Blues beat FC Shenzen in Dubai friendly

Friday, 17 February, 2017 20comments | Jump to most recent

Everton's practice match in Dubai this morning will be against Shenzen from China.

The friendly, which kicked off at 11am local time (7am in the UK), resulted in a 4-0 victory for Everton. Valencia scored twice with Kone and Barkley also on the scoresheet. Hewelt saved a penalty for the Blues, who will now head back to Merseyside to prepare for the visit of Sunderland.

Reader Comments (20)

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Oscar Huglin
1 Posted 17/02/2017 at 07:49:11

Any way to follow this?

Dermot Byrne
2 Posted 17/02/2017 at 08:12:08

Oh god, Sky and TalkSport are reporting the opposition may buy our team.

Gareth Clark
3 Posted 17/02/2017 at 09:59:20

Would like to have seen the team for the friendly!

Chris Gould
4 Posted 17/02/2017 at 11:01:42

Nice to hear Valencia scored a couple. Wonder if he was playing as a lone front man (assuming Kone came on as sub)?

Not sure why he hasn't been given much of a chance up front in games where Lukaku has gone missing. Even if it's just for the last 10 mins to see if he can provide something different to Rom.

David Hallwood
5 Posted 17/02/2017 at 11:08:12

It was a game of half and half.

Mohamad Haryan
6 Posted 17/02/2017 at 11:56:12

I think instead of buying two centre backs in the summer, we should try Callum Connolly and Brendan Galloway in both the centreback positions until the end of the season.

Geoff Trenner
7 Posted 17/02/2017 at 12:06:11

Light and bitter, David?

Martin Nicholls
8 Posted 17/02/2017 at 14:46:36

Chris (#4) – not sure what team was but Valencia and Kone were definitely on the pitch together so presumably we played two up front.

Charlie Lloyd
9 Posted 17/02/2017 at 15:12:46

Mohamad @ 6

Connolly is on loan at Wigan and plays fullback.

Galloway is on loan at WBA.

As much as I encourage the use of the younger lads throwing those two in the centre of defence till the end of season would be a bold move indeed.

Dermot Byrne
10 Posted 17/02/2017 at 17:01:32

4-0... I smell Europe!

John Daley
11 Posted 17/02/2017 at 17:09:22

4-0 with Valencia and Kone bagging three between them? More like 'you're ropey'.

Brian Wilkinson
13 Posted 17/02/2017 at 17:40:19

This cannot be right: Lukaku did not travel or play, we're doomed according to some if Rom doesn't play.

Tongue firmly in cheek, but I still think we can slot players in should Rom miss a game. Hopefully Rom will stay fit, but some over react at the thought of Rom getting injured.

Andy Ellis
14 Posted 17/02/2017 at 17:56:04

Did we play a foo Yung ones?

Brian Wilkinson
15 Posted 17/02/2017 at 19:10:15

It was played in a sandstorm, fair to say Bill's backside was intact.

Alex Kociuba
16 Posted 17/02/2017 at 19:13:46

Brian, FC Shenzen are a 2nd division Chinese team (playing a pre-season friendly)! And surely you can't blame people who might worry about who might replace our top goalscorer and best striker for about quarter of a century should he get injured?

Brian Wilkinson
17 Posted 17/02/2017 at 22:08:41

There's always a worry Alex, but for some to say relegation fodder if Lukaku gets injured are way off the mark.

What I will say is there's room for improvement, a great striker will score in tight games, will get you that three points, there's no doubting his goal scoring, but how many of his goals come in a 1-0 win when we need that goal?

People are assuming without Lukaku we will struggle, who knows? If we play the likes of Valencia, Lookman or even Mirallas our style of play will change, less off the hoof up field and more playing through the middle just might get those all important goals.

I am not slating Lukaku off for one minute, he certainly is one of the better strikers we have had, but for some to think we are up shit creek if he picks up a knock, that's where I disagree.

Fintan Spode
18 Posted 17/02/2017 at 22:46:31

Why on earth did Kone get a game? He will not feature in the first team for the rest of the Season! In fact why did we waste money on buying him a plane ticket? Hopefully it was only one way...

Don Alexander
19 Posted 17/02/2017 at 22:54:09

I suspect Kone got a game because he's an exotic peroxide blond, of which there are obviously few in China, and therefore liable to excite transfer interest.

Tim Greeley
20 Posted 18/02/2017 at 13:59:14

Everton played Kone presumably because they pay him a ransom every week and saw this exhibition as a slight return. Or because he isn't complete shit and can score a goal against 2nd division Chinese.

David Milner
22 Posted 20/02/2017 at 15:21:23

Charlie @9:

Connolly plays anywhere along the back four and is on loan at Wigan;

Galloway plays anywhere left side and is on loan at WBA though not playing;

Browning plays centre-back or right-back and is on loan at Preston;

Jones plays anywhere right side and is on loan at Barnsley.

That is 4 of our young defenders out on loan and are doing well except for Galloway who is not selected for some reason.

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