2022/23 Frank Lampard

[ForeverBlue92]

The idea that there is nobody better than Lampard is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I'd keep Frank right now (even though I would never have appointed him in the first place), but Thomas Frank is definitely a more impressive coach (but not "name"). Eddie Howe did a great job for Bournemouth for years, but he wasn't "name" enough for sections of our fanbase despite his demonstrable progresss. Now he's managing a club who, apparently, we cannot be expected to go and take something from on Wednesday, despite only being there slightly longer than Frank has been with us.

Frank has done enough at Everton to be given some time. He has done enough to be given the chance to progress us this season. But he has done nothing to be given a free pass or the "faith" that some seem to demand as if he were a sacred relic of Christianity. He'll be judged on results - just as any Everton manager should be.

My opinion last season when Benitez was on the verge of being peddled was always the same - either give Benitez until the seasons end then move him on or bring in a temporary manager until the seasons end with a DOF installed by then to identify a long term appointment because being honest last season sat in 16th our options were limited compared to who would have been available in the summer.

Instead Moshiri/Kenwright hired Lampard on what appears to be a long term basis but then appoints Thelwell just months later. Now we have a situation where the DOF likes 3 at the back (and made signings like Coady and Vinagre largely for that system) but has a manager under him who opts for 433 as much as he can.

For me that's an issue long term and why I personally believe Lampard should have been a firefighter appointment and nothing more whereas now he's the man supposedly who we have to rally behind with nothing on his CV to suggest he's the right man.

 

[Lanolin]

Point has always been regardless of whatever result it is at Newcastle...it's not a "big game" or "must win" because it's 10 games into a season. It's irrelevant to where the team reaches at the end of the season as no one gets relegated at this stage or win a league, teams fluctuate up and down the league until you see teams adrift. We don't beat Newcastle away...does Palace at home then become a "must win?" Then Fulham away?

The fact that you’re repeatedly putting must win in quotations marks when it isn’t even close to being what was said is quite telling.

 

[JLW]

I think both were frustrating. Silly mistake for the pen vs Spurs, as they didn’t look remotely like scoring, and us missing big chances. Against United we were very poor after scoring until late in the second half.

Overall there are a fair few teams who are worse than us this season, and after the hard away game against Newcastle we have a good run where we can pick up points, so that’ll be where we see if we’re actually in trouble or not

The last 2 defeats were completely avoidable, if we start getting played of the park by teams around us then that will be the time to worry.

Our front 3 are killing us at the minute, well all season really.

There was so much needed to be done to the squad in the summer it couldnt all be done at once, hopefully January this issue is addressed with at least one new winger/striker or possibly 2

 

[Lanolin]

16 from 15 is definitely on course for survival. It would get us 40-42 points. You probably need about 36 to survive.

If we get 3-5 more points than last year then that is success.

As I said, it’s on course but it’s not ‘well on course’. I’m not trying to be pedantic I mean there’s a genuine difference. If we have 20 points from 15 games then I’d say it’s highly unlikely we go down and it’s fair to say there’s clear evidence of improvement. 16 points and I’d say we’re very much in proper relegation battle territory, where you start to say ok maybe we haven’t actually moved on all that much. Obviously they’re fine margins and things can change over the season but like with everything, you can only comment on things as they are at the time.

 

[PhilM]

There was so much needed to be done to the squad in the summer it couldnt all be done at once, hopefully January this issue is addressed with at least one new winger/striker or possibly 2

This, all day. I feel like a broken record, however last season our defence and the lack of midfield were our glaring areas of weakness. They nearly took us down.

In one window, we've strengthened the back line considerably and made the midfield more solid. Look at what we could achieve with another window or two.

We'd have all wanted more options up front, but it wasn't the priority. Now, arguably it is and the fact we looked at people like the Ajax lad shows we're looking.

If Dom can get fit and the other boys can show some composure, we'll be a much greater threat up top. People need to give their heads a wobble and be realistic.

People calling Frank out and suggesting his job is at risk aren't helping; in fact, they're exacerbating the problems.

 

[Billy Dean]

We had a touch more quality up front, we'd have been going into the break 2-0 up. We got caught pushing forward - and being stupid going anywhere near Kane in the box, one of the worst players in the league for diving.

I think for the Onana chance it wouldn't have made a difference who the striker was. He fashioned that chance for himself and a striker is probably not in the position to do that.

 

[BlueStevie35]

My opinion last season when Benitez was on the verge of being peddled was always the same - either give Benitez until the seasons end then move him on or bring in a temporary manager until the seasons end with a DOF installed by then to identify a long term appointment because being honest last season sat in 16th our options were limited compared to who would have been available in the summer.

Instead Moshiri/Kenwright hired Lampard on what appears to be a long term basis but then appoints Thelwell just months later. Now we have a situation where the DOF likes 3 at the back (and made signings like Coady and Vinagre largely for that system) but has a manager under him who opts for 433 as much as he can.

For me that's an issue long term and why I personally believe Lampard should have been a firefighter appointment and nothing more whereas now he's the man supposedly who we have to rally behind with nothing on his CV to suggest he's the right man.

People moaned at him playing 3 at the back so he switched to his preferred formation now that’s suddenly not good enough? Also Coady has shown he can play well in BOTH formations and Vinagre was only ever brought in as back up to Mykolenko

 

[DL100]

We're not creating enough.

Defence is ok
Midfield is ok
Attack is putrid

...it'll relegate us.

Attack is poor but better than last season,

Need a creative player behind the front 3. Gylfi / James type.

Should have taken our chances yesterday

 

[DL100]

The last 2 defeats were completely avoidable, if we start getting played of the park by teams around us then that will be the time to worry.

Our front 3 are killing us at the minute, well all season really.

There was so much needed to be done to the squad in the summer it couldnt all be done at once, hopefully January this issue is addressed with at least one new winger/striker or possibly 2

Agreed I don’t think we was that bad yesterday, Spurs just have that extra quality upfront. Plus the Kane dive killed us.

We look decent the only worry is we don’t score many. Should have sold Gordon and used the money.

 

[Dymak]

My issue with Everton at the moment is that I just kind of expect losses and am pleasently surprised with 3 points. Rafael has done so much damage to this club its unbelievable. I was happy with the two wins with Lampard so far but we are still conceding a lot of big chances which suggests that our defense/Pickford is on a great streak of shot stopping, and doesn't point to an overall cohesion in the team of nullifying opposition. Yesterday I didn't give us a shred of a chance. Which leaves a sour taste in my mouth because exactly a year or so before under Ancelotti, I fancied us going into any game. A fully fit Dominic Calvert-Lewin will show if we can push on to those levels again, but I feel the 'expected loss' mentality has even seeped into the team. Are their winners in that team that are gutted about losing yesterday? I don't think so, because of what nearly happened last year. That's now our comparison.

I agree. The PTSD from the 90’s lasted years, and you can see that the PTSD from last season has become ingrained in many fans and some of the players. God only knows how long it will last. I don’t hear it in Lampard’s rhetoric, but I think we might be seeing it in his overly defensive set up.

Yes, improving upon the shambles of last season is going to take some time, but I don’t agree with this staged progression theory, that you have to finish about 14th before you can even think of finishing in the top 10. Football doesn’t work like that.

I also don’t agree that a 14th placed finish with an additional six points from last season would demonstrate all that much progress. That’s what Villa finished on last season. Villa were crap last season and they remain crap now, going absolutely nowhere!

The top six are ahead of the pack (at the moment) but everyone else is crap! I hope there is investment in January so that we aren’t cacking ourselves once again in April, or celebrating ‘progress’ that actually has us replicating Villa’s performance of last season.

 

[PhilM]

We're not creating enough.

Defence is ok
Midfield is ok
Attack is putrid

...it'll relegate us.

Last year, defence was terrible. Midfield was terrible. Attack was the same, if not marginally better. We're making more chances this year, but not taking them.

It didn't relegate us then, and it won't relegate us this season.

 

[ChesterBlue]

The last 2 defeats were completely avoidable, if we start getting played of the park by teams around us then that will be the time to worry.

Our front 3 are killing us at the minute, well all season really.

There was so much needed to be done to the squad in the summer it couldnt all be done at once, hopefully January this issue is addressed with at least one new winger/striker or possibly 2

Agreed. A creative winger is imperative for us as we aren’t creating anywhere near enough chances. I’d say a striker is dependant on DCL’s situation too and whether he can consistently stay fit again

 

[Cameron Manning]

Agreed I don’t think we was that bad yesterday, Spurs just have that extra quality upfront. Plus the Kane dive killed us.

We look decent the only worry is we don’t score many. Should have sold Gordon and used the money.

Agreed I don’t think we was that bad yesterday, Spurs just have that extra quality upfront. Plus the Kane dive killed us.

We look decent the only worry is we don’t score many. Should have sold Gordon and used the money.

That only worry is a very big one.

 

[brieverton]

If I was giving him a performance review, at present I'd say he was "Meeting Expectations" which is perfectly fine.

We all want him to do better than that over time. It's open for debate whether or not there are tentative or strong signs that we can realistically hope for better.

Recognising that opinion can swing from one extreme to another in the wake of successive wins or losses, I'm cautiously optimistic that things will improve but also chastened by any degree of expectation at all.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

People moaned at him playing 3 at the back so he switched to his preferred formation now that’s suddenly not good enough? Also Coady has shown he can play well in BOTH formations and Vinagre was only ever brought in as back up to Mykolenko

I dont like 3 at the back personally but Thelwell wrote a book on the 352 and utilised 3 at the back at Wolves. We either give the DOF full control or we carry on from where we left off with Brands having part control and part not.

Maybe Long term when DCL is fit he'll switch to 352 with Maupay up top alongside Dom but that would mean Mykolenko needing to be dropped as he offers little going forward and Vinagre is a LWB by trade not a LB which Myko is.

If that doesn't happen... then we're back to square one with the manager and DOF doing their seperate things which wont yield success in the long run.