Season › 2014-15 › News Long thrilled with his goal Lyndon Lloyd , 10 August, 17comments | Jump to most recent Chris Long says that he is "made up" with having scored Everton's goal in the pre-season friendly against SC Paderborn yesterday, the culmination of his work with the first team over the last two months. The 19 year-old's delicious first-half strike, a neat drag back of the ball followed by a curling finish into the top corner, was the standout moment from what was a frustrating but worthwhile exercise for Roberto Martinez's men. And Long revealed that it is something he has worked on with former U18s coach Duncan Ferguson at Finch Farm. "I'd tried that trick before and when Baines hit the ball to me I thought I may be able to whip it into the far corner," Long tells on evertontv. "I used to work on it in training with the Under-18s and Big Dunc used to teach me. We've worked on it the past few years. The homegrown striking prospect, who has worked his way through the youth ranks at Everton and is now starting to knock on the door of the senior squad, was delighted to score for his boyhood club and says that he has enjoyed being part of the first-team setup this summer. "[Scoring is] the best feeling in the world, especially when you support Everton," the England U20 striker continues. "I can't describe what I'm feeling right now. Aside from the loss, I'm made up with the goal. "I've loved being with the first-team for the last two months," he added. "I was with the Under-21s for a week in pre-season and then the gaffer told me I was going to be with them. "I've taken it in my stride and I'm loving it." Long also received praise from the Everton manager, who felt that the Paderborn match was a worthwhile exercise in terms of preparing for away days in the Europa League. "The way Chris took his goal was fantastic," Roberto Martinez told evertontv after the match. "The way he showed very clever movement off the ball, I think he showed he's a young man who's asking for a big opportunity in the first team. "That was a really good positive that we'll take from the game. "In terms of a trial for the Europa League, having the opportunity to experiment with a few things, I thought it served its purpose perfectly well so we don't get caught in the first away game of the Europa League. "It's a scoreline that you wouldn't want to have, but now is the moment to have it," he concluded. Reader Comments (17) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Tom R Owen 1 Posted 10/08/2014 at 17:05:21 Great news! Keep working hard lad, you might then save Bullshit Bill millions on a striker for the future Sue Brown 2 Posted 10/08/2014 at 18:12:49 Yes I’m chuffed for the lad, a brilliantly taken goal and well deserved. It’s great when they come through the ranks and their hard work pays off, and a boyhood blue to boot! Drew Shortis 3 Posted 10/08/2014 at 18:49:40 Long’s goal was excellent and I hope he can replicate it when he gets an opportunity in the first team. It’s very important to keep focused and work hard. I remember Jose Baxter scoring a screamer against Nottingham Forest a few pre-seasons ago but he never made the grade with us. Hopefully these talented youngsters will continue to be given an opportunity under Martinez as bringing through our own start is the best way to bridge the money gap between ourselves and the likes of Chelsea and Man City. Paul Ellam 4 Posted 10/08/2014 at 18:52:37 I will be much happier once he’s scored his 100th goal for us but I am glad for him and this milestone. Wishing him all the best.Long may it continue! (Long - geddit? haha) Kev Johnson 5 Posted 10/08/2014 at 19:08:40 It was a wonderful goal, it really was. The kind we all dream of scoring in a cup final, thereby securing the trophy for The Mighty Blues. I can’t resist pointing out that on the Live Forum, before the game started, I said "I’m looking forward to having a look at Chris Long. He’s got something". Someone else posted "If Chris Long scores, I’ll eat my mouse mat" Ha-ha! Who was that? Come on, own up!The question is: do we loan him out again, or is there a genuine chance he could make a contribution this season? I’d be inclined to hold on to him. Derek Knox 6 Posted 10/08/2014 at 19:20:41 Paul#4Now let’s not get too carried away, even though this was one of the very few positives, to come out of our pre-season games. I can’t see any striker getting 100 oals in one season Paul, but just imagine if(hypothetically) that scenario did happen in the Derby. :-) Kev Johnson 8 Posted 10/08/2014 at 19:41:37 I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick there, Derek. What Paul was saying was that he’d happily applaud Long if he scored 100 goals in one game. Dave Abrahams 9 Posted 10/08/2014 at 19:37:42 Great goal by Chris Long hope it is the first of many by Chris for Everton. IÂ’ve seen Chris at his own age group a few times and he has got a good chance of coming through.He has bit of devil in him, a bit like Roy Vernon. If he is half as good Roy he will be more than good enough. Chris Wilson 10 Posted 10/08/2014 at 19:43:31 I would love to see how some of our young talent that we have let go would fair under the current regime; someone that would allow them to grow organically and let them make mistakes. Derek Knox 11 Posted 10/08/2014 at 20:10:00 Kev#8Would that still apply then, if it was in an away derby then ? Mike Childs 12 Posted 10/08/2014 at 20:51:53 I saw a clip of the goal, very nice good movement, great placement given Kone’s status I think we should hang onto him. The talent is there and if he can get the confidence required I believe he could be a big help. Ian Tunstead 14 Posted 10/08/2014 at 21:48:14 Chris, I think you would find that it would be exactly the same outcome, if a player is not good enough then they are not good enough and will be let go or will be sold like Anichebe or will be sent on loan like Lundstram. If it was the wrong decision then we would soon find out by evidence of them playing for another PL side further down the line. There seems to be a theory that the current regime can magically turn average players into world beaters. IÂ’m still waiting for Osman to become the new Xavi and Hibbert to turn into Lahm . Tony J Williams 15 Posted 11/08/2014 at 11:12:53 Ian, I’m still waiting for Alcaraz to turn into a competent defender...... Robbie Muldoon 17 Posted 11/08/2014 at 12:53:52 After watching Chris LongÂ’s brilliantly taken goal against Paderborn I thought IÂ’d take a little look at what else he has done.I come across the highlights of Everton v Spurs U21s a couple of seasons ago. ItÂ’s a must watch, because Long scores an amazing goal, the type only a quality player can pull off (watch 3:15 in).ItÂ’s also interesting to watch because Barkley is up to his usual brilliance, but also the bits he has started to smooth out of his game (too many touches, getting caught in possession). John Stones is playing at right back and is at fault for two goals, quite badly. I thought he was shocking at right back against Liverpool, I really donÂ’t think itÂ’s a position he is good at. I think he still has these mistakes in him that we have seen in pre-season, so he still has a lot of development to make this season. But he will.So Stones and Barkley have broke through to the senior side from this team, and I have no doubt Chris Long will do this season - especially with our lack of options up front.HereÂ’s another cracker he scored too, he just seems a natural finisher. Harold Matthews 18 Posted 11/08/2014 at 20:51:08 Thanks Robbie. Enjoyed that. Long can certainly finish. CanÂ’t comment on Stones. After being a bit over-critical of him last season, IÂ’ve decided to let him live in peace. Like Barkley, Coleman, McCarthy, Oviedo, Besic, Lukaku, Long, Galloway, Garbutt, Henen, Browning, Stanek, McAleny, Duffy etc, he is the future. Kev Johnson 19 Posted 11/08/2014 at 21:59:21 Cheers, Robbie. That first goal is an incredible bit of skill. As you say, the kind of goal only a very talented striker can score. Even the Spurs fans clapped! Ant Dwyer 20 Posted 12/08/2014 at 00:46:23 Great stuff, Robbie; much appreciated, mate. Hopefully Chris Long can break through this year, especially as Kone is 32/33 and in my eyes Naismith is simply not good enough. Between Long, McAleny, Henen (hopefully), Brewster and the lad from Man Utd, IÂ’d like at least one of these lads to save us having to spend 㾶 or 15M on a decent backup or partner for Big Rom. Good luck and may the best man/men win! Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb