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Former Everton Centre Forward Duncan Ferguson steps into management.....

Arana.webp​

After joining the club in January 2025 and making 10 appearances for Everton, Arana confirmed he had struggled to settle in the North of England and was pleased to join Championship side Southampton. It seems to be have been a difficult time for Arana who got one goal at his time at Everton and supporters feel the full back didn't give it a chance. With only Mykolenko at the Left Back position, Ferguson will be looking for a replacement. Arana joined Everton on a free transfer and the club will be pleased with the transfer fee.
 
PRE-SEASON UPDATE

We are live in Miami as the Everton squad go head to head with David Beckham's Inter Miami. Two games in already into pre-season (results to follow) and the squad is gelling well. Ferguson has so far gace opportuntiites to Sean Roughan who is back from his loan spell with Lincoln, Martin Sherif has had a run-out and new signings Samardzic and Gonzales are settling in nicely. Players are aware of the hard work required to make the grade at the club and there is a sense of hunger around the camp. Dobbin has impressed so far and looked really sharp and Billy Crellin is showing why he could be good competition to Jordan Pickford.

In transfer news, Barcelona were keen on Nathan Patterson but so far not news on any bids. Pablo Maffeo was also the subject of interest but Ferguson is trying to keep hold of the Italian Right Back. There has been talks with Monaco Central Defender Chrislain Matsima on a permanent deal to bring the 23 year old Frenchman to the club and Ferguson is also looking at potential loan options. ​
 
EVERTON USA TOUR

Everton 1-0 Philadelphia Union

A terrible first half from Everton saw Union getting too much time and space in the final third but Pickford returned to pre-season in tip-top condition and put in a good first half performance to keep the score at 0-0. The second half saw the introduction of Left Back Sean Roughan who wanted to state his case for a place in the side this season and played his part in the goal passing to Moleiro who set-up new signing Samardzic to tuck into the bottom corner. Billy Crellin came on for the second half and made some good saves to ensure Everton got their first pre-season win.

Everton 11-1 San Jose Oaks

Everton started much better and new signing Gonzales scored after 3 minutes when Cham made the cut back inside the box. Everton doubled the lead a couple of minutes later when Dobbin set-up Mykolenko to strike inside the opposition box. Dobbin made it three a minute later after a well worked goal saw him slot at the post with a confident dink. Branthwaite made it four before the half hour mark after a great cross from Patterson and it was an all out attacking performance. Beto made it five a minute later and it was just far too easy for The Toffees. Dobbin got his second a few minutes later, two goals and two assists already for the winger. Doucoure wrapped up the half with the seventh and an all-round fantastic performance. The second half saw another four goals from Rodriguez, Roony (2) and Garner, young Striker Martin Sherif with an assist. Everton did concede one to chalk off a clean sheet but managed a total of 48 shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes.

Everton 4-0 Inter Miami

It was a chance for autograph hunters to fulfil their dreams with Rodriguez and Messi both on the pitch together. Rodriguez put Everton ahead in a tightly contested first half but Everton blew Miami away in the second with three more goals, the best one was a rocket inside the box from Okoronkwo to top off the rout. Everton will now head back across to finish off friendlies in Italy and Portugal. ​
 
SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW UPDATE

Everton have remained active in the window and made two acquisitions.

Matsima.webp

Chrislain Matsima comes into the Everton squad from Monaco and is delighted to get the opportunity to play at the highest level. At 23 years old he has a bright future ahead of him and is seen as a long term replacement for James Tarkowski who recently left the club.

DF: He's athletic, strong and very physical. He's good in the air and I believe he can form a good partnership with Jarrad.

Matsima will be missed by boyhood club Monaco and had a solid season playing 34 times in 2024/25. Matsima finished the summer winning the UEFA European U21 Championship with France.

1200-L-monaco-chrislain-matsima-attire-plusieurs-prtendants.webp

Everton's next signing is one to get your hopes up for. Everton and Real Madrid agreed a season long loan deal for 20 year old Attacking Midfielder Arda Guler! Guler is one of football's hottest prospects and is a huge deal for Everton bringing him in on loan. Ancelotti and Ferguson have always had a good relationship and it made the signing of Guler so much easier. Ferguson often discusses football with Ancelotti and the pair have been seen out in public together over the summer.

DF: We're delighted to bring Arda to the club and it adds to the attacking style we are trying to implement here. James Rodriguez won't be able to play every game and Arda is desperate for the experience and I feel we are in the process of building a very good attacking side to bring stylish football to Bramley Moore this season. We just want to please the fans after years of misery, they deserve so much more and their loyalty can hopefully be rewarded.

OIP.webp​
 

The Penalty Box Dancer said:
SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW UPDATE

Everton have remained active in the window and made two acquisitions.

View attachment 276969

Chrislain Matsima comes into the Everton squad from Monaco and is delighted to get the opportunity to play at the highest level. At 23 years old he has a bright future ahead of him and is seen as a long term replacement for James Tarkowski who recently left the club.

DF: He's athletic, strong and very physical. He's good in the air and I believe he can form a good partnership with Jarrad.

Matsima will be missed by boyhood club Monaco and had a solid season playing 34 times in 2024/25. Matsima finished the summer winning the UEFA European U21 Championship with France.

View attachment 276972

Everton's next signing is one to get your hopes up for. Everton and Real Madrid agreed a season long loan deal for 20 year old Attacking Midfielder Arda Guler! Guler is one of football's hottest prospects and is a huge deal for Everton bringing him in on loan. Ancelotti and Ferguson have always had a good relationship and it made the signing of Guler so much easier. Ferguson often discusses football with Ancelotti and the pair have been seen out in public together over the summer.

DF: We're delighted to bring Arda to the club and it adds to the attacking style we are trying to implement here. James Rodriguez won't be able to play every game and Arda is desperate for the experience and I feel we are in the process of building a very good attacking side to bring stylish football to Bramley Moore this season. We just want to please the fans after years of misery, they deserve so much more and their loyalty can hopefully be rewarded.

View attachment 276974​
Click to expand...
Some intent.

Finally.

No more 10 men behind the ball Dunc. I want to see a league title before I retire in 2041. (Fingers crossed they push the retirement age back so I get to still be hoping for a league before I don't get my winter fuel allowance from my luxury mansion in Jersey).
 

PRE-SEASON RESULTS 2025/26

Pre-season 2025-26.webp

A lot of goals and a lot of chances created, Everton put their opponents away throughout pre-season convincingly. Frosinone Calcio, now in Serie A in Italy came to Bramley Moore Dock and put on a spectacle for the capacity crowd. The first game inside the new stadium, the first goal scored by Marvin Cuni resulted in a surprise 2-1 defeat. The first Everton goal inside Bramley Moore Dock was by Roony Bardghji with a nice strike from outside the box but although even a friendly, the first football match ends in defeat.

SEASON REVIEW 2025/26

As far as pre-seasons go, this was quite a good one for Everton. Six wins out of seven and players got through without any long term injuries. The transfer window, so far has been successful. Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski both left for generous transfer fees and Guilherme Arana left for a profit of £35.5M later in the window. The incomings were shrude and exciting. Lazar Samardzic to bolster the midfield after Idrissa Gana Gueye left on a free. Nicolas Gonzalez on the wing, Chrisain Matsima at the back and the loan signing of Arda Guler in attacking midfield

GOALKEEPERS

Joao Virginia left for Toulouse after his contract ended so Jordan Pickford is still number one at the club with Billy Crellin as backup. 18 year old George Pickford would be third choice but is available for loan this season.

DEFENDERS

Vitaliy Mykolenko has competition with Sean Roughan at Left Back. Roughan spent last season on loan at his former club Lincoln City but after an impressive pre-season, Ferguson has made him part of his plans for the season as a competitor to Mykolenko. The 22 year old Irishman was subject to loan offers from Millwall but Ferguson's refusal shows he has a role to play this season. Jarrad Branthwaite moves into his third full season with Everton as a number one Centre Back, Matsima, Godfrey and Zubelida all vying to be his partner but it was Matsima who played most alongside him this pre-season so the Frenchman could be getting his Premier League debut very soon. At Right Back, Nathan Patterson is getting stronger and more athletic, he has had a solid pre-season but also faces competition from the experienced Pablo Maffeo who is desperate to play more for The Toffees.

MIDFIELDERS

Idrissa Gana Gueye left the club and Lazar Samardzic was brought in. Samardzic is a different player who likes to get on the ball and move it forward, he likes to be around the action and relies more on his partner to do the groundwork, Abdoulaye Doucoure seems to fit that void alongside Amadou Onana. James Garner had a great season and will also be part of the manager's plans this campaign. Lewis Warrington is likely to go on loan again this season but in the u21's is a 17 year old Scotsman by the name of John Hepburn who is on the radar of the first team but maybe a season short yet.

ATTACKING PLAYERS

Starting on the left, the very talented and exciting Nicolas Gonzalez, two goals and four assists in pre-season and a player who likes to run and take people on, he is likely to be first choice on the left side. Spaniard Alberto Moleiro comes in for his first full season after doing well in the second half of the last, the 21 year old also has a lot to prove and is a good choice on the left for Everton. On the right, Roony is in top form and finished the season very strongly. Francis Okoronkwo made an impact too and also is a solid option. Lewis Dobbin made one start in pre-season and got two goals and two assists. James Rodriguez, Muhammed Cham and Arda Guler will give the manager a selection headache and it's interesting to see if Rodriguez can play another full season but pre-season suggests he is looking good and is ready. Oscar Vilhelmsson may not be a name you're familiar with but he joined for £5M last season and spent it on loan with Birmingham City. This season he has joined Blackpool in The Championship and scored in his opening game. Youssef Chermiti is still an Everton player and has joined Milwall in The Championship this season, he too has a goal from the bench, so far in this season's Championship. Jamie Vardy retired from football after scoring one goal for Everton. Beto and Konate are the two main Strikers at the club and after 22 league goals last campaign, can he go out and better that? In terms of backup, Dobbin and Okoronkwo cam also play the role, if needed. The question remains if Ferguson sees fit to bring in another Striker or work with what he has.

The first game is an away trip to Brentford followed by the first home competitive match at Bramley Moore against Tottenham Hotspur. The League Cup Second Round draw has also taken place and Everton will host League One side Barnsley.
​
 

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