James Tarkowski secret weapon emerges
Much has been made of Everton’s transfer business so far this summer - well, the lack of it - but in James Tarkowski the Blues appear to have found a gem.
You knew from the minute he stuck up for young Stanley Mills against Arsenal that he was the type of character you want in your side - and the leader Everton have been desperately missing.
But here against Blackpool he showed two different sides to his game. Of course, the former Burnley man still defended properly, but he was also vocal and great with the ball at his feet.
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Not for the first time since his arrival, he could be heard shouting at his team-mates and telling them what to do and where to go. He certainly isn’t scared of giving out instructions to those around him.
But he also showed a side to his game that many may not have known he had - and that was his distribution. The centre-back can certainly pick a pass, that's for sure.
On a number of occasions his passing was inch-perfect and set Everton on their way to getting up the pitch in a much faster manner than before. While his long diagonal balls over the top were similar to those that Phil Jagielka used to play.
Of course, Frank Lampard will be looking for Tarkowski to defend before anything else, but his secret weapon could become invaluable for the Blues the more the season goes on.
Frank Lampard formation truth clear
He might not want to play it, but it is quite clear for all to see that Everton need to start the new season with three centre-backs in their starting line-up.
Four quite simply doesn't work for the Blues at the moment. You can’t knock Lampard for wanting to try something different, but here showed why it is vital that three centre-backs and two wing-backs is the way to go for now.
For the first time in pre-season, Everton looked much more composed and organised at the back. They defended properly and didn’t give Blackpool a sniff - and had it not been for a Jordan Pickford error, then they would have headed into the break with a clean sheet under their belts.
But it is not just the centre-backs who benefit from the system. Both Nathan Patterson and Vitalli Mykolenko look much more at home playing this way.
They were constant threats going forward against Michael Appleton’s side - with Mykolenko bagging himself a goal and Patterson claiming two assists. It might be far from what Lampard wants, but as things stand, it is a case of needs must for him and his side.
Familiar problem returns
Not for the first time during their pre-season campaign some old ugly problems once again reared their head.
Following an impressive opening 45 minutes, in which the Blues played at pace and looked to get forward as much as they could, very quickly things began to turn sour in the opening five minutes of the second half.
Once again the big problem for Everton and Lampard is set-pieces. Having already conceded from one against Arsenal, here was a familiar story. Not for the first time in his Everton reign, Lampard could only watch on in horror as a good ball into the box was headed home by former Blue Callum Connolly.
It was all too easy for the Blackpool man. He somehow found himself unmarked at the near post with a run on goal. The goal was more than avoidable.
Lampard has spoken at length about the need for the Blues to defend set-pieces better as it feels, at times, like every time the ball goes into the box Everton are going to concede. And only a flying save from Jordan Pickford prevented Josh Bowler from scoring after Everton had once again failed to clear a corner minutes after after Connolly's header.
Paul Clement is believed to be the man tasked with working with Everton’s players in training on set-pieces, but his coaching appears to be falling on deaf ears. Luckily this was just a friendly, but ahead of the real stuff starting in just under two weeks, Lampard will be hoping the penny will have finally dropped by then, otherwise it could be another long season when it comes to defending set-pieces.
The forgotten man
Amid all the fallout from the Everton team sheet dropping at Bloomfield Road, one man’s absence appeared to go under the radar. In fact, many may not have even noticed it.
Andre Gomes is yet to kick a ball for the Blues this season, and there has been no indication from the club that he has an injury. In fact, he took part in training sessions during the club’s US tour.
It felt as though Gomes’ Everton career was coming to a conclusion after his abject first-half display against Crystal Palace at the back end of last season. The truth is he could have been taken off at 20 minutes let alone 45.
But this is a player who was once the main man in the Blues' midfield. A man who rushed back from a horror injury to give the team the boost it needed at the time.
However, something, somewhere, has gone badly wrong, and Gomes, it appears, now finds himself firmly on the outside looking in. The end looks very near.
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