Finding stability in the Premier League is Frank Lampard's main priority as he looks for the next step in his Everton project.
The Blues boss brought in eight signings as he used his first full transfer window to begin efforts to mould the squad according to his and director of football Kevin Thelwell's vision. While more than one summer will be necessary for the pair to complete their overhaul, Lampard is pleased with the progress he believes is being made.
But as the return of David Moyes to Everton this weekend inevitably brings comparisons with the former manager's reign, the current boss stressed "stability" was the pressing ambition after last season's relegation near-miss. Any hope of competing for Europe, as Everton did under Moyes - whose West Ham United side is now enjoying its second campaign in continental action - could only follow the creation of solid foundations, Lampard said.
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Asked ahead of West Ham's visit to Goodison Park whether he could use Moyes' work during his time at Everton or current stint with the Hammers as a template for his own work, Lampard said: "I think 'Europe' is a dangerous word for us right now because the next step is for us to be stable in the Premier League because of where we were last year. When you look at the team that finished against Liverpool and the team I picked in my first game here there is big change and that has to settle and work. We need time to work, to have more meetings, we need to really hone down the things we want from the team.
"What I do know is I have a really responsive group at the minute in the dressing room. When you work with the players it is a group that is coming together and wants to do really well. That is not the end of the story but it can be a good start. It is important not to get ahead of ourselves, find stability in the Premier League, which will be tough because it is so hard each week, and then, after that, can we improve?
"I am not being defeatest. It is great to have ambitions and expectations and the teams in David Moyes’ time were threatening Europe a lot. You knew that when you played against them. They were a group that was looking to fight its way into that top group in the table. We are not there yet and we would love to be there, but that is why you start with building blocks and I have been pleased with some of the things I have seen. To get those extra steps to compete towards that we know there is work to do but we can embrace that work. That is not a problem. We have players here and I can see in their eyes that they want that too. Of course we have to work to get there."
For all the progress evident in Everton's performances this season, the club has not yet secured a victory from its opening six league games. Lampard believes it is important to be realistic about where the club is and why it found itself at genuine risk of relegation just months ago. But he is also aware the wider rebuilding project he has just embarked on does not provide him with a 'free pass' if the club fails to win games. He understands results matter, regardless of the context they sit within.
He said: "You can almost be accused of buying time but the reality is when you bring players in you believe in, when you feel you are getting a mix in the group and bringing in players who will help you implement the way you want to play as a manager more, I think that is a positive. I have a good feeling about that but the talk will be cheap unless we do start to get the results and that is not a problem. It is what it is. I can ask for patience but I am probably the least patient person in the building. I want that as soon as possible which comes back to me on training. I am a big believer in training and working on the things you need to do to get better as a group.
"The big thing for me at the moment is I come into work happy because I see people who are happy to be in work and working hard and enjoying training. That is a huge thing for me. And in the tensions of last season that was difficult to get sometimes and I understood it. I understood why it would be hard for the players and they stood up to that brilliantly in the end. Now we have a different feel, but can we translate that onto the pitch? I think we have started to do that in performances but there is a long way to go."
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