The Mail Bag
The Bremen game
Comments (18)
The official site claims Everton dominated most of the game and actually played pretty well. Can anybody who saw the game confirm this?
And at least equally important, is it true that Baines was sitting next to Vaughan signing autographs and all? Even if it's true it doesn't have to mean a thing since they know each other from England U21 so it might be a friendly visit. It's not like it's a far drive for Baines. But anyway, it's just given me that spark of hope...
Erik Dols, Posted 31/07/2007 at 21:56:25
Comments
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
Paul Williamson
2 Posted 31/07/2007 at 22:00:17
2 Posted 31/07/2007 at 22:00:17
Have just watched an enjoyable friendly against the German lot on Evertontv (coverage pretty good nice to hear our Kevin assisting the commentary and suggesting that we stay in the city!), but did anyone else watching notice that there was a gap between the 'ca' and the 'hill' on cahills shirt. Maybe if the person who did the setting out of the shirt could set out the new ground ? we could end up with one half of the ground in Kirkby and the other in goodison. Or was it just me?
Not a bad result but we should have won ? Shandy is a waste of space. Come on yu blues!!
Richard Porter
3 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:28:00
3 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:28:00
Yes, we did play pretty well. Good passing moves amongst the midfield for much of the game, and nice to see a fringe player like Anderson get a goal.
Marc R
4 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:26:56
4 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:26:56
Bainsy is ere wit me nw. Say ello bnsy. Hello all, im very honoured to meet such a great chairman and the new stadium is a magnificent piece of architecture. He says i can sign if you all vote yes.
BK
5 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:31:19
5 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:31:19
Oi thts my msg!
Mike Mac
6 Posted 31/07/2007 at 23:08:19
6 Posted 31/07/2007 at 23:08:19
Rumour has it that Baines signed for Everton tonight.
Danny Jones
7 Posted 31/07/2007 at 23:38:03
7 Posted 31/07/2007 at 23:38:03
He was at Goodison tonight sitting with the players. Hopefully he will be signing soon. That would be great for this club we just need a striker after him, as for the performance we played well and really should have won but it has given me confidence for the new season.
Russ
8 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:40:15
8 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:40:15
Was the game only on live as i cant find it on everton tv. . ??I thought they usually save the games in the ’2 - Match column’.....
Ben Brown
9 Posted 01/08/2007 at 01:06:36
9 Posted 01/08/2007 at 01:06:36
Yep, Baines was there.
Why can’t Phil Neville shoot? He has good technique, gets in lots of good positions, just can’t direct his shots AT ALL.
VDM has turned into Danny Cadamarteri.
Why can’t Phil Neville shoot? He has good technique, gets in lots of good positions, just can’t direct his shots AT ALL.
VDM has turned into Danny Cadamarteri.
George
10 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:37:48
10 Posted 01/08/2007 at 00:37:48
In a way yes, we did dominate the game in terms of possesion(don’t we always) but Bremen were far more economical with the ball. We lacked that cutting edge.
Our first half play was particularly encouraging-good ball retention as well as carving out a few decent chances. However as the second half wore on we slipped back into lauching aerial balls forward(old habits die hard!), with the full-backs being the chief culprits.
Though lacking sharpness Arteta was obviously the most technically gifted player on the pitch. Johnson worked hard as always aswell as clear injury returnee Cahill. McFadden and Osman combined well with particular Osman catching the eye with flashes of fantastic ball control that we all know he is capable of.
Both Full-backs-Hibbert & Valente had poor games, especially Valente who looked off the pace (Age or lack of match practice?).
Carsley and Neville mopped up well in the midfield but Neville can’t shoot for his life!(nearing on criminal).
I don’t believe Vdm was as bad as some people have made him out to have been. He did make some silly runs of Kilbananic proportions but apart from that he looked spritely, I think he was too keen to impress/redeem himself.
Chuffed that Anderson de Silva got onto the score sheet but some of his touches were really poor but I hope he starts at Palace on Saturday so his ability can be further gauged.
However, An evident problem was brought up yesterday-In European games we have to be more clinical because the opposition is far more punishing. Bremen had three real chances of which they scored two we had numerous. Like the home matches against Man City and Middlesboro’ we laid seige to their goal at times but unlike these opponents where we would leave Goodison dissapointed with a frustrating draw we could be leaving fixtures against far more clinical european opponents distraught with defeat.
Our first half play was particularly encouraging-good ball retention as well as carving out a few decent chances. However as the second half wore on we slipped back into lauching aerial balls forward(old habits die hard!), with the full-backs being the chief culprits.
Though lacking sharpness Arteta was obviously the most technically gifted player on the pitch. Johnson worked hard as always aswell as clear injury returnee Cahill. McFadden and Osman combined well with particular Osman catching the eye with flashes of fantastic ball control that we all know he is capable of.
Both Full-backs-Hibbert & Valente had poor games, especially Valente who looked off the pace (Age or lack of match practice?).
Carsley and Neville mopped up well in the midfield but Neville can’t shoot for his life!(nearing on criminal).
I don’t believe Vdm was as bad as some people have made him out to have been. He did make some silly runs of Kilbananic proportions but apart from that he looked spritely, I think he was too keen to impress/redeem himself.
Chuffed that Anderson de Silva got onto the score sheet but some of his touches were really poor but I hope he starts at Palace on Saturday so his ability can be further gauged.
However, An evident problem was brought up yesterday-In European games we have to be more clinical because the opposition is far more punishing. Bremen had three real chances of which they scored two we had numerous. Like the home matches against Man City and Middlesboro’ we laid seige to their goal at times but unlike these opponents where we would leave Goodison dissapointed with a frustrating draw we could be leaving fixtures against far more clinical european opponents distraught with defeat.
David Barks
11 Posted 01/08/2007 at 01:21:53
11 Posted 01/08/2007 at 01:21:53
We played very well, created plenty of chances which as Cahill and the others gain sharpness will be converted. The two goals we gave up were sloppy, but that was after Lescott and Yobo had come off. I think Anderson could be good for us this season, a different type of player than Carsley to put in that center of midfield. As for Baines, he was there with Vaughan. At first I didn’t think much of it, could be just friends. But the fact that Wigan also had a game tonight and he was with us and not his team, that has to mean something. Could you see Cahill watching a West Ham game while we have a friendly going on? I don’t think so. I really hope we sign the kid because it was Valente’s defending, or lack there of, that allowed at least one of those goals tonight.
Carl Williamson
12 Posted 01/08/2007 at 03:31:30
12 Posted 01/08/2007 at 03:31:30
i dunno why VDM is getting lots of stick, he came on for abut 18 minutes and was ok. i mean what do people expect, hes been given so little match time over the past few seasons that he is always going to be rusty, if he can get a few games under his belt and maintain his fitness [lay off the booz] i have faith that he could still become a decent signing for everton.
i think its ridiculos that the toffweb report said "VDM was shit" in such a blunt way, especially as he wasnt really any worse than several other players [anichebe, anderson, osman etc].
i think its ridiculos that the toffweb report said "VDM was shit" in such a blunt way, especially as he wasnt really any worse than several other players [anichebe, anderson, osman etc].
Erik Dols
13 Posted 01/08/2007 at 06:59:52
13 Posted 01/08/2007 at 06:59:52
Thanks for the summaries, guys. This gives me some confidence for the start of the season, although all the talks about players being a bit rusty or needing to gain sharpness is a bit troublesome, since we’ve only got one serious friendly left.
Really hope Baines signs, think he would be a great asset.
Really hope Baines signs, think he would be a great asset.
George
14 Posted 01/08/2007 at 07:48:45
14 Posted 01/08/2007 at 07:48:45
Yeah, I am actually suprised we haven’t played more friendlies, correct me if I am wrong but hadn’t we played (at least a couple) more pre-season friendlies by this stage last pre-season? Or perhaps this close season has been shorter than previous?
Lue Glover
15 Posted 01/08/2007 at 07:46:43
15 Posted 01/08/2007 at 07:46:43
Hmmm, maybe I was watching another game in another space time continium but I saw a fairly shapeless midfield and a less than effective strikeforce. For all the huffing and puffing and countless corners, it took until the last quarter to actually score. Bremen took their two of perhaps three or four chances very well but they did dominate the play in midfield, certainly in the early stages. Everyone seems to be slating Hibbo and Valente in particular. I would agree that they (particularly Nuno) were’nt at their best but it was Valente’s cross that brought the first goal (not Arteta’s as stated on the OS) and he got in several good blocks and overlapping runs with Mikel.
Neville in midfield or was he a right winger???? Well, personally, I prefer him at right back but what do I know.
Anderson, glad he got a goal. If Baines does sign then perhaps that was Carsley or McFadden’s last game. I never thought I’d be sitting at a match wishing for BT to be brought on because we looked like we would never score.
Perhaps I expected too much from a friendly and against pretty good opposition but I was disappointed.I felt the same this time last season so I won’t lose any sleep over last night’s performance. COYB
Neville in midfield or was he a right winger???? Well, personally, I prefer him at right back but what do I know.
Anderson, glad he got a goal. If Baines does sign then perhaps that was Carsley or McFadden’s last game. I never thought I’d be sitting at a match wishing for BT to be brought on because we looked like we would never score.
Perhaps I expected too much from a friendly and against pretty good opposition but I was disappointed.I felt the same this time last season so I won’t lose any sleep over last night’s performance. COYB
Steve Flanagan
16 Posted 01/08/2007 at 08:21:57
16 Posted 01/08/2007 at 08:21:57
I went also. Here’s my take on things:
Howard - Not really tested and didn’t have much chance with either goal (7)
Hibbert - Covered well as a defender, and got in at least one decent cross (7)
Valente - Linked up with Arteta quite well, but was a bit lacking at the back. Their second goal looked like a Valente oggy from where I was sitting (5)
Yobo - Not really troubled (7)
Lescott - Ditto Yobo’s comment (7)
Carsley - Mopped up well just in front of the back four (7)
Cahill - Did what he normally does and got into some good positions in their penalty box (7)
Arteta - Easily Everton’s Man of the Match. I shudder at the possible consequences of losing him to injury (9)
Neville - Did what he usually does but wasted two great opportunities, and was denied by a great save in the first half. More shooting practice needed (7)
Johnson - Not given many chances but harried their defence when he was on (8)
Anichebe - A bit of a nothing game for Victor. Gave away silly fouls and every time he got the ball he seemed to just put his head down and run (5)
McFadden - Nice to see him back, and scored (7)
Osman - Showed touches of how well he can actually play (8)
Jagielka - Seemed nice and tidy at the back (7)
Stubbs - Not really troubled either (7)
Anderson - Was OK, and took his last minute goal very well (7)
Van der Meyde - Looked like he wanted the ball all the time, but sometimes culpable of a McFadden-esque head down and run with the ball. Not as bad as some make out for me (7)
And finally, two minor points:
1. What on earth was that kit that Werder Bremen wore? I hope no reps from Umbro were watching that.
2. Saw someone in the Main Stand with one of the new Toffeeweb t-shirts on. Very nice product guys!
Howard - Not really tested and didn’t have much chance with either goal (7)
Hibbert - Covered well as a defender, and got in at least one decent cross (7)
Valente - Linked up with Arteta quite well, but was a bit lacking at the back. Their second goal looked like a Valente oggy from where I was sitting (5)
Yobo - Not really troubled (7)
Lescott - Ditto Yobo’s comment (7)
Carsley - Mopped up well just in front of the back four (7)
Cahill - Did what he normally does and got into some good positions in their penalty box (7)
Arteta - Easily Everton’s Man of the Match. I shudder at the possible consequences of losing him to injury (9)
Neville - Did what he usually does but wasted two great opportunities, and was denied by a great save in the first half. More shooting practice needed (7)
Johnson - Not given many chances but harried their defence when he was on (8)
Anichebe - A bit of a nothing game for Victor. Gave away silly fouls and every time he got the ball he seemed to just put his head down and run (5)
McFadden - Nice to see him back, and scored (7)
Osman - Showed touches of how well he can actually play (8)
Jagielka - Seemed nice and tidy at the back (7)
Stubbs - Not really troubled either (7)
Anderson - Was OK, and took his last minute goal very well (7)
Van der Meyde - Looked like he wanted the ball all the time, but sometimes culpable of a McFadden-esque head down and run with the ball. Not as bad as some make out for me (7)
And finally, two minor points:
1. What on earth was that kit that Werder Bremen wore? I hope no reps from Umbro were watching that.
2. Saw someone in the Main Stand with one of the new Toffeeweb t-shirts on. Very nice product guys!
Alan Humphreys
17 Posted 01/08/2007 at 12:31:44
17 Posted 01/08/2007 at 12:31:44
What the hell was that all about with the 4th official having to fetch another ball !!! We go from multi-ball to literally just the match ball ?? !
What amused me about last night’s game was the Neville gave up shooting towards the end. You could see every time he got the ball in a shooting position he was looking to pass. Guess with only the one ball he was told to be careful...
In patches, we played some lovely one-touch football last night and Arteta was class, but I was more impressed that Hibbert managed to cross the ball well twice from the by line. Nobody’s mentioned the fantastic covering tackle he made saving Valente’s ass either.
Was an enjoyable game to watch. Must be a friendly as it’s not often I say that.......
What amused me about last night’s game was the Neville gave up shooting towards the end. You could see every time he got the ball in a shooting position he was looking to pass. Guess with only the one ball he was told to be careful...
In patches, we played some lovely one-touch football last night and Arteta was class, but I was more impressed that Hibbert managed to cross the ball well twice from the by line. Nobody’s mentioned the fantastic covering tackle he made saving Valente’s ass either.
Was an enjoyable game to watch. Must be a friendly as it’s not often I say that.......
Christian Schmidt
18 Posted 02/08/2007 at 11:50:54
18 Posted 02/08/2007 at 11:50:54
> The official site claims Everton dominated most of the game and actually played pretty well. Can anybody who saw the game confirm this?
> Well, I didn’t see the game, but the two big Bremen papers (Kreiszeitung, Weserkruier) say the same
> Well, I didn’t see the game, but the two big Bremen papers (Kreiszeitung, Weserkruier) say the same
© ToffeeWeb
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 31/07/2007 at 19:59:43