Lampard’s first 3 Key Objectives at Everton

Lampard has to work out tactics & formation in key first week

3. Lampard’s Tactics & Formation

While Everton have taken an eternity to appoint a new manager this has left little time, despite a current winter break week off, for the new manager to get tactics and formation right before a massive eight days next week.

Frank Lampard will need to not only get transfer deals over the line by Monday night and organise his coaching staff, but also sort the tactics and formation out that have caused real issues for Everton this season.

Lampard in his previous roles at Derby and Chelsea has produced a high press without the ball and then a possession based approach with the ball. He liked to get his full back’s high up the pitch with industrious wide midfielders who would harass the opposition.

This has been analysed by The Coaches’ Voice which you can read via the tweet below:

With that in mind who will this benefit in the Everton squad Lampard is inheriting?

Certainly the new full back’s, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson, fall into this category and should be in Lampard’s plans straight away. Allan will also benefit as he likes to press high up, however this means a number six type midfielder will be crucial and Lampard has always played with one before. Anthony Gordon should be delighted with this also as he has pressed well this season.

You have to fear for Solomon Rondon, despite his hat-trick for Venezuela this week, as he can’t press too much and Alex Iwobi who has not been in any kind of form for some time. Iwobi’s red card in Nigeria’s exit in the African Nations Cup will not help his confidence at all.

Formation wise Lampard has usually gone with a 4-4-2 diamond or a 4-3-3, or a 4-2-2-2 if looking to really attack in certain situations. He has not used wing backs at all and three centre backs has never been the option. Of course Thomas Tuchel his successor at Chelsea has used the wing back method to great effect since.

I suspect he will use the 4-3-3 formation at Everton to start with, something which the fans have been crying out for. The third midfielder is crucial for Everton to not be exposed and to win the ball back more often to give the ball to more forward thinking players.

My thoughts on his team would be Pickford in goal, Patterson or Coleman and Mykolenko at full back, Godfrey and Mina at centre back, with Allan, Gomes (Doucoure when fit) and a possible new signing in midfield. If they could get a number six type of player in then Gomes would drop out. The three up front would revolve around Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Gray and Gordon.

It is a massive week ahead for Lampard as the three games in eight days are all big games. Brentford at home in the FA Cup keeps the hope of silverware alive, Newcastle away in the Premier League midweek is a vital battle for relegation points, as is Leeds at home the following weekend.

Once the transfer window shuts on Monday hard work will need to be achieved to ensure those three games give a springboard to a more positive second half of the season.