Seasons2016-17Everton News
Blues unfortunate to lose in Dresden

Dynamo Dresden 2 - 1 Everton

John Stones started despite the consensus in the media that he is destined for Manchester City
Gerard Deulofeu was the standout player for the Blues, scoring a spectacular free kick to level the game late in the first half and missing a handful of other great chances to seal what should have been a routine win.
However, Pascal Testroet's fine 20-yard effort in the second period proved to be the winner.
Ronald Koeman named a similar line-up to the previous two friendlies where the attack is concerned, with Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas deployed furthest forward and no recognised, out-and-out strikers.
Romelu Lukaku was among the substitutes, however, along with Arouna Kone as both players looked to taste their first pre-season action following time off and minor injury respectively but neither were involved.
More intriguingly, in the context of the growing confidence in the media that he is off to Manchester City, is the fact that John Stones was also included in the team. The England international played the last half an hour at MK Dons on Tuesday but will play from the start this evening.
Elsewhere in the side, young Tom Davies plays and Aaron Lennon also started in a team captained by Leighton Baines, while James McCarthy and Gareth Barry were among the subs after recovering from knocks.
The early sparring yielded few openings as the two teams settled into the exhibition game but there were a couple of flashes of intent from Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas in forward areas before the Spaniard had the first real chance.
Deulofeu raced onto a forward pass that wasn't dealt with by a Dresden defender and bore down on the keeper but he couldn't find the small gap inside the near post and he hit the post in the 10th minute.
Mirallas then provided the bench with some concern when he came out of a challenge hobbling but he was able to run the complaint off.
The home side took the lead after 14 minutes, though, when Berko beat the offside trap to collect a dummies through-ball and his low cross was converted by Hauptmann in the centre with a sliding effort.
Deulofeu was in again down the left channel a few minutes later following an excellent ball out by Stekelenburg but the goalkeeper made a good one-handed save as the forward tried to slide it past him.
Stones then powered a header from the resulting corner inches over and Deulofeu charged down the subsequent clearance by the keeper but the ball ricocheted wide.
A quiet spell in the game ensued before Deulofeu was dragged down on the edge of the Dynamo box setting up a direct free kick opportunity that the Spaniard smashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
Muhamed Besic coming on for Davies was the only change at the start of the second half which began in fairly even fashion until Lennon drove forward and saw a shot from 20-off yards deflected wide and Barkley hammered a shot narrowly over.
The Blues continued to carry the greater threat going forward and Deulofeu and Barkley almost combined shortly before the hour mark when the former collected the latter' spass and clipped it back into the centre but Barkley couldn't make up the ground in the middle to connect with it.
Mirallas then dragged a shot across goal after good work by Deulofeu and Besic on the edge of the box and the Spaniard wasted a gilt-edged chance when he skipped past his marker but missed the far post by inches with his finish.
Dresden retook the lead against the run of play, however, with a goal out of nowhere in the 66th minute. Testroet cut inside across the Everton box and curled a shot well beyond the reach of Stekelenburg and in off the far post to make it 2-1.
A couple of further changes by Koeman which saw Stones and Barkley withdrawn in favour of Dowell and Holgate and the young midfielder came close to converting a Coleman cross from the right but could only glance a header wide.
The Blues continued to look vulnerable on the edge of their box, though, and we're grateful to see a 20-yard Stefniak shot flash wide of Stekelenburg's right-hand post.
Once more, Deulofeu almost embarrassed the keeper by closing him down but the Dresden stopper got away with it with a hurried clearance.
With the match ebbing away, Baines was yellow-carded for a late tackle and an awkward fall by Funes Mori had the Argentine in distress but early fears he would need to be stretchered off were proved premature.
Deulofeu twisted his way into another one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper but he went for glory and was foiled when he could only fire into the keeper's chest with three minutes to go.
All in all, another useful pre-season run-out, albeit one that featured some quiet performances from players like Barkley and Mirallas who will be needed to produce the goods in forward areas if Koeman is to get off to a winning start when the real business starts next month.
Everton: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Funes Mori, Stones (Holgate 66'), Baines {c}, Davies (Besic 46'), Gibson, Barkley (Dowell 66'), Lennon, Mirallas, Deulofeu.
Subs not used: Robles, Hewelt, Oviedo, Galloway, Cleverley, McCarthy, Barry, Grant, Koné, Lukaku.
As well as three points for a win, there will be a point awarded for every goal scored in the Dresden Cup, win or lose. All games level after 90 minutes will go immediately to penalties, with three points awarded to the winners of the shootout (goals scored in penalty shootouts will not count towards the final tally).
At the end of the tournament, the team with the most points will be named the winners of the Dresden Cup. If two teams finish level on points, goal difference and then, if necessary, goals scored will be used to determine the champions.
Reader Comments (79)
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2 Posted 29/07/2016 at 18:57:27
With more than half-an-hour till kick-off.
Great to see the imperious John Stones playing for us. I'm one of the 21%-ers hoping against hope that he's staying. And Lukaku on the bench; glad to see him too... even though his lackadaisical style drives me crazy.
3 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:06:09
Classic Everton.
Edit: Never mind, got it working now.
4 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:09:42
5 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:14:44
6 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:19:33
7 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:28:18
8 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:28:33
I have got the feed & kickoff is in 5 minutes.
The feed does not usually come on before 5 - 7 minutes before kickoff.
9 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:30:22
10 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:30:25
11 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:39:20
13 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:42:48
14 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:45:30
15 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:48:23
16 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:52:23
Secondly, if any of you have German satellite, you can watch tonight's game on MDR and they are streaming it on mdr.de.
17 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:53:00
Yeah Geri is playing up top largely on his own, with Mirallas trying to get get up on the left of him. Barkley is spitting and pointing at yellow shirted players running past him.
18 Posted 29/07/2016 at 19:53:26
19 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:17:28
I do hope Griffiths asks that very pertinent question to Koeman after the match.
It also begs the question: Why fly him to Germany in the first place?
20 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:19:26
21 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:20:11
Gibson's worst game so far & Coleman does not look that positive.
22 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:21:21
23 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:27:25
24 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:31:02
Obviously looking at playing a back 4 of Holgate, Pennington, Galloway & Oviedo tomorrow.
25 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:31:31
Ross and Seamus not at the races at all.
26 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:37:17
29 Posted 29/07/2016 at 20:51:05
I think Deulofeu is making a thorough new start of this pre-season, though! May it continue!
30 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:29:38
31 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:38:41
Petty poor tonight.
32 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:40:04
Tell you what... let's have a yet another look at a yet another photo shoot showing yet another kit... That'll placate things .
33 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:41:01
Let's just hope he doesn't fit into any pegs within Barca...
And let's hope RK can take him aside and shame him out of his rude behaviour towards our youngsters making a dud pass at times... That was annoying to watch vs MK Dons!!!
34 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:46:25
Deulofeu gives up far too easily and makes a token effort. Not having a go cos' lack of form; having a go cos' lack of effort = no football instinct.
35 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:46:45
Barkley was terrible, Deulofeu could and should have had 5 tonight. Never mind, let's move on to tomorrow and hope for a better performance and result.
36 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:47:08
38 Posted 29/07/2016 at 21:52:51
39 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:00:09
The boy cannot defend, his ability from set pieces is crap, all he's interested in now is money. Remember Rodwell... the grass is not always greener.
40 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:01:24
I bow to you.
41 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:03:52
With all this money and not a signing, apart from goalkeeper, it's time to get things moving because that was poor tonight against a second division German team.
42 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:10:40
The only postive in this match was our new forward... Like Michael Owen, only better with his feet.
Lukaku can do one.
43 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:12:37
I hope things are okay that side of the water.
44 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:23:22
Hopefully Ron can rectify the the frailties and personnel we are still short of as the last 2 seasons have shown.
Defensively we are still woeful.
We seriously need a midfield playmaker, a good back up or replacement for Lukaku and someone, anyone who can lead on the pitch!
45 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:26:27
46 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:39:05
47 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:39:56
The Blues have immediately launched an appeal to Uefa to have the result overturned due to the opposition fielding an ineligible player apparently the gas fitter they had in midfield wasn't Corgi-registered.
Back to this shite off the kopites, only saving grace is their new keeper has broken his hand. ðŸ˜
48 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:42:47
49 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:42:56
50 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:43:18
51 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:51:20
52 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:56:22
I have the same concerns about pace with Pennington who seems to me to lack half a yard, though he is otherwise very promising.
53 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:59:39
Koeman Out!
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
54 Posted 29/07/2016 at 22:59:57
55 Posted 29/07/2016 at 23:06:49
Aside from this, though, he seems to have many attributes,. Maybe some more knowledgeable TWers can fill in the blanks for us?
56 Posted 29/07/2016 at 23:09:35
Who makes this stuff up. Who is it Stones contracted to right now?
Add another £10 million just for good measure.
57 Posted 29/07/2016 at 23:16:02
Yes, we created more chances but again unable to take them. (We played off a one-trick pony all night just playing to Geri's pace fuck all else. No-one else could manage fuck-all. All these senior attack-minded players who play central and out wide done fuck-all again!! Like every other game they play... When will we ever learn? Get fecking rid, now!!!
Also, talking about creating chances, thank fuck we had Geri!... With his tremendous workrate, combined with his overall performance, he can feel proud of his game.Yes, he missed some opportunities but he also created most of them himself! If he keeps knocking on the door, it will happen for him!!
The gaffer needs to rid us of all the fecking deadwood now!! Otherwise we'll be saying the same fecking things in December!
58 Posted 29/07/2016 at 23:35:52
Looking forward to the match tomorrow, to see how they react after this evening's result. That's all pre-season is about, after all. :)
59 Posted 30/07/2016 at 00:18:04
60 Posted 30/07/2016 at 04:02:53
How many times last season did we see Barkley running with the ball, head down, losing it and both full backs marooned over the half-way line?
61 Posted 30/07/2016 at 07:17:19
62 Posted 30/07/2016 at 07:52:13
Galloway and Holgate have looked good in patches and will likely start today. Davies has done OK along with Mirallas and Gibson at times but it's been uninspiring mostly.
Will take time to unlearn Martinez' philosophy but would hope to see the players put in a few more individual displays.
Will be interesting to see Barry, Cleverley and McCarthy today given all of them have their places under threat.
63 Posted 30/07/2016 at 07:57:41
65 Posted 30/07/2016 at 08:44:22
Unfortunately there is one big problem. Our players are not good enough and unless we sign 4 or 5 high quality players this transfer window I can see another disappointing season on the horizon.
We have too many over-rated players that only perform sporadically.
I'm worried.
66 Posted 30/07/2016 at 08:50:05
69 Posted 30/07/2016 at 09:15:26
No names on shirts suggests Big Ron is far from certain of his squad so you would think players with any sense of pride would show they deserve a shirt or as it looked last night some are not that bothered.
70 Posted 30/07/2016 at 09:28:04
Imho, apart from Stones (over-rated), Lukaku (unreliable), Barkley (still trying to frustratingly realise his potential), we have only Funes Mori and Coleman, who could figure on top clubs' radars. We might have a player or two improving, but not a whole squad!
Imo, we need a complete overhaul and not just tweaked. Most of the average players I mentioned above had barely 60 minutes in them before they were substituted in the past 2 seasons, where they brought us to the dizzy heights of 11th place, 2 seasons on the trot. Wholesale changes are needed.
71 Posted 30/07/2016 at 09:37:21
72 Posted 30/07/2016 at 09:37:31
Maybe I'm confused? Maybe Everton gets you that way?
73 Posted 30/07/2016 at 09:42:44
I can never see why a player is paid more when he gets over 30 & has injury worries.
Against Dresden only a few shone through:- Deulofeu, Davies, Stones & Stekelenburg.
Coleman & Funes Mori had nightmares, Gibson did not have a good game but remember this is 3 games in a row without injuries.
Another game like this from Coleman & expect to see Holgate start at right back in the league.
74 Posted 30/07/2016 at 10:02:13
They need replacing with quality, quickly, if we are to stand any chance of moving forward.
Replacing them with youngster's is not the answer. Splash the cash RK !
75 Posted 30/07/2016 at 10:25:49
You could also see that the habits drilled into the players from Martinez are still there and will take some time to iron out. We still kept on playing tippy tappy shite in the wrong areas, players took too much time on the ball, the work rate and concentration was lacking at times and there wasn't enough pressing of the ball high up the pitch.
But this all won't get sorted out over night but what will help to speed that process up is when Koeman gets his players in, players of the quality and work ethic that will fit into the way he wants to play football.
Before Koeman even came in I felt we needed 5 players (GK, CB, CM, LW & ST), 3 of which could walk straight into the side (GK, CM & LW) but looking at the pre season games, going by how Koeman sets up and wants us to go about games, I think we need more!
We definitely need a new No.1. Stekelenburg is decent but not someone I'd like us to rely on all season between the sticks. Think we definitely need a new CB regardless of IF Stones stays or goes. IF he goes then we need 2 imo. We need a new CM pairing, and holding mid and all rounder. A No.10 which we've been crying out for for a few seasons now. A left sided player has we only really have Mirallas down there but he blows too hot and cold. Deulofeu could play there and watching him this pre season, he could play at No.10 aswell and I wouldn't be surprised to see Koeman use him in the same way he used Mane at Southampton, has like a second striker from a more withdrawn starting position either out wide or at No.10 to give us that pace inbehind and be that player who runs beyond the striker from deep, aswell has being a creative outlet. We also need better quality at right wing. Deulofeu has the quality but I don't think he'll be fixed down to just the right hand side by Koeman. And Lennon is a good squad filler but lacks quality in the final third. And we obviously need strikers. IF Lukaku stays, we need 2 imo to compete with him and be able to come in and do the job. Niasse looks to be going and Kone isn't good enough so we need 2 new strikers, unless Koeman thinks 1 is enough and we can get away with using Deulofeu up top on occasions?!
There's gonna be a big few weeks coming up from Koeman and the club with regards to getting players in has if we're serious about getting back in the European mix then we need the required quality to give us that chance!
Let's just see how things pan out hey
76 Posted 30/07/2016 at 11:11:43
Still blaming Martinez?
77 Posted 30/07/2016 at 11:22:56
78 Posted 30/07/2016 at 11:23:31
1st - Patience.
It is reasonable that the management want to fully and fairly assess the current squad from all angles. This is happening.
2nd - Money.
Here Evertonians have been patient over the years such that they get a sense of value and worth of players purchased relative to their cost. Coleman being a case in point. Also the potential performance value of Mr. Walsh should contribute to this philosophy big time.
Do we have a 100m kitty? I believe so. I trust what I ave been told. Will we resolve the stadium issue? Again I believe so, and rust what I have been told. Does that make me stupid or naieve? I don't think so, just trusting in a positive way.
Reading reports about Ashley Williams at 10m, Idrissa Guey at 7m and the door still open for a GK, a No.10, and a left sided mid-fielder, and striker, coupled with the talented youth stream then we will be OK. Splash the cash if you will but seriously, what we need is a sustainable mid / long term plan and that is what is shaping up.
79 Posted 30/07/2016 at 12:20:20
Some players never play at full throttle in fried lies. The atmosphere tends to be flat- I used to go to the last friendly at Goodison and a goal was only greeted by a ripple of applause because not even the fans can get motivated. There are exceptions and certainly any youngster given a chance should work his balls off to impress.
I think we all have a good idea of who needs to go and I would imagine Ron and Walsh will kick into action next week. It will take time for Robertos ways to be coached out of the players and a lot more than 3 or 4 weeks on the training pitch when the concentration will have been on getting the players fit again.
I expect an up and down season with maybe the team coming into decent form in time for the FA cup. Ron must be given time- none of us could go into a new job and turn around bad performance of two and a half seasons into a successful business within a few weeks and Ron shouldn't be expected to either.
Be patient!!
80 Posted 30/07/2016 at 12:24:08
81 Posted 30/07/2016 at 13:33:11
82 Posted 30/07/2016 at 15:06:46
We've just played 2 teams with better quality back to back and, regardless of it being preseason or not, we seriously lack quality. Now I know we're finding it hard to get that quality in but it's going to take a while for Koeman to mould us into the team of his making and imo we look well short with only 2 weeks to go before the start of the season.
Now I'm not panicking just yet but there needs to be a big increase in our efforts across the board at the club in the next few weeks to get us fit, get us functioning has a team and to get the required quality in to give us a chance of getting off to a positive start this season imo.
83 Posted 30/07/2016 at 15:10:37
84 Posted 30/07/2016 at 15:19:40
What do most think Koeman's will do on Wednesday & Saturday? Give most of the squad game time as to date, or start with most of those he thinks will be starting against Spurs?
85 Posted 30/07/2016 at 15:42:55
Still blaming Martinez?"
Yes.
Good of you to pop up, Raymond, when we've lost in pre-season in our new manager's FOURTH fixture in charge. Never mind that Martinez's last 70 games produces a mediocre win ratio.
Did you consider that this squad was largely assembled by Martinez, and coached into the state of poor fitness currently on show?
86 Posted 31/07/2016 at 17:05:38
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1 Posted 29/07/2016 at 18:54:02