Everton will host La Liga outfit, Villarreal at Goodison Park for Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial match this pre-season. The friendly will give Everton some much needed competition going into the 2015/16 season.
The tie is a big one for Ferguson personally, after his goal was controversially ruled out during a UEFA Champions League qualifier in 2005 that would have given Everton a chance to reach the group stages. Rumours are also abound that Ferguson will feature during some part in an otherwise serious testimonial game.
Villarreal will be a tough opponent for Everton, after they qualified for the Champions League last season. It will give Everton boss Roberto Martinez a chance to measure his squad against an established European team. The game will be the last chance for Everton players to impress ahead of the start of the Premier League season.
Everton announce full pre season schedule
The game is the seventh game announced for Everton’s pre season which ranges from games against Sky Bet Championship side Leeds United, to Scottish Premiership outfit Dundee in Scotland to the Barclays Asia trophy in Singapore.
Everton will travel to face Swindon Town on July 11th before moving on to Singapore to compete in the Barclays Asia trophy. While there they will play Stoke City on July 15th and then either Arsenal or a Singapore XI on July 18th. Everton will then travel to Scotland for a fitness camp and will also play Hearts on July 25th and Dundee on July 28th.
Everton’s pre-season finishes with a trip to Leeds United on August 1st and then hosting Villarreal at Goodison Park on August 2nd. Alongside getting back to full fitness, The blues will be hoping to win a few games this pre-season, after going last year without a win in five games.
Martinez keen to avoid slow start
After a poor campaign last season, a lot of fans pointed the finger towards Everton’s lack of a pre-season. Roberto Martinez was in Brazil doing punditry for the World Cup and with key players like Tim Howard and Romelu Lukaku being granted time off after lengthy World Cup campaigns, Everton's pre season efforts suffered. Lukaku's only pre season football was 60 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday reserves during a behind closed doors friendly.
Transfer activity also suffered during the World Cup with moves for Muhamed Besic and Romelu Lukaku seemingly taking forever to be completed - Besic had been on Merseyside for nearly two weeks before his transfer was completed. Everton have already completed two transfers this time around with the additions of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu, and Martinez has claimed that he isn’t done yet. Everton will need to find back up to Phil Jagielka and John Stones after Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz were released from their contracts this summer.
Martinez is keen to avoid another slow start this time out. Martinez says that playing in Singapore will help Everton “ reach a physical level that is going to help us start the season well.” With Everton playing at least one other Premier League team, Stoke City, they will be able to compare themselves against a familiar opponent.
This pre season should see Everton experience a variety of different games and situations which will help them prepare for a tough Premier League season as they look for an immediate return to European football. Everton start their season at home to newly promoted Watford on August 8th.