Young Everton side outplayed at Elland Road

I'm going to this game and tomorrow's... so it's a very Everton weekend -- just how I like it!

I have got a horrible feeling that Lukaku won't be 100% come next Saturday. Even if the injury heals in time, he won't have been able to train at full capacity for a few days. I hope they don't rush him back too soon like with other players in the past.

Starting line-up for Watford will look pretty much the same as what we had last season, just Cleverley as the new face and potentially Kone up front. At least we're at home.

August is going to be a long month...

Meanwhile those across the park have Benteke, Sturridge, Origi, Ings and Firmino.

We seem to have a very unbalanced squad with loads of centre midfielders and left backs and very few centre backs and strikers!

I've no doubt there will be more players coming in but at the moment it's a bit alarming especially alongside the hamstring epidemic!

If your looking at players like this coming in over the next year or two you have to start playing them and giving them a chance in competitive games. They could be the nucleus of our side over the next few years with other younger players...Barkley, Stones, Besic etc....

But giving them 30 minutes in a friendly then nothing isn't going to help their development... For players like McAleny especially, it's now or never for him really, as he's 22 and should be fighting for a first team role. Look at Kane.

I will start the ball rolling with 4 goals and one hamstring injury.

On the transfer front, I'd rather see quality than bodies, the likes of Lampard and Kevin Sheedy are thin on the ground and cost a bleedin' fortune. Interesting season ahead; it needs the Belgians to step up and instead of telling the world that they're world class and deserve to be in a 'big' team, and start to play with world class consistency.

Who knows? If that happens, they may get CL football with Everton.

On the other hand, he may feel deep down that he has enough quality to have a so-so season which wouldn't be acceptable after last season.

It's a cast iron certainty Everton won't be challenging for top six places come next March/April unless there is new blood whether it comes from quality signings or the emergence of several youngsters.

Starting off the season with several injuries is a bad sign already. For the time being, we had better hope Kone, McAleny and/or Mirallas start getting amongst the goals if Romelu is an absentee for a few games.

Hope to see Dowell and McAleny.

Our lack of movement, our manager's tactics and our continuing hamstring issues have me a bit uneasy about the season to come. I so desperately wish to stay positive....

- Martinez is giving the impression that we to can do a Man Utd when they brought in the Nevilles, Giggs, Butt, Beckham and Co in mid-90s

- Or we are desperately short of Premier League players

I think it's the second and I suspect we have more injuries than Bob is alluding to. We know already we are missing Gibson, McGeady, Deulofeu, Lukaku, Besic, but where are Barry, Howard, Baines who all need far more game time than they've been given.

I can only hope that tomorrow's team is something from the likes of Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, McCarthy, Cleverley, Barry, Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas.

I see that Liam Walsh is on the bench. I hope he gets 45 mins to show what he can do.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but if there are interested clubs then sell Barkley before he goes even further backwards towards oblivion.

Leeds looked like a half decent side, but the fact that we weren't able to fashion out any real opportunities was disappointing. Still it was most definitely a 2nd choice starting 11; however, it does point out the real lack of depth we have in the squad. Kone and Oviedo still don't look like they are at the races after long lay-offs.

I was also disappointed with Naismith. Some individuals need to seriously improve if we want to start strongly this season.

Once again, we are entering the season with a poorly balanced squad lacking quality or depth. Outspent by everyone in the league and some Championship clubs. The club's in a mess and we are going to suffer.

I realize that the transfer window does not close for another 4 weeks, and it is BK who likes to wait until the last day, hoping to get a bargain from the players who had hoped for a move, but this strategy of not having your recognized first team ready at the start, with the difficult fixtures we have, could be disastrous to the club that will reflect on our season.

I doubt if there are any Everton supporters who are not aware and understand what positions in the team require strengthening, so why is it so difficult for management, do they honestly believe that, after years of watching Everton, these supporters do not have any understanding of the game, or the quality of the players in the team?

Is it any wonder that the frustration of the supporters have to be addressed by the use of TW and other forums?

Why the hell don't we ever sting the oppo's keepers gloves now and then?

Browning the stand out for me, classy on the ball, won everything... otherwise... you'd have thought a few would sense an opportunity to claim a place, but other than Browning, and Cleverley when he came on, we looked not to have any options or pace; movement poor off the ball... shite essentially.

Sad to say but I think more and more that Barkley is going to be lucky to become any sort of Premier League player, let alone a top class one. He does the occasional fantastic thing but just misplaces so many simple passes.

Let's hope the 1st XI can look better and whet our appetite for the coming season.

"Calm down, have some dip."

That is why we will sell Stones for the right price. We have only spent more than we earned from players sales in 8 of the 16 transfer windows since Kenwright took charge of the club.

Kenwright's investment in players is lower than 5 Championship clubs, and 15 Premier League clubs. We never have any investment in players.

And before anyone says that we invest every penny back into the squad. So does 30 other clubs. Just that they also invest extra money that we don't.

We have no depth.

I was impressed with Browning, good positional play, another Des Walker if he has the pace. Major worries where the goals are going to come from.

We are too static when Barkley gets possession, but saying that, Ross needs to be a lot more bizzy and get a lot more tackles in to finally prove that bad injury he had is behind him.

To have a broken leg as a youngster must take a long long time to get over it physiologically... maybe that's what bothering Ross.

I don't think we will see much happen in terms of new faces in the remainder of the transfer window, and I certainly can't see anyone of any great value being unveiled in that time.

The close season helps to heal the wounds of frustration from last season, but once we started against the Potters in Singapore, the realisation sinks in that our first eleven are good players, but we have little else to offer. Once a couple of injuries are picked up, we fail.

Lukaku, despite his short-comings, and Mirallas are our only goal threat. If the big man is missing, the whole team know that once they concede; it is going to be very hard to equalise.

The defence looks great on paper, full of internationals, but even with two defensive mid-fielders in front of them, they still get opened-up too easily.

The game at Leeds was a stupid error of planning, despite the Martinez bluster. Also confusing is to choose a testimonial for Dunc as our last, and most important warm-up game, where our first team should play as meaningful a game as is possible. Combining it with the pantomime of Dunc and Wayne is just daft.

The only good to come out of it all, is that at least the players are fitter than last season. This game with Leeds was just like the one with Krasnodar – we lost momentum, from a good run, and too many kids were played, which was tough on them, so we learned little.

It is typical of Martinez, and it just deflates all of the hope built up on the previous wins.

However if he keeps going back to the failed 4-2-3-1, where we have nothing up top, then it's midtable or lower again.

The panning of Barkley is incessant. He was okay, 2nd gear, generally fine with some nice moments and some loose ones. No wonder Liverpudlians laugh at us about our constant criticism of him.

Browning got better but was schooled by a very average forward first half. I shudder to think of him as a centre back in the Premier League just now but he is a bit of a flavour of the month so let's ignore the errors.

I did like Robinson though and he offers hope. Conor looks a player to me too, and one I could see looking better with better players.

As with last season, we don't look prepared, have a paper-thin, under-strength squad with injuries whilst all around are strengthening. It's going to be a long, tough season.

We play far too deep and are therefore attracting pressure on the ball and affording the opposition the chance to reorganize time and time again which is why we cant open teams up and have nobody forward.

We hardly troubled a very average Leeds side.

To be fair that's no bad thing as I think Osman has been very good for Everton but, considering all the hype surrounding Barkley just a few years ago, it feels anticlimactic.

Browning is better in the air and physically stronger than Stones. If Stones had played like Browning has done it pre-season, I think we would all be feeling really confident. So given our track record of cashing in on the Crown Jewels, I have a feeling that Stones will be gone before August 31st deadline. He may even play in the first 6 PL games but don't expect to see him in a blue shirt on September 1st and we will be £30+ million better off and no new players. Money will go to pay off the Lukaku transfer and all the rest of our debts.

Hopefully I am wrong!

On the plus side, we put a couple of decent crosses in (seemed like more than last season). I also thought that Browning looked good -- not quite a Stones yet, but pretty decent and looking to lead the line as well. Naismith kept trying, and kept winning freekicks, but he would be much better if he had some pace. I thought McCarthy, Barkley, and Cleverley played as you would expect -- decent, but lacking that cutting edge going forward.

And if you're looking for where we are after 10 games this season, you'd better check the fixture list. The first 10 include Southampton, Man City, Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, and Arsenal. We won't be top half of the table after that lot.

I think it's odds-on it will be a blue shirt he'll be wearing...!

However, nothing about the close season has been remotely inspiring. The friendly against Arsenal suggested that the coach is incapable of change. Does anyone see him as passionate, inspirational, wily, tactically astute, powerful, pragmatic, gifted, or indeed anything other than nice?

Comments like 'If today was the best our senior squad can offer' seem to ignore the team that played. This is not the best our senior team can offer. It's pretty the much the worse it can offer. Barring injury, I expect that Howard, Coleman, Jags, Stones, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Cleverley (I hope it does not happen, but I fear we will see 3cms/dms), Barkley, Mirallas and Lukaku will start against Watford. Osman and Deulofeu will likely come off the bench. How many of those played today? 4 of them. One for 76mins, 2 for 45mins and 1 for 14.

I'm not a Martinez fan I wasn't when he came and he hasn't done anything so far to change my mind. But he as a 3 season contract and that's all he as in my eyes. But as this board only seem to want us kept in the Premier League and are not the slightest bit interested in cups or Europe, I don't think there is any possible chance of us going down under him, so he won't be sacked. However, he could shock us all and resign.

Who really thought we would get relegated last season? No chance.

I predict us winning Watford 2-0. I even think you will see a totally different side performance to last season.

So let's get rid of the doom and gloom for once, you get pissed off with it on here. Let's think win, win, win. Instead of loose, loose, loose.

If people honestly believe that BK is holding back valuable resources due to his lack of faith in the manager then BK should be pro-active and do the honourable thing for both the club and his manager and act swiftly. Waiting to see what may happen whilst not giving your manager the necessary funds to improve the squad is the coward's way out and BK would be as responsible as the manager in that particular situation.

In North America, pre-season or "exhibition" games seem to go on forever and no-one really cares unless you lose everyone of them.
Next Saturday will be a complete shock to the system when we return to the hustle and bustle of a Watford team of 6-foot-plus giants. Hopefully we have enough talent to secure the points and then see how things develop match by match.

Maybe we will all feel better after tomorrow and wondering could a 40-year-old Big Dunc be the answer!

A good indication of BK's intentions is exactly when he sells young Stones. If it is indeed on Sept 1st and none of the proceeds are available for Roberto, that would be a signal that he's playing a wait-and-see game; time will tell.

Barkley's an unknown in football. He needs to be given an actual position whether that's centre midfield, number 10 or up front, he needs to settle and be allowed to grow and be taken out of the team if it's needed.

People keep talking about how shit we are defending... (what a load of bollocks) I think today, it shows how blessed we are in this area! I, like many others have spoke about our offensive play within the last third of pitch. Today, again it shows how crap we are around the opposition's 18yd box every game!

Also, many supporters get really "pissed off" with so many of Robbie's decisions around player selection... Also, keeping hold of so many older players. But there are a couple of areas where I think we are definitely moving forward in.

IMO, we are only a couple of offensive players (plus GK) away from being very close to the top table teams. I hope Robbie can see the obvious, take off his "blinkers", stop "stroking" senior players' egos and get rid of the hangers on. And get rid of the Management team! (except for Duncan). Then, maybe, just maybe the guy could become a top manager.

He needs to be treated just like any other youngster rather than as some sort of saviour.

I fear this won't happen and that this season we will see lots of Ross losing the ball on the middle of the park and trying to do too much.

http://cricfree.sx/watch/live/Everton-vs-villarreal-cf-live-streaming

Barkley demonstrates why you are never sure how good a young player is going to be until he reaches 24-25 years old. As an individual his technique and talent is undeniable, but his big challenge his chanelling it as part of a team with discipline and good decision-making. That's why tactically it is so hard to know where he plays. But we should NOT be writing him off as some are here.

Where I agree with the comments of many on here is the poor displays of the seniors (I don't include Ross as a senior). McCarthy was poor, Naimsith was awful and Kone will never score again judging by the way he plays. Too much dross in the senior squad and we need 2-3 signings before the end of the transfer window urgently.

Pre-season games like this are ideal for trying your team out before the serious business begins, but no way has Martinez given us a glimpse of anything like a first team selection yet, and today's testimonial is hardly likely to provide it either. A sad waste of a pre-season schedule if you ask me.

Playing so many kids together at Leeds was similar to the decision to plat them against Krasnodar. This is unfair to the young lads who should be introduced in twos or threes with experienced guys alongside.
You end up learning nothing about them, and if anything dent their confidence.
To follow up within 24 hours with a game v European quality is just daft. To use this as Dunc's testimonial is also silly.
This should not be a panto, it should be the most important test of our best team, so that it is ready to fire-up against Watford.
Instead we have had all of the messing about with playing time to try and accommodate everyone and hid dog.
Bad planning , typical of this management.

I refuse to believe he's lost the talent he first showed when he broke into the team. The issue is he's had two seasons playing at Number 10 which isn't his position, receiving the ball in the wrong places and feeling a massive pressure to create for a team that has no other creative outlets.

If he was allowed to play the box-to-box role we all know he should be playing, then there'd be no debate about his class. Instead, we have to watch the likes of Barry getting a run-out every match.

Barkley again was largely anonymous, which is sadly becoming his norm these days. I don't know whether its all down to the player or has the manager filled his head with so much nonsense that the lad doesn't know what his role is anymore.

RM has continually said that each transfer window is to be used to improve the squad overall, well not much sign of improvement on that score. Also still no sign of the number 10 he promised, but he still has 3 weeks to fulfill this promise. I would have thought seeing as he said before pre-season that a new number 10 was a priority he would have looked to have tied up that position first.

I have never been a fan of RM and the longer he is here the less I like him. He has consistently over-praised average performances both as a team and also with individuals. These are professionals and I am sure they know when the manager is bullshitting them.

That certainly doesn't help a player like Ross, who needs to be told clearly his role and then carry it out in a disciplined manner.

Look at the likes of Robbie Savage, fucking shite... Barkley has more skill in his little toe but Savage will run and tackle all day. This is where Ross has got to improve his game, if he cannot, he can only play up top in a 4-4-2 along side the centre forward in my opinion. He has got to work on he's stamina.

So come on, Roberto, let big Joe take Ross under his wing and bring out the dogs of war in him, plus a couple of marathon runs.

The signings we have made are mediocre at best, and we may also loose Stones. The injuries that we have are a nightmare. The run in that we have at the start of the season is ferocious. The manager we have is...

If our form and style of play carries on the same as last season and through the friendlies, then there is every possibility that we could be in the bottom three at Christmas. I agree that now is not the time to panic, but...