took our chances and turned right by a petrol station and, bingo, there she was — Fir Park.  We parked up and went straight into the Social Club directly opposite the ground.  It had been pretty good going and we were there for 11:45am.  A few Evertonians were already there and it was a nice friendly place.

Pandemonium broke out a few minutes later when some fella “Ken” joined a party of blues happily sitting there and knocked a full pint over.  The consequences were incredible.  It broke one lads phone, everyone had to jump up, the staff came and mopped up.  It was so funny.  “Fuck sake, he’s only been here 30 seconds and he’s done that.  If ya had a brain you’d be dangerous.”  Scouse wit.

We got chatting to some Motherwell fans who were nice and pleasant.  Told us a bit about McFadden and how good he used to be.  Some thought he left too soon.  Sound familiar?  Nobody was bitter about him, though, and wished him all the best.  Many were just delighted he was coming back for a game.  Apparently all the kids in Motherwell used to idolise him and get their hair dyed red like him.  They all thought he was outstanding and given a chance will become a great player.

I actually learned a bit about Motherwell as well.  Did you know they were the first ever team to become the Champions of Europe?  Apparently the King of Spain trophy in 1933. Some statistic hey?  I asked one what would happen to Scottish teams like Motherwell if Celtic and Rangers were to join the Premiership.  The response was defiant — “We’d be fine.  We get 6,000 fans every week and we're here long before Rangers and Celtic were”.  It was a pleasure to meet such good honest fans.

Just before we left at about 2:20pm I went for a quick burst and some lad in the toilets was saying that it’s a done deal that Michael Ball is going to Everton next week for £1M.  Don’t know if that makes the Rumour Mill or not!

So we headed on to the game and were in the South Stand behind the goal.  Unfortunately the game was drab at best and was a massive disappointment.  The team that started was: Martyn; Kilbane, Krøldrup, Yobo, Hibbert; McFadden (captain!!), Cahill, Tie; Osman, Bent, Vaughan.

The game started at a fast tempo but with few if any chances.  Tie, Cahill and Osman looked particularly lively from the off but Tie is clearly struggling with confidence.  Good to see him back, though.  Ferguson and Weir warmed up and were greeted to a great round of applause from the travelling faithful.  Chants of “Duncan, show us your tat” were not received though by Dunc who for some reason didn’t.  The best shout was “Dunc, I robbed your house”. 

After about half-an-hour of shear tedium, I went to get a pie.  When I came back, I was told that Osman had an effort tipped onto the bar in about the only exciting thing all game.  Great!  Otherwise, Tie sliced a shot lamely wide and Bent had yet another attempt at clearing the stadium from 25 yards.  He’ll do it one day.  Half-time: 0-0.

At half-time, the subs were warming up and Dunc jumped into the crowd and said something to somebody he knew I presume.  You’ve gotta love him.  A few changes were made at half-time.  Richard Wright replaced Martyn; Weir replaced Hibbert with Yobo switching to right back; and Arteta replaced Tie.  Arteta started lively then faded in what was a very scrappy second half which the ref controlled well. 

Krøldrup looks a quality player; he reminds me a bit of Rio Ferdinand.  A very confident leader and I’m happy with him (thus far).  But I was really disappointed not to see Beattie and Davies get any sort of game; I guess he’s saving that for Thailand.  Motherwell actually came quite close to scoring when a cross in was headed goalwards I think by McDonald but Kilbane hooked it away just short of the goal.  Everton responded with a Yobo cross from quite deep being headed well, well over by Vaughan from 15 yards.  Looked a good chance.

On the hour mark, Dunc replaced the somewhat ineffective (yes, I know, let's not be too harsh... he is only 16) Vaughan who looked out of his depth.  This livened things up a bit.  A bit later Cahill came off for Seargeant.  This put Osman in the centre with Seargeant out wide. Wynne (who’s pretty small) replaced Krøldrup, which put Yobo back into the middle.

In the last 10 minutes, the blues livened up and created plenty of chances and really should have scored from one of them.  A McFadden corner was headed just wide by Dunc.  A bit later, Bent teed up Arteta who dragged just wide from 20 yards.  The best chance of the lot came to Seargeant who had a free shot on goal from about 12 yards.  He cushioned on his chest, let it bounce, swung and half volleyed well, well over.  Disappointing.

Motherwell got the ball down the other end and it went out for a goal kick.  Wright booted it and that was that.  Game over.  A long way for a crap game... but yes: Football is back!

Player Ratings:

• Martyn: Nothing to do really; was quick off his line. 6
• Kilbane: not a natural left back and needs to be addressed... although we could be signing Ball, apparently.
• Krøldrup: Makes defending look easy; looks a good player. 8
• Yobo: Will look good with Per; classyish. 7
• Hibbert: Solid first half; usual Tony. 7
• McFadden: Blew hot and cold; sometimes the ball was like glue on his foot; put in some good balls; nice touch making him captain for the day. 7
• Cahill: Good but not spectacular; we all know he’s got much, much more in the locker. 6
• Tie: Effort and application there; confidence isn’t; I hope he gets it back. 6
• Osman: My man of the match; very good on the ball and looked very lively. 8
• Bent: Learn to shoot quickly!  On the way home, we were talking about him: I said I liked him; Gaz said: “What is he?  A striker.  What can’t he do?  Shoot”.  Enough said. 5
• Vaughan: struggled and spent a lot of time on the floor; ried though. 5
• Wright: Redundant. 6
• Weir: not much to do really. 6
• Arteta: started lively and faded. 6
• Ferguson: Made things livelier; usual Dunc; glad he’s still about. 6
• Seargeant: Missed an absolute sitter. 5
• Wynne: Looked good, lively and positive; ready for blooding? 7

Paul Traill

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