Frank Lampard faces ‘El Sackico’ final Everton game vs Southampton – talkSPORT pundit
Frank Lampard’s final Everton game could be the Premier League clash with fellow strugglers Southampton next up, according to Alex Crook.
The Toffees were beaten 3-1 at Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday night (6 January) in a game which former captain Alan Stubbs classed “a free hit” on BBC Radio Merseyside, but desperately need points in the Premier League with the club sitting in the relegation zone.
And talkSPORT’s Crook believes the fact that numerous Everton bosses have failed in recent years is the reason for mounting fan fury towards the board, with either manager now facing the sack if they can’t get a result when Nathan Jones’ bottom-placed Saints come to Goodison on 14 January.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Thursday (5 January, 7min 20sec) Crook said: “Far better managers than Frank Lampard have been to Everton and not been able to make a success of it. That’s why there’s so much anger towards the board.
“Do you know their next game by the way?”
Host Ade Oladipo added: “Far better managers have gone there but none of those were in a relegation battle. That’s the problem. Who’s their next game?”
Crook responded: “Southampton… El Sackico.”
Must-win
Perhaps the FA Cup tie was the opportunity for a welcome distraction from the miserable league plight, and a chance at a morale-boosting cup run.
The team performed reasonably well against a strong United side who are currently fourth in the Premier League, but were undone by some bad luck and some sloppy errors.
Had Everton won at Old Trafford it would have been a boost, but done nothing for the league position that is far more crucial with top flight survival once again in question.
If Everton can’t beat Southampton at home then faith in Lampard is likely to drain away, especially after losing at Goodison Park when Wolves visited on Boxing Day and were bottom at the time.
So while the term ‘El Sackico’ may be partially tongue in cheek, and there is an argument that Farhad Moshiri has driven this club into the mire with his sackings so another one isn’t the way out, it is no stretch to imagine that Lampard could be done without a win in that game.
The unbeaten run earlier this season feels a long way away now, and with Alex Iwobi picking up an injury in the cup, there is little for the fans to cling to right now.