Everton must design new mantra around rejuvenated Alex Iwobi in midfield
Everton are clinging onto their Premier League status by the thinnest of fingernails and it might take something drastic to change their fortunes.
Frank Lampard is already starting to shuffle his pack with every passing game and he may have accidentally stumbled onto something that might be their ticket to survival.
It’s not a new player who has come in and revolutionised football or one player hitting a purple patch in front of goal and it’s yet to produce any kind of consistent success but the potential is there.
If Everton have anything in their squad, it’s speed but they have not used that burst of pace anywhere near enough this season and that is one of many reasons why they find themselves in their current predicament.
Speed in central midfield is very rare but in Alex Iwobi, they have a highly competent dribbler of the ball who will be quicker than the majority of his opponents in the middle of the park too.
WhoScored.com might only rate his five appearances in that position at a 6.47 but that doesn’t tell the whole story and Lampard will have been encouraged by what he has seen.
He needs to start trying to counter-attack far more often and each one can be started by the enigmatic Nigerian in the middle of the park whose quick feet and agility can see him squeeze out of a tight spot and surge forward.
The willing runs of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon on either flank would make for a nightmarish situation for the opposition defenders and even if the first attempt doesn’t end in celebrations, they will eventually find the net if they try hard enough.
To do this though, Lampard has to get his defensive unit working in unison and that has been a big struggle for him during his time at Goodison Park.
But he has to do this if he wants to still be in a job on Merseyside and have Everton in the Premier League, where they rightfully should be.
In other Everton news, the Merseyside police are set to investigate fan behaviour during the Liverpool match with punishments to be handed out.
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