2022/23 Frank Lampard

[LeeCarsley]

I will give Frank this, if it is between him and Wayne Rooney I would pick Lampard every time.

 

[davek]

Hopefully

We won’t be struggling against them with a decent striker and attacking midfielder

I agree.

Atm I swing from doom and gloom to thinking that a forward or two completely transforms our chances.

 

[Furey1878]

I agree.

Atm I swing from doom and gloom to thinking that a forward or two completely transforms our chances.

If the board doesn't being in a player or two, Frank or his potential replacement are condemned to go to the final weeks to try and save our hides.

I'm still on the side of back Lampard, just give him a player or two to freshen things up. I think for the next few weeks he knows the brief is grind out results.

 

[Marius57]

How does one look at this and not think maybe the manager is the problem? You have to be pretty bad to be doing worse than Rafael

Despite the trend downwards already, (aside from Carlo), what that says to me is that Benitez absolutely wrecked us with a bigger downward lurch than the previous trend and Lampard has continued the trend and been unable to buck it because of how low we had been taken.

 

[Lob]

And who are you going to bring in within the week?
How much will it cost you buy Frank and his coaching staff out? Is that money not better spent on a new striker and attacking midfielder?

No idea. You would have to ask to the highly paid so called professionals who run Everton Football Club. Any competent club would already have contingency plans in place for such things as many other clubs have already shown when they needed to make drastic change.

 

[LeeCarsley]

Despite the trend downwards already, (aside from Carlo), what that says to me is that Benitez absolutely wrecked us with a bigger downward lurch than the previous trend and Lampard has continued the trend and been unable to buck it because of how low we had been taken.

I think it's a bit of a culmination of things, lack of investment, two terrible appointments in Lampard and Benitez who are wildly different managers in the first place, hamstrung scouts and sporting director, the worst board possibly in the country. Lampard isn't to blame for everything but as for the awful performances I think he can only look himself in the mirror. The idea that a forward stops us from conceding four to Brighton or Bournemouth is ludicrous and he needs to fix his tactics in the Southampton game or we are truly down.

 

[davek]

Yeah, it's definitely debateable - I think one's perception of how good/bad the squad actually plays a big part in that, I really do think Lampard would actually keep us up given additional signings. I'm thinking of the Wolves game in particular, where we opened up and there were some great chances created and then spurned - a fit, competent striker in the team and we do win that. I just don't think Lampard is actually capable of taking this team any further; for me it isn't an issue of personnel (the squad is mediocre but it's nowhere near as bad as Roy Keane would have you believe) but rather of coaching.

The way we press is a big red flag for me - it was diabolical under Benitez because the players knew they could down tools, but it hasn't improved under Lampard either. He definitely hasn't lost the dressing room judging by comments from the likes of Coady, but they seemingly don't have direction - one player (often Gordon) will press but no one then closes down the other passing lanes, or the midfield don't press up with them. You then get massive gaps and that tends to be where we concede, see the first goal last night.

Dyche meanwhile has coached it really well at Burnley for the past half decade - it went under the radar but Burnley consistently used to receive the most long balls from opposition defenders forced to boot it clear. I'll see if I can find the numbers to confirm that. That to me suggests that there are other advantages to Dyche over Lampard - he's a significantly better coach, who won't be as reliant on player acquisition. The point re: handling pressure is a fair one I think, but I think Dyche probably can - yes the expectation is lower at Burnley but it's still immense pressure being around that part of the table for several seasons.

Plenty of other excellent coaches available who could also succeed where I don't think Lampard can - that Postecoglou up at Celtic is on a 12 month-rolling deal, although I think that's far riskier than Dyche. I just think Dyche gets type-cast big time, in the same way that Howe was a soft touch hall monitor for half a decade at Bournemouth and now leading the snidest team in the league into Europe.

I take your point on the pressing and Dyche deploying that to good effect. Are our players conditioned enough for it though?

I see half our players flagging later in games with hardly doing any pressing at all.

One thing we need to get back to is the Moyes' pre-season boot camps.

 

[davek]

If the board doesn't being in a player or two, Frank or his potential replacement are condemned to go to the final weeks to try and save our hides.

I'm still on the side of back Lampard, just give him a player or two to freshen things up. I think for the next few weeks he knows the brief is grind out results.

Yes, that's my fear though: 'the next few weeks'.

If we get to even the modest safety of a 2/3 point buffer from the relegation zone FL will be sending Everton out to "experess themselves".

I dont trust him anymore. Countless times Frank has given us the impression that he gets it...that we have to grind out 40 points from somewhere and we'll do it with a lot of graft and organisation....then we're playing basketball with the likes of Brighton.

 

[dan7787]

Haha yeah I’m clearly over optimistic with Frank, but for the first time in years we’ve got a young English manager that we can relate to, who carries a lot of respect in the game and someone who can grow with the club to get back to the top, which will take time.
Yes the results having been good, even I appreciate that, but I blame the players not delivering more than Frank.
With a decent striker and attacking mid we’ll be fine.

 

[Runub]

I take your point on the pressing and Dyche deploying that to good effect. Are our players conditioned enough for it though?

I see half our players flagging later in games with hardly doing any pressing at all.

One thing we need to get back to is the Moyes' pre-season boot camps.

Good point. Unforgivable that we do not appear fit enough to see out 90 minutes. That gives an additional advantage to the opposition. This is particularly important if you lack ability given you can claw back a small gain if able to compete physically

 

[pedro789]

Bournemouth beaten at home by Burnley.
Lost 9 of their last 11.
No prizes for guessing those two games.

 

[dan7787]

But you do understand it will cost millions that could be spent on the team. Which is more important right now?

 

[Furey1878]

Yes, that's my fear though: 'the next few weeks'.

If we get to even the modest safety of a 2/3 point buffer from the relegation zone FL will be sending Everton out to "experess themselves".

I dont trust him anymore. Countless times Frank has given us the impression that he gets it...that we have to grind out 40 points from somewhere and we'll do it with a lot of graft and organisation....then we're playing basketball with the likes of Brighton.

There's a balance though isn't there? We can't set up like Man U against everyone. We've certainly been guilty of being exposed under Lampard this season and when he first came in.

I though West Ham at home was the ideal way we should play at home.

 

[Moomin]

Haha yeah I’m clearly over optimistic with Frank, but for the first time in years we’ve got a young English manager that we can relate to, who carries a lot of respect in the game and someone who can grow with the club to get back to the top, which will take time.
Yes the results having been good, even I appreciate that, but I blame the players not delivering more than Frank.
With a decent striker and attacking mid we’ll be fine.

 

[Goat]

But you do understand it will cost millions that could be spent on the team. Which is more important right now?

I think our most pressing issue is having a manager who can win football matches.