Just one week short of his one-year anniversary, Frank Lampard bit the bullet at Everton, shown the exit following a brutal run of nine defeats in 12 Premier League.
But, while the Chelsea legend remains a well-liked and respected figure amongst the majority at Goodison Park, his inevitable and arguably-overdue departure may still have elicited a sigh of relief from a handful of Everton players beaten down by a seemingly never-ending cycle of mediocrity and decline.
Here are five Toffees players who could emerge stronger from Lampard’s dismissal
Ruben Vinagre
Since returning to English football last summer, the one-time Wolves flyer has played just 24 minutes of Premier League football. His most recent top-flight outing, meanwhile, came all the way back in August.
Lampard’s departure, however, should hand Vinagre a clean slate, and an opportunity to show why former Molineux director Kevin Thelwell was so keen to reunite with the former Portugal u21 international at Goodison Park. If Vitaliy Mykolenko is the definition of ‘solid rather than spectacular’, Vinagre could offer Everton something different. A more attacking, adventurous option on the flanks.
Mykolenko has not set up a single goal in 37 Premier League games. More is required in wide areas if Everton are to get the best out of a certain number nine.
Which brings us onto…
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham – the final nail in Lampard’s Everton coffin – would have felt oh-so familiar to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The England striker managed just one shot on goal and 26 touches at the London Stadium (WhoScored). Calvert-Lewin is the sort of centre-forward who relies on quality service, and it just wasn’t forthcoming under Lampard.
A coach with a more coherent, free-flowing style – be that a Marcelo Bielsa, a Thomas Frank or a Marcelino Garcia Toral – would almost-certainly get more out of a striker who has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer in the right system.
Let’s not forget that, under Carlo Ancelotti in 2020/21, Calvert-Lewin hit the target 21 times in just 39 games.
Dwight McNeil
On paper, McNeil and Calvert-Lewin are a match made in footballing heaven. One of the Premier League’s best crossers joining forces with one of the Premier League’s biggest aerial threats. It’s a mystery, then, why Lampard seemed so intent of using McNeil on the right wing, when his most effective, creative performances at Burnley came on the opposite flank, where he can use his trusty left foot to whip in those trademark deliveries.
Per Transfermarkt, McNeil averages a goal or an assist every 5.7 games on the left-wing. When playing on the right, that average drops to 6.2. His running power and work-ethic, meanwhile, could make McNeil a perfect fit for a wing-back system. A system favoured by the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo, linked with Everton via The Sun.
Neal Maupay
The £15 million summer signing from Brighton has become something of an unfortunate scapegoat amongst some members of the Everton support. But a little context is required. At the Amex, Maupay was averaging 2.2 shots per game. At Everton, that number has plummeted to 1.2. The fiery Frenchman so often looks isolated in attack these days. A far cry from his Brighton days, when he had the likes of Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana and Solly March to link with.
Between them, Maupay and Calvert-Lewin have scored just two Premier League goals in 2022/23. But asking Maupay or Calvert-Lewin to fire Everton to safety when chances are at such a premium is like asking a Michelin star chef to cook you a royal banquet with ingredients bought from Farmfoods.
Of all the players in Everton’s squad, the strikers have arguably been the most negatively affected by Lampard’s bewildering attacking gameplan. Or a lack thereof.
James Garner
Only four teams in the Premier League have posted worst possession stats than Everton this season. In that insipid defeat to a Jarrod Bowen-inspired West Ham, you’d need more arms than an octopus to keep track of how many times Everton tried to play a ball through the lines, only to see it easily picked off. For all of Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye’s qualities, they are not natural playmakers.
All of which makes the sidelining of Garner – Everton’s best ball-playing midfielder – rather baffling. Especially during home games against limited opposition. The former Manchester United youngster set up 10 goals on loan at Nottingham Forest last season. He can take a mean set-piece too.
If Everton hire a purist like a Marcelino or a Bielsa to take Lampard’s place, expect to see Garner feature with a lot more regularity.
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