Everton: 5 things Frank Lampard must do to save Everton from relegation

New Everton manager Frank Lampard has a tough job on his hands

Everton a year ago were sitting in the top six, they were about to win at Anfield in the league for the first time since 1999 and get the better of a nine goal thriller against Spurs in the FA Cup 5th Round. Since then a dramatic turnaround has seen two managers leave, Everton drop to mid table last season and near the relegation zone this, and the 27 year trophy drought continues. Now Frank Lampard has been tasked with getting back to where they were a year ago.

With Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez both unsuccessful, although Ancelotti would have been given more time had he not moved to Real Madrid, to bring stability and a trophy to Goodison Park it is now the turn of a less experienced manager to give the Everton fans what they crave.

Once the inevitable sacking of Benitez had happened Evertonians were in a state of frenzied panic, falling closer to the relegation zone, campaigning against the owner Farhad Moshiri and the board, and not really having any idea who the next manager would be or who they would like.

The availability of a top class manager was low and who would want to come to Everton anyway? Plus after Ancelotti could you trust a top class and experienced manager to hang around?

Quickly it became apparent of a boardroom split, Moshiri wanted the more eccentric Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira whereas the board would favour a more local manager like Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney or Lampard. In the end, maybe because of the fans protests last week, Moshiri got onside with the board.

Despite media reports telling us about a recruitment circus to get a new manager, once Friday came it was clear Lampard was the number one choice. Last week we identified three key objectives for Lampard to think of if he was successful, now we look more in-depth at tasks he must work on now he is in the Goodison Park hot seat.

In the following pages, we will look at Lampard’s tactical outlook in his previous jobs, how the new signings on deadline day will fit in and what formation is likely, which current players are winners, and losers, in Lampard becoming boss and how he will look at the three important games in eight days coming up.

Frank Lampard’s previous tactics can help us understand how he will set up Everton

1. Lampard’s tactical thinking

During his time with Derby County and Chelsea, Lampard introduced a playing style on both the Championship and the Premier League that liked to keep possession as much as they could and attack from a wide area.

Chelsea really used this well down the left hand side during Lampard’s time there, mainly down the left hand side with at first Marcus Alonso and then Ben Chilwell. Only when Reece James started to come into the side did the right hand side see the same attacking fever.

Formations used were often 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, if the former was utilised then the full back’s would be the main wide attacking threat, if the latter then the wide forward players in the three would be more wide, but the full backs would be expected to overlap. This is explained in an excellent piece by Coaches’ Voice.

In his time at Derby and Chelsea, Lampard loved to use his attacking midfielders as the major goal threats. Maybe because he was so lethal at playing this role himself. The main architect of this for Lampard previously has been Mason Mount. Lampard had Mount on loan at Derby in his year there and back at Chelsea with him the season after. Mount found his mojo at Derby, how to find space, link up with the front man and have more shots on goal.

Mount has been rewarded thoroughly for Lampard’s coaching style and tactics, he has since gone on to be a key player for Chelsea despite the competition for places and become a key member of Gareth Southgate’s England side that meant Mount played most of Euro 2020 aside from the game he missed for self isolation.

This gives encouragement to the new signings made on the last day of the transfer window, Donny Van De Beek and Dele Alli, who both are this type of player.

Lampard likes his team to press high up and having more than one attacking midfielder enables this to happen more often.

As we have seen in one of Lampard’s first training sessions at Everton’s Finch Farm today, which Everton showed on their Twitter account below, he really likes to encourage players to not be scared of the ball under pressure while asking the others to press quickly:

The most interesting part of how Lampard will integrate these tactics into Everton is how to use his central midfield. He liked to have the two out of three midfielders in a 4-3-3 operate more defensively and break up play more often, the trouble with Everton is they only really have one in Allan at their disposal. For example at Chelsea he would play Jorginho and Kante with Mount as the midfield three.

This may mean the intense pressing will have to start right up the pitch and an emphasis on the full back’s being very mobile. At least Lampard has the backroom team in place already to get started right away.

On the next page we look at which formation these tactics will suit Everton best while including the new signings.

Which formation will Frank Lampard use at Everton with the players available?

2. Which formation will Frank Lampard use?

As we’ve discussed there is nothing to suggest Frank Lampard will use a wing back system so that rules out a five man defence. It is likely a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 will be used at Everton, however which players would suit these formations that Lampard has at his disposal?

With the January signings of Nathan Patterson, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Anwar El Ghazi, Donny Van De Beek and Dele Alli it means Lampard has plenty of options to change formation and personnel from when Everton last played against Aston Villa 10 days ago.

No doubt Jordan Pickford will start in goal for Everton under Lampard but he may be asked to use his kicking ability more than under Rafa Benitez. With more attacking midfielders at their disposal and maybe able to get into pockets of space Pickford may well be asked to start attacks quicker than under the previous regime.

Defensively a back four is almost certain as mentioned, personnel is a little less predictable. Patterson looks an ideal candidate in a Lampard system, as does Mykolenko. Lampard hasn’t used centre backs as full backs much before so Ben Godfrey should expect a centre back role more often now. Seamus Coleman could come into Lampard’s thinking also for his experience and leadership at a crucial time so is likely to share right back duties with Patterson to start with.

At centre back Lampard will certainly use Godfrey, he really liked coaching Fikayo Tomori at Chelsea who was young, quick and brave, similar traits to Godfrey. Yerry Mina would likely be his centre back partner on form and the fact he gives you height for set pieces, only his catalogue of injuries would be a concern. Michael Keane surely needs a break as he has been badly out of form, as has Mason Holgate. Jarrad Branthwaite could well come into the reckoning, as stated with Tomori, Lampard is not afraid of putting a young player into the heat of battle.

The midfield is the really interesting part of Lampard’s formation coupled with the tactics he likes to use. Usually, Lampard has used a number six type of midfielder, an enforcer if you will, and a number eight who will help break up the play and then also get the ball to the attacking players. That then leaves the number ten role to roam in the oppositions half to create space for themselves and others.

With the current situation at Everton they cannot utilise this system, if Fabian Delph, a player Lampard has played with for England, and Abdoulaye Doucoure were fit then it would be possible to use this type of three man midfield. As it is only Allan offers any defensive cover at present therefore it might be more of a 4-1-3-2 that Lampard uses in his first three weeks.

With Allan as the enforcer in front of a back four and not told to really break forward, and also to take the ball as an extra centre back to allow the full backs to spread and go forward.

The three players ahead of Allan will be very interesting. For Brentford the new signings of Van De Beek and Alli are cup tied so it will likely be Anthony Gordon, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend tasked with these roles. Then when the league games come around Van De Beek and Alli will fit in with Townsend and Gordon the two likely to miss out.

It will be very interesting to see how Lampard plays Gray in this system, although on the left of the three with Mykolenko overlapping is likely. I’d expect a more fluid midfield three when Van De Beek and Alli are available. I’d fully expect Van De Beek to be tasked with more midfield tasks when without the ball while Alli is the one tasked with making runs to support the front two.

Those front two, fitness depending, would of course be Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. However you could add Gray and Alli into the mix to play off either with Gordon offering an option off the bench to cover in the midfield three.

Once Doucoure is fit then the 4-2-2-2 could work with Allan alongside him, Van De Beek and Alli in front of them with the front two ahead. With this formation the full backs would be tasked with a lot of work. Also the 4-3-3 would come into play with Allan, Doucoure and Van De Beek in the middle three, with Gray or Dele Alli, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin up top.

Certainly Everton have more options in the forward areas and in Van De Beek and Alli players who offer them more technically gifted attackers in tight areas. Numerous times this season Everton have failed to break down the opposition, evidence of this was against Aston Villa last time out. A

Everton have also conceded the first goal too many times and these players enable them to be on the front foot from the start, and with Lampard’s intense press they will be told to be more brave from the kick off.

Next, we look at which players will really gain from Lampard’s tactics and the formations he uses.

Which players gain from Lampard’s appointment

3. Everton winners under Frank Lampard

As we’ve looked into Everton’s likely tactics and formations with Lampard now in charge, we can start to identify the winners in the Everton squad who will develop and play the majority of games.

Defensively the two new full backs brought in will definitely benefit from Lampard’s use of the mobile and forward thinking full back. Patterson and Mykolenko would have worried when Benitez was sacked having been only bought by the Spaniard at the start of the month. However, especially for Patterson, they will both be included in Frank Lampard’s line up.

Patterson has not featured for the first team yet, but his promising under 23 debut where he assisted the winning goal and Lampard’s liking for playing young, mobile and attacking full back’s is to his advantage. Coleman may well be used also, but it shouldn’t be too long before Patterson is given a long run in the team.

Godfrey is another who will benefit from Lampard’s style, he likes his centre backs to be quick, agile and be comfortable on the ball.

There is no doubt the deadline day signings of Van De Beek and Alli will be winners as Lampard personally secured their signatures, but also Gordon and Gray can only be aided with working with one of the best Premier League finishers and timing of forward runs into the box.

Gordon and Gray may well be developed as more inside forwards over the next few months which would enhance there chances of getting into the team. As Van De Beek is only here until the end of the season at present this means opportunities will be more open next season. Not that either will be used extensively for the rest of this season, but both will enjoy the coaching from Lampard and his backroom team.

Calvert-Lewin has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park in this last window but nothing materialised. There has been strong rumours he would wait until the new manager appointment before deciding on his future. Therefore Lampard taking on the job can only help Calvert-Lewin decide to stay at Everton, as will the two new signings who should create plenty more opportunities for the England striker.

Richarlison is another who will enjoy the extra creativity from midfield as you feel sometimes the opposition target him as Everton’s danger man, now with extra dimensions to the Toffees attack this may give the Brazilian less unwanted attention during the match.

After signing his new contract Lewis Dobbin will also be raring to show the new manager what he can do. Lampard loves an intense high press and as we witnessed at Chelsea when he came off the bench Dobbin can certainly provide this.

While the above all have reasons to be cheerful with Lampard’s appointment, there are many who must fear they will only see the bench at best including one who only arrived two weeks ago.

The outlook is bleak for these players with Frank Lampard’s appointment

4. Everton losers under Frank Lampard

Of course, when a new manager comes in some players will know that they are on borrowed time, this is the case of several players in the Everton squad.

At the back Jon-Joe Kenny must be on his way out of the club. As with many others, I was surprised he did not leave on loan again like last season, but as we know Everton was not the most organised of places over the last week. Kenny is behind Coleman and Patterson in the pecking order and his abject display last time out against Aston Villa would not have helped.

Mason Holgate also faces an uncertain future, his lack of ball playing ability will harm his chances under Frank Lampard with Mina and Godfrey, maybe Branthwaite too, definitely ahead of him. There have been rumours of him leaving also, something that may happen in the summer.

Michael Keane is another who may lose out, his confidence has been not helped under Benitez this season and his passing will not improve even with Lampard coming in. Branthwaite offers just as good an option and Lampard does trust young players.

Alex Iwobi hardly helped his cause with his Africa Nations Cup performances over the last two weeks which culminated in him being sent off in a three minute cameo off the bench in Nigeria’s last 16 exit. Even more so the new signings of Van De Beek and Alli will further put Iwobi down the pecking order. Surely if Everton can get a buyer in the summer Iwobi will be on his way, I think they will know they will lose plenty of profit on the £30 million pound buy.

Despite being only signed on loan two weeks ago, Anwar El Ghazi will be wondering why he came to Everton at all. With Van De Beek and Alli coming in, Lampard’s intended targets, El Ghazi will struggle to make the first eleven. He is also cup tied so cannot even play when these two are not available. Competing against Gray and Gordon too for playing time means El Ghazi could even get no minutes for the rest of the season.

Despite scoring a hat trick for Venezuela last week, Solomon Rondon will be out of favour when he returns to Finch Farm. Lampard likes a high intense press and physically Rondon cannot produce this.

While these players may not be picked for the upcoming key games, it is vital that Lampard gets off to a flying start as Everton manager.

FA Cup first up and then two massive Premier League games for Frank Lampard and Everton

5. Three massive games in 8 days

Baptism of fire can certainly be used for Lampard’s first competitive games as Everton boss. For starters, there are three games in eight days to negotiate, which always is tricky trying to ascertain players fitness and consistency when you first take over.

The FA Cup is first up for Frank Lampard against Brentford at Goodison Park and a full house looks certain to roar Everton on under the new leadership. Everton lost one-nil to Brentford in the league earlier in the season and was a real catalyst for the fans to turn on Benitez.

Unfortunately for Lampard, he cannot call upon three new signings as they are all cup tied, Van De Beek, Alli and El Ghazi will have to watch from the stands for this one. With Delph, Doucoure and Davies all injured numbers are a little light for this one.

Young midfielder Tyler Onyango could well feature in a midfield three with Allan and Townsend as Lampard will look to get Everton into the next round. It could also be a good opportunity to give Patterson his first taste of first team football.

The real conundrum is managing players with a massive Premier League game against Newcastle only 3 days later on Tuesday night. Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are only just coming back from injury layoffs and may not play the full 90 minutes in the cup tie, although bear in mind it can go to extra-time also. Therefore expect Gordon, Gray and Dobbin to play a large part in the game also.

The clash at St James’ Park will be crucial as Everton have slipped to just above the relegation zone. Newcastle have several new players to bed in after the expected transfer frenzy with the new owners first opportunity to buy some much needed reinforcements.

However, so will Everton’s new signings be available and I suspect Lampard will throw Van De Beek and Alli in straight away. I’d also expect a front foot approach as Newcastle’s players get used to each other, high intense pressing and play on the nerves of the home crowd.

Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have good goalscoring records against the Magpies and it will be crucial to get the ball into the Newcastle box at every opportunity.

Following on from that a week on Saturday is a home Premier League clash with Leeds United. Lampard has a history with Marcel Bielsa and Leeds following the spy gate scandal when Lampard was in charge of Derby. Although the managers have respect for each other, Lampard won the war that season when Derby knocked Leeds out of the Championship playoffs over two legs.

No doubt the atmosphere at Goodison for the Leeds game will be determined from the previous results that week,  but they will still be behind Lampard and the players as another crucial three points are up for grabs.

If a 5th round FA Cup place is secured and a minimum of four points has been achieved from the league games I would definitely say the first couple of weeks of the Lampard era has started as well as could be expected.

Will Frank Lampard save Everton from relegation?