Everton fans must support Frank Lampard and his team in the same manner as they did towards the back end of last season if they are to enjoy a successful campaign, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
The Toffees escaped relegation in dramatic circumstances last term as they came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the penultimate game of the season. The comeback was inspired by the raucous reception Blues supporters gave Lampard's men as their coach drove up to Goodison Park hours before the game.
It marked the end of a turbulent few months for the former Chelsea and England midfielder, who took over the reins at Goodison Park in January after former manager Rafael Benitez had been dismissed for a far from an impressive six-month spell in the Everton hot seat.
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But Carragher, speaking on the Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet, believes that supporters must get behind Lampard during his first full campaign and use Goodison Park to their advantage if they are to be successful.
“The best thing that Everton have got right now, is that the fans are behind the manager [Frank Lampard]," said the former Liverpool and England defender.
"We all know at different times with clubs when the fans aren't really with the manager, that’s when problems can really start. The fact that they [fans] believe in Frank, he’s really good in front of the camera, speaks well, speaks how Evertonians want to hear their manager speak.
“There has got to be a mix of how you play at Everton. I’ve always felt that if you’re an Everton manager you’ve got to use Goodison [Park], it’s a tight pitch, aggressive, supporters are right on top of you.
“The thing that you [Everton] got going last season, the supporters greeting the coach – you can’t do that every week. But, it could be there five or six times a season before really big games and building that rapport between the supporters and team. They [the fans] have got it with the manager, but they haven’t with the team because it’s been a shambles on the pitch. The one thing they have right now that’s keeping them together is the manager.”
Everton start their new campaign against Lampard's former side, Chelsea, on Saturday evening. However, the Blues boss has been handed a major blow ahead of the fixture with star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin set for a six-week spell on the sidelines, according to the Everton boss. This, following the sale of Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur for a deal in the region of £50m earlier this summer, leaves Lampard short of centre-forward options during the early weeks of the new campaign.
To access exclusive, unseen content from the Overlap Fan Debate, please visit Sky Bet’s Start of Season Hub.
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