Okay, so where were we? Police and stewards had formed a cordon to separate angry fans and angry players, Jordan Pickford was escorted away from one confrontation, Alex Iwobi gave his shirt to a fan who threw it back at him, and Frank Lampard held his hands up in apology after a second anemic loss at Bournemouth within five days. Once again, we find Everton in peril.
Six weeks is a long time to dwell on the events that transpired on the south coast when Everton’s decline in form was met with a brutal display of support for Lampard’s club. One of the greatest benefits of the Everton manager’s 11-month rule has been the reconciliation between fans and players during the turbulent days of Rafael Benitez and before his ludicrous appointment.
Last season, the union was crucial to the club’s survival in the Premier League. It was confirmed at the Vitality Stadium that goodwill has its limitations, and Lampard must improve his form quickly to prevent another season riddled with relegation peril.
Before the New Year’s Eve trip to Manchester City, the Boxing Day match against the bottom-of-the-table Wolves is of utmost importance.
The Everton manager remarked of the Bournemouth uprising, “I never assumed it couldn’t happen at a football club like ours.” “When you come to a club with passionate fans, you as a player, or I as a manager, have to take on your shoulders the ability to deal with the great side – which is me saying how incredible it was that 45,000 fans showed up and helped drive the performance against Chelsea last season – or fans who want to say Bournemouth wasn’t good enough.
“I concur. It was not adequate. We must achieve a better equilibrium somewhere in the middle if we are to be successful, as we are interdependent. I believe the players must play with a higher level of enthusiasm and intensity because that is always the first demand, and the fans will follow. There is no doubt in my mind. They have previously demonstrated this. We must act there.”
Lampard has never concealed his opinion that this season will be difficult or that it will take more than one transfer window to rectify the multiple mistakes made during the Farhad Moshiri period (not his words, admittedly). Equally, Evertonians did not lose their cool solely because of two poor outcomes against Bournemouth, when Lampard’s 11 substitutions for a Carabao Cup match resulted in a 4-1 loss and a 3-0 loss in the Premier League.
Conor Coady, who is ineligible to face his original club on Christmas Day, lamented, “This is Everton, and we’re not representing that squad right now.” Supporters who traveled more than 1,000 miles in five days on two round trips would concur. As a result of five defeats in seven league games before the World Cup, Everton is one position and one point above the relegation zone.
They failed to score in five of those matches, which should not come as much of a surprise to a team that sold last season’s leading goalscorer, Richarlison, put too much faith in Dominic Calvert-comeback Lewin’s from injury, and added just Neal Maupay to its attacking options in the offseason.
There is, however, recognition at the highest level that the manager needs support in January and that acquiring one or two new strikers is the primary priority. However, it will not be simple.
Matheus Cunha of Atlético Madrid was under consideration before Wolves blasted Everton out of the water with a loan-to-buy agreement for more than £40 million next summer. Mohammed Kudus has been sought since the summer, but it will take a substantial price to convince Ajax to trade a player who has already boosted his reputation in the Champions League and World Cup.
“We were pretty familiar with the player,” Lampard added of Cunha. “He is an intriguing player, but the number is high, and Wolves, to their credit, have decided to pursue him. Everyone must work within distinct parameters, and this was not one of our parameters.
It is not simple, but it is our responsibility and the responsibility of recruitment to find the proper players to assist us now. Do we require assistance at the top of the pitch? Yes. We are aware of this fact. However, it is difficult to accomplish because January’s market is challenging.
We will consider both loans and purchases, but I’m looking for players who can immediately contribute to the team’s success, not just those who can serve as squad members. They must come to our aid.”
