Match Summary

Carsley: sorely missed

A balmy summer evening at Goodison Park ad the final "dress rehearsal for next week's pivotal CL3QR tie against Villarreal — definitely the real thing....  But this is also a benefit match with some of the proceeds going to the Everton Former Players Foundation (EFPF).

David Moyes fielded what passes for pretty much a full-strength team, minus Carsley, who's knee problem will be a major worry as the campaign starts in earnest next week.  Bent was also missing presumed injured, but he (according to The Mirror) is on his way out of Goodison anyway...   And then there is Naysmith, who continues his slow recovery.

It appeared that David Moyes had finally ditched the 4-5-1 bormation (sic!), with Beattie and McFadden in partnership up front.  As a result, Everton at least demonstrated some forward movement and attacking prowess in the first half, but the finishing was, as ever, wayward as Everton continued to build the illusion for any watching Villarreal spies that we really are going to be a pushover...

Mikel Arteta was pulled off just after the half-hour following a knock, to be replaced by the non-diminutive figure of Duncan Ferguson, who moved up-front alongside Beattie, allowing Jamie McFadden to drop back into midfield.

Everton continued to press in the second half, until about the hour mark, when the impetus switched to Udinese.   Beattie came off for Weir and Li Tie replaced Kilbane on 64 mins.

After 76 mins, on came Jamie Vaughan to try his hand... and just as the match was drifting away in the gathering twilight, new signing Simon Davies popped up to bang in a goal that gave Everton the honours on the night.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

The final stage of pre-season preparations for David Moyes and his Everton squad brings up another stern European test, this one against Per Krøldrup's former club Udinese.  Theyt should be a good yardstick, having finished 4th in the Italian league and also being unseeded in the Champions League Third Qualifying Round, playing Sporting Lisbon.

The loss of Lee Carsley puts a significant dent into Moyes's plans for this game and for the crucial curtain-raiser next Tuesday: the big one against Villarreal at Goodison Park.  Carsley arguably is the key to the fleeting success of the 4-5-1 formation.  Without a good stopper in the middle, the central core of that formation simply isn't there, which is what seemed to happen after he got injured in Istanbul.

In goal, it surely must be Martyn (or Turner); please let's not be seeing Calamity Wright again!  And upfront... just who, in the name of bloody hell, is going to score some goals for us???

Michael Kenrick

Not a lot to get excited about

A few of us went to this one and having arrived at The Spellow in plenty of time it was nice to enjoy a pint as the football season finally returns.  Just a shame there’s not more additions to the squad like we were expecting.  It looks as though (at least for the Villarreal game) it’s a case of asking the boys to do the same thing as last season so I guess this game against Italy’s fourth best team was a good opportunity for these players to go and do so.

We sat in the Main Stand for this one to get a different view of the game but with the better seats taken early we had to sit on the far right by the Park End goal.

Kilbane lead the teams out and we lined up with a 4-4-2 like this: Martyn; Pistone, Krøldrup, Yobo, Hibbert; Kilbane, Cahill, Arteta, Davies; Beattie, McFadden.  Is that his first eleven?

I had a moment of shock when they took the field though.  I mistook Pistone for Milan Baros as he was wearing No 23.  It looked a bit like him from a distance anyway.

We lost the toss and attacked towards the Gwladys Street in the first half.  Udinese looked a better team than us and kept the ball better but we did OK.  Arteta was pulling the strings early on but every time he’d skin a player he’d be chopped down — such is the way in Italian football.  He did wriggle through and have a drive from the edge of the box parried away by the somewhat less than convincing Udinese keeper.  Where was Beattie to follow in the rebound?

A sharp move from Udinese presented one of their strikers with an opportunity which Martyn saved expertly.  Afterwards, a good ball in by Pistone found the head of Davies who headed well wide.  It was not bad stuff from either side.

Everton, and the game, took a bit of a blow when Arteta came off injured.  He got chopped down once too many and seemed to do his ankle in.  He got up and tried to carry on but couldn’t and had to be replaced by Ferguson, moving Davies into the middle and Faddy out on the right.  I hope it’s nothing serious and he’s OK for next Tuesday ‘cos everything seemed to be flowing through him up to then.  The worst possible news.

The half fizzled out after then really with Udinese probably the better team.  A ball into the box from Hibbert found Ferguson challenging with the keeper but Uriah Rennie blew up for a foul as Ferguson nodded it goalwards.  It was cleared off the line anyway.  That was about it.

Half time: 0-0.

The second half wasn’t much better if at all.  If anything it was worse as Udinese controlled for long periods of the half.  They were just nowhere near as wasteful in possession as we were with Hibbert probably the most guilty culprit.  They created a few good chances but failed to take them with some players blazing over, wide, wayward or else straight at Martyn.  They even had the luxury of two well-positioned free kicks which they failed to come close to converting.  If you don’t take these chances away from home… you get punished.

And punish them Everton did.  Beattie had a great chance when he beat the offside trap and was clean through.  His shot was poor though and easily saved by the keeper.

After a bit of chopping and changing which ultimately saw Yobo, Kilbane and Beattie replaced by Weir, Tie and Vaughan, Everton finally found their rhythm and made a few things happen.  Davies in particular looked lively from central midfield and got his rewards.  McFadden had beaten his man down the left.  Instead of crossing he tried to beat his man again.  When he crossed it took a deflection and looped in the air towards the back post where Ferguson lurked.  He deftly nodded it across the six-yard line where it was scrambled in by Davies with his first goal for Everton.

I’ve always thought it’s so strange how goals change games.  Although this was in the 86th minute, Everton now decided to take the game to Udinese a bit more.  Davies had a low effort from 18 yards sting the fingers of the keeper shortly afterwards as it was tipped round the post.  Everton also had a few set pieces afterwards which looked dangerous.  Why couldn’t they have done this all game?

Overall we did play within ourselves against what was probably a better team.  It’s disappointing that we haven’t signed more players and we didn’t play well but I can’t help but think that when it comes to it with the crowd behind them they’ll do a lot better than that.

As long as Arteta’s OK.

Player Ratings:

• Martyn: Did what he had to well. His usual shift. 7
• Pistone: Good and lively.  Got forward well.  His ability to use both feet is a useful asset when getting forward and crossing. 7
• Krøldrup: Nice and tidy. He’s a very, very calm defender. 7
• Yobo: Was a bit hesitant first half and nearly cost us a goal but then recovered well.  A bit of “no-nonsense” stuff in the second was much better to see. 7
• Hibbert: Did well I guess but distribution is still awful. 6
• Kilbane: Did well down the left with his direct running.  Nice to see him as captain for I think the first time.  Got back well defensively also. 8
• Cahill: Pretty quiet for his standards. 6
• Arteta: was looking great until he took a knock.  Couldn’t cope after that.  I hope he’s OK. 6
• Davies: Did very well in the second half and a major plus from tonight's game. Scored too of course. My man of the match. 8
• Beattie: Not short of effort but appears to be on confidence. Missed a good chance. 6
• McFadden: Couldn’t fault him for effort but didn’t keep possession anywhere near well enough tonight. Played a part in the goal I guess. 5
• Ferguson (for Arteta): Good all round play and set up the goal. Won some good headers. Are Europe ready for Big Dunc? 7
• Weir (for Kilbane): Usual Weir. 6
• Li Tie (for Beattie): I thought he did Ok. Just needs to regain some confidence. 6
• Vaughan (for Yobo): Some excellent chasing and good work on the ball. Done his chances no harm at all. 7

Paul Traill

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