It's time to digest your Everton morning headlines for Tuesday, March 22
Frank Lampard must make instant training change to weed out Everton let-downs
In his weekly column for the ECHO, former Blue Michael Ball has called for a more competitive approach to training at Finch Farm.
"What he needs to do in training is something I experienced both in Holland and at Rangers. Five-a-sides where it was, 'put your shin pads on today lads, we’re having a competitive game and we might put money on it'.
"I bet you the tempo and the tackles go up. Frank can watch from the sidelines and see who is hungry and who is up for it when something matters and it’s something they care about whether it’s money or personal pride. It might sound daft and people could fear that you could get more injuries but it’s football and injuries happen.
"Football is a competitive game. I played in Holland for a while and we were champions at PSV but there were moments when the manager thought we weren’t tackling enough. We were top of the league by six points but he wasn’t happy and the next day we had the shin pads on in training and were getting stuck into each other.
"Frank says performances in training count so I’d be kicking lumps out of my team-mates to show I want to wear the shirt at the weekend. As fans, we don’t see that hunger or determination from these players."
Read Michael Ball's full Blues column HERE.
Frank Lampard has Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi dilemma after Everton break
The international break ensures Everton have a fortnight off before they return to action at West Ham United on Sunday, April 3 but just what changes might be made to their starting XI?
Manager Frank Lampard returns to the club where he started his career and where his father was a legendary player – albeit both at the Hammers’ previous home, the Boleyn Ground – to face former Blues boss David Moyes’ high-flyers.
Jordan Pickford, surprisingly restored to the side after Lampard claimed in his pre-match press conference that the England number one would miss the trip to Selhurst Park through illness, will be expected to keep his place but the defence in front could change.
Over the past couple of games the Blues have deployed the 3-4-3 formation that Lampard first used at the club but the horror show against Crystal Palace might tempt a move to a flat back four.
Andros Townsend was recalled to the starting line-up against his previous club in south London but Lampard admitted after the game that the winger’s injury looked to be “a bad one” so he looks set to make way with the likes of Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi vying for a spot while last season’s top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin – a substitute against both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace – will also be pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
Alan Stubbs makes damning Everton claim and backs bold Frank Lampard move
Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs believe some of the club's current players have given up in games this season.
The Toffees turned in yet another miserable display on Sunday, as they slumped to a shocking 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace in their FA Cup quarter-final. The defeat prolonged the team's miserable away run and will do little to calm the nerves of supporters worried over relegation from the Premier League.
"I don't get any player that crosses the white line and doesn't try," Stubbs told Sky Sports. "That just doesn't happen. But the one thing he's seen and previous managers before him have seen is that the players seem to give up at times.
"They've lacked leadership on the pitch. It's not a coincidence when Everton concede one goal that we've seen on a number of occasions this season it's been three or four. And that's not on the manager, that'd down to the players. To the players taking responsibility. Getting amongst themselves and saying, 'this is not good enough'."
Get the full story HERE .
