Frank Lampard has discussed where Everton have already improved and how he wants to see that continue in the coming weeks.
The Blues secured their first victory of the Premier League season before the international break with Neal Maupay's effort proving decisive in a 1-0 win against West Ham United at Goodison Park. That display managed to capitalise on a large amount of positive energy around the club after a promising Merseyside Derby performance earlier in the month.
Evertonians have been pleased to see evidence of a new identity being born at the club and have praised improvements in many areas of the pitch - including the midfield trio of Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi. However, Lampard is targeting further developments of his side's play in that area as he looks for his side to be better on the ball than they currently are.
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He wrote, in an open letter published on evertonfc.com : "The West Ham victory has taken us into this international break with an understanding of what we have been doing well so far season. We are harder to beat and harder to score against – that’s a huge thing in football.
"Can we be better on the ball? For sure, but from the West Ham game, we were able to produce passages of play, like for the goal, which showed we are playing through lines better.
"We have got to understand as well that we have got new players in and that means it takes time to get fluidity to our game. Onana has hardly played as a number eight, Alex Iwobi has been playing in various roles, as we know, and Gana has been playing in a different league for a few years so there are parts of our game that will get better.
"At the moment, though, we’re at the start of our process moving forward and the West Ham win gave us three important points, especially after we deserved more from our previous matches.
"It’s early days, of course, but I think our fans appreciate the improvements we’ve made as a team. That’s down to hard work and our players.
"There’s been a turnaround in players and, in reality, that’s something we had to look at. I’m thankful to the board, the owner, the Chairman and Denise because they backed us in terms of who we wanted to sign.
"The rest of our improvement is the work of the lads. There was a lot of tension last season, for obvious reasons, but we’ve settled that. We must never be complacent but we are working really hard and, at the moment, we look in a much better place for it."
Central to improvements that Everton have managed to achieve in their play so far this season have been new signings, with many already having a major impact on the side. Against West Ham particularly, Gueye and Maupay were crucial to the Blues securing victory.
Lampard went on to thank the board for being able to bring in the quality players that he knew he needed to secure in the summer. And, he addressed the individual qualities that Gueye and Maupay particularly possess in giving quality options all over the pitch and throughout the first team.
"Our new signings have helped make a difference to how we are playing," the manager added. "Gana brings quality and experience and a really nice manner. He’s another good lad to have around the training ground.
"He loves the club and wanted to come home and you’ve seen from his performances so far what he brings to the team. For me, he’s world-class but coming from France back to the Premier League after three years presents a lot of challenges – physicality, speed – so I think he’ll get even better for us. You saw the calmness and the sense of positioning off the ball against West Ham. The options and balance in my midfield are getting better now.
"Neal got his first goal for the club, too, and I think he’s already shown why we brought him to Everton. He’s got a really good work-ethic off the ball which is important for us and his goal was a fantastic finish. To control it quickly at pace, get his shot away as fast as he did shows he’s a goalscorer.
"We need Dom fit but when you have Neal you know you have a proven Premier League striker. He’s fitted in really well with the group and you can rely on him to come in and play the way he did.
"I’ve got nice options up front now and it’s given us the comfort of allowing Dom extra time to get fit during the international break because we are going to need him, too. We’ve got options in pretty much every position."
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