Sky Sports pundit hails Frank Lampard for Everton masterstrokes Conor Coady and James Tarkowski
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Frank Lampard has sorted out the “terrible” Everton defence with two “masterstrokes” in the transfer market, according to Kevin Campbell.
There were endless sticks to beat the Toffees backline with last season, with pundits and opponents lining up to take advantage, but they now hold the best goals conceded record in the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundit Campbell is under no illusions as to who deserves credit for that, with the manager and summer signings James Tarkowski and Conor Coady singled out, as well as regular goalkeeping star Jordan Pickford.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he hailed the back line, saying: “Especially when away from home they were terrible last season weren’t they?
“The problem with Everton a lot of the time was they couldn’t keep goals out. They weren’t scoring enough and then they couldn’t keep teams at bay.
“I think we always said didn’t we that they needed to get that defence sorted out, and Frank Lampard’s sorted it out.
“He’s brought [in] two masterstrokes. Tarkowski came on a free, really good player, good signing, as solid as you could ask for.
“And I think the signing of Conor Coady with him is a masterstroke. They got him on loan but that’s going to be permanent that’s for sure. You know, give him what he wants.
“Those two at the back is the foundation, obviously with Pickford in goal as well, that triangle is they key.
“Because sometimes Tarkowski makes mistakes and Coady makes mistakes, players make mistakes. But I tell you what, other players of that triangle pull each other out whenever a mistake is made.
“That’s the sign of good pros, good players, and it’s the foundation that Everton can build from now.
“So that defence, after eight games, best in the league? Well, incredible.”
The change at the back is really some achievement, and all those involved deserve significant credit, including full-backs Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko who have also both been excellent.
Kevin Thelwell played his part in securing two extremely solid defensive additions for next to nothing, but Lampard’s role in the recruitment and the subsequent coaching is arguably his finest achievement in management.
The significance of steering the club clear of relegation last year will likely still take that title, but on a personal level he has surely banished his reputation for having teams that are easily got at, and long may it continue at Goodison.