FAN ARTICLES

From My Seat: Everton Chile

A good night out down Goodison way as almost 26,000 turned up to watch Everton play Everton and the visiting fans from Chile added to the occasion. It was a treat when we all joined together in chanting, "Everton, Everton" accompanied by the biggest drum I have seen on any ground. In fact looking at the away end, Chile seemed to have brought more than Fulham did last season.

From the off the Blues looked sharper than I have seen them for many a year at this stage of pre-season, with Cahill in particular getting about the pitch and his tackles as if it was Man U we were playing. Rodwell was forceful and cultured in central midfield and Beckford looking as though he wants to cement a starting slot from the off. Neville started at left back and looked quality thus making the addition of another left back less urgent in the short term.

Mucha was in goal first half but such was his lack of involvement it was impossible to make any sort of judgement.

Coleman raced up and down, Jags and Yobo looked solid and calm, Bilyaletdinov was his usual in and out whilst always looking as though he can become the real deal; Pienaar and Osman were busy but fell over a lot and so back to Cahill who, in that first half, was the pick until it came to finishing. He missed five golden opertunities and by his heading standards were sitters with one hitting the bar being his closest. I hope he his just saving them up for the season proper.

In that first half one of the biggest cheers of the night was when Fellaini jogged up and down the touchline suggesting he may get a run out.

Second half and plenty of changes: Turner for Mucha, Arteta for Jags, Baines for Neville, Hibbert taking over at centre back, and Gueye for Rodwell, plus the returning Fellaini for Cahill.

It started as the first had finished, all one way traffic toward our guests' goal. The game needed a goal and just some five minutes in new boy Gueye put in a peach of a cross from the left and another new boy Beckford met it 12yds out and headed powerfully across the keeper and into the net. By the crowds reaction and his celebration everyone would like more of that.

Then, wouldn't you just know it, within a minute of scoring we switch off with Arteta being culpable and allowed the visitors their first and only direct strike, but Turner went full length and actually held the ball rather than the more popular method of pushing it out. A very good save and one that saved a few blushes.

Fellaini was getting into the game now and it was if he hadn't been away with some x-rated tackles. I wondered how soon he might reach five yellows this term. Other than that he had a very satisfactory comeback and it was the Belgian who set up Bilyaletdinov for our second with half an hour to go. A good deep corner from Gueye saw the height of Fellaini pay off as he expertly headed the ball to Bilyaletdinov some 12yds out who hit it first time with power and accuracy into the net, leaving the keeper helpless. The power in the shot could be guaged by the fact it hit the net and rebounded to the six yard box. The game was over and the manager gave run outs to other players so the play became disjointed.

I thought the first half had been the better of the two to watch but with the opposition in truth being similar in quality to some of the teams we played in the Europa qualifying rounds it was hard to judge where we are in terms of the EPL. Perhaps the final friendly in Germany will give us a much clearer picture.

Just a word on Arteta as although he did pick some fine passes my overall impression was that his mind seemed elsewhere last night. Maybe it was just the fact he saw no reason to exert himself.

What might the team look like for our first league game? Well from what I saw tonight bearing in mind the likes of Howard, Heitinga, Distin, Saha and Yak played no part, keep your eye open for the starting line up in Germany.

A good night out topped off with us picking up our first silverwear of the season ' The Brotherhood Cup'. The first of a few I hope.

UP THE BLUES

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