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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The whole building?

Taken up in a ballon like the film ‘UP’

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.

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.

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

- 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 goalkeepers on the fucking bench, ever (and that means ever).

Most miserable fan base going.

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 18 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.

Speculation stated as fact again? Please enlighten us.

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

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

I've never met him but know him if that makes sense

Hardly likely to be anything other than baseless rubbish.

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).

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.

Blackburn were only 2 points off the playoffs for promotion from the Championship last season and may even be stronger this time around.

'Bettered' is also contentious.

I'm with Ryan and Robert. So far, the pre-season games have been inconsequential.

I'm afraid you need to state your qualifications to make a statement like “I don't understand why players seem so unfit after a few weeks off. Footballers are supreme athletes (especially nowadays).”

My personal experience is the drop off is both rapid and alarming, and the reinstatement is a huge amount of effort.

However, I still maintain the getting beat by Blackburn and only getting a draw with Accrington Stanley means we were bettered.

I take Danny's point about friendlies being about fitness but when I was at Tranmere as a lad, Davie Russel would not entertain anything less than 100%.

I miss the days of an outfield player putting on the gloves in an emergency.

I always hoped to see Jagielka do it for us as he did for Sheffield United!

What players we have on board should be able to master the newly promoted, at least, but it depends on how long the Moyes magic lasts.

Finishing 11th is my £10 bet, so not asking for much!

There's hardly any links by reliable sources so I've no idea how you've come to that conclusion!!!!!!!!()Nothing wrong with either of these things anyway)

No one on here, that I can see or anyone with a single brain cell elsewhere has said anything about chasing Villa or Newcastle!!!! So don't know how you've come to that conclusion!!!!!

I'd snap your hand off for 11th this season!!!!

There are categories of belief.

The blind optimists like myself, who always go into a new season thinking we can compete.

Those whose who would say they are realists and a slight improvement on last season would be progress.

Then pessimists who think we are doomed.

I sort of understand everyone. It has been a tough 30 plus years.

Football has a funny way of changing quickly.

Brentford could struggle. Brighton seem to have hit a plateau. Newcastle will be juggling Champions League and Villa may still have to sell.

Either way, it will be interesting and I can't wait for it.

Oh it's not closed.Sorry if I gave that impression.It is open , more like a Holiday camp.

Ryan#20

Not so.It is what it is and is in full view , not based on what one hopes will happen.

Everton have had lacklustre pre seasons for years and the Summer transfer window is following the same yearly template , with PSR playing their part..Thr difference is that TFG are in charge and there will be measurement and accountability of the existing regime .They are being given opportunity to increase performance and improve.They may lag , but caught up is coming .On the Summer Transfers it was always going to follow the same pattern of sorting out existing contracts ,Off loading players hopefully getting a fees , bringing in young players either by transfer or through the ranks.A causious approach , but even more cautious under Moyes who will avoid too much change .Nearing the end of the transfer window , free agents and liners will be brought in.I suspect TFG will want younger players more involved and Moyes to be innovative in their use , which will be different for him.Moyes does need a play making midfield to add gloss to his formula of hard work and effort.He also needs to get on Finch Farms case , as fitness is lagging .He is very much part of the continuity that TFG require , but they will be wanting improved results.

Anything else would be a disaster.

Will be interesting to see how we settle into the new stadium. History shows clubs underperform in their new surroundings following a stadium move.

That would require some good business / decent levels of spending in the next 6 weeks and over-performance in matches (requiring a decent amount of luck with injuries given our squad would remain small even if we buy 6 more players).

I think at this stage we should just get behind TFG and Moyes and the fledgeling recruitment team as they set about the difficult task they have inherited.

It should be an exciting season on a number of levels.

The squad is nowhere near Premier League ready and has 3 games to get through before the madness of the end of the transfer window is upon us. If we have a bad start, it could put us in a bad position for the next few months.

I disagree on the playmaker bit. We've Ndiaye and Alcaraz that can play in that position, whilst Ndiaye, McNeil and Barry can play off the left.

The need to sign two right wingers is stark, whilst the expectation that Garner and Gueye can play an entire season without backup is nuts.

Looking into the season, much will depend on the fitness of Branthwaite and Tarkowski. One is supposedly missing the US tour and the other has a bad hamstring injury. Both will be vital to be fit to secure a solid back 4. I am not a Tarkowski fan, but I recognise we are a better unit with him in the side and O'Brien at right-back.

Beto at the other end will need to deliver the goals. Can he do that? I think he can. He still missed a lot of chances last season, but I do think he will continue to score. Defenders will play a little deeper to counter the threat, which will give Ndiaye and Alcaraz a bit more time on the ball.

Disappointed not to have more in, but I would say we've not missed a huge number of targets yet.

Bit premature to predict poor performance in the window.

Yet if we are able to secure the services of Takefusa Kubo when Real Sociedad come back from their tour this weekend, then we will be saying what a great start to the summer transfer window it's been.

Lots of rumours and very little substance.

"I've been here before"

With Moyes at the helm, Andrew?

For example: "He also needs to get on Finch Farm's case."

What does this even mean?

Finch Farm is a place where Everton's training ground is located.

"I admire your optimism, Robert."

A phrase never typed before on this site, ever! Perhaps you meant Danny O'Neill?

Robert keeps us grounded (a compliment, by the way). Danny, err… doesn't. Compliment too, Danny!

The level of the performance you see is the result of the preparation at Finch Farm.Everton obviously were lagging behind Blackburn.This may partly have been because of Blackburn starting back to training earlier , but that could be looked as a issue in itself.Everton didn't look as fit and coordinated as they should have been.They looked as if some players needed replaced or new additions added. Where some players under performing.? Why? Alot has to do with attitude and effort in preparation, which is set by Coaches / Trainers and even fellow players.It sets the Culture that exists in the Club.

Being prepared later is playing catch up on opposition Clubs.It contributes to the stuff of the lower half of the Premier League.

The relegated three of the Premier League are the poor performing 5% as the top three are the high performing 5%>The latter are the Clubs that keep themselves in the top 50% of the Premier League who have the momentum to push consistently to the Top throughout the season.The bottom 50% momentum is pushing them to the bottom.They are continuously trying to progress to above mid table.Poor preoaration pre season and a poor start to the season puts immediate pressure against this momentum to progress up the table.

They don't seem to get this at Finch Farm. There is a lack of focus for whatever reason.

I'll take the compliment mate. And Robert deserves it too. We differ and he is a lot more calculated than me. My heart rules my head when it comes to Everton.

Robert and I do agree on a lot, we just express it differently. That doesn't mean we always agree, but that goes for us all. The beauty of this website.

I've used this before, but always remember a former senior leader describing us as "a loose federation of warring tribes with a common objective". Says it all for me!!

Both you and Roberts analysis I find helpful.I have often wished that Robert was part of the Transfer Team at Everton.

I’m glad Ryan went after you Jerome, because the paragraph that begins with “BEING PREPARED LATER IS PLAYING CATCH UP” sums up perfectly how a lot of Evertonians, must be feeling right now.

TFG, definitely bought the most disorganised football club in the EPL, and when I stop and think about things logically, then it genuinely amazes me that we are still in the top league.

With just over three and a half weeks to another new season, Everton, are currently, totally underprepared, once again.

Give it time, we haven’t won anything for that long now. So the sooner we realise that we currently exist just to make up the numbers, then the better it’ll be for every single one of us.

I will never stop believing but, until a lot more people start expecting and demanding more, then I don’t expect anything more from Everton, considering that we have just become a club, that is happy just making up the numbers.