Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Everton: Ross Barkley (5’) | Tottenham: Erik Lamela (59’)
Man of the Match: Maarten Stekelenburg (Everton)
In a summer where transfer fees have not merely gone through the roof but exploded into orbit, it is heartening to see there are still bargains being found by Premier League clubs.
Inflation may seem so rampant that it is comparable with Weimar Germany, but Everton recruited Maarten Stekelenburg for the modest sum of £500,000. It is tempting to suggest that, one game into his career at Goodison Park, that has been repaid already. The Dutchman secured a draw in Ronald Koeman’s competitive bow and earned his compatriot’s praise for what he deemed an “incredible save”, denying Tottenham’s debutant striker Vincent Janssen a decisive goal. Similarly impressive, too, was an acrobatic stop to tip Erik Lamela’s deflected effort over his bar.
• More: Premier League Week 1 scores, round-up
During Tim Howard’s dramatic decline, Goodison Park played host to many a goalkeeping blunder. The Everton faithful could savour the unfamiliar feeling of a goalkeeper earning, rather than costing, them a point. “A fair result,” in Koeman’s words, could have been far worse.
At half-time, it threatened to be much better. Everton were excellent, Tottenham tentative. Mauricio Pochettino had marked his players’ arrival for preseason training by telling them he wanted to “kill everyone” as memories of May’s 5-1 defeat at Newcastle refused to fade. He was similarly outspoken at the break.
“I was tough with them,” he said. “I was very unhappy with the first half.” He was more satisfied with the second. His impact came partly with his words, partly with his deeds. The introduction of Janssen for defensive midfielder Eric Dier added a cutting edge. He dragged Everton’s defence deeper, marauding with the purpose of a natural goalscorer. He formed a partnership, but provided a contrast, with a muted Harry Kane.
“Vincent Janssen brought good energy,” said Pochettino. He almost brought a winner, a snapshot from six yards being repelled by Stekelenburg. By then, Lamela had already equalised, heading in Kyle Walker’s cross. An Argentine earned a point for an Argentinian manager; a Dutchman preserved one for a Dutch coach when Stekelenburg saved from Lamela after a touch off Mason Holgate threatened to prove cruelly telling.
One Tottenham debutant impressed. The other did not. Victor Wanyama played for Koeman’s Southampton last season, where his disciplinary record was so poor that it encompassed three red cards. He marked his Tottenham bow by fouling Kevin Mirallas, an offence that also came at a cost. Ross Barkley’s free kick sailed past everyone, including goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who later sustained a hamstring injury.
Everton were ahead after just 293 seconds of Koeman’s reign. It was an auspicious start, with early impressions suggesting the feel-good factor is returning to Goodison Park after last season’s traumas. Both manager and new signing Ashley Williams, who was not fit enough to feature, were afforded rapturous receptions. John Stones may be gone but Holgate, another defender unearthed at Barnsley, made an assured bow. Idrissa Gueye, the other summer addition to start, buzzed around in the centre of midfield, proving the energetic sidekick to the more sedate Gareth Barry.
Everton were configured cleverly, in a 3-4-2-1 formation, and allied organisation with invention. But they are a team in transition, trying to make two or three signings — Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie being probably the costliest — and bearing a makeshift look. Without Seamus Coleman, whose ankle injury will keep him out for several weeks, midfielder James McCarthy was an emergency wingback. Minus the sidelined Romelu Lukaku, they began without a specialist striker. Gerard Deulofeu impersonated one in idiosyncratic fashion, He was excellent but should have scored on the stroke of half-time, when Michel Vorm denied him. “A big, big chance,” rued Koeman. But the big saves frustrated both managers.
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