Jake O’Brien acknowledges “tough start” to pre-season

I don't understand why players seem so unfit after a few weeks off. Footballers are supreme athletes (especially nowadays).
They are back in training and should easily regain whatever they have 'lost' from a chill down. In fact, the rest should have benefitted them.
I also don't understand how professional footballers from the same club are terrible as a team pre season. They've played together for years. Should know each others game inside out. Also, squad players and 'reserves' who drop in. They are part of the regime. Playing the same system at whatever level they have been at. So it shouldn't be a complete suprise to them. Plus they trained for the game as a team. The manager plays the same system. They are in the same position yet they look like 11 blokes from 11 different pubs thrown together. Like rabbits in the headlights.
Its staggering.
There also seems to be a lack of professional pride.
All they have to do us put two hours hard graft in once or twice a week. The rest of the time they can ghost it !
1 goal vs two 'weaker' opponents. Its dreadful. Especially when little to no creativity has occurred.
I do not agree with the preseason games don't matter philosophy. They bloody do.
If a losing and lethargic performance is acceptable, it carries through. Last season was classic proof and the season before etc
These guys should be busting a nut and raring to go.
Not the opposite.
I want them to show pride, passion and commitment.
Like it matters

Agreed 100% Martin.
Last seasons pre season and the ensuing abysmal start to the season proper being the classic example.

Martin, I understand what you are saying but if you are in prime condition just being 5 or 10 per cent off can make a major difference.

It takes a fair bit to get to peak fitness but very little to keep you there but a couple of months off and the odd night down the pub can have a dramatic effect.

Martin, there is fitness, training fitness and then match fitness. All very different things and surprising how quickly you lose match fitness and sharpness.

I would respectfully dispute your "played together for years" comment.

Ndiaye, one season and injured for a period last season.

Alcaraz and O'Brien about 5 months at the end of last season. Arguably even Beto, who only consistently appeared over the same period.

Armstrong too, hasn't been too involved with Everton as well as the other younger players that were introduced over those two matches.

Blackburn in particular wasn't an easy watch, but I am not too concerned. It's all game time.

Once the season starts, we won't be talking about pre-season. I can't remember last pre-season's results or many others over the years.

Probably my first game at Goodison, which was in 1976.

I agree with Danny. I would note also the players are putting in two or three fitness sessions per day to achieve optimal fitness levels for the first league game not for any of the pre-season practice matches.

Martin@1, due to reasons of several seasons of mis-management, we have a threadbare squad. Now I am sure David Moyes would want the team to go out and 'die for the shirt' in any given game, but having players getting injured in what are surely training exercises at this point in our new season preparations would be alarming to say the least.

The days of players turning up with their boots over their shoulders are long gone. As for their fitness levels, they will come in time, they are prime athletes and like a Olympic sprinter, train for the big event – not the build-up.

Martin #1,

Finch Farm is still on holidays.They only get into top gear at the end of September and then there is the International break in October.

Hopefully TFG changes can change the culture a little. It should take more than O'Brien wheeled out to convince them… it seems he hasn't convinced any of us.

Finch Farm is on holiday!?!

The whole building?

Taken up in a ballon like the film ‘UP’

It was also preseason for our opponents. The commentators kept harping on about Blackburn being further along in their preparations.

I believe they had also played one game, also against Accrington Stanley, yet they were far fitter, sharper and hungrier.

If we play with the same attitude in the US and get beat by other Premier League teams, we give them the mental advantage when we come up against them in the season.

Who cares about glorified training matches?

Me, for one Ryan.

Although it is primarily for fitness to get bettered by league two and one teams has to have an effect on confidence and motivation and does not help raise the spirits of supporters.

The biggest concern comes from the lack of quality shown and the glaring absense of new recruits to replace the dearly departed from what was already a small squad.

Fair enough Jay

I couldn’t careless and don’t think they should be streamed

I very much doubt the players are bothered by the results

We already know where we need to improve as in two wingers and a centre midfielder.

Ryan # 10 - minimum standards - get used to it:

- giving 110% in pre-season

- doing all of your summer business by the end of June (even if that means missing out on tremendous players and / or tremendous value)

- playing academy graduates (no matter how bad they are, they just need a chance) but do not buy development players of genuine talent because a richer club might want them in a few years and we should not participate in this re-sale value nonsense

- give a chance to players who were good at richer clubs anywhere between 2 and 5 years ago even if they are now injured / mentally unstable etc

- (the biggest sacrilege of all) never put two GKs on the f*cking bench, ever (and that means ever).

When are Everton fans spirits ever raised Jay? Most miserable fan base going

I don't know if some of that is tongue in cheek Robert.

110% in pre-season? I don't see many clubs do that, they are normally around 75%.

As for the rest, we've given some of the younger players a run out an they've done okay.

As long as we've brought in a few more, I'm more concerned about being ready for 18th August.

Two keepers on the bench. I get your view, which is one of others.

It's not uncommon now throughout the game with nine subs allowed to be named.

Match day experience, warming up with Pickford and the coaches. If Pickford gets injured or sent off, there are options, and then if by freak of nature, something happened to his replacement, there is another option.

Worst case unlikely scenario, but it still leaves 7 outfield players.

That's my only explanation.

I want to know Jerome how you know and state as fact that Finch Farm is closed and only gets into top gear at the end of September. Speculation stated as fact again? Please enlighten us.

Danny, reminds me of a gag.

“I was just fired from my job marking exam papers, can’t understand it, I always gave 110%.”

Evertonians drink more alcohol than any other set of fans were the results of one fan survey doing the rounds the other day.

The question is have those miserable bastards been driven to drink, or do they like it?

Danny, I think Robert was being ironic.

I know Ray, but wanted to double check. I've never met him but know him if that makes sense

It’s Jerome, Ray.
Hardly likely to be anything other than baseless rubbish

Danny that’s a nice way to put it. You’re a good guy and help keep this site going.

There’s a lot of daft arguments etc but hopefully we all get the team we deserve some time soon.

I remember a few years ago Ian Edwards gave and got endless grief about Ancelotti but when we beat the RS I was just so delighted for the guy because (I think) he’d just wanted to share a moment like that with his kids (or something like that).

Danny, I agree with you about having two substitute goalkeepers.

Blackburn at home 2005-6 season. Nigel Martyn injured so back came Dicky Wright who got injured 2 games later. In came Ian Turner as 3rd choice and he proceeded to handle outside the area after 10 minutes so on came John Ruddy (for his only appearance) as a sub goalie and we won 1-0.

What if Wright was injured in the warm up? What if Ruddy had been injured after he came on?

And with 5 from 7 to get on the field, will it be much better with 5 from 8?

And it is not that we use a huge number. Excluding those coming on after 90 minutes (so winding down the clock) we made 119 subs in 38 games. That is an average of 3. So having 2 unused goalies on the bench, meant there were 4 others who did not get on. Pretty vital to name only 1 sub goalie so we could have had 5 players not getting on. Yeah, Right.

Villa, United, Liverpool (A) and Arsenal, City, Southampton (H) were the only times we even used 5 subs last season.

Don't know why people get so worked up over an non-issue.