Everton analysis after the first pre-season friendly of the summer at Accrington Stanley
Joe Thomas is the Everton FC correspondent for the Liverpool ECHO. He follows the Blues home and away, providing match reports, analysis and insight into events at Goodison Park, Finch Farm and beyond. Joe spent more than a decade covering news on Merseyside, working on award-winning investigations and extensively covering matters related to the Hillsborough tragedy - including the recent criminal prosecutions. Always grateful for tips and feedback, he can be contacted at joe.thomas@reachplc.com and on Twitter via @joe_thomas18
Everton’s opening game of pre-season was about fitness rather than learning lessons. But David Moyes will still have left the Wham Stadium with some useful takeaways - some new, some that he already knew but which will now have hardened in his mind.
These are the key points taken by the ECHO after watching the Blues grab a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley thanks to Beto’s late penalty.
The fearlessness of youth
The highlight of this match was the impact of the younger players. Youth was always going to be blended with experience given the threadbare nature of the squad - a matter made all the more significant with Iliman Ndiaye, Jordan Pickford and Idrissa Gueye absent having only returned to Finch Farm on Monday and with new signings Mark Travers and Thierno Barry yet to link up with their teammates.
Teen star Harrison Armstrong is becoming a known quantity - his talent is there for all to see and he made a strong case to remain part of the first team set-up on Tuesday night. The element of surprise instead came from the wingers Isaac Heath and Justin Clarke.
Both brought confidence and fearlessness to the pitch when they were given their chance midway through the second half. Heath, just 20, signed a new deal with the club last week - reward for his player of the year success in the Under-21s last season, while Clarke had an outstanding debut campaign with the U18s after arriving from AFC Wimbledon.
They had an impact, running at defenders, forcing them onto the back foot and creating chances for themselves and those around them. It was Heath whose driving run earned the penalty from which Beto scored the equaliser.
Everton’s transfer priority is crystal clear
For all that those starlets prospered at the end, it remains clear that Everton’s greatest need is on the right wing. That is something everyone at the club already knew but it was again apparent at Accrington.
Dwight McNeil is a talented player and his left foot is known as the paintbrush for a justified reason. He started on the right wing - a position he had minutes in last season after recovering from injury.
But this is not his best position and, of all the senior options currently in the club, every one feels as though it would be a square peg in a round hole. For Everton to be more dynamic in attack, at least one specialist option in that position is essential.
Carlos Alcaraz’s influence is most powerful from the middle
It was Carlos Alcaraz who started on the left wing and this was another example - after countless last season - that his best does not come from that slot.
The 22-year-old was one of Everton’s better performers in this match but the best of his influence came when he drifted in-field, searching for the ball. From there, his ability to go both ways caused problems and he was able to thread useful balls to Vitalii Mykolenko, who then surged into the space vacated by Everton’s first summer signing.
The displays that convinced Moyes to make his move from Flamengo permanent - in the away wins at Crystal Palace, Fulham and Newcastle United - came with Alcaraz playing in a central role. Whether it is at the Wham or St James’ Park, his skillset is best utilised in the middle.
Full-backs showing adventure
It was notable how willing Everton’s full-backs were to overlap. Nathan Patterson had some joy pushing forward and he had good chances in both halves of the match. He did not hit the target with either but on both occasions it was promising to see an Everton full-back in the opposition box.
Mykolenko had a strong 20 minutes at the end of the first half - helped, as above, by Alcaraz leaving space in front of him as he drifted inside. Alcaraz and Armstrong picked out his runs with incisive balls and Youssef Chermiti twice came close when meeting the crosses of the Ukraine international.
The composure of Harry Tyrer
Harry Tyrer was the most senior goalkeeper available to Moyes, with Pickford absent and Travers having only signed earlier in the day. His role will now reduce given there are two first team options ahead of him but he could make a strong claim for the third spot in the first team squad, one vacated by Asmir Begovic.
After good loan spells at Chesterfield and Blackpool, venues such as this are not unknown to him. But he showed composure and, while he may be disappointed with the manner of the Accrington goal, the problem came from Benn Ward being unmarked at the back post.
Tyrer was particularly confident on the ball - important given how much the Everton back four relied on his willingness to take it.