Gabriel Agbonlahor backs Frank Lampard, names Everton players that must step up
Gabriel Agbonlahor has backed Frank Lampard and called on three Everton aces to ‘step up’ and perform to save them from relegation, while appearing on talkSPORT.
The Blues sit in 17th place in the Premier League table, above the relegation zone only on goal difference after a fourth defeat in six league games under the new manager.
But Agbonlahor says that after a number of sackings over the years, including Benitez earlier this season, the players need to take some responsibility and named three regulars that need to start performing to help Lampard out.
“I think since he’s [Lampard] come in, the likes of Calvert-Lewin hasn’t looked the same,” he said. “Richarlison, he hasn’t looked the same. Richarlison hasn’t performed.
“He’s struggling to get a decent defensive display. Michael Keane was quite poor in recent weeks. So I think the players have got to step up.
“They’ve got rid of so many managers haven’t they, Everton? It can’t be every manager’s fault. Benitez, Lampard, sometimes the players have got to step up.”
Responsibility
There’s something to be said when Agbonlahor is speaking sense, but he is on this occasion.
Lampard came in and got a song out of the team immediately with impressive performances and wins against Brentford and then Leeds, but since then it’s all gone downhill.
The players are playing as if they feel they’re too good to go down, and with the run of fixtures to come they are due a harsh crash landing in the relegation race.
Everton have plenty of quality in the team right now but they just simply aren’t performing, and at a point that comes down to them as a collective rather than anything the manager is doing.
Lampard needs the squad to step up, especially the key senior players, and drag this talented squad out of trouble in what could go down as one of the great escapes if they manage it.
In other Everton news, ‘Cold sweats’ – Peter Reid admits Everton relegation worry, makes prediction