COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Blackburn (A)

Pretty in pink... but ugly in football as Everton fail to turn up for the opener of the season. A packed away end of ever hopeful fans, believing this was to be our year, were at the final whistle left to ponder a quite lacklustre performance that contained too much hoofball from the back... and when we did create pretty patterns in midfield no cutting edge was evident in the business area.

From the off, Blackburn had us on the back-foot and our hoofed clearances allowed the opposition to come right back at us. Within minutes, Olsson was clean through on goal and lobbed the onrushing Howard but fortunately cleared the bar.

Our back four looked a little desperate at times but somehow dealt with the predictable direct threats from the home team. Fellaini was using his height well to thwart some big defenders at set pieces but just on the 15-min mark, we went a goal down in bizarre circumstances as, from yet another ball through our defence, Howard raced out and made a routine collection and then inexplicably dropped it at the feet of Kalanic who rolled it into the empty net. Howard looked distraught and the assembled Blue hoards muttered.

As the half wore on, we did start to put some decent joined-up stuff together and advance toward their goal but we seemed only in first gear, especially when we reached the final third. To be fair, we did have attempts on goal but they were of the powder puff variety: Cahill a tame effort to the keeper; Arteta a free kick off the wall for a corner; and from that corner, the ball came to Fellaini who produced a peach of a backheel pass that Pienaar fired in straight at the keeper who spilled it but only Blackburn players were near and easily cleared.

Half-time and the chat was of bemusement at our lethargy considering the players we had out; surely the manager will make a change? But no... we started unchanged and once again it was the home team that started the faster. We were trying to get back in the game but yet again the final third was dominated by their defenders. We did have spectacular wayward shots from first Arteta and then Jags who today looked as though he had left any form at Wembley.

By now, the manager had seen enough and, on the hour mark, he introduced Beckford for Osman but little changed... and then, some 15mins later, Bilyaletdinov was on for Saha... and then Rodwell for the tiring Fellaini; still little changed... we tried hard without really threatening their goal.

I am not sure what formation we were meant to be playing but it made for an open end-to-end game and gave the home team chances to catch us on the break. Their sub was stopped by a good Howard block and then Distin made a good last-ditch well-timed tackle to deny the forward as he was about to shoot; then the home team had a free header that went over the bar.

We did some pressing and a chip in caused an almighty scramble in their box as Bilyaletdinov had three shots either blocked or scrambled away. Right at the end, we had our first real shot of venom on goal when Jags had a stinger palmed away by the keeper.

Overall I thought it was a poor show by us as throughout the game I got the sense we were lacklustre and a lack of pace and tempo was missing and as much as the players tried they just didn?t seem to have the understanding to remotely look like unlocking their defence.

Still, it is the first game of the season... and it wasn?t 1-6 this time. Fellaini, although physically fit, needs game-time to get match-fit, and hopefully Heitinga will be brought up to speed and be in contention to start next week. It is a pity the club has no money as, on today?s showing, we really need a quality striker, as Saha doesn?t seem right and Beckford will need gentle introductions ? that?s just to see if the gamble of signing him comes off.

The squad is as good as we have had for some years but whether it's good enough or deep enough to live up to this season's hype, only time will tell...

Maybe a cup? ? Here?s hoping! UP THE BLUES

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