Your morning Everton headlines for Wednesday, January 11.
Leon Osman gives verdict on 'sack the board' chants and Frank Lampard's Everton future
Leon Osman would like to see Frank Lampard given the time to turn things around at Everton - but acknowledges results and performances need to improve.
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester United on Friday, Lampard outlined the stark reality of the situation in which he and Everton find themselves in. The Blues are battling to avoid the drop for the second successive season.
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Following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion last week, speculation was rife that Lampard’s position as manager was under threat. In the eyes of the bookmakers, the former Chelsea boss was the overriding favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked.
However, Lampard remained in charge for Friday’s FA Cup tie against United, and following the 3-1 defeat, Blues supporters showed their appreciation towards their manager and his players. And although acknowledging Everton’s board have a 'big decision to make' in regards to Lampard’s future, Osman believes history shows sacking managers often brings Everton back to the same position they initially found themselves in.
“When you are suffering the results that we are and losing at home heavily, like we did, the manager is always going to be under pressure,” he told the ECHO. “I don’t think the manager is under any illusions of that.
"But I hope it is something that he can turn around, I really do feel we have fallen away from what brought us success at the end of last season, getting the ball forward in and around the striker.
Read the full story, here.
Everton confirm deals for three players as major stadium landmark reached - predictions for 2023
After six weeks of preparation Everton hoped to hit the ground running when they returned to action following the World Cup break.
Instead, just four games later, the Blues have dropped into the relegation zone and have been knocked out of the FA Cup after a traumatic fortnight. A battling draw at the home of the reigning Premier League champions amid those three defeats only muddies the water further when trying to assess just *where* Everton are at.
But two things appear clear - firstly, they need attacking options and, secondly, they are in a relegation battle for a second consecutive season unless progress can quickly be found. As the club enters the second week of the transfer window Lampard's squad has only been boosted by the recall of young striker Ellis Simms from a loan deal at Sunderland. Meanwhile, his position is under scrutiny and the wider management of the club is the subject of growing discontent. The past fortnight has been a troubling platform for Everton's entry into 2023. Against that backdrop, the ECHO's Everton writers discuss the coming 12 months.
Read the full story, here.
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