Seamus Coleman has explained why the signing of James Tarkowski is that proof Everton are recruiting more smartly and hailed the summer transfer work of Kevin Thelwell and Frank Lampard.
The centre-back joined the Blues at the start of July after his contract at Burnley officially expired. But the deal was done several weeks earlier as the ECHO revealed back on June 15.
Tarkowski has been a figure of authority and composure at the back for Everton so far this season. His performances have been so impressive that there are calls from some for him to be included in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup.
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The former Burnley man revealed earlier in the week that Coleman sent him a message ahead of his arrival at Everton telling him to 'be yourself'. And now reacting to the defender’s arrival, Coleman believes Tarkowski has helped transform the Blues’ dressing room.
“It feels like a different dressing room this season. We’ve got a great group,” he told the club’s matchday programme. “James is a big part of that. He’s been unbelievable since he came in. He’s a great player and he’s a great character, too.
“It's hard to mention James without mentioning Conor Coady in the same breath. Again, he’s such an infectious person – he’s so full of life, full of personality and enthusiasm all the time.
“We’ve learned a lot from last season and the manager is trying to build his own philosophy and his own standards around the building. Slowly but surely, I believe it will all come together.”
The Blues signed both Tarkowski and Conor Coady this summer, as they looked to strengthen their leaky defence. Both defenders have quickly become Lampard's go-to men at the back and Coleman admits he is even learning from the pair.
“I think you can always learn. Definitely. Whether that be from the youngest member of the squad or the oldest, the manager or a coach,” he said.
“For example, ever since Tarky and Conor came on board, I’ve learned so much from them in a short period of time.
“That could be how they are after a result, how they interact with others, how they act before training to get the spirits and the mood high…. They’ve been great on the pitch and they’ve been unbelievable for things that maybe the fans don’t see.
“I’m so happy they are at the Football Club.”
Both Kevin Thelwell and Lampard reshaped Everton’s squad over the summer in a bid to avoid another battle against relegation. And Coleman believes his side are finally attracting players to the club who understand Everton.
“There’s massive respect from me towards him,” he said when asked about Lampard. "Not just for the player he was, but how he’s come in here, how he’s took to Evertonians and the Football Club, and the standards he sets.
“You can’t pull the wool over Evertonians’ eyes. He’s really bought into this football club and they’ve took to him, too. He was a top player, and he wants to be a top, top manager.
“He wants us to be better and every day he’s on to us about where we can improve. He knows when the right times are to be a bit tougher on us, too. He’s loving being Everton manager, and Evertonians are loving having him.
“We just want stability for the few years with the manager leading us forward. We’re a massive football club and we’re starting to attract players who understand Everton.
“We need to stay solid, stick with a plan for the next few years, grow the Football Club and hopefully get back challenging.”
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