What we learned: Stuttgart 3-1 Everton

(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Everton wrapped up their pre-season tour of Germany on Saturday, going down 3-1 to Stuttgart at the MHPArena.

This was a step up in the level of opposition. Stuttgart are a Champions League team, and have built up steadily under their highly rated coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

But for Everton, it’s a second defeat of pre-season, taking the overall tally to two wins, two losses and one draw.

Here’s a few things we learned.

DIBLING SHOWS PROMISE

Starting off with a positive, Tyler Dibling had a particularly impressive first half. 

He was driving into space, he was taking players on, releasing the ball at the right time and creating chances.

Dibling faded slightly after the interval, but he must now take that first-half performance and use it to instil some self-belief. 

The ability is there, and Dibling can’t be scared. David Moyes must have more faith in him, but Dibling has set the standard he must now hit.

MYKOLENKO IS A BIG PROBLEM

We can’t keep sugar-coating it, Vitaliy Mykolenko simply isn’t up to scratch, and Everton’s leadership are being negligent if they don’t think they need to address the left-back position this summer.

Why oh why they had to hand Mykolenko a 3-year deal, rather than just extend his old contract by a season, only they know, but Everton’s attack breaks down time and time again down that left flank, and it’s tough to see what the Ukrainian is really bringing defensively, too.

Everton need to wake up, these full-backs just aren’t up to it.

EVERTON ARE WEAK IN BOTH BOXES

Everton had their opportunities, especially in the first half. 

Beto missed a hatful, Carlos Alcaraz could have done better with a chance teed up by Dibling.

Late on, after Stuttgart had gone 3-1 up, Michael Keane and Iliman Ndiaye had successive chances cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble.

But they couldn’t capitalise on their chances and their only goal came from a Thierno Barry penalty.

At the other end, Everton’s defence continues to underwhelm, especially once the Keane - Tarkowski axis of doom returned late on.

Worrying.

MOYES JUST CAN’T HELP HIMSELF 

Everton’s starting XI was an exciting one littered with young players. Harrison Armstrong, Tim Iroegbunam and Hayden Hackney in midfield, Dibling and Alcaraz on the flanks and most importantly, Jake O’Brien partnering with Jarrad Branthwaite at centre-back.

Yet when Iroegbunam went off with a knock less than 20 minutes in, Moyes just couldn’t help himself. He moved Merlin Röhl out of right-back and into midfield, and chucked on Keane into the centre of defence, with O’Brien then moving out to right-back.

It’s hugely frustrating. Everton had options.

Even if the answer was to move Röhl into midfield, which I certainly have no issue with, just put Nathan Patterson at right-back. Let O’Brien get a good hour under his belt at least alongside Branthwaite. It’s pre-season, that’s what it’s for.

Branthwaite almost certainly won’t play the full game against Newcastle United on Wednesday, and so it’s another chance missed to see how he and O’Brien could dovetail together.

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