THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY
Everton’s latest sheriff in town had better be quick on the draw!
GET THE FANTASTIC FANS ONSIDE
AN almighty starter for 10 and so key to moving forward.
Having replaced the deeply unpopular Rafa Benitez at the helm, Lampard is guaranteed a warm welcome from supporters.
But as is always the case, early results will dictate just how long that honeymoon period lasts.
Even should he struggle to get his team playing the right way in the immediate aftermath of his appointment, Everton’s new manager needs to get points on the board quickly to lift the gloom around Goodison.
A strong run of results is a must to buy him time to make the necessary long-term changes with the blessing of the fans.
NEW MIDFIELD
EVEN before Abdoulaye Doucoure’s recent hamstring injury, Everton were looking at strengthening in midfield.
But the loss of the Frenchman for up to a month has turned such a move into an absolute
First, there was the world-class and highly decorated Carlo Ancelotti, then the equally experienced former Anfield boss Rafa Benitez... now Everton are preparing for another new manager. After spending more than £500million on players in six years, Farhad Moshiri will be praying he gets THIS recruitment right. As the fans’ anger rises, tells Frank Lampard what needs sorting out at Goodison Park... and fast.
necessity before the close of the window tomorrow night.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one target who has been touted for a loan switch to Merseyside, and Lampard’s Chelsea links would surely help grease the wheels.
But should that particular deal prove beyond them, the Toffees must swiftly do all they can to find a solution to their woes in the engine room.
SORT THE DEFENCE
BENITEZ’S biggest successes in management came through constructing some of the meanest backlines in football.
Unfortunately, those defensive principles never seemed to take hold at Everton, where just three
of his 22 games in charge ended with a clean sheet.
Teams that concede with such regularity tend to go down – and the Blues are not far enough away from the drop zone to think that observation doesn’t apply to them too.
They need to make themselves hard to beat as soon as possible under their new boss... the attacking flair can wait.
GOODISON FORTRESS
IN managing three wins in his first three home games, Benitez appeared to have cracked David Moyes’ old formula for making Everton difficult to beat on their own patch.
However, the seven fixtures played at Goodison Park since have brought one win, one draw and five damaging defeats.
Everton most looked like their old selves during a hard-fought win over Arsenal in December, that saw the old ground rocking and a more talented opposing line-up running scared.
Putting on the sort of display that creates such an atmosphere is vital if Everton are to get where they need to be.
BLOOD THE KIDS
THE perceived misuse of Anthony Gordon was just one of the issues that led to the fragile accord between Benitez and Everton supporters breaking down entirely.
In the eyes of many fans, the Scouse teenager was unfairly substituted ahead of more experienced team-mates on a number of occasions.
As a manager who showed he is not scared to trust youth at Chelsea, Lampard would do well to make better use of the young talent at his disposal.