Anthony Onifade

Sat 30 September 2023 20:10, UK

Frank Lampard endured a tumultuous second season at Everton but got his decision to invest in the future of James Garner spot on with Sean Dyche now reaping the benefits.

Lampard was sacked on 23 January after just three wins in the Premier League last season, leaving the Toffees in 19th place in the table before Dyche stepped in to seal safety in the English top flight.

The former Chelsea coach wasn’t the problem at Goodison Park but an unfortunate symptom of the mess and consistent incompetence of those above him in the Everton boardroom.

Before his inevitable demise, Lampard was heavily backed in the transfer market completing deals for Neal Maupay, Amadou Onana, James Tarkowki, Conor Coady, Dwight McNeil and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

While the first two names have certainly grabbed all the attention so far since their moves, one player, in particular, has finally proven an absolute steel for Dyche and will certainly be a key part of the club’s future even long after the former Burnley boss is gone and that is Garner.

The 22-year-old Birkenhead-born midfielder joined from Manchester United in a £15m (Sky Sports, 2 September 2022) but only featured sparingly for the Toffees, playing just 16 games in a rather difficult and disappointing Premier League, with most of those appearances coming from the bench (9) (SofaScore).

Garner also had to endure 89 days of last season out with an unfortunate back injury (Transfermarkt) which will have certainly left questions over Lampard’s decision to sign him, at a considerable price of £15m for a player who barely played first-team football for Manchester United.

However, fast forward several months and the Old Trafford academy graduate is finally proving what Lampard saw in him with some stellar performances for Dyche already this season, most notably in Everton’s last few games.

Against Brentford in a 3-1 win on 23 September, Garner was strangely shipped out to the right wing but turned out one of his best performances in an Everton shirt and justified Dyche’s tactical decision.

In his 90 minutes on the pitch, the Englishman recorded a 92% pass accuracy from 45 touches, registered 6 ball recoveries, five ground duels won, four key passes, won two fouls, and completed two of his crosses [SofaScore] while successfully completing 12 of his 13 final third passes.

He also laid on a wonderful assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s clincher after also providing the cross that led to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s opener in a complete and sensational performance from an unfamiliar tactical role.

He then followed that up against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup on Wednesday (27 September), bagging his first goal for the club in another impressive win, but playing in his usual midfield role alongside fellow Lampard acquisition Onana.

Guardian journalist Andy Hunter, writing for the UK publication (29 September) believes that Garner has now become an “integral” component of Dyche’s team at Goodison Park and is arguably one of the more “astute” signings Everton have made in recent memory.

Lampard despite his personal successes as a player, will always be a name unfortunately associated with failure at Everton but he certainly got a few transfer decisions exceptionally right, especially in Garner who is now finally being appreciated for his quality and classy performances.

What’s scary as is promising and exciting for the fans at the same time, is that there is more to come from the £15m man. Dyche has Lampard to thank, certainly.

In other Everton news, the Toffees are locked in a Premier League battle to sign one of the hottest teenage footballing talents in Brazil with a January exit now possible.