Everton 1 - 1 Roma

I decided on an early start. That was taken over by problems as, half-way into London, it was was announced that, due to signalling failure, we all had to disembark at Wembley Park. So improvise, and overcome. Jubilee Line to Baker Street. Bakerloo Line to Oxford Circus, and then Victoria Line to eventually make it to Euston.

Plenty of Manchester United supporters around. Interestingly only one or two Manchester City supporters. Maybe they had travelled on separate trains? A good mix of different supporters, West Ham, QPR. And me!

I was delayed an hour, but I was still in good time. The platform got announced and then it was a stampede as people were sprinting towards the train. I calmly made my way down. It always surprises me how many people seem to go into panic mode when travelling. It is the same at airports.

I slept most of the way. When I got to Lime Street, I was about to do my usual and head to the Northwestern, but a lot of very well-dressed ladies had descended at Runcorn and it smelled like a perfume shop. So I decided to venture elsewhere. About 100 m to Ma Egerton's and sat outside enjoying the sun.

Evertonian taxi driver. Bonus; we swapped stories. He got me as close as he could to the Harlech, where I met up with Neil and Bill (and Bill's hat with all his badges!). We discussed all things Everton and put the world to rights. Drinks are on me next time, gentlemen.

Onto the ground. It is always a special feeling when you walk up the stairs and see that perfect green turf.

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On the match, it was a really entertaining and good watch. Roma are a really good side and we'll need to get used to teams like that when we get back into Europe. They played some really nice joined-up football. We were a bit more direct and trying to counter.

We did try to play but they were relentless in their pressing. There were times when Dominic was crowded out by three players. They hunted in packs. He did very well to beat off that beast of a Number 5 to get his goal. That player was typically Italian and got away with so many shirt pulls and sly pushes, but they are masters of it.

When Seamus went down (and he sat down), we knew he was going off as it didn't look good. I would have liked to have seen young Dixon brought on, but I'm not the manager and he went for Ashley Young.

Normally, pre-season matches can be tedious affairs but this was entertaining and a good one to watch.

In terms of our players, Jordan Pickford made a great save at one point. Tarkowski was as commanding as ever. Young Jake O'Brien had an early mishap, but he will learn. But my pick of the bunch will go to Calvert-Lewin. He put up a real fight against a relentless Italian defence and got his goal. Tim Iroegbunam looks very promising. 

If I was to pick one, I was torn between Tarkowski and Calvert-Lewin, but I'll go for Dominic.

Respect to the supporters. The executive seats in the Park End and Main Stand were not used, neither was the Top Balcony, but 31,300 for a pre-season friendly, that's impressive. Well done, Blues and the Roma supporters, who came in numbers.

I stayed until the players left the pitch and credit to some of the Roma players who came over to applaud the Everton supporters.

On to the Arkles. As I left the Gwladys Street, I was going against the flow until I got on Bullens Road. I stopped to talk to some of the Roma supporters and took some photos for them. My sister met me for a lift back with her son (my nephew). He's the blue sheep in a red family. He was very uncomfortable with all the red scarves!

Back to L24 and up early to travel back from Runcorn. Is there anything around Runcorn station? It didn't seem like it. I happened to end up sitting adjacent to 4 kopites. I listened for a while without commenting. But then they moved onto Everton and came out with a comment "Who do they think they are with that new stadium"? Talk about a trigger. That was me in and debated with them for an hour.

Anyway, a great day out in the sun, with some great football on display and we gave a good account of ourselves against a very good team.

I'm optimistic for the season ahead. I always am. Keep believing. Hopefully see some of you at Brighton home when the real business starts.

Reader Comments (21)

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Tony Abrahams
1 Posted 12/08/2024 at 07:48:41
My favorite line to any Liverpudlian, Danny, is Jesus Christ might have walked on water, but he could never build a stadium on water.

Most people I spoke to said, first half shite, but the team and the game itself was much better after half time, but I'm glad I haven't watched any football since the European Final last month, and hopefully this will help the excitement build, as we get closer to next Saturday afternoon, when the final season at Goodison Pk, begins.

I will see you then mate, and hope there are some developments off the pitch with regards the sale of Everton, and signing another one or two players wouldn't go amiss either.

Paul Washington
2 Posted 12/08/2024 at 08:54:56
As ever, Dan, great notes about your match day adventures!

Re. Runcorn station, the area has been redeveloped and opened up, I think it's now called the Station Quarter, it's better than it was.

Dave Cashen
3 Posted 12/08/2024 at 12:09:53
Top man, Danny

I was wondering about those executive seats being empty. I didn't realise the Top Balcony hadn't opened either.

I thought Roma were perfect opposition. slightly better technically than your average Premier League side, decent fitness levels and, as you say, really competitive. That said, I thought they respected the fact that it was a friendly and they kept within the accepted perimeters.

Hard but fair, would you say?

Jon Harding
4 Posted 12/08/2024 at 12:32:03
"When we get back into Europe"

Glad to see the summer hasn't dented your optimism one iota, Danny!

Christine Foster
5 Posted 12/08/2024 at 12:35:50
Good report, Danny, well done for the effort of getting there and back! Interestingly I watched one of those paranormal things the other night because it had the Adelphi, god it looked run down in the rooms.

Only saw bits of the match as I couldn't get a decent feed anywhere, including the club, but in one shot I thought there were quite a few Roma supporters there. Hope they enjoyed the nightlife in the city afterwards!

But a good workout, it will be interesting to see who is left when the end of the month comes… I hope Calvert-Lewin is, I suspect Beto might get moved on if we pick someone else up with talk about Abraham.

The big question is of course if Man Utd come back with a big bid for Branthwaite? We will see, Jake O'Brien did okay but their striker was pretty decent too... a good test.

Next week is the big one… I'm still not sure of the side he will go with yet though.

Andy Crooks
6 Posted 12/08/2024 at 12:49:07
Good stuff as usual, Danny. The railway network there seems truly awful but you seem to see it as part of the challenge of supporting Everton!

Keep the reports coming, Paul Trail too. Along with Lyndon and Michael, supporters who can't get to the game are well looked after on this site

Mike Doyle
7 Posted 12/08/2024 at 13:08:58
Danny thanks for taking the time to prepare these reports.

Ken Buckley's 'From My Seat' reports were always something I looked forward to on TW and you and Paul Trail have filled the vacuum he left admirably. Hope you (both) are able to keep them going during the coming season.

Danny O’Neill
8 Posted 12/08/2024 at 13:19:25
Definitely Dave. You can always tell at Goodison when the supporters applaud the opposition.

It was played in fair spirit and a good competitive game.

Dave Abrahams
9 Posted 12/08/2024 at 13:42:45
Nice report as usual Danny, those Red fans are definitely envious of our new ground especially the location of it and that's well before we start using it.

I enjoyed the game with the tempo above average for a friendly game and I thought we did well although Roma played the better football and looked like they had played together more than Everton with some very slick football especially in the first half.

Right back is our weak spot and I'm hoping James Garner plays there until we sign another player for that spot although I hope Patterson gets fit soon and is given the chance to make that spot his own.

Brian Harrison
10 Posted 12/08/2024 at 14:20:13
Your trips are always an entertaining read, and seem to always make it interesting with your discussions with the various fans you meet on your travels.

I was very disappointed with the first-half performance where Roma kept possession for long spells.

I read a quote today from Tarkowski who said that a Sean Dyche team will always have good defensive discipline, but he hoped with the addition of a couple of forwards, we would not be so reliant on clean sheets.

I really do hope we become a more offensive team than we have been previously under Dyche. Certainly Ndaiye looks really exciting and for me needs to be in the Number 10 role — not stuck out wide.

Jack Convery
11 Posted 12/08/2024 at 16:10:18
Thanks, Danny, for another good read. As someone who can no longer get to the games, it's interesting to read the adventures of others who go to watch our heroes.

On another point folks, Lyndon is looking for Tech Support for TW. See the thread he's posted.

Neil Copeland
12 Posted 12/08/2024 at 16:48:00
Danny, nice report as always.

It was good to see you and Bill at the Harlech and look forward to more of the same against Brighton.

I agree with others regarding the first half which was hard work for Everton. The second half was much better and overall I thought it was a good standard for pre-season.

Calvert-Lewin looked good and I would agree with him being MotM, strange how a player can suddenly produce a goal like that!

The Roma support were in good voice and well behaved and it was great to see fans mingling together on the walk back to the car.

Plenty to be positive about and the squad is looking stronger in general with better attacking options through the middle. I also think we will do well this season and may well be the surprise package.

Looking forward to Saturday and have a ticket lined up for Spurs.

Bring it on! UTFT!

Robert Tressell
13 Posted 12/08/2024 at 17:38:34
Really pleased to see you in good spirits, Danny.

Great match report. Keep them coming !

Ted Roberts
14 Posted 12/08/2024 at 18:58:56
Thanks for your post, Danny, always a looked-forward-to highlight of post match chatter.

I watched it on Everton TV with only a minor sound hiccup with Snods' microphone at the start and thought overall it was a very positive outing with Iroegbunam looking very comfortable on the ball, showing a calm and controlled nature in his play, which will be a big plus when tested in the Premier League.

Looking forward to the Brighton game now and the development of the squad throughout the season improving as it progresses.

Thanks again, Danny, here's to your next one.

Jay Harris
15 Posted 12/08/2024 at 19:12:53
Always a good positive read, Danny.

I thought Ironman was the standout and alongside Gana looked strong against a very capable Roma midfield.

O'Brien is still finding his feet and we will have to be patient with him in the Premier League.

Ndiaye also looked tricky but I still feel we are weak on the left flank and at right-back. Although I agree with Dave A that Garner would be a useful shoo-in there if Ironman continues to impress.

Brent Stephens
16 Posted 12/08/2024 at 19:37:12
Interesting Premier League change for this season. I can see plenty of irritation that the length of time added on doesn't appear to fully reflect stoppages for goal celebrations.

From this season, when a goal is scored, match officials will only start adding time on to the end of the match when the delay between the goal and the subsequent kick-off exceeds 30 seconds. This will allow natural time for both teams to resume their restart positions after each goal.

Larry O'Hara
17 Posted 12/08/2024 at 19:45:53
Danny, regarding your journey to Euston from Baker Street: for future reference, a quicker more direct route might be going direct to Euston Square: only a few hundred yards from Euston Station.

Never very busy as it seems not too many people know about this shortcut…

Danny O’Neill
18 Posted 12/08/2024 at 20:07:08
That is my usual route, Larry, but because the Metropolitan terminated at Wembley Park because of the signal failure, like hundreds of others, I had to adjust.
Jeff Spiers
19 Posted 13/08/2024 at 16:50:28
Won't be long when we are BMD bound. New era.

I was talking to a few Blues recently as to what new stadium has really impressed regarding atmosphere etc. at other cIubs in all leagues.

I would like to hear from ToffeeWebbers their experiences.

Paul Ferry
20 Posted 13/08/2024 at 19:34:01
Mike D (7):

"Ken Buckley's 'From My Seat' reports were always something I looked forward to".

I couldn't agree more, Mike. It seems like years now since Ken's last report. I hope that he is still with us.

Ted Roberts (14): "I watched it on Everton TV with only a minor sound hiccup with Snods' microphone".

That is something to celebrate, Ted. I was hoping that it would be major.

Andy Meighan
21 Posted 14/08/2024 at 20:28:03
Well in, Danny.

As for them gobshites with their "Who do they think they are with their new ground?" — sums them up to a tee. They have the nerve to call us bitter but they are the bitterest shower of cunts going.

They've hated every single club who's had success, the latest being Man City. Funny but I can't remember them hating them that much when Peter Swales was in charge.

Anyway, Danny, hope you're okay after your tragic news. UTFT.

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