Everton ‘negativity’ taking its toll on Frank Lampard after team meeting
Everton manager Frank Lampard has admitted that he’s struggled to cope with “constant negativity” at Goodison Park since his arrival.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder has endured a tough start to life as the Toffees boss having won just once in the Premier League in five attempts.
Things may be going better in the FA Cup with a quarter-final place secured but the threat of relegation to the Championship is looming large in the rear-view mirror.
In his press conference on Friday, Lampard couldn’t hide the fact that the negative outlook of some had taken its toll on him but he remained upbeat in spite of that.
“This idea of (having) a crisis meeting. It’s just language and a lovely headline,” Lampard said, as quoted by the Independent.
“It’s not a crisis, it is very normal. I did have bad runs – personal and team ones – and it happens when you are in the position we are in.
“The idea is we find the answer and solution. To hear players speak a bit is important for me and some players spoke and that’s good.
“But the ownership of it has to be mine as coach. I am fresh to the club so sometimes I find it a bit hard to take the constant negativity which kicks in instantly here when something goes wrong because I don’t feel that.
“This is football, it happens and we have to correct it. The only way to correct it is by training well, showing resilience and showing character.”
Fine margins
As in every sport, the difference between success and failure can be incredibly minuscule.
On some occasions, most notably against Manchester City, Everton can count themselves very unlucky to not get something from the game but they can also be thankful to have taken points from other games where they haven’t been at their best.
Lampard knows that the quality in the Toffees squad should be more than good enough to easily avoid relegation from the Premier League but he cannot find a way to get results right now.
He has to make drastic changes soon if he wants to avoid trips to Preston North End and Millwall for league encounters next season.
This is a huge test of both his capabilities as a manager and the squad’s self-belief to survive because if the current trend continues, it will be Saturday night highlights on ITV4 rather than Match of the Day.
In other Everton news, two senior stars are set to return from injury for Sunday’s clash with Wolves.
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