Frank Lampard different to predecessors pre-match for Everton, sends message to players – Greg O’Keeffe
Frank Lampard sent a message to the Everton players that he is different with his pre-match involvement at Goodison on Saturday, says Greg O’Keeffe.
The new manager’s first game in charge ended with a morale-boosting 4-1 victory over Brentford in the FA Cup, and the former Chelsea man was not leaving anything to chance ahead of kick-off.
He differentiated himself from previous Toffees managers, particularly the unpopular Rafael Benitez whom he replaced, by taking a personal role in the warm-ups.
Writing in The Athletic, O’Keeffe says: “Things were different from before the kick-off. Unlike his predecessors, Lampard was out there personally supervising the warm-up drills, yelling instructions and offering encouragement.
“It sent the players a hands-on message: this is a manager prepared to offer the direct interaction and presence which has felt lacking at times over the last six months under Benitez.”
Marked difference
The Englishman is yet to put a foot wrong since his arrival on Merseyside and is currently looking to be the ideal appointment at the club.
It has been difficult to assess the ex-Chelsea and Derby boss’ ability as a head coach as he has done well in both jobs while still leaving himself open to some criticisms.
But the type of manager he is has certainly provided a lift at Goodison so far.
Whether he is deliberately making a point of showing how he is very much not Benitez, who he will have personal knowledge of from their time together at Chelsea, will only be known to him, but it wouldn’t be a bad strategy.
But he has qualities in his own right, and his standing as a player appears to be adding to that judging by Mason Holgate’s comments (via Liverpool Echo) about being “a little bit in awe” of the ex-England international and first team coach Ashley Cole.
Lampard and his significant coaching team are sure to maintain the hands on approach for the foreseeable future considering the successful start.
In other Everton news, BBC Sport’s chief sports writer hailed this unexpected Toffee from the Brentford match, and the manager’s influence.