Pre Season Matches.


BainesontoastNEW said:
Funnily enough, it was Totti who announced the "Operation Nostalgia" game that's due to be played in July by Serie A legends. Hopefully he makes it over for this game, too.
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Totti would be a fantastic player to watch in the flesh, even if it is against us.

I am trying to think of who could make a legends team for ourselves - surely we would have to be looking at the likes of Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Rooney, Gravesen and Carsley. Not sure whether I would call such players 'legends', but I don't think another label would work. The players which I have listed would be better suited to being part of a throwback team from Moyes' first spell in charge.
 

Timbucktoo said:
Would it not have been better to have this before the main game? It would get fans into the ground early as they would have something to watch. Can imagine having watched a pre season 90 minutes that a good few would be heading home at full time.
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Think I’ll watch them come out, slowly kick the ball about for 5 mins and then head off to the ale house.
 
Some other thoughts on the legends game. Firstly, will the game be over a full ninety minutes? Seeing as many of the players will have been retired for a good few years, they may not be able to handle lengthy periods of playing and there may not be large enough squads to sustain playing for the full ninety minutes.

Secondly, I also reckon this may cause a spike in interest from Roma's end. The prospect of seeing their legends - especially Totti, should he play - may be quite enticing for some of their supporters. I would be intrigued to see what their away allocation turns out to be, given that the main friendly match also serves as a test event for the opening of our new stadium.
 
9LeagueTitles5FACups said:
Some other thoughts on the legends game. Firstly, will the game be over a full ninety minutes? Seeing as many of the players will have been retired for a good few years, they may not be able to handle lengthy periods of playing and there may not be large enough squads to sustain playing for the full ninety minutes.

Secondly, I also reckon this may cause a spike in interest from Roma's end. The prospect of seeing their legends - especially Totti, should he play - may be quite enticing for some of their supporters. I would be intrigued to see what their away allocation turns out to be, given that the main friendly match also serves as a test event for the opening of our new stadium.
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Based upon other legends games I'm aware of, yes they do last over 90 minutes. Frequent subs tend to happen, but some players are capable of lasting the full 90. I believe Michael Carrick, for example, lasted 90 minutes v Celtic the other year. It varies on fitness levels, and in the case of Carrick, he is obviously still involved in the game. You could expect the likes of Baines to be similar, then.
 
BainesontoastNEW said:
Based upon other legends games I'm aware of, yes they do last over 90 minutes. Frequent subs tend to happen, but some players are capable of lasting the full 90. I believe Michael Carrick, for example, lasted 90 minutes v Celtic the other year. It varies on fitness levels, and in the case of Carrick, he is obviously still involved in the game. You could expect the likes of Baines to be similar, then.
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It is also worth bearing in mind that the intensity will be nowhere near that of a standard Premier League match, or even the pre-season friendly for that matter. The closest thing to a legends match which I have watched before is a charity match, such as the Bradley Lowery match or SoccerAid. Given that there are no strict rules on the match, you could substitute players off for rests and back on later in the game if need be.
 

The Littlest Yobo said:
Think I’ll watch them come out, slowly kick the ball about for 5 mins and then head off to the ale house.
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I think that will be what most folks would plan to do. Having the legends play first would get people in their seats a bit early and get an atmosphere building well before the main game. Its a bit like having a boxing card with the main fight first.
 
Timbucktoo said:
I think that will be what most folks would plan to do. Having the legends play first would get people in their seats a bit early and get an atmosphere building well before the main game. Its a bit like having a boxing card with the main fight first.
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Yeah. Totally agree. Mad to expect people to still be sitting in the stadium at about 7pm on a Saturday night watching a (cough) “legends” game. Should have been on first to get people in early to spend in the stadium, if anything.
 
kev said:
Conspiricists might say it's been designed to stagger leaving times.🫢
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Steve Rotheram will be on the phone now, working his way down a list of Everton “legends” to check they’re free on a Saturday or Sunday at 6pm for the next 9 months. “Hello, Marouane, mate, you don’t know me but…” Problem solved!
 
9LeagueTitles5FACups said:
Some other thoughts on the legends game. Firstly, will the game be over a full ninety minutes? Seeing as many of the players will have been retired for a good few years, they may not be able to handle lengthy periods of playing and there may not be large enough squads to sustain playing for the full ninety minutes.

Secondly, I also reckon this may cause a spike in interest from Roma's end. The prospect of seeing their legends - especially Totti, should he play - may be quite enticing for some of their supporters. I would be intrigued to see what their away allocation turns out to be, given that the main friendly match also serves as a test event for the opening of our new stadium.
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Hoping it is shorter. 30 min each half would be plenty.
 

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