Everton are set to begin yet another new era with the appointment of former Chelsea legend and manager Frank Lampard. The defeat to Norwich City proved to be the final nail in the coffin for beleaguered boss Rafa Benitez. Duncan Ferguson was in charge of the home defeat to Aston Villa as the search for the next manager was on. Now that search is over with Lampard set to take over. But the question is, is Lampard the right man for the job?
Frank Lampard’s Premier League record
Lampard took over at Chelsea when the club were under the transfer embargo. Meaning Lampard had to deal with a squad that had lost its best player in Eden Hazard, and could not replace him. Despite that, he managed to guide Chelsea to a fourth-placed finish and an FA Cup final. His trust in the academy players paid off in what was a successful first season.
With the transfer embargo uplifted, and covid wreaking havoc to other clubs, Chelsea capitalised and signed a whole host of players. Almost as if they were making up for lost time. With a record-breaking transfer window, a title challenge was expected. But after briefly delivering on those expectations, a horrendous run of form led to Lampard’s sacking.
Over his one and a half years at the helm, Chelsea scored plenty of goals but conceded at an alarming rate. They won many games but lost many as well. Here are the numbers from Lampard’s time at Chelsea in the Premier League:
Played: 57
Won: 28
Draw: 11
Loss: 18
Winning percentage: 49.12%
Goals scored: 102
Goals conceded: 77
Points: 95
Points per game: 1.67
These numbers don’t make for good reading. Win percentage below is 50 is slightly worrying, as is the goals conceded figure. Lampard is not exactly an experienced manager either. His only previous managerial experience was one season with Derby County, where he guided the club to the Championship play-off final.
Can Lampard steer Everton away from troubles?
A season that had started with so much optimism has turned into a dark and treacherous one. Everton need points on board quickly before the teams below begin catching up. The Toffees are 16th right now, only four points above the relegation zone. Everton are enjoying a long run in the top-flight, and if they don’t act quick, they’ll find themselves in a battle to preserve it this season.
Based on past experience, we know Lampard’s team can be delightful going forward, but shambolic at the back. In relegation battles, scoring goals can help you no end, and Everton should have enough fire power to not get dragged into a battle. Lampard has already engineered deadline day signings of Dele Alli and Man United outcast Donny Van De Beek. Both are players with vast potential and can learn a few tricks from the midfield great.