Well, that one was drab.
Drab weather, a drab pre-season performance, and the same old drab issues.
It is only pre-season, there is simply no need to be getting too riled up about performances, but the goalless draw at the Toughsheet Stadium did feel a bit like a continuation of the problems we saw at the end of last term.
Here’s a few things we learned.
GARNER TO MISS PRE-SEASON
We actually learned of this blow just before kick-off, when Everton confirmed Garner has had to undergo surgery on a groin injury. It means the midfielder, who was superb last season after getting a full summer of work under his belt, will now be out until at least the week of the first Premier League game.
Given Garner will have missed pretty much all of pre-season, there seems little chance he will be fit to feature before September, and it will likely be after the extended international break at the end of that month and into October that he is ready to play meaningful minutes at his usual standard.
That should sharpen the focus for Everton’s recruitment. They need a right-back and they need a number 6, especially with Idrissa Gana Gueye’s departure now confirmed.
David Moyes and the recruitment committee need to get on the same page, and get this sorted.
ARMSTRONG SHOWS HIS STUFF
With Garner out and Merlin Röhl playing on the right, Harrison Armstrong got the chance to play in his natural position in central midfield. He took the opportunity to shine.
Armstrong was involved in most things Everton did well in the first half. Cool and composed in possession, active out of it and never afraid to get stuck in.
The teenager has plenty of experience at Championship level, so playing against second-tier opposition (albeit, newly promoted ones) was never going to be too much of an ask.
But it was excellent to see him play in such a commanding fashion, and essentially take the lead in midfield.
Hayden Hackney is set to feature for the first time when Everton take on Stoke City in midweek, but Armstrong is staking his claim in midfield.
BRANTHWAITE IS BACK
Jarrad Branthwaite was never going to play the full game, but to see him back in the line-up, donning his new No.4, is a huge boost.
He was back to doing what he does best, striding out of defence to pick a pass, and offering balance and speed to Everton’s backline.
Do not be surprised if Branthwaite doesn’t feature against Stoke, as his minutes must be carefully managed, but getting him back out on the pitch was the first box to tick off.
Reader Comments (17)
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2 Posted 26/07/2026 at 15:33:15
“Everton continue to push for a new right-back and remain confident of getting one. But, for now, Rohl and O'Brien soldier on, with the former in particular spending parts of training on the right side.
“It's not completely new,” he says. “I always played all over the pitch. Right- and left-back, sometimes on the wing, (No) 6 or 8 (central midfield roles). It's always about switching your mind a little bit on what you want to bring on the pitch.
“Going against someone like Tyrique (George), who is so good at unbalancing you, it's the best training you can have as a right-back. His movements are so sharp. We all know about Tyrique's capabilities in a one-on-one. I always tell him, ‘go easy, please'.”
“I was hoping to get more offensive situations and counter-attacks, and maybe stayed a little bit too high sometimes. Then I got a little bit in behind sometimes.”
Asked about his role for the new season and whether he sees a future on the right, Rohl says: “If I had scored two goals today, everyone would say, ‘Maybe he's a good right wing-back'. It can change next week again if I play in a different position and perform there.”
Rohl admits the physicality is “different” in England compared to Germany and it took him time to get up to speed with the dressing-room chatter. The focus is on making himself a rounded player and an indispensable part of the squad.
“I train everywhere,” he says. “Sometimes at right-back or on the wing. Sometimes you need to think, when you're right-back, ‘I want to train my crossing a bit'. Or ‘I want to train this touch'.
“In the end, you need to be a good footballer to play. No matter what position, you just need to be calm on the ball.”
3 Posted 26/07/2026 at 16:04:45
4 Posted 26/07/2026 at 16:06:16
Moyes is experimenting on these friendlies but it is more apparent than ever that neither Barry nor Beto have the smarts to serve as a threat to most Premier League defences. Barry tries hard but, at his age, he should have learn't his craft by now. Yes he did score what looked like a valid goal but missed an open goal later on.
George could be a big plus given a starting role up front with Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye supporting him.
Obviously none of us are holding our breath for the board to spend some money unless there is some income from outgoing sales.
5 Posted 26/07/2026 at 16:09:26
We all know the outcome. No right-back signed... Another square peg.
Who'd have thought...?
6 Posted 26/07/2026 at 16:29:16
He looks awkward because of his size, and obviously he doesn't have the attacking skill set of a natural midfielder like Rohl, but I would trust him on the ball more than any other defender in the club except Branthwaite.
He and Jarrad will make an excellent partnership. Hopefully this season.
7 Posted 26/07/2026 at 16:44:16
Also, we are not good enough because it's all Moyes's fault! We are not good enough because, with 2 or 3 exceptions, our players are bang- or below-average Premier League quality.
8 Posted 26/07/2026 at 19:55:56
But in an ideal world, we have a Premier League level centre-forward who gets 17 goals himself and those two clowns don't get a sniff of our first team.
Beto would be decent off the bench against tiring defenses as he really puts himself about impressively. Barry, on the other hand… Beto is also pretty good in the air which I appreciate, and after being pitch side last summer for a pre-season game, let me tell you he is a unit and he was trying his hardest even in the warm up!
Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall are a centre-forward's dream, both being very creative. I believe an elite centre-forward would score a good amount of goals in our team.
9 Posted 26/07/2026 at 21:31:38
I thought Foster looked good, always wanting the ball.
10 Posted 26/07/2026 at 00:17:04
11 Posted 27/07/2026 at 09:11:12
12 Posted 27/07/2026 at 09:55:27
He doesn’t naturally get the ball out of his feet to play forward, is the main reason I give for having this opinion of him when he plays fullback.
He’s more of a check-back, than a fullback, imo, but it was clear in just one sentence of Mike’s article, how fullbacks are expected to operate under Moyes.
I was hoping to get more offensive and counter attacks and stayed a little bit too high sometimes. Then I got a little bit in behind. I’m sure the word ‘caught’ was missing out of that last sentence!
It’s better to have a fullback who doesn’t attack enough rather than one who wants to get forward and sometimes gets caught on the wrong side because of this.
13 Posted 27/07/2026 at 10:09:26
Well, you stick to your estimation of how good you think O'Brien is. I know you rate him very highly -- you think he can play better on one leg, or was it foot, than Patterson can play on two!
Meanwhile, I'll stick to mine and, if O'Brien and Jarrad make a fine partnership, it will be because Branthwaite will be looking after him very well.
14 Posted 27/07/2026 at 17:58:49
Players can't be judged on 5/10 minutes at the end of games.
15 Posted 27/07/2026 at 23:40:50
I hope I'm wrong but you watch the better clubs and their fringe players often step up in the friendlies to stake a claim. Ours just go through the motions without stepping up.
16 Posted 28/07/2026 at 10:33:10
17 Posted 28/07/2026 at 12:02:04
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1 Posted 26/07/2026 at 15:14:58
He is on a learning curve and at the moment looks our best option. Beto was ineffective. We still need whichever of these two we keep to be, for now, the back-up to a new Number 9.
Watching for the white smoke on new signings