Osman Testimonial ends all-square

I wouldn't play Ossie in this game, he's rubbish, waste of space, slow, weak, short arse, crap etc, etc, etc......

Also I'm pretty sure Ossie is 33 and not 32...

We were second best in this match but it was a good warmup, especially for the Europa League. For me this highlighted the importance of Lukaku's signing and the importance of bringing in another decent striker as cover / competition. Naismith is an important part of the squad but if Lukaku has to miss games I would like another instinctive goalscorer on the books. Are we still interested in Batsuyashi or Vossen?

McGeady has it in him to be a good player but he needs to be much more focussed!

We need a bit more quality in depth. At the moment I would only class Mirallas, Barkley and Lukaku as our real flair attacking options. Hopefully Atsu will join but I think one or two more will give us a real chance of challenging. The likes of Naismith, Osman, McGeady and Pienaar can all be great on their day but over a whole season I am concerned about where our creativity is going to come from, especially when injuries kick in.

Besic looks like a decent player. Tough in the tackle and positive when looking to launch attacks. Many TW posters have said we need a replacement for Arteta. On the evidence of the past few matches I totally agree. I'm hoping McCarthy and Besic can fill this void somewhat, but a real flair option in midfield is needed.

Porto brought a quality side who had a lot of possession and caused us some problems, but with Mirallas, Lukaku and Coleman to all come into the first 11 and Kone to return from injury, I think we're in for a good season!

It was interesting to see Barkley play in a deeper role, I thought he did well and was able to break into a bit of space a few times, but generally I think we rely on our wingers to create stuff for us. Unfortunately for most of the game McGeady was in Alex Sandro's back pocket and Pienaar is too slow and only effective near the box. Even Pienaars passing today was poor; I think this season will be his last for us.

If he can be more consistent, McGeady could be a decent player for us, but I think we're really in need of a couple of really quick or tricky flair players to play on the flanks.

Okay, surely McGeady and Naismith will improve but another class front man is required for sure.

McGeady did a lot of running but his passing was poor; Naismith worked hard but struggled by himself up front.

Most impressive for me was the new lad Besic... if that was a sample of him in a friendly, he should be in every starting 11. Covered the ground well and not afraid to get stuck in. I think refs are going to be familiar with his name pretty quick!

It seem's at present that we have a very solid team that may have difficulty creating chances and breaking down stubborn defences. Sounds familiar!

Hopefully we can get in one or two more attacking players with either pace or vision as these are the two qualities you need sometimes in the Premiership to get the crucial goals. Atsu would be useful and I still think we lack an Eriksen, Silva, Mata, or Cazorla type player but not sure we'll have the cash left to get one....Perhaps the burden will rest on Barkley's shoulders. How did he play?

Having said that, I fear that this casual 'return to work' approach will see us 'undercooked' come the opening fixture.

Everybody seems to have been playing serious friendlies for weeks whilst our guys are still pissing about !

Hopefully, that was only an "amuse-bouche", and at ٢M & 21, I reckon I can wait for the main course.

You really ought to make your position clear on the player who has played more Everton PL games than any other and is in the top 20 of all time Everton appearances.

Although I fully accept this is a pre-season testimonial, and we have a few players to come back into contention there were some glaring concerns for me today, some of our elder players were made to look low-level mediocre at best, to be fair by a good Porto side.

That said, I've formed the opinion that watching Robles play in goal over a long period of time would probably cause you serious health risks.

Good eye-opener, today, to what we could face in Europe... and a glaring issue: we need at least one more striker – if not two.

Oh yeah anyone know where Gibson was today? Don't say he's injured again!

OK, mate, we all know that you are extremely reluctant to "hype". The season hasn't started yet and so I haven't a reason to worry.

I know that you want everything "just perfect", and you're not alone in that – it really is an Evertonian trait. Yet, in order to appreciate Roberto's new menu, we do have to taste the new dishes. TBH, I found 'em a shade scary at first, but, I'm really getting a taste for 'em.
I'd strongly recommend.... Progress. Hope. Positivity....Give 'em a go! Go on! Because Everton will be serving them up regularly from now on.

Try 'em, then you can ditch that small bowl of thin, cold gruel that habit has you clinging on to so obsequiously.

FFS, Your'e a Evertonian, man, step up!

Besic is already worth the money spent if he is compared to Rodwell etc.

I wasn't prepared for the little tricks, dribbling, long-range passing or how good he was under real pressure from several opponents. If nothing else, he'll give the other 3 centre mids a real kick up the arse to either raise their game or be prepared to sit on the bench.

I can't wait for the next friendly so we can get a better look. His was probably the most promising debut 45 minutes of any player I can recall, given my expectations.

I know you can't read too much into these warm-ups, but in each game McCarthy has been nowhere near the player he was last season.

Does anyone know why Luke Garbutt didn't play? Of all the young hopefuls who have been handed a chance to impress, he is the only one who looks capable of stepping up.

Before anyone jumps on the bandwagon, Besic has had a chance and looks nailed on for a start, after 45 minutes. The younger lads have had the same, or longer, and quite clearly they don't seem to be ready or want it enough.

I felt overall Porto were the better outfit, and looked capable of going up a gear!

I hate friendlies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the sake of sanity please.........Roll on the 16th!!!!!!

I have to agree with the other comments: Besic was the standout – such quick feet. I am really looking forward to seeing more of him. But we need more midfield creativity.

Anyway, what Besic did with his nifty footwork and general passing was definitely the handiwork of a proper midfielder. If he can play defence too well great but I'm excited by what he can offer as a midfielder. RM will get the best out of him I've no doubt.

Beyond that, the game should not be analysed too thoroughly, pre-season is a hateful time and the worst way to judge any football. We will be ready to go come Leicester, I'm sure of it!

In some ways, having a player in the middle of the park able to dribble and pick out a pass is just as important a priority to us as having a top striker. Lukaku is the type of striker that needs good service, he isn't going to make much happen by himself.

I'm really excited about this lad, but equally we need to be cautious not to expect too much from him too soon.

Annoyingly McGeady did get much better with the last 10 mins (i counted 5 passes complete in a row!) so he has potential, but Joel needs to just start passing short.

Disappointed the kids only got 10 minutes. I'd have liked to see Kennedy at some point too.

McGeady, sorry but he isn't going to make it with us.

Besic definitely looks the part; Barkley looked good in patches; Stones is a class act.

On the other side of the coin, McGeady gave as bad a performance as one could imagine and I doubt he will sleep well tonight.... And worryingly, McCarthy looked very subdued to me; the less said about Robles, the better.

Joel Robles... my God, Joel, you scare the shite outta me! He looked good when he was at Wigan; I don't know if it's a lack of football or what, but he's damn jittery.

Aiden McGeady... I want to quite like him and I do at times but has he really progressed since the day he came here in January? He still looks very sluggish to me although he did put over a few good crosses, I have to question as a wide player what does he bring to the table?

We know Mirallas offers trickery and goals, direct running; we know that Pienaar at his best offers the great link up play, the quick feet and the 110 % busy-bee mentality.

But for me, so far, the only real strength I have seen from McGeady is his ability to put a good cross in; he's not a real threat running towards goal, nor does he look like beating his man all that much.

It's going to be a very important first few months of the season for McGeady to try and start nailing down a place as an established member of the team.

Also just one more point:–

Our central defensive partnership to start the season with, in my opinion, has to be Distin and Stones. I'm sorry but Jags scares the living daylights out of me every time he has the ball at his feet; still competent enough but, for me, Stones is the player for now and the future... Don't hold him back because he's that good and will only get better by playing as he did in the second half of last season when he was outstanding during that 7-match winning streak.

Actually, given that it was a 'no-tackle' friendly, our lads did well limiting them to one chance. This was not the Premier League.

He scares the shit out of me, with him as second choice, we will be out of every Cup we enter with him in goal!

I thought we would add more senior squad players for the demanding season ahead, like someone said before if Lukaku gets injured what happens?

Is Kone ever going to play before he is due a testimonial?

Doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence should we get a couple of injuries, but I think we'll be ok. This team was only a whisker away from a CL spot last year without Kone and Gibson, and Barkley, Lukaku, Stones and McCarthy are all a year older and a year wiser. Add the very promising Besic into the mix to provide energy and quality in the centre of the pitch and we'll do ok.

As for Porto, I'm not sure why people are surprised we struggled, they are a quality team. Portuguese champions 7 out of the last 10 years, they have a raft of quality players with Champions League experience and are especially good going forward.

Secondly, how come at half time did the scoreboard display the rather dubious fact that we had 50% possession? All I could see were Everton players being dispossessed and chasing the ball all over the park.

Oh well, pessimism is probably the most rational response to a game like this.

Cameo from Besic was promising, but nothing else new to report. Robles still looks a liability, McGeady was utterly dreadful apart from 5 mins or so at the end, Hibbert shouldn't really be our back up right back and unfortunately we were passed off the park by a handy Porto side. I said a few weeks ago we are strong enough to win the EL. Well not on that showing because Porto is the sort of side we are likely to come across in the later stages and they were comfortably better.

Like others, I despair as to whether we will ever see Gibson and Kone string some games together (and in the latter case, any at all).

With barely a couple of weeks to go, we look very undercooked. Hope we can push on, get Seamus and the Belgians back in and push Ross further up the pitch.

On the other side of the coin I think that Tim Howard has looked more assured and a better keeper since the departure of Chris Woods and the arrival of the Wigan keeper coach.

Porto are a typical continental side who are slick and keep the ball well; it should be no surprise – hasn't it been that way for a long time? How many decent chances did they make though?

We won't be meeting teams in the Premier League that knock it about as well as they do... big difference.

I do agree that Besic looks/is a absolute steal at ٢m he looks like a player that should be costing us at least 4 times that. He might be a player that RM could fashion into the creative midfielder that were crying out for, worth a try at least.

I have more time than some for Osman. He can be quite effective coming off the bench, albeit he won't last 90 minutes anymore. Today, because it was his testimonial, he was pushed forward and he is not very good there. Naismith is a useful finisher but can't play the flanks. And McGeady is just awful.

I wasn't meaning any criticism of Ossie or Naismith, their not world beaters obviously, and McGeady, who didn't have a great game, did manage a couple of crosses that, on a good day, would have ended up in the net.

I think we will have to accept that some of our players are not top class and it's one of the reasons they're with us!

As for 50% possession the game I attended saw Everton on the back foot for most of the game. They couldn't hold onto the ball; when they had it, it was either given away or taken away pretty sharpish.

One or two pluses – Besic and Browning perhaps – but many more questions than answers.

Criticism of McGeady seems a bit harsh. I actually thought he looked good (but unfit) last year. Tends to retain the ball, usually gets a shot or cross away. I'll judge him once the season starts.

Check out @Everton on twitter to watch it on an eternal loop.

Besic looked like he could be the real deal the arrogance and technique in some of his play was top class. We definitely need another attacking centre midfielder, winger and striker.

Brahimi looked quality for them today; someone in his mould would be good.

One was how desperate we are for back-up for Rom.

Two is our so-called squad players, Hibbert and McGeady, are not good enough.

Three, Besic looks the only good point from today but, on a field with Barry and McCarthy, we will lack any creativity.

That’s my opinion.

He is definitely inconsistent. He also, when he's on, provides penetration, threat and great crosses. He's a risk player; not everything he's gonna try will come off.

That's just how he is.

I wouldn't worry about McCarthy having a quiet pre-season. His aggressive all-action game is not suited to friendlies and he probably won't shine till the real stuff starts.

Pienaar never got a kick and looked as miserable as ever. On massive wages with 2 years of his contract left, I hope he returns to something like his best.

Please let us know if you see the official attendance anywhere...

Impressive stuff. I didn't make the clip so don't blame me for the music.

The problem we had last season was not being able to open teams up and we haven't addressed that. Surely the priority should've been a player who can dictate games and spread the ball around whilst being able to find that defence-splitting pass that separates the very top teams from the rest?

But be that as it may, I am left with a very uncomfortable feeling that many of our players will go into the Leicester game seriously under-prepared for the fray.

With less than two weeks to go before the off, several of our lads have yet to kick a ball in anger as a holiday camp atmosphere seems to pervade Everton's preparations.

"World Cup!" I hear you cry, but our top table rivals (good to type that!) seem to have taken things a lot more seriously than our Happy Spaniard. The Vanman excused only the players reaching the last four from his strenuous examination of his charges and has already said the likes of Van Persie will be under-cooked... And, like Man Utd, all the other top clubs have been engaged in quite serious training and competition since early July.

Now the "happy-clappy, come back when you feel like it" approach may well be the right one for our 'over-worked' World Cup stars but, seriously, is eight days training and a match against some no-mark team appropriate preparation for what lies ahead? I fear not!

You're making the implication again that Martinez is mismanaging the situation, I think he will have a better idea than you how much pre-season training and games the squad need.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/04/steven-naismith-everton-tickets-liverpool-unemployed

It was a friendly and there were lots of changes so here are my thoughts.

We may be almost the same team as last season but we have a young striker who made a positive decision to come to our club

The board have backed the manager with money for the above so another big money signing is not going to happen.

Yesterday I didn't think Jags was too bad, he cleared a few balls off the line which would have gone in.

I didn't think Robies was as bad as most on here, he made a few good saves.He lacks confidence though

i think Roberto will be using and promoting some of the younger players this season to increase the squad.

I worry though about the time when Disitn finally hangs up those boots. When he came on he was directing the younger lads and made some good interventions. The Porto goal was a farce, you would not see park players doing that.
I don't expect us to finish as high as we did last season ,this will be our transition season I think.

I was pleased for Ozzie though and the turnout was good

I thought McGeady improved in the second half but don' think he's good enough. Robles likewise. I also have my doubts about Kone who looked OK to good in a Wigan shirt, but I dare say he needs a chance once foot to prove his worth. Wish Rom had the No. 9 shirt.

The rest of the squad 9the very young players aside) looks very good to exceptional. It's going to be a very exciting season. I hope the likes of Stones (who still makes quite a few mistakes despite being a phenomenal player for his age) and Besic (very exciting) are blooded appropriately by Robbie. I'm sure they will be.

I think our best XI will give any of the teams in the PL a run for their money, home and away. We certainly have the makings of top 4 but perhaps not quite this season, as Linda intimates. Still, with Rom anything can happen ... .

I can't wait for the season to start - and three (convincing) points vs Leicester.

COYB!

ItÂ’s this amateurish approach to preparation for seemingly every season that sees us off to a shocker year after year.

While clubs serious about winning things are playing in competitive pre-season tournaments, weÂ’re piss-farting about at TranmereÂ’s ground and trying not to get injured as if the seasonÂ’s years away.

The only worrisome part of Ossie's testimonial was the sheer lack of real attempts at goal. It will obviously alter for the better when the likes of Mirallas and Lukaku are in the line-up but I would have hoped to have seen a pattern of play emerge at this point in the build-up.

I'm pretty sure that Roberto will take note of the situation and address it in the next couple of games but, without a more pro-active approach from the players, we may find the difficult fixtures at the start of the season too much and the feel-good factor could disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Whilst there is probably little or nothing left in the transfer pot, it is important that RM brings in a couple of loan players for the first-team, in particular some creative talent.

Let's hope it will all be alright on the night, because so far in the pre-season there has been very little to get excited about, Besic being the one ray of hope.

On the other hand, the World Cup interfered with normal preparations and Martinez is being careful not to rush his players into situations where they may pick up an injury. Barkley deliberately hardly broke sweat the other day and most of the lads were operating at two thirds pace. Come the big day, they will definitely step up a gear.