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Positive signs for next season at last as Everton beat Dynamo Kiev

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Dwight McNeil of Everton scores his first goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Everton and Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park on July 29, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Dwight McNeil of Everton scores his first goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Everton and Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park on July 29, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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Everton defeated Dynamo Kiev 3-0 last night as the Toffees’ pre-season matches concluded with a final friendly against the Ukrainian club.

This was of course primarily a game to raise funds and support the Ukrainian people and represented a good final run out for Everton as they prepare for the season opener against Chelsea.

The Blues’ pre-season games have seen Everton lose twice in the USA without scoring a goal and then having returned to these shores netting seven times in wins over Blackpool and Dynamo Kiev.

It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions about where the Toffees’ really are as they approach the kick-off for the new season, but they are indications of possible developments emerging.

I had been very concerned after watching the Blues’ limp to defeat so meekly while they were in the States. It was obviously, very early in their pre-season preparations but it was really clear that this squad needed major improvement.

As many Evertonians are only too aware this team has a very significant set of needs if we are to see any tangible improvement in the coming campaign.

Those are particularly more pace and athleticism thoughout the team, stronger and more consistently error-free defending, greater creativity in attack and finally more goals up front.

So, is there any concrete evidence that these problems are being addressed?

We waited a while for the Blues’ to get active in the transfer market (other than the free transfer of James Tarkowski) and then over the last few days or so the club have moved to bring in more talent.

Last night all three of those new signings contributed hugely to the win. Tarkowski who has already made a positive improvement to the side’s defence, provided a great ball over the top for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to almost back-head it over the Kiev keeper for Everton’s first.

His ability to bring the ball out of defence and deliver this kind of passing range from the back could be an effective additional weapon.

Then the latest addition, Dwight McNeil, came on and added two more goals. The first was especially interesting because the former Burnley player cut inside from the right weaved between a few defenders and then unleashed an accurate drive into the bottom corner.

This is precisely what Everton do need. Players coming from out wide or through the middle of midfield who can take on and beat their opponents and then either create or score goals. This will be important as the team cannot rely totally on Calvert-Lewin for their goals.

If McNeil can provide this ability to run at defences and create opportunities for himself and other forwards, then the Toffees’ will be able to offer a more dynamic and dangerous attack.

After that the other recent signing Ruben Vinagre provided a good cross from the left and McNeil, unmarked in the box, headed it in.

Again, it was good to see another new recruit make an immediate impact and offer the sort of inventiveness to create many more chances.

There is still a real need for more pace and power most of all in the midfield, and additional goalscoring threat up front and Everton are being strongly linked with a number of other players who might be able to provide that.

And so, while it was of course only one game and a pre-season friendly at that, there were some welcome positive signs last night that some of these issues are beginning to be addressed.