Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has seemingly agreed with a fan theory over former manager Frank Lampard by 'liking' a tweet suggesting his dismissal came too late.
The 30-year-old midfielder endured a frustrating time under the ex-Chelsea midfielder as he made just two starts, coming in the opening day defeat to the Londoners before being forced off with a hamstring injury against Aston Villa. Since the change of manager, the Blues man has started the last three games under new boss Sean Dyche.
Following the appointment of the 51-year-old, Everton have won two out of their last three - including their important 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday - as they move out of the relegation zone. However, the latest movement on social media has potentially added credence to speculation that there were murmurs of discontent between the Mali international and Lampard.
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In the weeks prior to Lampard's dismissal, it had been reported that the former Watford midfielder was made to train on his own.
Now, a tweet from a supporter following Seamus Coleman's winner noted that if Lampard's time at Everton ended sooner, the Blues' position in the Premier League would be much safer - and it was 'liked' by the midfielder.
The fan tweet read: "If Lampard had gone before the WC [World Cup] break we would comfortably be mid table," in reply to a message from Sky Sports highlighting the former Burnley boss winning two in three games as his predecessor managed just three in 20. Doucoure appears to have hit the 'like' button in response.
"I thought Doucoure and Gana were absolutely outstanding, both of them," Sean Dyche said after their win over Michael Skubala's side.
"You see the other results, the topsy-turvy nature of the Premier League. It [the win] does not guarantee anything but for me it just reinforces the work we are trying to do with the players. I only try to guide them with what I think is important for them and what I think is good for them.
"I think they are showing, they are adapting, to what it is. They still have the freedom to go and play and I thought that was better today. Don't get me wrong - you play Arsenal and that is not easy because they are flying, Liverpool for different reasons, a tight game away from home and with the meaning and the purpose of it all that I am learning about.
"Today it was finding that balance between defending very, very solidly which we did - I don't think they had a shot on target - and then finally on the transitions how many times we can play ourselves and I thought there was some good quality football today so we want that balance to be right. You tie all that together with the work ethic and the demands on the group physically and I thought that was very good today."
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