Two more pre-season friendlies announced

We're really kicking it here. I reckon the big boys are shaking in their boots.

However, I wouldn't mind Real Madrid... but in truth glamour pre-season games are just a distraction. Cut down the travel and get fit and cohesive.

It wasn't Barkley, it was Stones vs Juventus and he got a ticking off from Gigi. Never understood the rationale behind that but then Gigi is a bit of a cry baby according to Michael Oliver.

But whoever gave Stones the lecture, it was because he wagged his finger at the keeper after the Panenka. The audacity of a then-unknown teenager taunting a veteran keeper would definitely have raised some Italian hackles.

More importantly, I can not understand why we stopped coming to the US for our preseason given the great competition, training facilities and exposure that it brings. Absolutely criminal.

No more overseas trips for "bonding" bullshit. If needs be then down the ale house.

Any preseason or mid season work should be down Formby or Altcar beach up and down the dunes getting fit.

Before we buy any players we need to bring in a complete professional fitness team who all have degrees in dune racing and sandcastle building.

It's the only way and you know it's right

Actually that does a disservice to the statues who move more than the team.

Finished 7th and then won the league. C'mon Marco, get it done!

Porblem is we are overwhelmed with possibles!!

I'd go for stuffing Bury and Blackburn.And hopefully building up some momentum heading into our early season fixtures. But if this Everton team don't show improvement. Then nothing is guaranteed against any team.

And of course I want to see Everton someday take on the big boys of European football. When we are ready. But for now. I just want to see Everton win a few football matches. So a few good wins against Bury and Blackburn will do for starters. Slowly. Slowly catchee monkey.

I've seen Everton in previous years play friendlies in Ireland( North and South). And not many players that featured in those matches started the season proper. So I ask you what was the point?

Silva needs to use players that are mainly going to feature against Wolves. Whilst also taking a look at a few fringe players. Otherwise what's the point of playing any friendly. FFS. I saw Everton friendlies when Moyes played players who didn't even make the under 23s set up. We couldn't recognize half the team. What was the point?

And Koeman played McGeady in a friendly. WTF. And dropped Niasse after only watching him for 45 minutes. What was the point of those friendlies. Did our players get fit?

Silva needs to know his best starting 11 before we take on the Wolves. So these games against Bury and Blackburn will be important. And they won't be easy. Those games could just show Silva what players are up for the fight.

Are friendlies nowadays not just a wee friendly kickabout and a PR stunt for the club. With nothing really learnt about players and tactics.

Or should we not go all out hell for leather to stuff these lower league teams. And get momentum going. Start winning football matches. And learn about or players.Get some momentum and tactical nous instilled.

I know what I prefer. Let's get ready to rock and roll in August. Not October. Up The Toffees.

Back to this thread. I've seen pre-season games against lower league teams. They start their season proper a week before us so are usually a bit sharper and more into their training than we are when we play them. This makes them good tests.

Once we blow off the cobwebs against Bury and the like, we can play the usual oversees mini-tournament and the final big-name warm-up at home.

It would be good if we come out of these games with an idea of who will be in the starting line-up at Wolves. We should also know a bit more of who is surplus to requirements. Most importantly though, we should have seen what our players are doing differently to last season. Commitment, effort, flair.

Those who underperformed and stole their wages (most of them for most of the season) have got to win back the trust and respect of the fans.They can start doing that in those games.

Our first five games are very winnable too, so let's be positive and look to get off to a flyer eh Blue Boys!?

Of course, there is a game against some African team in addition to Bury and Blackburn (arranged by Walsh for Big Sam, I understand) and I feel sure Brands will persuade a Dutch side to play us but none of this compares with the tests the 'big clubs' will be involved in.

The suggestion here is that the focus is to be on fitness training (back to the sand dunes, then?) but surely there will be no good start if no match fitness is in evidence also!