Everton stuttered through a thoroughly disappointing 90 minutes in Bremen on Tuesday night, with Sandro Wagner's first half goal enough to see off a disjointed Everton side.It is only pre-season though, so nothing to worry about. We came through the game without any injuries, which is the biggest positive you can take from any friendly. And we were treated to another glimpse of the talent that is Ross Barkley. Remember the name.
Jan Mucha and Tim Howard shared the goalkeeping duties, with the Slovakian playing the first half before being replaced by the mad Yank at half-time. The back four had a familiar look of Hibbert - Jagielka - Distin - Baines and, in the absence of Phil Neville, Jagielka was made captain.
Teenage prodigy Ross Barkley was handed a starting berth in midfield alongside Leon Osman, John Heitinga and Tim Cahill, whilst Victor Anichebe once again partnered Jermaine Beckford up top.
Alongside Tim Howard on the bench were; Seamus Coleman, Phil Neville, Apostolos Vellios, Louis Saha, Magaye Gueye and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Yakubu's exclusion from the squad rang a few alarm bells, although I am now led to believe that he stayed at home to be at the birth of his child. One person who Evertonians were extremely pleased to see in the line up was Phil Jagielka, the subject of two recent bids from Arsenal.
The opening period was pretty even, with Ross Barkley providing a good outlet on the right wing. Indeed, most of Everton's good play came through the youngster, who looked comfortable on the ball and equally so when cutting inside and using his left foot. It's clear we have a special, special talent on our books - something noted post-match by both Tony Hibbert and Sylvain Distin.
Baines also looked lively as ever and put it a peach of a cross for Tim Cahill, whose header was unusually mistimed and off target.
Bremen also had chances - not least the absolute sitter missed by Sandro Wagner. A ball was chipped across goal and Mucha was beaten all ends up. It was a free header, four yards out, but Wagner somehow managed to miss. It wasn't quite on the level of Yakubu at the World Cup, but it's up there.
Wagner did make up for the shocking miss just minutes later, although the opening goal had more than a slice of fortune about it. Back-up 'keeper Jan Mucha flapped at a cross, allowing Wagner to prod home at the second time of asking.
Everton made a couple of changes at the break. Tim Howard swapped places with Jan Mucha and Louis Saha did likewise with Victor Anichebe. Unfortunately, Bremen had also made a few substitutions, which included the introduction of exciting midfielder Marko Marin.
They took control of the game and chances fell to Marin and Aaron Hunt. Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford were not adequately supported by Everton's midfield, a situation that only got worse when our most creative player, Ross Barkley, was taken off shortly into the second period.
Leighton Baines went closest to leveling the scores for Everton. For once the left-back hit a poor free-kick that cannoned straight into the wall, but Baines hit the rebound thunderously against the post.
The game petered out into a 1-0 defeat, a disappointing result and performance. But hey, it's only pre-season!
StickyToffee Player Ratings: Mucha 5, Hibbert 5, Jagielka 6, Distin 6, Baines 6, Cahill 6, Barkley 7, Osman 5, Heitinga 5, Anichebe 4, Beckford 4.
Subs: Howard 5, Coleman 5, Neville 5, Bilyaletdinov 4, Vellios 4, Saha 4.
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