Preseason Friendly: Everton draw at Bolton

Dobbin and Gomes are playing.

From The Echo: "Andre Gomes, who has looked sluggish and been sloppy in possession."

Sluggish? Gomes? No way!

Onana is injured!

Gomes in and out but has lost any premiership pace if he ever had any.

McNeil and Young playing reasonable well.

I won't even mention Maupay except to say it still amazes me that Dyche keeps playing him.

Virginia - couple of very good saves
Patterson - getting skinned
Tarkowski - stop ballsing about
Keane - turns like a tanker
Young - assured
Onana - this boy can tackle
Iwobi - if only he could finish
Gomes - looks fine in a 3
Dobbin - good movement, getting bullied
Maupay - pointless
McNeil - hope no-one else notices how good he's playing

Overall, we could be two up or two down….if we don't find competent finishers the two down will be much more likely in Premier League.

Same again this season if we have a goal scorer -or two- up top we will have a decent season, 12th or thereabouts. I'm optimistic we will find a couple of quality players to make us good enough to be comfortable for a change.

Dyche seems a 'confident, on the ball no nonsense type' who knows what it takes in this division, I've every faith that he will get the best out of whoever are in the team.

I thought Kouyate looked good again and Lewis Warrington continues to improve.

Some great saves by Virginia to keep us in the game but disappointing finishing remains our Achilles heel.

I can't comment on the game as the second half they made 8/9 changes.

No real stand-outs for me but admittedly it's hard and unfair to judge them on one half. They don't look ready for first-team duty though.

Only thing I can think is Dyche sending a message that the squad's too thin. There's no way this dour ex-Burnley coach was just wanting to see the kids. That could have been arranged anytime.

Just adds to the circus.

Virginia - played well
Patterson - bright enough down right
Keane - he's just a lad to head it, and nothing else.
Tarkowski- committed
Young - intelligent link up

McNeil - could offered a bit more and backed himself
Gomes - plodder, he's finished
Onana - decent enough
Iwobi - lacks pace when put through

Dobbin - good link play, but not ready
Maupay - just isn't an Everton forward. John Spencer ilk.

Subs: kids did okay, but clear a lot need loan spells.

Positives, there is a far better defensive shape to the team, whichever players are on the park. Negatives, the team is still shot-shy and don't look likely to score. The set-pieces in the 2nd half were appalling and surely that's an area that can be improved upon, regardless of the personnel on the pitch.

I imagine a stronger line-up will take to the pitch against Stoke as we all hope to see a much more football orientated team, rather than a superficial fitness exercise.

As for Everton's coverage and its inability to allow people to login in order to watch the 'live' games, it's a sad state of affairs and it really should be explained by somebody at the club as to why it's such an impossible task seemingly beyond the capabilities of anyone at the club to solve as it occurs game after game and season after season.

Good night for some, not so good for others. Basically it looked at times men against boys – physically speaking. They had some big lads on the pitch, and in the 2nd half most of our team were U21s, and some looked it.

A not so good night for Dobbin. Busy, pressed well, especially first half, but pushed off the ball way too easy. He has added a few inches this last year, and bulked out a little, but needs to either up his core, or his attitude on the ball. Maybe not ready for the first team yet?

Not a great night for Lewis Warrington. Can do much better, and can often control midfield, but tonight looked maybe timid, or at least slightly over-awed.

Not a great night for Onyango, or Okoronkwo – neither seemed to grab the opportunity. Both can definetly do better, but didn't when they needed to impress.

However, it was a good night for Virginia - some very good saves, looks an instinctive shot-stopper, but nervous and easily pressured with the ball at his feet.

Good nights for Stan Mills and Katia Kouyate. Both fast, direct, threatening, and got the treatment from any Bolton player anywhere near them at the time. A sign that they bother players with their directness. For me, both need to be in and around the first team this season. Both can, I think have cameos with a real prospect of impact.

A good night for Liam Higgins. Largely under the radar in the U21s – always composed and solid, but stepped up in class very well, and is very composed indeed, unflustered with the ball, and again, right back showed promise of a progression into the main squad.

And lastly - their big centre-half bossed, pushed and generally threw anyone out the way (mainly Dobbin, tbf) who would bother him.

Until Martin Sherif came on mid-way through the half. First time I've seen the lad. I don't know how old he is, but he looks older. And immediately pissed their back four right off – with a bit of gob, a fair bit of needle and a complete refusal to be pushed about. And then out-muscled and out-played their centre-half.

Impressed. Not intimidated, not over-awed, and well prepared to compete. Just the type of player I would expect Dyche to notice. And approve of.

Maupay shocking – the more we play him, the less money we'll get for him. Iwobi poor again, he had about three one-on-ones with the goalie and fluffed them all.

We are absolutely desperate for a couple of goalscorers.

On paper it's a good run of fixtures to kick off our campaign, we certainly have to target these games to take maximum points. For that to happen, we need one, possibly two strikers to arrive in the next 3 weeks.

Turn these draws into wins and get in the forwards needed before the season starts and not on Deadline Day.

I reckon there's a coding problem/error somewhere, as when I first accessed the website, I logged in via the button at top right. So far so good.

Then I clicked on the link to watch the match – when the page loaded, it looked as though I would have to pay £8.99! But then I spotted another login button, again at top right – so I logged in again, and had no problems with the sound or vision all evening.

Not much to add – first 25-30 minutes we looked pretty sharp, then eased off to half-time; I missed the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half, and then the younger players never really seemed to gel as a team, but none of them looked over-awed and they acquitted themselves reasonably – without being overly impressive.

With Sporting Lisbon coming up before the season starts, it will be interesting to see who will be uppermost in Dyche's thoughts for the starting eleven against Fulham.

We appear to have plethora of players chomping at the bit especially from midfield but that offence is a big worry still.

I have never felt so down supporting my team in 60 years.

Bolton's ground has always been rather soulless - “The Toughsheet Stadium” almost sums it up neatly. And their supporters are tiresome.

The players you would expect to play okay (Tarkowski, Young, McNeil) did so. Virginia kept goal well. Other than that, there was precious little creativity, and a predictable lack of finishing power. Iwobi's final pass or shot was customarily erratic. Gomes was anonymous. Onana seemed to injure himself with a poor tackle, although I didn't have the greatest view of it.

The second half was a bit of a non-event. Warrington looked to have something about him, and the big lad up front, Okoronkwo, tried hard.

Meagre fare for a good following.

I suspect the "ee" needs to be replaced with an "i"

Unbelievable! Get a grip!!!

Not much to take out of the game. Virginia looked okay but Patterson was being skinned by balls over the top. Godfrey looks (a bit) better at centre-back, Gomes was constantly caught in possession and we, as usual, failed to convert many really decent chances.

I really don't see what Dyche thinks he gains by constantly starting Maupay. His transfer value must decrease every time he plays. I don't think I've ever seen an Everton forward so unlikely to score. He makes Rod Belfitt look a class act!

On the Everton TV issue; I've had problems logging in, in the past, but got it okay for the Swiss game. Oddly, when I was trying to figure out the half-time changes, I could get it really good in the ground, without even logging in.

It's a concern that we have not brought in any forward players after scoring so few goals last season but I take solace in the fact that Everton have rarely been prepared for the coming season during the last 30 years. (Maybe that's why we haven't won anything?)

Martinez did some great deadline business in his first season but I suppose he had been left a very good core and it's slowly been downhill ever since.

I still expect at least four players to leave and I'm hopeful we will bring at least another three players in but please don't start the season without a recognized centre-forward again, Everton, because we can't carry on being so underprepared.

Agree completely with your comments. Sean Dyche and his team will be working their socks off to get the right players through the door.

That's easier said than done with the hand he's been dealt.
I'm sure the forward/striker situation will happen, the sooner the better; however, regrettably I foresee deals being done more towards the end of the window.

Gnonto is a distinct possibility. Toure, never in imo as Atalanta can offer European football. Too much fake news/media hype for my liking.

As I've said before, I'll believe it when they walk through the door. Until then, we will have to wait, so stop the negativity and relegation posts, it doesn't help anyone.

We can't afford to be lightweight in attack and throw away points in these opening games, exactly like last season when we were desperately swapping and changing the centre forward playing Maupay then Gordon, then Gray as a totally unsuitable target man.

The argument would obviously be ‘we are going to adapt' but inevitably we don't or can't. Danjuma will do better than those three centrally, but even so it will still be makeshift and may not be enough.

I fear this time round if we leave this signing until Sept 1st any prospect of momentum may already be lost. We will be playing catch-up just as the harder fixtures kick in. Also, it's harder to recruit when the prospects look more grim.

Thelwell isn't having any luck with his attacking targets, he can't get them over the line. The forlorn Broja chase, Kudus and the Man Utd signing of Antony, Morgan Gibbs-White and our final offer goes in after he's agreed with Forest, now Bilal Toure.

If El Bilal Toure doesn't sign, and I'm still reluctant to give up hope or believe the biased Italian rumour mill, we will hopefully get a hint at Plan B at the weekend.

I hope Danjuma appears in the next game and it would be nice to see Calvert-Lewin in the frame.

Hopefully Sheffield Utd and Luton will be worse than us so only need one more team of duffers to stay above and keep our status again.

I don't get it, we have a decent run of fixtures early in the season before we play the big boys. Why not target a decent points haul from these games by getting players in and a settled team early doors and take advantage of this 'opportunity'?

Then I remember: this is Everton and they can't plan more than a week in advance.

I hope Charlie and Sam enjoyed the night out, Peter.

Without two decent strikers, it will be Good Night, Vienna this season, in my honest opinion.

Gray, Garner, Danjuma, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, haven't had a minute on the pitch. We still look woefully short up front, and a team who can't score many usually ends up fighting relegation. I think our top scorer last season scored 7 and we still haven't signed a striker.

As for the likes of Mykolenko, Calvert-Lewin – not even in the squad?

Only another 30-odd days to find a striker!

Some informtion on Calvert-Lewin and others would be nice; good job he spent the summer getting fit to stay in the treatment room.

I take it as respect. When I meet them outside, it is different.

Apart from Man City, who I had to calm down walking across Stanley Park and into the Arkles. Although a bit exposed on my own, I reminded them of where they had come from.

Wolves were a bit special too.

A pre-season runout. Nothing to read into it. But nice to hear the feedback on Warrington. Been watching him for a couple of seasons and yes, he does hopefully have something about him.

See you when the real business starts or at Stoke.

Apart from Pickford, and Calvert-Lewin, that's us.

And to see what many call out for, Warrington, Mills, Dobbin and Sherif included.

However, I have noticed myself falling into the trap of already despairing at the sight of a certain player. I will not mention his name but I am now convinced, if he was the only player on the pitch, in front of an empty goal, he still couldn't score!

Last night only reinforced this. A small clue: he is French.

I'm not a fan of making subs and putting 8 youngsters on at the same time. Mix it up, so that some of the youngsters have experienced players around them.

Obviously a lot of first teamers were still missing last night and amongst them Gana, Garner, Pickford, DCL, Doucoure and maybe even Gray will make a big difference and upgrade to the likes of Maupay and Gomes etc.

A bit of a shame that none of the kids has especially pushed their case but I think this would be expected by anyone who watches the U21s, some decent players but no stand out talents and certainly no-one we should be relying upon. The likes of Mills, Cannon, Okoronkwo etc should try and get good loans to see if they can make an impression. Cannon will hopefully carry on where he left off at Preston.

For the first team it will be much the same as last season. it won't be pretty but hopefully we will be hard to beat and pick up points here and there. Danjuma will help with the attacking play as would a fit DCL. The bid for El Bilal Toure suggests that there is some money to work with and I would not be surprised to see Gnonto come in and do well, he's capable of 8-10 goals a season and has certain hint of Rooney bullishness to his play.

Keane worries me at CB and even Tarkowski looked better when playing next to the more assured and comfortable Mina. Trusting Branthwaite is a risk and I worry that its actually our defence rather than our attack that would be our undoing next season. I wonder if Maguire might end up here on loan, many people would hate it but he'd be our best CB.

I assume Dyche rotated the teams at half-time to have a closer look at who will need to step up permanently into the first team squad given the departures – Dobbin, Mills, Warrington and Kouyate seem the best bets.

Even with the likes of Keane, Iwobi, Godfrey etc (who get a lot of stick) we made considerable progress after Dyche's appointment last season. So there's no reason to believe we are doomed if they feature in the First XI this season (which will probably be the case since we are skint). It just means we will continue to be quite a mediocre side – something that at least 8 other clubs also are.

Dobbin obviously showed some promise in this game – which is good news. May mean we have a (work in progress) replacement for Gray if he leaves.

If that's the plan, Dobbin had best brace himself for being labelled utter shite if he doesn't manage a hat-trick in his first few outings.

Even the eternal optimists on here surely can see the situation we are in?

Belfitt (3 goals in 17) was prolific by comparison to Maupay and if I remember correctly has a unique record of scoring goals for two different teams in consecutive Everton home games. One for Ipswich after which he was transferred to Everton and scored on his home debut against Man City.

Even Bernie Wright was more prolific than Maupay!!!

Spot on. At least Keane is capable of the odd good game + surprisingly the occasional defence-splitting pass

I get that we don't play to Maupay's strengths but even the basics are poor, eg, control, shooting, passing. He genuinely looks like a Championship player

Sam #65,

Maguire would be a class signing for us. He's actually an excellent centre-back that hasn't adjusted to the high demands of Manchester United. However, there's a top player there. Sadly it's a pipe dream.

Robert #67,

You're so right about Dobbin. We want flair players and players to take a risk. But that's eclipsed by our seeming hatred of our own youngsters. They need to be ready, battle-hardened, mistake-free and a minimum 8 out of 10 every match or they get pelters.

People on here will laugh but an Osman would be great for us right now: goalscoring midfielder that can pick a pass and puts in the hard work.

As for the game last night, the only report I could find was from the Daily Mail. It said we looked decent and created chances but the lack of a No 9 stopped us scoring.

The main point was about fitness and Sean Dyche now has that in hand, which was interesting as Antony Gordon was quoted he wasn't fit enough for the Skunks when he joined in January.

So what was happening at Finch Farm?

Anyone who talks about selling Iwobi needs help, he's been one of the main reasons we have stayed in the Premier League. We do need an experienced striker from somewhere as sub for Calvert-Lewin that's a given, but it's not that simple to find the right player and then get him to sign.

We have a decent enough squad to get us close to mid-table if we can get Calvert-Lewin fit and playing or find a decent replacement.

He just looks like someone who needs to step out of the spotlight for a bit. I think he will end up at West Ham though because they will have the money to pay a transfer fee.

The state the clubs in, this season was never going to be great it will just be about being good enough to prevent relegation.

Not what we aspire to but it is what it is.

Wasn't he working his socks off in January to get a striker in, and what happened there?

Why on earth would he want to send a thin squad into a new season short on practice?

Start figuring out the Frank factor here. It takes a while to work out of holes like that. Just like real life.

There were just a few snippets from those that watched the match to give me a little hope and encouragement. These were mostly about some of the youngsters but it was good to read the positive comments concerning Virginia's performance.

It would be good to see a couple of the youngsters break through and be included on the bench for each game and I hope that this is in the manager's thoughts.

I started watching Toffee TV about 4 years ago (now a premier member and worth every penny) and at the time they had Andy 'The Piv' who is a moneyball type of scout, all metrics and stats and Baz and they would reel of a dozen names of up and coming footballers from obscure leagues, some of them are now worth millions.

Surely we've got people doing a similar job; doing a Brighton/Brentford, and given our parlous finances it's baffling that we keep getting linked with so-so strikers from relegated teams.

Not to bring in a striker in January to my mind was a sackable offence, because it nearly cost us our premier league status, remember we were a Dacouri goal away from relegation.

So why we didn't have a striker the second the transfer window was open in January was baffling, now history is repeating itself it goes beyond dereliction of duty.

Does that qualify as a malapropism?

The second half was daft in my view. Yes, take a further look at youngsters, but after the Tranmere game did we really need to put them all on together? Surely it would be better to judge potential alongside first team regulars - so a good mix?

I don't see what Dyche can learn in those 45 that he can't learn watching the youth team. Maybe just that the forward players struggle against a big and experienced centre-back. For me, only Virginia really caught the eye.

I can see Mills coming good with a bit more experience based on previous games, but last night was all a bit flat. I agree with others that we need another centre-back, but then I'm not sure I'd have let Coady go.

David @80. Someone I know is attracting a bit of attention from a few Championship clubs, and the detail in the dossier that one particular club has put together, looks very professional and impressively done.

Maybe because they are a very stable football club, and see this kid as someone for the future rather than for right now, gives them an advantage, because when it comes to Everton, we just look like a football club with that much instability, that we have closed the door to a real pathway?

Cannon, Price and Warrington, all going on loan makes sense imo, because unless a player is genuinely ready, then hanging around at Finch Farm playing Under-21s football, doesn't appear to be doing much to aid real development?

First, what's the DoF been doing is supply us with decent young talent. Without dragging others into it some well respected posters list Onana, McNeil , Patterson and Garner as solid acquisitions. Please address that part.

Then citing that some podcast has identified some players that are now worth millions more seems to bypass the difficulties of finance and negotiations. If you will recall Kudus was desiring a move here when the structure of proposed payments undermined Thelwell's ability to secure Kudus' interest.

And then the not bringing in a striker after Frank arguably destroyed the team form and Moahiri dithered on a new appointment. This is the most selective criticism of a functional official for Everton that I have seen. Thelwell did everything a DoF can do to get results and you want to go right past the obvious problems and slander his efforts.

I think that juat about covers it. No offence but that was crap.

I attended the first game at the Reebok in 1997, and Bolton fans I know still moan to me about the “over the line” goal that Terry Phelan cleared, conveniently forgetting the foul on Southall by Blake in the lead up to it.

4 years later I was in their family enclosure with my dad, brother and sister when Stubbs scored a screamer from a free kick. I leapt up and was subject to half an hour of foul abuse from Bolton fans who were with their kids. Feeble.

In subsequent visits there I have been amongst Bolton supporters who were listening for any trace of a Scouse accent, and shouting for stewards to evict anyone guilty of having one. I've always found such behaviour quite pathetic, so it was a great pleasure when, in 2013, I was in amongst them again when Jonny Heitinga scored a last minute winner in the snow. A huge roar went up, a few indignant Bolton fans stood up to complain, then sat down very quickly when they saw there were about 200 Blues in their midst.

Positives... we keep our unbeaten run going, as we're going to need to pick up points quickly at the start of the season.

Dyche needs to challenge the lads from the off with keeping clean sheets and not being easy for teams to simply play through us, plus we need to compete more in all our away games.

Morelos actually grew up and calmed down a bit – only one red card in the last 3 years – but everything I've read says he's become a lazy ass with an expanding belly. And supposedly the only offer he's gotten is from... wait for it... Azerbaijan.

Either way, lack of discipline, suspect attitude. Can't see Dyche buying anyone like that.

They are getting a good education in how to follow the Blues, pity they are not getting an awful lot of joy at the moment, but it will come and they at least are enjoying playing for their teams. Have they been involved in any summer tournaments? Keep us informed, Peter.

No Summer tournaments, just friendly games which have been good for them both.

There will be a few more before both lads start their seasons at the end of the month. Each of them playing on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 4 games to take in – I can't wait.

I bet you can't wait. I got a lot of enjoyment watching Tony growing up and playing with the same group of lads from the age of 8. They started off being good but the team got better with each season.

I hope Sam and Charlie do the same with their teams while continuing to enjoy playing at the same time, best of luck to both of them, and yourself of course.

Oh, wait a minute… 😱