Everton’s survival mission hits a critical period when the international break concludes, with Frank Lampard’s side travelling to West Ham and Burnley in crucial back-to-back games.
After the euphoria of a late win against Newcastle, the FA Cup loss at Crystal Palace deepened concerns about relegation.
Here are some of the issues Lampard – and his bosses – need to fix to ensure survival.
Sort out set pieces
Never mind Carlo, perhaps the Ancelotti Everton are missing the most is Davide.
Free-kicks are a perennial problem at Everton but last year, for all that the campaign stuttered to a mediocre conclusion, that trend was definitively reversed.
The Real Madrid manager’s son oversaw a set piece revolution at Goodison Park, his meticulous work on attacking free-kicks and corners helping Everton to far outstrip their expected goals from set pieces. That they were at +7 xG from set pieces and now sit at -6 xG under new management tells its own story about the decline on the new manager’s watch.
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Defensively, they have suffered this season too – looking much more vulnerable than they did last term. Paul Clement, Lampard’s trusted lieutenant, has been tasked with addressing an issue undermining Everton’s best work.
Keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit
Lampard’s salvation lies in his best striker who, along with Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure, has been missing for most of the season. Any team missing the spine of their side will suffer but it is the hold up play, aggression and goals of the England striker that Lampard most needs.
I understands a special fitness regime has been designed for Calvert-Lewin, whose late cameo against Newcastle transformed the game in Everton’s favour. That he managed to do that off the back of a single training session speaks volumes for the role he can play if fit.
Rumours persist that Arsenal and Newcastle covet the striker but if Everton stay in the Premier League, they will hold onto him.
Protect Jordan Pickford at all costs
Nothing frustrates Everton insiders more than the idea that Pickford performs for his country but is inconsistent for his club.
Those who criticise the England goalkeeper should perhaps consider that Pickford is in the middle of an 18-month run of consistent performances in a team that has struggled for most of that period. Both an excellent goalkeeper and one of the few who have shown the necessary mentality to turn the tide of negativity, Pickford has a critical role in Lampard’s salvage mission.
Respond to setbacks
Perhaps by virtue of not being Rafa Benitez, Lampard has Evertonians on his side. He talks a good game, has impressed those at the club with his work ethic and attitude and shows a real desire to embrace the huge challenge Everton presents.
But as much as he needs to work on the training ground, he requires a mentality reset among his players, who cannot handle setbacks. Against Newcastle they gained a foothold in the game and endured; a few days later the floodgates opened against Crystal Palace in an FA Cup humbling.
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Get the midfield mix right
If there is one issue that exercises Evertonians about Lampard it is his need to pick a settled system.
His preferred formation seems to be to play three at the back but this leaves Everton vulnerable. Four at the back seems a better fit if Lampard can make it work.
The issue of getting the right chemistry isn’t limited to midfield. Playing Dele Alli might give them a spark but the former Spurs man looks a long way from fitness. Any attempt to integrate him looks a gamble.
Give Kevin Thirlwell the licence to transform the culture
Everton’s widescale review of operations is ongoing, i understands. Whether the club decide to publish key findings from it is unclear but the appointment of Kevin Thirlwell (along with Lampard) are based on the learnings made already.
Thirlwell seems a good fit according to those on the inside and he is working well with Lampard in formulating a plan to move Everton away from the vast waste of the last few years. With uncertainty over the club’s financing and the Premier League keeping a close eye on their bottom line, things are going to change at Goodison Park – relegation or not.
It is up to Thirlwell to develop a vision that can better represent a support fed up at the farcical last few years. It may not feature the lavish spending of recent years but smart recruitment was Thirlwell’s calling card at Wolves.
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