Sky Sports pundit admits Everton could yet fire Frank Lampard but makes strong Arsenal argument
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 could be sacked by Everton but it would be the wrong thing for the Everton board to do, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Toffees boss is under pressure again after the encouraging signs earlier in the season have largely evaporated amid some poor form, and back to back defeats at Bournemouth brought things to a negative head as the club went into the World Cup break.
Sky Sports pundit Campbell accepts that there are no guarantees over Lampard’s future given the recent “hire and fire” culture at the club, but has called for continuity while pointing to the success Mikel Arteta is having at Arsenal as proof that it can work.
He exclusively told Goodison News: “I think the writing shouldn’t be on the wall for him, when you look at what he’s inherited.
“The problem is Everton, in my opinion, have to stop this hire and fire.
“They’ve got a manager in who gets what’s needed. He knows. He’s not been backed correctly yet, so if you go and sack him then bring somebody else in all of a sudden you’ve got another manager’s players in.
“It makes no sense. There has to be some continuity. The board have to be strong and say, ‘Listen, he’s our guy’.
“We know when things aren’t going well the fanbase will go crazy. I witnessed it at Arsenal with Mikel Arteta, and I’m not saying it’s the same, but I’ve witnessed fans saying he’s not good enough for the club.
“But you stick with it and all of sudden he starts bringing in the correct players and the club looks a different club.
“That’s what’s needed. It needs some continuity, and I truly believe Frank Lampard, given the backing, will do the job.
“Getting all these managers, five, six, seven, how many managers have Everton had?! It’s crazy.
“Put an end to all that, ‘He’s our guy. We’re sticking with him. Let’s see where we go’.
“But can he get sacked? Of course. I’m only giving my opinion but I truly believe Everton have to stop being this hire and fire club.”
Arteta is probably giving hope to embattled managers everywhere currently, as he weathered a few early storms at the Emirates before hitting on the current winning formula.
Chelsea have largely set the blueprint for the opposite approach, as Lampard knows well, as they have managed to pick up trophies on a consistent basis despite having anything but continuity for the best part of 20 years.
But they had huge money to spend all the time and still may have done better overall if they’d stuck with one of their coaches, while Everton don’t currently, and for all things do look bad right now the manager does at least have experience of keeping them up, which unfortunately has to remain the number one objective.