Motherwell 1 Everton 1

A lively pre-season affair at Fir Park saw Motherwell and Everton share a 1-1 draw in front of a sizeable turnout of both home and away supporters for stalwart left-back Stevie Hammell’s testimonial game.

Everton new boy Naismith was a surprise inclusion among the pre-match warm up alongside fellow subs Jelavic, Heitinga, Junior, Gibson and Rodwell. It was nice to watch Junior and Heitinga showing off some excellent touch and control in a keepy-uppy triangle with Rodwell who wasn’t quite up to their level technically. Meanwhile on the other side of the pitch Osman and Hibbert were heaving long, aimless passes vaguely at one another, Hibbo in particular taking a good few touches to control and get the ball out of his feet before firing back to his mate. I’m not having a go at either player here, they’ve been crucified enough on this site, but it just struck me as a bit of an indictment of where we’re at really. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a team that could ALL pass and move, control and caress the ball with flair and skill… Ah well, we’re not the only British football team with such issues.

Anyway, onto the action… Everton started well, with one period of possession running well into 20-odd short passes the length and breadth of the field. Tim Howard started in goal, with Coleman at right back, Distin and Duffy paired up in the middle and Hibbert filling in at left-back. According to an Airdrie Utd supporting mate, young left-back Luke Garbutt was the star of the show at Partick Thistle for the reserves this afternoon. Shame he wasn’t given the nod for the first team, although Hibbo more than did himself justice out of position with one or two trademark sliding tackles. Not many in the modern game can still pull off that particular trick without conceding a foul, but for all his limitations our Tony is keeping a dying art alive.

In central midfield were Fellaini and erstwhile captain Phil Neville. Osman was positioned nominally wide on the right but tended to drift infield with Coleman attempting to bomb forward into the yardage left vacant ahead of him. Anichebe started wide left where he looks like a centre forward playing out of position, because of course that’s exactly what he is. He made a few willing runs but tended to carry the ball out of play or into a cul-de-sac. It also seems a bit surprising to see the lad suddenly charged with set piece taking duties? It occurred to me first half that, with no Baines in the side, we didn’t really have anyone I’d call anything like a dead ball specialist on the park. The one direct free kick within range we did have was lashed well over the bar by Anichebe. Apparently the aforementioned Garbutt was meanwhile curling in a beauty off the angle of post and bar a few miles up the road at Firhill. Ho hum.

To complete the line-up, Cahill tucked in behind Vellios up front. It was noticeable that Vellios either can’t or won’t hold the ball up very well. A number of times it came back at us when he should have been backing in, getting his foot on the ball and bringing Cahill and co into the game around him. He’s a big lad, clearly good in the air but again seems reluctant to really throw himself in where it hurts and wasn’t winning much that came his way at all. He showed a few nice touches for a spell shortly after we scored but otherwise did not look particularly up to scratch. Cahill had plenty of the ball whenever we advanced forward but has never had the eye for a killer ball or the ability to shoot from distance has he? In his day he was what I’d term a fine reflex player, an opportunist with the knack of being in the right place at the right time and reacting faster than anyone else around him, invariably with the result being him scoring a goal. I don’t think he’s ever really offered much more than that and he’s certainly no link player or “number 10” connecting midfield and attack. Nor is he an out and out striker. Time to change the record here Moyes, sad to say it, but Australia’s finest is just not the catalyst he used to be and we need to move on.

That said, other than a peach of a close range opening scooped horribly over Howard’s bar by Motherwell number nine Higdon, it was Everton who looked most likely. So it was that they deservedly took the lead when Anichebe raced clear in the corner and swung over a fine, deep cross with his left foot for Duffy to rise highest at the far stick and nod back across the home ‘keeper and in off the post. One of those that seems to take an age to drop in when you’re watching from the opposite end of the park. Nonetheless, GOAL!

The opening period was seen out with either side mustering a few more half chances, one of which drew a stunning point blank save from Howard who somehow kept the ball out with a combination of sharp reflexes and luck (I think it went off his glove into his face, ouch, and away).

Half- time: 0-1

The second half saw a cluster of changes. Junior, Rodwell, Jelavic and Gibson replaced Osman, Vellios, Anichebe and Cahill. Jelavic’s presence brought boos from the home crowd and his movement and urgency should have brought more reward for his team if only they could have threaded the needle and put him in more often (Pienaar’s permanent re-acquisition is vital in this regard). The one time the Croatian did get clear he fluffed his lines and scooped a tame effort into the grateful goalkeeper’s grasp. I love the way Jelavic not only makes run after run after run hoping for a killer ball, but also demands the ball, points and gestures to tell his team-mates exactly where he wants it. He plays like a proper all-round modern day centre forward and we’re lucky to have him.

Gibson and Junior were the new central midfield pairing and both were busy, head up and trying to make things happen. Fellaini meanwhile switched to the Cahill role in support of Jelavic, Neville having moved to right back and Coleman pushing forward down the wing. Rodwell was positioned on the left hand side of the midfield but, like Osman first half, tended to drift to his more natural central position and got forward quite well too.

Motherwell were obviously up for it and showed a good degree more urgency after the break, which made for a more even game and a more rigorous workout for our lads than the first half had offered. That said, some nifty footwork by Coleman in amongst a tangle of flailing boots in the penalty area almost resulted in him poking home to double Everton’s lead, but his shot was blocked and Fellaini couldn’t quite make the rebound. The home fans soon had reason to cheer when midfielder Law took a swipe at a dropping ball from the edge of the box and unleashed a fine volley which swerved across Howard and into the corner for a well-earned equaliser.

Naismith and Heitinga came on with about 20 or so minutes to go and Naismith – like Jelavic booed roundly by the home faithful for his Rangers past – made a nuisance of himself, charging down the Motherwell ‘keeper a couple of times and seeing a close range effort blocked just a yard or so from the line. Everton old boy McFadden was also introduced to warm applause from all four sides of the ground. He did very little to suggest Moyes’ decision to release him was a bad move, but good luck to the lad, hopefully he’ll find a club soon and enjoy a decent remainder of his career. Hammell was taken off by Motherwell boss and another ex-Toffee Stuart McCall with just minutes remaining to an appreciative ovation and the clock ran down with little else to report.

As for me, I’m off to Firhill tomorrow to watch the kids vs Partick Thistle. Up the Toffees!

Full-time: 1-1

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