Experienced manager Neil Warnock says Frank Lampard must take responsibility for Everton's pre-season defeat to Minnesota United, despite the 'decimated' squad.
The Blues were beaten 4-0 at Allianz Field earlier this week and are yet to pick up a win this pre-season. Defender James Tarkowski is the only piece of business so far this summer in terms of incomings, he joined on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Burnley.
Richarlison has been the only major outgoing, but ended last season as the club's top goalscorer and a replacement is yet to be signed. Despite the squad size, Warnock believes the team 'could have done better' in the defeat on Thursday.
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“I don’t like listening to the words that Frank’s saying at the minute,” he told talkSPORT. “Last year, I felt a bit sorry for him if I’m honest. I didn’t think it was a job for a young man and he’s done well but he’s not had many disappointments in his career and you’ve got to learn from them.
“He hasn’t got a big squad and to lose his top scorer (Richarlison), he’ll be decimated but you’ve still got to organise your side and you can’t tell me the side he had out couldn’t have done better?
“Forget about the disappointment, he’s got to get on with his job now and think, ‘Right I’ll show them I can get a result with any team and anybody that’s in the team’. You look at his one to eleven – it isn’t bad. He should have got more out of that eleven that started.”
Everton will continue their pre-season preparations this weekend with a friendly against Blackpool, before they welcome Dynamo Kyiv to Goodison Park next week. Lampard will hope his side can pick up some positive results in a bid to build some momentum heading into the new campaign.
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