Everton’s pre-season programme got off to the worst possible start on Saturday, conceding three goals to League 1 side Blackpool within 11 minutes.
The Toffees drew the match 3-3, and we’ve picked out three reasons there’s no need for panic despite the early alarm at Bloomfield Road.
Pre-season is about fitness
Results in pre-season can be misleading.
Teams who have great programmes can be awful once the real stuff starts.
Sides who struggle in pre-season can also be great when league football restarts.
It isn’t about results at this stage; it’s about fitness, and getting tactical ideas across.
There’s no point reading too much into a slow start.
They pulled the game back
If there was anything to be read into that rotten start, Everton would have downed tools at 3-0 down.
They didn’t do that.
Carlo Ancelotti got a response from his side, who were clearly keen to avenge that early embarrassment and got it back to 3-3.
Look at where other teams are at
Some of Everton’s domestic rivals aren’t even back training yet.
Given the unique nature of this summer’s pre-season preparations, it’s hard to judge where sides are in relation to each other.
Perhaps they’re playing games at a time when their fitness levels would usually dictate they’re just training.
It’s never usually wise to read too much into pre-season, especially not this year.
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