Everton announce Algarve Cup dates

Anyone who can should go. The Algarve Stadium is a great little stadium. Not often used for football, it was built for the Euros in a popular location for tourists, but with no real football teams in the locale. The Stadium is interesting as it has two big stands on the sides and little stands at the ends that are open to the elements (take factor 50, you'll bake).

I think the Algarve might just be one of the best places on earth to live: beautiful weather, amazing food, great and friendly people, and top cycling. It's also pretty cheap for flights to Faro, you'll find a decent package holiday to Albufeira which isn't far, and there's loads of more upmarket places around. And if you like golf, then it's golf heaven. Enjoy, whoever goes.

I wonder who's idea this is, whilst Silva might be Portuguese, Brands might have chosen the popular Browns as Ajax and the Dutch National side have been there often. If you go over to watch the game, try and get to Browns to see the side, I bet you'll find them on one of Vilamoura's four golf courses.

Good choice of opposition on our part too, even though Lille are not a top team these days, but they're in the French top tier. As for Porto, well, they are the Portuguese Champions. It should be interesting.

Hope your old fella gets well soon.

I for one urged patience in the Transfer window but, with the World Cup on, it doesn't leave a lot of time for new recruits.

Interesting times ahead.

The beaches on the Algarve are beautiful, David. You might change your mind. I recommend the restaurant on the seafront in Olhos de Agua. The first time I went, I asked my dad how fresh the fish was, he asked the guy who owned the little place, knowing full well what would happen next. The guy whistled a guy coming out from the sea, where he was putting his boat away and he was holding canisters of fish he'd just caught, and we were able to select our food!

Seafood is a speciality in the Algarve, and don't forget Nandos is a copy of the chicken shacks that are common in Portugal, but the Peri Peri sauce is quite different to the rubbish Nandos serve.

Once you tire of writing on football coaching and tactics (I hope you never do), you can become a food critic!

I know the Algarve, Steve, but I prefer the western side, the Lagos area, much cooler (I mean the breeze!).

Cheers, mate.

Finally, 2 good quality opponents but, as said above – may well need two teams if the games are 24 hours apart.

Best wishes to your Dad, Steve.

I've some good family friends and spent a lot of time in Monte Gordo and Villa Real San Antonio, which is right on the Guadiana and border with Spain.

Great place to go and to see EFC, alas I'm working.. Hopefully all who go will have a ball.

Talking asking about results, and perhaps EFC can make get their act together for the new season.

Surely the manager has a fair idea of his starting 11.

I also once flew from Liverpool via Amsterdam to Faro and the flights were about €70 instead of €300 odd.

The stadium is on the A22 toll road, so easily reached from anywhere along the coast.

Word of warning; drink driving is a No No and Portugal has the worst record for traffic accidents in Europe.

I prefer to get away from the touristy places, eg, Albufera and the golf resorts, and go instead for genuine working towns such as Lagos or Olhao (the best beaches are sand spits off the eastern coastline which can be accessed by ferry or even a train from Pedras del Rey). Tavira is a beautiful old town too and would make a great base if you're not into beach holidays (although you can get a ferry from here to the sand spit beaches).

For anyone wishing to avoid the seaside altogether, it is worth looking into staying in the (possibly cheaper) rural areas to the north of the motorway, eg, Moncarapacho (recommended simply because I've been there) or the mountain spa at Monchique.

Paul @17 – would love to hear where you went game fishing; my only Algarvean fishing trip (from Lagos) was crap.

All the best to your old man, Steve. Sounds like the kind of guy who'll put up a good fight.