Everton trial James Tarkowski in ‘quarterback’ role in pre-season
Everton claimed their first win of pre-season on Sunday (24 July) as they beat Championship side Blackpool 4-2 at Bloomfield Road.
Dele Alli scored twice for Frank Lampard’s side to put the cherry on the cake after Vitaliy Mykolenko and Tom Davies had set the Toffees on their way.
But more notably than the goals scored in the final third was the unique new role given to summer recruit James Tarkowski as Lampard set about experimenting with what his players are capable of.
As the Liverpool Echo describe it, the England international – signed from Burnley on a free transfer – operated “almost like an American Football quarterback,” as he pinged the ball from touchline to touchline.
So far, at least, Tarkowski is the only summer signing Everton have been able to make although they are now looking to make moves as the new Premier League season draws ever nearer.
Secret weapon
After a less than inspiring trip to the United States, Lampard and Everton really needed this victory to reassure themselves that they are capable of beating the other 11 blokes on the pitch.
The opposition themselves were almost irrelevant once the Toffees had secured the victory but Tarkowski’s defiant attitude from spending six seasons under Sean Dyche at Turf Moor is going to be critical for them.
In Lancashire, he has only ever been asked to kick and head anything that comes in his direction with distribution being an after-thought once the danger has been averted.
While that is a very good asset to have, it doesn’t translate well into a side that wants to keep the ball but his time with England has certainly helped that and few teams will be expecting the Franz Beckenbauer-esque passing and dribbling.
That could give Everton a secret weapon to exploit once the new season begins at home to Chelsea and it could be the edge they need to go beyond their expectations for the campaign.