Everton heading back to America

May 31 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON are heading back to the USA this summer for a two-match tour.

David Moyes’s side will face two Major League Soccer opponents in the shape of Chicago Fire on Wednesday July 30 and Colorado Rapids on Sunday August 3.

Before flying out, Everton face away friendlies at Cambridge United, Preston North End and Nottingham Forest.

It will be the club’s fourth playing trip to the United States since 2004 when the bonding which was achieved on tour was credited as a major factor in turning around the side’s fortunes around.

After finishing 17th in the Premier League the previous season with a points tally of just 39 – a total which would often lead to relegation – Everton, who also lost the services of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United at the start of the 2004-05 campaign, recovered to record their highest ever Premier League placing of fourth.

On their first US trip, Everton stayed in Texas, playing two games against Mexican opposition, a 5-2 win over Pachuca and a 3-1 defeat to Club America.

In 2005, after securing a place in the Champions League qualifiers, Everton stayed on this side of the Atlantic but a miserable start to the season saw them flirt with relegation before eventually recovering for an 11th place finish.

Since then, Moyes has returned Stateside to prepare his squad for the subsequent two campaigns which have led to back-to-back European qualification for the first time since 1979-80.

With high expectations of completing a hat-trick next term, Moyes is hoping that following the tried and tested formula of an American tour will bring the best out of his players.

In 2006, Everton drew 1-1 at MLS side Columbus Crew before drawing 1-1 with Mexicans Club America in Houston, losing 5-4 on penalties while last summer they were beaten 2-0 at another MLS outfit Real Salt Lake.

The first of this summer’s US opponents, Chicago Fire, finished seventh overall in MLS last season.

Their most notable player is captain Cuauhtémoc Blanco, a 35-year-old Mexican international midfielder, who came to prominence at the 1998 World Cup with his technique ‘The Blanco Bounce’, a move in which he secures the ball between both his feet before jumping to avoid an opponent’s attempted tackle.

Colorado Rapids, who finished 10th overall in MLS last season, have an official footballing and commercial partnership with Arsenal.

Notable former names include ex-Everton players Anders Limpar and John Spence plus current goalkeeping coach at Goodison Park, Chris Woods.

Everton’s pre-season campaign starts at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday July 19 when they face Cambridge United (3pm).

The U’s lost the Blue Square Premier play-off final to Exeter City at Wembley earlier this month to deny them a return to the Football League having dropped out in 2005 just before they sold goalkeeper John Ruddy to Everton.

The trip to Preston North End on Tuesday July 22 is not only another return to Deepdale for manager David Moyes but an opportunity for him to pit his wits against his former assistant Alan Irvine.

Irvine left Goodison Park after five-and-a-half years as Moyes’s number two last season to steer the Lancastrians clear of the Championship relegation zone and has yet to be replaced at Goodison Park.

Colin Calderwood’s Nottingham Forest, who Everton face at the City Ground on Friday, July 25 (7.45pm), were promoted from Coca-Cola League One to the Championship earlier this month and bolstered their squad yesterday with the £2.65million capture of Welsh international striker Robert Earnshaw from East Midlands rivals Derby County.