Our general forum, The Game, continues with threads devoted to the final stages of a riveting World Cup in Brazil.
Everton hit the ground running in the inaugural International Champions Cup with an encouraging performance against Italian champions Juventus, one bolstered by superb goalkeeping by Tim Howard and lit up by an immense performance from young John Stones. Asamoah canceled out Kevin Mirallas's opener to force a penalty shootout that seemed destined to swing Juve's way after Leon Osman saw the first spot-kick saved. But Andrea Pirlo swept his effort wide and Howard saved from Peluso to hand the Blues a dramatic victory.
Ibou Touray became the fifth youngster to sign a professional contract with Everton this summer, penning a one-year deal.
Everton embark on their part of the prestigious Guinness International Champions Cup on Wednesday when they take on Juventus at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Wednesday evening. The match-up presents Roberto Martinez with an opportunity to sharpen his team against top-quality opposition with the new season just two-and-a-half weeks away. KO is 8pm local time, 4am on Thursday morning in the UK, live on EvertonTV (and on Fox Soccer Channel in the USA).
James McCarthy is supposedly the next name on Roberto Martinez's close season shopping list with the Spaniard reportedly willing to ‘swoop’ down on the DW with an offer of £15m. So is the Irishman any good then? Is he massively overpriced? How will he fit in should the deal materialise?
Everton youngster Conor McAleny says his former Toffees team-mates Jake Bidwell and Adam Forshaw convinced him to join them loan for six months at Brentford.
Roberto Martinez has reassured supporters the Everton team will lose none of their famed tenacity and believes the Goodison faithful will accept his change in emphasis when it comes to tactics.
After rejecting a bid from Manchester United for Leighton Baines, Everton CEO Robert Elstone says that the club see the star left back as being part of the setup at Goodison Park for a long while to come.
Everton have confirmed that Antolin Alcaraz and Magaye Gueye were both omitted from the squad that flew out to the USA yesterday so that they recover from injuries picked up in pre-season.
Roberto Martinez says that he is encouraged by the competitive spirit that has characterised his team's pre-season preparations as the players vie for first-team places in the new manager's squad.
Sylvain Distin believes that the club don't need to sign any more players during the transfer window. Distin told reporters: "The competition is there because it is a much bigger squad now and we do not need any more players."
Roberto Martinez has saluted Ross Barkley as “something special” and believes the Everton youngster can begin realising his potential. Barkley was impressive during a 45-minute appearance on his first outing under his new manager in Saturday’s 3-1 friendly victory at Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Everton have announced a number of supporter events for the forthcoming tour of the United States, with open training sessions and player meet-and-greets arranged for American-based and far-traveling Blues.
There's a great interview on the Official Everton Website, with Duncan Ferguson talking about the success of his Under-18 charges winning the Gothia Cup in Sweden, and his own progress as an Everton coach working with Kevin Sheedy.
Everton have named a 24-man contingent for the International Champions Cup in the USA, with new signing Antolin Alcaraz and Magaye Gueye the only absentees from the expected squad.
Everton's hopes this season could rest on Roberto Martinez’s ability to fend off raids for his leading players as he strengthens the depth of his new squad.
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Leighton Baines will travel with the squad to the United States tomorrow after the left back as omitted from today's friendly against Blackburn as a precaution.
Nikica Jelavic came off the bench to score twice as Everton capped another positive friendly run-out with victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Exhibiting more evidence of Roberto Martinez's progressive passing game, the Blues took the lead when Kevin Mirallas fired home off Handley in the first half. Jelavic, looking sharp and positive after coming on at half time, headed home a corner and rapped home a rebound before Rovers rallied near the end with a late consolation goal.
Blackburn Rovers provide potentially more competitive opposition for Everton's third pre-season match after a 10-day gap since the game at Accrington. The Blues kick off at 2 pm and those who can't make it to Ewood Park will be able to watch the game live online at the Everton Website. Kick-off is 2 pm BST.
Tyias Browning has signed his first professional deal with Everton, a two-year contract that runs until the summer of 2015. The defender has been with Everton since he was 10 years old.
Gerard Deulofeu arrived at Finch Farm yesterday to take part in his first training session with the Everton squad since signing a season long loan deal from Barcelona.
Updated The organisers of the International Champions Cup, which kicks off in Valencia tomorrow before moving to the USA, have been announced their version of the official "rosters" for each team but Everton will confirm their final traveling party over the weekend.
Roberto Martinez has expressed his satisfaction with his players' pre-season preparations as they get ready for their third friendly against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and the trip to the USA that follows.
Everton bade farewell to a much-loved figure today with the funeral of Dave Hickson which took place at Liverpool Anglican Catherdral. The cortege of the club legend, who passed away earlier this month aged 83 following a short illness, made a poignant pass by Goodison Park today on its way to the Cathedral.
Roberto Martinez gave the media a pronunciation lesson on how to say new signing Gerard Deulofeu’s name. The on-loan Barcelona star’s surname was proving tricky for reporters, Martinez noted: “You’re struggling with that surname, huh?” The Everton manager then delivered the correct pronunciation:
Roberto Martinez says Everton have received no bids for Marouane Fellaini or Leighton Baines in the past two weeks. Asked on Sky Sports News if there had been any recent bids for the pair, Martinez replied: "Not at all, not at all."
After he left Everton and returned to Argentina over a year ago, Denis Stracqualursi was signed from CA Tigre by Argentine rivals San Lorenzo, and got off to a superb start.
He bagged seven goals in his opening 18 games, which saw him bag five of them in a superb four game spell in November. But in the Torneo Final, the second half of the Argentine season, the striker saw his form desert him.
While he showed his liking for a big game goal, netting in a 2-0 win over River Plate, it would be just one of two he has scored since the calendar turned 2013, and already he is being linked with an exit.
Now 25, he is set for another transfer to a foreign league, this time a move to Ecuador. Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo reports that the striker is set to be unveiled on Thursday by leading side Emelec.
It's unlikely Stracqualursi will ever go onto be a prolific 30-goals-a-season striker, or even win an international cap with Argentina, but as he bids to ignite his career, it's certain that Everton fans will continue to wish him well in his ambitions.
David Moyes’s pre-season handling of Robin van Persie has been called into question by a Dutch fitness specialist who has worked with several leading clubs and was assistant to the late Wales manager Gary Speed.
Writing on his Twitter account, Raymond Verheijin wrote: “In Sydney Moyes said: ‘We’ve overtrained Robin this week to build up his fitness’. [In Japan] he picked up a muscle injury. It really makes you wonder how these prehistoric training methods can still take place at the highest level.
"The only way to solve this problem in Jurassic Park is to improve education of these dinosaur coaches, fitness clowns & scientific cowboys.
"All over the world in pre-season you see the pattern ‘overtraining-fatigue-injuries’. Always avoid accumulation of fatigue in pre-season.
"But as long as most dinosaurs are still in denial & ignore how things develop in other countries, nothing will ever change in Jurassic Park. Obviously, players like RVP should learn to protect themselves better against ‘overtraining’ & ‘punishing training’.”
Alex Hess asks "will Everton’s current midfield be able to cope with the likely increase in pressure and expectation placed on them" by Roberto Martinez's emphasis on passing and concludes that, with the likes of Osman, Gibson and Pienaar, they probably will.
Update U21 striker, Conor McAleny, is the latest Everton player to link up with Brentford with the news that the 20-year-old will spend the first half of the 2013-14 season on loan with the Bees. McAleny follows fellow Academy graduates Adam Forshaw and Jake Bidwell who both spent loan spells at Griffin Park to gain first-team experience before signing permanently with the League One club.
Conor Grant has become the latest Academy graduate to sign pro forms with Everton, the midfielder penning a two-year deal today.
Embarrassment for Everton as the club shop spells star signing Gerard Deulofeu's name wrong on the back of a display shirt. There were red faces on the blue side of Liverpool when pictures emerged of an Everton shirt adorned with "Deufoleu".
David Moyes has described his cowardly mindset when visiting Old Trafford as Everton manager: "I remember going there as a manager. You want to get out of Old Trafford alive, that used to be our saying, you know."
This very impressive article by Guardian football writer, David Conn, is actually from last summer, but I can't find any indication that we discussed it on ToffeeWeb at the time. Conn is a Man City supporter, and much of what he wrote was on the back of their money-fueled Premier League Trophy win. And City are spending again in a clear bid to win it back next season.
Everton have been given an allocation of 2,400 tickets for next month's Premier League opener against Norwich City at Carrow Road, tickets for which will begin going on sale on Friday.
Everton’s Under-21s kicked off their pre-season friendlies with a a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest.
Hamburg SV have revived their interest in signing Nikica Jelavic according to comments attributed to the Bundesliga club's sporting director. Oliver Kreuzer says that his club "has been offered an opportunity" to sign the Croatian striker, although he would be looking initially for a loan deal or structured payments over time.
Natalie Bargery takes an in-depth look at the Croatian's "second season syndrome" as the man who couldn't stop scoring when he first arrived suffered a painful drought in his first full campaign at Goodison Park.
Former Barcelona and Manchester United player Jordi Cruyff believes that Roberto Martinez has the vision, personality, flexibility and ability to succeed at Everton, while also describing the loan swoop for Gerard Deulofeu as 'a hell of a move'.
Everton's Under-18 side have won the Final of the Gothia Cup (The World Youth Cup!) in Gothenberg, Sweden this afternoon, beating Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna 3-0 to lift the trophy. Courtney Duffus scored the first goal with Harry Charsley getting the second, and a penalty taken by Duffus after he was fouled by the keeper sealed the win.
Michael Kenrick recounts a chance encounter with Dr David France, the out-of-the-Blue Wonder known to many as Dr Everton. They chatted about various things Evertonian, from Martinez and Moyes to the new club badge and the tenacity of the Shareholders Association, not to mention one of his favourite subjects — Alex Young, the subject of a forthcoming documentary by Tabacula called "Alex The Great."
As the latest in a long line of Everton Captains, Phil Jagielka's name has joined 46 others on a Roll of Honour in the Park End lounge called The Captain’s Table. Jagielka saw his name listed there for the first time this week and has been talking to David Prentice about his new responsibilities.
Motherwell have re-signed James McFadden on a one-year contract, the club has announced. The 30-year-old forward who spent two spells with Everton put pen to paper on the new deal today, making him the Fir Park side’s seventh signing of the summer.
Roberto Martinez says another plus point to take out of the confidence-boosting 4-1 win over Accrington Stanley was the individual performance of Antolin Alcaraz when he came on as a half-time substitute for Sylvain Distin in Wednesday's pre-season outing.
The club's line on the question of a new stadium was reiterated by Robert Elstone yesterday, with essentially the same "retail-led" formula that failed at Destination Kirkby seen as prerequisite in terms of "that missing ingredient in the funding package.”
Roberto Martinez hasn't ruled out making further additions to his squad before the new season but has indicated that he will take his time in assessing his current charges to see what areas of the team need strengthening.
Everton enjoyed a good workout against Accrington with a 4-1 win in their first friendly of the close season on home soil. Gibson's shot from a well-worked corner set them on their way and was followed by a textbook header close in by Anichebe. Mirallas then stroked home a nice free-kick before Accrington pulled one back following a defensive slip. All change at the break but Osman added a nice headed goal for the fourth on the hour.
Jermaine Beckford has completed his anticipated move from Leicester City to Bolton Wanderers for an officially-undisclosed fee that is believed to be £800,000, the amount the Foxes still owe Everton for the striker from the deal that took him to the Foxes in August 2011.
Rooney’s career now stands at a cross-roads. His form over the past few years has dipped alarmingly. Rather than go on and fulfil that undoubted talent he first displayed at Goodison and then during the early years at United, the England striker has stagnated.
Now it is Rooney who is ‘angry and confused’. ‘Angry and confused’ at comments from new manager David Moyes apparently hinting that this is now Rooney’s role at Old Trafford – to fill-in wherever the team may need him.
Everton visit the historic Lancashire football town of Accrington for their second pre-season friendly, which kicks off this evening at 7:45 pm BST. Accrington are managed by Everton old boy, James Beattie, who won't remember too many of the current Blues line-up Roberto Martinez will put through their paces.
Neil Dewsnip, head coach at Everton's Academy, has left the Club to join the FA. Dewsnip had been working under Academy manager Alan Irvine at Finch Farm, where he was responsible for overseeing coaching of all age-groups from nine upwards.
Everton and Real Madrid will take part in an open training session at Los Angeles Galaxy's StubHub Center from 4pm to 8pm on 2nd August.
Chief Executive Robert Elstone, speaking at a Liverpool Business Week breakfast yesterday, explained Roberto Martinez’s mission to turn promising teenagers in the Everton Academy into accomplished first teamers.
Leighton Baines says Everton’s approach in Sunday’s friendly against Austria Vienna was an early indication of how they are looking to evolve their playing style under Roberto Martinez.
Chris Long has become the latest Everton Academy graduate to sign a professional contract with the club, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal.
While speculation continues over Maroaune Fellaini's future, Roberto Martinez is keen to stress that he sees the Belgian as an integral part of his plans for his first season in charge at Everton.
Phil Jagielka says: "It's been drastically different to what we've done before but it's been enjoyable" as he and the rest of the squad come to terms with the pre-season training programme under Roberto Martinez.
Everton have announced shirt numbers for the senior squad in the up-coming Premier League season, and Arouna Kone gets the coveted Number 9 shirt rightful for an Everton striker, and Number 1 for goalkeeper Joel Robles. Alcaraz will wear 32 and Deulofeu 10.
Luke O'Farrell claims that Roberto Martinez’s ideas were noticeable from the start. Employing a distinct passing style, there was an obvious patience in possession; Everton looked to play the ball out from the back whenever possible.
Everton's line-up included only Joel Robles of the new signings. They made a bright start, but some sloppy play at the back saw Osman slip and give up an easy goal to Stankovoic who rounded Joel and slotted home for Austria Vienna. Duffy then gave away a soft handball penalty that Stankovoic converted with ease before Vellios leapt like a salmon to head home an excellent Baines cross. Wholesale second-half changes by both sides disrupted momentum but gave everyone a good workout.
While all the focus seems to be on incoming transfers, Conor Grant was perhaps a surprise name added to the Austrian pre-season training camp from Everton's Under-21 ranks. The 18-year-old winger is hopeful he can get some time on the pitch tomorrow against Austria Vienna.
There's not much to write about from training camp in Austria, which Leon Osman goes on to prove in this overly long 'postcard' that the Daily Mail have embellished with pictures of mostly anything but Austria.
Everton do have the talent to compete for a Champions League spot under Roberto Martinez as long as they keep their best players.
Now the Confederations Cup has been and gone, including the high-profile economic protests, John Wilkinson has notified us of this article he has published at Go Articles. He was hoping to open up discussions regarding the economics, more specifically the supply of money, for the World Cup, to be hosted by Brazil in 2014 .
The Everton players at the training camp in Austria will form a provisional team to play their first friendly match of the pre-season against local league champions, Austria Vienna. It will represent the fist public game in charge for the new Everton manager, Roberto Martinez. Kick-off time is at 5pm CET (4pm BST) and you can watch the game via Everton TV. We'll be opening up the Live Matchday Forum for interactive action and comment as it happens...
As expected, Robero Martinez has drafted in coach Dennis Lawrence from Wigan Athletic.
The first batch of matches to be televised have been announced and the Blues' games against Chelsea (H), Newcastle (H), Man City (A), Tottenham (H) and Liverpool (H) have all been moved.
A mixture of senior players and Under-21 hopefuls have flown out to Austria for Everton's pre-season training camp – and a chance to get to know their new coaching team under the management Roberto Martinez ahead of the first friendly match against Austria Vienna, scheduled for Sunday.
Carlo Nash has signed for the Norwich City on a one-year deal on a free transfer following his release from Stoke City in the summer, to join fellow ex-Everton goalkeeper John Ruddy. The Canaries’ become Nash’s eleventh club in a career now spanning over 20-years including spells with clubs such as Manchester City, Everton and Stoke to name a few.
Everton have completed the capture of hot Barcelona prospect Gerard Deulofeu on a season-long loan, beating out a host of competing clubs, including Sevilla, Valencia, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto Martinez's presence as manager at Goodison is believed to have been decisive for the 19 year-old who turned heads recently at the U20 World Cup in Turkey.
Everton have confirmed the capture of their second and third signings of the week, with Antolin Alcaraz sealing his free transfer from Wigan Athletic and goalkeeper Joel Robles arriving from Atletico Madrid for an undisclosed fee. Both players played under Roberto Martinez at the DW Stadium and join Arouna Kone at Goodison Park.
Everton lost a legend today with the news that Dave Hickson has sadly passed away at the age of 83 following illness.
This is a good bit of business from Roberto Martinez and Bill Kenwright, because the Ivorian brings some natural variation to Everton’s front-line and is clearly a different sort of forward to either Nikica Jelavic or Victor Anichebe.
Everton have completed the signing of striker Arouna Koné from Wigan Athletic for an "undisclosed fee", believed to be around £5m. The 29-year-old completed a medical on Friday and has put pen to paper on a 3-year contract at Goodison Park after agreeing personal terms. The transfer reunites the Ivory Coast international with Roberto Martinez, the man who brought him to the Premier League from Levante last year.
Former Everton striker Andy Gray believes that Kevin Mirallas could take the Premier League by storm next season if he can get a good pre-season under his belt and things go well for him on the fitness front. The Belgian finished last season in fine form and will likely be a key figure for the Blues next term.
Everton have confirmed reports in the Spanish press last month that the Blues' final pre-season friendly will be against Real Betis at Goodison Park on 11th August.
EB takes an in-depth look at Arouna Kone who could become Roberto Martinez's first signing for Everton.
The new assistant manager at Everton, Graeme Jones, has been talking to Everton TV about the new challenge he is taking up at Finch Farm after making the difficult decision to leave Wigan and follow manager Roberto Martinez to the club.
Former Everton manager David Moyes told his first press conference at Man Utd about how Sir Alex Ferguson informed him bluntly, one week before the decision was made public, that "I'm retiring..... and you're the next Manchester United manager."
Possible sales of Everton players could allow for further reinforcements, but this can also open the door for the fringe players, says Luke O'Farrell in his ESPN Blog: "Rarely trusted under David Moyes, the so-called lesser lights of the squad found match action at a premium in 2012-13; this forthcoming season represents a new start and pre-season offers a chance to stake claims for greater involvement."
Phil Neville has returned to Manchester United as David Moyes's new first team coach. Neville was photographed arriving at Carrington early this morning, where he is expected to be announced as Moyes's latest backroom appointment alongside four former Everton colleagues in Chris Woods, Steve Round, Robbie Cooke and Jimmy Lumsden.
Magaye Gueye is very much a forgotten man at Everton, could that change under a new manager? Since joining the club,his career hasn't really taken off, making just 14 starts for the club combined, and a further 24 appearances as a substitute. He was loaned to French club Brest in Ligue One in January but, after a bright start, when he created two goals in his opening four games, he trailed off and featured in just one of Brest's final seven matches.
Roberto Martinez has made it clear he sees Everton icon Leighton Baines as the best left back in the country, and a hugely important part of Everton's future, despite rumours that Manchester United are preparing to submit an improved offer to tempt him to make the switch to Old Trafford.
Everton have extended Luke Garbutt's contract by two years, with the 20-year-old signing a deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until June 2015.
The latest from EB's "Physio Room Blog" takes a look at Everton's close-season preparations, how they used to be under David Moyes and how they might change under Roberto Martinez.
Roberto Martinez is set to be reunited with key members of his backroom staff from Wigan after Latics chairman Dave Whelan confirmed that compensation deals are in place for Graeme Jones, Inaki Bergara and Kevin Reeves to make the switch to Everton.
Arouna Kone looks set to become Roberto Martinez's first signing as Everton manager after Wigan Athletic chairman, Dave Whelan, indicated that he expects a deal for £5m to be concluded within the next 24 hours. Those comments follow Latics boss Owen Coyle's own announcement that he expects the Ivorian to leave the DW Stadium this week, with Goodison Park his preferred destination.
Arouna Kone is tainted by relegation in much the same was as new Everton manager Roberto Martinez; there’s a certain type of fan in this country who looks at demotion in a very formulaic way, and assumes that any player or manager dropping out of the Premier League must be ‘rubbish’.
Everton Academy graduate Matthew Pennington signed professional papers today, inking a two-year deal with the club after seven years progression through the youth setup.
The situation concerning the coaching staff at Everton became a little clearer today with the news that Steve Round, Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden have all been released so they can follow David Moyes to Manchester United. Roberto Martinez is expected to announce his new appointees this week, with assistant Graeme Jones, goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara and chief scout Kevin Reeves likely to be among them.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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