Of the qualities displayed by Frank Lampard during his short time at Everton, one in particular stood out most: his emotional intelligence.
It was key to his ability to shift the momentum as the club slid into a relegation fight. It may not have stopped the disappointing results quickly, or prevented the Blues from dropping into the bottom three with weeks left of the season, but it produced the culture that enabled them to escape it.
That was a success of both the players and the supporters - but the reason they came together so successfully was because of a figurehead who was able to harness the power of both at such a crucial time.
READ MORE: Everton new stadium sees 'super column' installed as Bramley-Moore reaches ' huge milestone'
READ MORE: The £97 million transfer mistake Kevin Thelwell and Everton must avoid this summer
The story of Lampard's Everton is now one of the club and its passionate fanbase rallying together in an hour of need. When Burnley defeated Watford on the final day of April it left the Blues five points adrift with just weeks of the campaign left.
Yet the following day the players - and Lampard - were received as heroes by thousands of Everton supporters outside Goodison Park. The remarkable scenes inspired the players on to a crucial win over Chelsea and a run that would culminate in safety being guaranteed with a game to spare.
A lot happened before then, however. Not all of it went right, but much of it highlighted that Lampard understood the people he was working with - and the fans he was working for.
Despite poor performances he held off from openly questioning his team until the FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace, later asking whether they had the "b******s" to fight for the club. It was, in some ways, good timing. Not only did it provide a shock to the system, his words were afforded time to sink in as many of his players then joined their national squads for the international break. That meant there was a long time for any frustration to dissipate and turn into reflection.
When domestic football returned after that break there was a notable improvement from Everton, even if it was initially followed by defeats at West Ham and Burnley. His side appeared more competitive and, crucially, more responsive to him.
Lampard had the ability to pick and choose his battles - refusing to rise to the incendiary comments of then Burnley manager Sean Dyche after the nightmare defeat at Turf Moor. He played down the views of his rival manager and, when asked about it in the following days, decided against falling into a spat and instead insisting any issue had been resolved in private.
What Lampard did instead was take on the officiating he - and many supporters - believed was costing the Blues dear. This was most emphatic in the aftermath of the Merseyside derby, when he questioned the decision not to give Everton a penalty for an incident involving Anthony Gordon when the score was still 0-0.
While his words have since led to the intervention of the FA, they aligned his views with those of the supporters and helped create the siege mentality that was harnessed ahead of the following game against Chelsea.
Ahead of that match Everton Fans' Forum, in a rallying cry to the supporters before a game that changed the club's fortunes, wrote: "It feels like everyone on the outside - other clubs, other fans, pundits, the media – is enjoying seeing a club of our size in the position we are in. If it's us against the world, that's fine."
Lampard had set the tone and what followed, as thousands of supporters packed the streets around Goodison Park to welcome the players, showed his words had galvanised the fanbase.
His emotional intelligence was most obvious in his dealings with those supporters. There appeared to be an acceptance the players would need all the help they could get to pull the club over the line and Lampard built on his rapport with the fans as they rallied to help him.
His public praise was one thing, but it was the intricate details that were key. Lampard does not normally sit in the front passenger seat of the coaches but he chose to place himself there when supporters gathered at Finch Farm before the Leicester City and Watford send-offs. It enabled him to wind the window down and talk with and 'fist bump' supporters, building his connection with them. It also cemented his role as a visible figurehead for them to get behind. It was the same away from the cameras - Lampard choosing to be present at Goodison Park when the fan groups most influential in creating the displays in L4 and outside Finch Farm went to inspect the latest banners designed for the stands. His surprise appearance only enhanced the growing bond with supporters.
Perhaps the most important of his moves came at half-time against Crystal Palace. With all hope lost as Everton went in 2-0 down and staring at the probability of needing to get a result against Arsenal to stay up, Lampard sent Dele Alli out to warm-up. His kit was on and the intent was clear. It was a sign to the supporters change was imminent and gave the watching thousands a focal point to applaud - a distraction from the anguish facing them. What happened next is already embedded in Goodison Park folklore.
Next season, Lampard will not be able to rely on his emotional intelligence. His transfer dealings, his tactics and results will all come under more scrutiny following the summer. But it is clear Everton supporters have found a manager who 'gets' them. One they can work with. That will already be an improvement on how last season began.
