Everton hero Alan Stubbs fears Frank Lampard has now lost the faith of the Goodison Park fanbase. The Toffees boss is at risk of the sack to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
It is just under a year since Farhad Moshiri hired Lampard to replace Rafa Benitez in charge of the Merseyside outfit. He took over the helm on January 31 after agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year contract. But the Blues are in a worse position than when they sacked Benitez.
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Moshiri axed the Spaniard just six months into his tenure with Everton 16th in the table on 19 points after 19 games. Yet the Toffees currently sit 18th with just 15 points in 18 games. They have also hit just 14 goals, only Wolves (11) and Nottingham Forest (13) have fewer.
Everton had scored 24 goals in 19 games before sacking Benitez. They had also conceded 34 goals to the 24 that Lampard’s men have let in so far this season. But displays under the Spaniard led to five wins and four draws, compared to three and six respectively this term.
Benitez also saw Everton crash out of the EFL Cup in the third round at Championship club Queens Park Rangers. The Toffees could only rescue a 2-2 draw in regular time before QPR won 8-7 on penalties. Everton twice had to come from behind after a Charlie Austin brace.
Stubbs fears Everton fans have lost faith in Lampard, who is now at risk of the sack
The EFL Cup has not been too kind to Lampard, either. Everton lost 4-1 in the third round at AFC Bournemouth back in November. The Blues then returned to Dean Court in the Premier League four days later and lost 3-0. The second defeat sparked fury amongst their fanbase.
Everton have since lost 2-1 to Wolves and 4-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion at home since the Bournemouth defeat. They also came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at Manchester City for their only point since the World Cup. Lampard last oversaw three points on October 22.
Now, The Sun reports Everton may sack Lampard. Moshiri is also considering Sean Dyche, Roberto Martinez, Wayne Rooney and Ange Postecoglou as potential replacements. An FA Cup loss away to Manchester United on Friday night may put a lot of pressure on Lampard.
But former Toffees captain Stubbs feels the back-to-back defeats at Bournemouth marked a worrying turning point that could see Everton sack Lampard. He feels the response Blues fans showed after losing at Dean Court suggests they have lost faith in the 44-year-old.
Stubbs told talkSPORT: “The fans had really gotten onside with Frank Lampard and he had a good relationship with them. [But] it’s changed, it’s definitely turned. The two losses to Bournemouth I think was the turning point.”
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