Richard Dunne hails ‘smart move’ by Frank Lampard in Everton turnaround
Everton have enjoyed a successful start to the reign of Frank Lampard at Goodison Park with two home wins in as many games.
The 4-1 FA Cup triumph over Brentford was followed two weeks later by a 3-0 cruise past Leeds United which has seen the Everton fans enjoy watching their team again.
They might have lost 3-1 away at Newcastle in between those two home fixtures but the away form will come in time.
Sky Sports pundit Richard Dunne though is in awe of what Lampard has done to transform the feeling around Goodison Park and thinks the good times will keep on coming.
“You’ve seen with the past couple of managers there’s not been that excitement or connection between what the players were being asked to produce and what the fans really wanted to see,” Dunne told the Liverpool Echo.
“The fans really wanted to get behind the team and every club has a connection with their fans and the style that they’re expected to see.
“That’s probably stronger at Everton than at most other clubs. If the players can tap into that and get the fans going, really cheering them on and pushing them forward then it’s a really difficult place for any opponent.
“I think that was one smart move from Lampard, giving them back their team to support.”
Bit by bit
It is a resounding success early on for Lampard on Merseyside but things aren’t going to be all sorted overnight.
Crucially, he has the Toffees fans on board and fully behind the team which has already seen much-improved mentality from the players and now they can look to other areas.
Away form is what needs to be sorted next as they were comfortably beaten by the Magpies in Lampard’s second game.
They have the chance to rectify that, in the short term at least, on Saturday as they head to St. Mary’s to take on Southampton but it won’t be an easy task.
If Lampard can get his Toffees performing to the same standard both at home and away, then Everton could be well set for a very good period of success.
In other Everton news, Dele Alli has reacted to a social media video about him, mocking a controversy around his arrival on Merseyside.