Your morning Everton headlines for Saturday, October 29.
What Frank Lampard told Alex Iwobi to unleash new Everton creative force
Frank Lampard quickly realised how to unlock Alex Iwobi's talent but needed time to rebuild his side before he could unleash him as a creative force.
Conversations with the Nigeria international, watching him in training and hearing of his technical ability as he rose through Arsenal's youth system all convinced Lampard that Iwobi had the ability to influence games through the middle of the pitch. That belief is being backed up by the 26-year-old's stunning start to the Premier League season, which has seen him score once and set up five goals in the opening 12 games.
Building a structure in which Iwobi could thrive was the key, Lampard believes. That was not initially possible as injuries and Everton's dismal circumstances pushed him into exploiting Iwobi's versatility and using him as a wing back at the end of last season.
READ MORE: New-look Goodison Park tunnel a fitting tribute to those who matter most at Everton
OPINION: Frank Lampard can't say what every Everton fan is thinking following latest 'baffling' FA charge
It is a different story this season - though Everton remain a work in progress and injuries once again threatened to undermine the plans laid out at Finch Farm. Everton started the season opener against Chelsea with the makeshift central midfield of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iwobi. The pair began that match without a recognised striker in front of them due to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's knee issue and ended the game with two of the three starting centre backs having suffered serious injuries. The transfer window seeped five games into the season and it is only in recent weeks that new signings have began to settle and key players have returned to fitness.
Read the full story, here.
Everton make big change to tunnel at Goodison that shows what club is all about
Goodison Park's famous tunnel has a new look and front and centre of the design is what matters most about Everton - the fans.
The club revealed the new images, which will be passed by players as they head out to the pitch to the soundtrack of Z-Cars, on social media yesterday and they are a fitting tribute to the supporters. Blues coming together in adversity played a huge role in inspiring the club's relegation survival bid last season and that has not been lost on those at the club.
One of the most positive effects of an otherwise difficult season has been the rekindling of the connections between the fanbase and the club, inspired by Frank Lampard's open embrace of a support he repeatedly expressed his gratitude for. That the fans will now be the last thing the players see inside the stadium - before becoming the first thing players will see (and hear) when they step out onto the pitch - feels poignant. No-one should forget what they did for the club in one of the darkest hours of its modern history.
And in fairness no-one appears to be. That the fanbase is the spine of the club is frequently being acknowledged as Lampard's project builds momentum. After the players returned for pre-season after the summer break one could be forgiven for thinking they would want to put the trauma of the relegation scare behind them. Instead at Finch Farm they were greeted with a message board on their walk out to the training pitches. On it were plastered images of the supporters throwing the blue-pyro welcome parties for the coaches ahead of crunch games against Chelsea, Brentford and Crystal Palace along with social media messages highlighting just what the club meant to them.
Read the full story, here.
READ MORE:
- Everton and other clubs told there is 'great chance' of Jonathan David leaving Lille
- Frank Lampard can't say what every Everton fan is thinking following latest 'baffling' FA charge
- Asmir Begovic makes Frank Lampard point amid Everton future admission
- Frank Lampard responds after Everton hit by FA charge
- Leon Osman fires Dominic Calvert-Lewin warning and Tim Cahill message to Everton midfielders
