After playing in temperatures approaching 40 degrees centigrade in Philadelphia and Washington, Everton's players will, for once, be looking forward to the trip to St Andrews that awaits this weekend.
The American tour was a success by all accounts, as the players were pushed to their limits in the extreme conditions - something that can only benefit them come the start of the season. We lost by a solitary goal in Philadelphia but recovered to win 3-1 against D.C. United in the American capital.
Now we are back on home soil and preparing to face Birmingham City, who were relegated from the Premiership on the final day of the season just gone. Their Summer has been a torrid one thus far, with players leaving left right and centre, rumours of off-the-pitch troubles and not to mention losing their manager to their most bitter rivals.
As legendary former Everton and Birmingham striker Bob Latchford once said: "It's not all bad being an Evertonian - imagine if you supported Birmingham City - then you'd have something to moan about!"
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Bob Latchford: "It's not all bad being an Evertonian - imagine if you supported Birmingham City!"
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Following their relegation to the second tier of English football, Birmingham have had to suffer the inevitable fate of losing their star players. Barry Ferguson, Roger Johnson, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Craig Gardner and Sebastian Larsson have formed just part of a mass exodus from St Andrews, whilst Scott Dann and Ben Foster look set to follow.
One signing that the Blues have made this Summer is the appointment of Chris Hughton as manager, following Alec McLeish's acrimonious move to second city rivals Aston Villa. If you ask me, that's a fantastic appointment - Hughton is a bright young manager who had great success at Newcastle before being harshly dismissed, and I'm sure he will do well with Birmingham.
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One signing Birmingham have made this Summer is that of Chris Hughton as manager. If you ask me, that's a fantastic appointment.
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In terms of new playing staff Birmingham have made a couple of astute signings (and Marlon King). They've brought in Steven Caldwell from Premier League side Wigan and Chris Burke from Cardiff, both of whom came on free transfers.
Pre-season friendlies are often unpredictable - as proved by Hull's 3-0 demolition job on Liverpool - but is a fixture we should probably win. The real tests lie ahead, with games against Werder Bremen and Villarreal to come at the start of August.
StickyToffee Prediction: Birmingham City 0-2 Everton
I fancy us to win by the same scoreline as last season's match at St. Andrews - and I'm going for Victor Anichebe and Leon Osman to bag the goals.
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