Two pre-season friendlies confirmed

It'll be a chance to see all our new signings.

Ha! Great point Pat @1.

We could be seeing that great central-midfield pairing of Davies and Sigurdsson again. I was hoping that was consigned to last season and the nightmare would be over.

I bet Blackpool are shitting themselves.

Sucks that the season just ended and this shower will be back bringing gloom to our days in just over a week.

Same squad = a real struggle and a possibility of relegation.

Everton TV = crappy coverage.

Very EFC.

I've always liked a bit of pre-season.

I remember going to Tranmere and seeing Peter Beardsley play for us for the first time. He looked positively good looking in blue.

Results don't matter. We usually play lower league sides who are further on in their preparation. So it will need a touch of perspective when it comes to commenting on what we see.

This year the extended season means we don't have the usual break to build up the tension. It also means less time for players to train on in terms of physical development and skills.

Whatever happens, it's a new season. I'm up for it.

Come on guys, we need to get behind our team and not let them down.

It's not like they have let us down at all!!

I noticed in the last 6 home games of the season the crowd were quite subdued and not the usual strength behind the team and we need to change that.

In contrast to the last few Arsenal home games I watched on the TV, their crowd were considerably louder than I've ever heard them before.

Everton may have to face Beni ''Thingammy'' who is rumoured to be going on loan to Blackpool.

It would be nice to know that Carlo does have some irons in the fire. I would hate to think that he intends to go with more of the same until the next transfer window... oh, God no!

The other side of things is the usual last-minute desperation signing for an inflated fee and we have had many of those that didn't work out well.

Extended breaks - that's ridiculous. Some clubs started back last Monday - this is going to be a long season.

I see some players holidaying abroad, which I really don't think was necessary.

I then see players like Antony Gordon have been using the time to continue training. As he was during lockdown, he has been with his Personal Trainer training, no vacation. He's looking absolutely primed and has a real determination about him. Think he'll be the Premier League breakthrough start of the season.

Martin #5 “ always liked a bit of pre-season. I remember going to Tranmere and seeing Peter Beardsley play for us for the first time. He looked positively good looking in blue.“

And me. I also remember seeing Besic in the pre-season friendly at Tranmere after he'd just signed and declared him a really good signing! What do I know?!

So much excitement. The slow, slow, backward slow midfield, can't wait.

What's with the doom 'n gloom already? I'm sure Carlo has a master plan...

It would be great if Carlo can bring through some of the younger hungry players.

Blue till I die but this Everton team needs killing off!

Carlo incredibly doesn't realise the help (or lack of it) he has at his side and above him. There is no way this squad – without at least four decent signings – will get away with mid-table again. Leeds and West Brom will be too strong for us, mark my words.

Brian 15, agree. Wouldn't like to get Leeds early on – they're back training a week already while our lads still sunning themselves.

NewsNow article, I know, a pinch or a sack of salt and all that, are reporting that a 'leaked fixtures list for 2020-21 season' has us at home to Fulham!

Many a true word spoken in 'guessed'!

Yeah saw that, hate playing newly promoted sides early on.

Who cares? Groundhog Day.

Everton have made me hate football. We've gone from a legendary giant to an embarrassing laughing-stock in my lifetime... in fact, since the day Kenwright walked in the door.

I look forward to the end of the season again. How has it come to this?

As a long, long-time Evertonian, it is always important to try to be optimistic. The past is what it is... ie, "The Past". No matter how long you have been a supporter of the Blues, you must have realised within the first season or two that patience is essential if you are to remain "sane".

In an era of gloom and doom with Covid-19, a good football season, even with empty stadiums, can ease the mind. I would much prefer packed stadiums, but I also like watching football too much to let a virus take away simple pleasures.

John

I'm usually optimistic at the start but I think this year we will be relegated. Too many mentally weak, technically inept jokers. One or two “shrewd” signings won't be enough even if Brands had an eye for a deal which seemingly he doesn't.

There are reasons to be cheerful, despite the gloom surrounding the club.

Richarlison, after 2 solid seasons and constant improvement, should be set for a stand out year that puts him amongst the best.

Holgate, rather than starting the season as a sub, will begin the season as 1st choice, and could equally develop into one of the leagues standout defenders.

Calvert-Lewin has had a 'break-through' season, and should push himself further, with the added spice of pushing himself for a Euro 2020* place.

Gordon has made himself a true first-teamer and looks the talent off the academy line we've been waiting for. The lad shows real talent, and grit, and could be the breakout star of the season.

Kean has had his first year in England, and can only be better. He was poor, but there is the possibility for him to blossom.

Branthwaite looks like he'll be a top player, and Gibson has had his experience playing and could come in and impose himself like Holgate did.

There is also the hope that Gbamin could get fit and may actually be a decent player. Maybe young players like Simms, the young left-back, and another young lad or two-step up into the squad.

A couple of additions should put us in good stead to at least make Saturday's enjoyable.

A formation of 3-5-2 would suit us best, I feel, keeping the front two, but reinforcing the midfield. Lyon vs City showed how this system can really work with success.

Fran, #25,

I wish I could share your optimism. If Richie has a stand out season, he'll be away if he feels we can't compete at the top. Calvert-Lewin was very poor after the restart and dropped for the last game. Gordon needs time, as do Kean and Branthwaite. Gbamin has a long road to even get fit after two awful injuries. It will be a struggle for him after 18 months out.

Regrettably, Clive, I think you are closer to the mark than Fran.

Unless we get some goals and grit in the midfield, I really fear for us.

Its also worrying that the Boys Pen Bill culture of delaying acquisitions to the last minute and penny-pinching is going to force our main targets elsewhere.

What a joke of a club we have become.

Jay, yes, 20-odd years of decline under Kenwright has turned us into a small club that good players no longer want to come to.

Careful, Clive, there are numerous TWers who evidently think our problems as a vastly diminished great club, the only one of the seven who were consulted when the Premier League was instigated to have relentlessly failed to match the other six, has sod all to do with the "leadership" of the devious "Boys Pen Bill".

Yet the guy is still at the top of the boardroom he's ruled for decades, now in "an enhanced role" according to the financial football genius Moshiri has hitherto deemed himself to be – despite having spent well over a quarter billion quid to make us so much weaker.

Don, it's the truth as I see it and I think more Blues are seeing it that way.

I would have the mid-90s Dogs of War team any day of the week and twice on Sunday over this shower of shite of a team.

They have got me hating football. I am 59 and I haven't felt like this before.

Sad times indeed.

I love Fran's optimism, but unfortunately the reality is totally the opposite.

I am not looking forward to the new season if we have to endure that shower of overpaid, underperforming, lazy, uncaring bottle merchants in a blue shirt. In 50 years of support, I have never been as ambivalent towards a squad of players as I am with this lot.

There is not one (except Coleman) to whom I can relate and admire or respect, and the distaste for Pickford and his child-like antics increases with each game.

Well, tell me – was it Kenwright or Brands that signed Iwobi, Delph, Kean last season? Was Kenwright around when we signed Arteta, Cahill, Baines and Coleman? It's all Kenwright's fault... is it fuck!

And now this season is dawning upon us and would anyone like our money back from those three (£70M of it) to spend this time around, which won't happen. A few weeks to go and we've got nothing done. Moshiri's idea for the director of fuck-all, not Kenwright's... but hey, it's fun isn't it, it's all Bill's fault.

Moshiri is our Tony Fernandez and he will see us relegated if we don't give Ancelotti full control over signings. New season starting... wonderful.

Back to the friendlies getting screened live: Well I couldn't get the Blackpool one, even though I did everything Everton asked me, to enable me to receive the game.

Will we get the Blackburn game? Doubt it, it happens every year but nothing changes.

Some people are getting charged £20 to join the scheme that provides this service, the money is taken quite quickly and smoothly, no problem, that is until it comes to showing the game, fans from America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and all over the world, even some of us from Liverpool, ripped off by the club, who according to Mrs Barrett-Baxendale are striving everyday to please “Our marvellous supporters”.

Well, I'm not blaming Billy Boy for this mess, but a mess it is and someone is to blame, year after year after year.

Is it even worth trying to get this game a week on Tuesday? There, Everton, you've got another 8 days to do something about it... bet you don't.

Dave, not sure if it helps but I was able to see the game after registering 10 mins before the start in the US. When I clicked on the video to play on the website, it kept telling me to become a member.

Eventually after 10 mins or so of refreshing the page, it must have processed the membership finally and I was able to watch. Once I was in, the sound and picture quality was spot on, better than NBC Sports Gold even.

It's not just Everton, Paul B, it's the constant cheating, and the advocating of it by these pundits, who once actually played football!

I watched the Champions League final last night, and enjoyed Hierra's little five yard passes, that should have seen his team go in front.

I then have to listen to McManaman and his co-commentator go on about how the player never got the ball, and then five different re-runs, then the ref in the studio saying “He's seen them given.”

So have I, but it doesn't mean it's the correct decision, and until attitudes change, then cheating will only get worse. Win at all costs, has already destroyed so much about the once beautiful game, a game that very rarely flows because of the constant cheating nowadays.

Dan (35), glad to hear that. Some were receiving the game, plenty were not, as a season ticket holder I was supposed to watch the game, put my Email address and new code number in on Friday afternoon and was registered to receive the game.

I never did, and wasn't surprised, to be honest, happens every season. Wait and see what happens next week.

Thanks for your reply, Dan, and glad you saw three good goals, not sure about the rest of the game.

Dave,
Be glad you missed that one.

The first half-hour was like watching Southport as we were carved open time after time.

Blackpool could and should have scored a couple more and all from open play.

None of our goals came from open play in fact as usual we didn't really trouble their keeper.

What a difference to watching the Champions League final yesterday when Bayern reminded me of the '80s Everton and Neuer in one-on-ones reminded me of Big Nev.

If only we had one of that team now.

Really, Patrick? That's not good.

Because of a COVID spike in the area. I'm struggling to follow the logic.