Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Adam Jones

Frank Lampard answered important Everton question but new challenges clear

The last week has been just the latest in a long line of examples that those who don't watch Everton regularly will never understand certain aspects of the club.

In the wake of the Blues dramatically securing safety in the Premier League with a comeback victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday, everyone will have seen the tongue-in-cheek comments from others across the country. The "he's taken them from 16th to 16th" narrative was in full effect.

Those might have been jokes, but there are some who genuinely believe that the current manager has done little to help their fight against relegation, and that Everton would have been safe if they had kept Rafael Benitez in charge.

ANALYSIS: Paul Clement fumes at persistent Everton problem as away end left baffled one final time

READ MORE: Richarlison sends emotional Everton message and names 'player of the season'

It's hardly even worth going into why that's wrong, we all know the reasons, right? A run of one win in 13 games up until mid-January was not the form of a side destined for survival.

But, the questions over Lampard as a manager provide a little more of a nuanced debate to be had. Regardless of your thoughts on his style and previous achievements, it would be fair to say there were there were questions from some over whether he was best-equipped to take on a relegation battle.

After all, he's never been in this position before. How would he react to the setbacks and tribulations that would follow?

Just a few weeks ago he was asked about changing people's minds, but was still focused on the battle at hand. Not concerned about his own reputation, he was instead blinkered towards getting the team out of their dismal situation - in essence, he was doing it the right way.

Speaking following the Arsenal match on Sunday, his tune had clearly changed somewhat. In fact, contrary to most of a royal blue persuasion in recent months, he's actually enjoyed the challenge.

He said: "The experience of a relegation battle is different to previous managerial experiences. Derby, getting to a play-off final, Chelsea to the Champions League positions.

"There's a lot of pressure, but the pressure of a relegation battle is much bigger. You can't not understand that at the time.

"I've been pretty pleased with how I've dealt with that, to be honest. People have said, 'it must be terrible', but I've actually found it really enjoyable on the work side. Pretty stressful, but when you get the results you got on Thursday it makes it all worthwhile."

The initial question of whether he and his staff would have the bottle and nous to guide this side through a relegation fight, well that's been answered. It was a tough journey, but the Blues made it.

Anybody who hasn't been here might not get it, but Everton fans know the crucial role the manager has played. He's been a figurehead to unite the fans, the staff and the squad all together.

You only need to look as far as him sitting in front of the team bus, fist-bumping fans as it left on the way to Leicester as hundreds sang his name, to see the effect he has had. Or read up about him surprising a group of Evertonians who have proven influential to the latest swing in fan culture at Goodison Park.

He's bought into the Everton ideal, he's directly addressed the fans in the most honest way possible and hasn't shirked away from any of his responsibilities. As such, he's earned huge amounts of respect and adoration off the pitch.

Now this isn't to say every question has been answered, because how could it have been? Lampard has only been here for a few months and this was a team with confidence seemingly even lower than rock bottom.

There have been some tactical missteps along the way, some formations that could have been different, some substitutions that could have gone another way. But, that's indicative of a young manager learning on his new job.

And those are the next challenges that he will no doubt thrive on. The initial questions that he faced as Everton manager will subside for the time-being, but now it's all about a focus further into the future.

Both he and Kevin Thelwell will be tasked with an almost top-to-bottom rebuild of the squad, starting with what will be a crucial summer.

Can the manager continue to adapt his methods to the new players he will bring in? How much improvement will that be able to inspire? Will he be able to keep that connection with the fans as high as it currently is?

Those are the new questions the manager will face. And Evertonians will hope that he will be able to answer them in the same way they know he has so far in his tenure.

Anyone who doesn't understand the effect Lampard has had in recent months, probably won't get it in the future either. But, that hardly matters.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.