Frank Lampard: Everton boss ‘absolutely’ not afraid of being sacked
Everton manager Frank Lampard says he “absolutely” does not fear being sacked after his team were beaten by West Ham in the Premier League.
The Toffees have not won in the top flight since October and are locked in a relegation battle in 19th place.
Everton’s poor form, consisting of six losses and two draws, is Lampard’s longest winless run as a manager in league competition.
“I don’t go so far as to be afraid,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Asked by Sky Sports if it was time for Lampard to be sacked, Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, who was at the London Stadium to see his team in action for the first time in 14 months, replied: “I can’t comment. No its my desicion”. .”
During Everton’s league slump over the past three months, the club has also been knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup at the stage of the third round.
Jarrod Bowen scored twice in the first half to hand former Toffee boss David Moyes a much-needed victory and heap more misery on Lampard.
The Blues manager added: “I’m not afraid at all [being sacked]I am proud to do the work.
“I’m just doing my job. I wake up every day and think about how we can improve a little bit, it’s as simple as that.”
Lampard admitted after the defeat that the club is in “difficult times” and said he knew the task at Goodison Park would be considerable when he took over a year ago because the team was already going through difficult times.
“We had a great fight and we stayed in the league [last season]”, he told the Match of the Day.
“We lost Richarlison and now we’ve tried to build around that, so it’s normal that we’re fighting again when other clubs are trying to move on.
“History moves forward and nothing entitles you to be in their league. If you don’t move, you’re going to have a tough time. We’re in a tough time and everyone has to try to move on.”
“It’s impossible for me to jump into the future. Last season we were five points from safety with five or six games to go, but as a club we have to move together.”
“I can’t complain about the spirit of the players and how they approached the game. They may have had a slow time, but we didn’t find it in the last third.”
| Manager | Games | W | D. | L | Points | points per game |
| mike walker | 31 | 6 | 9 | sixteen | 27 | 0.87 |
| frank lamp | 38 | 9 | 8 | twenty-one | 35 | 0.92 |
| Raphael Benitez | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 1.00 |
| walter smith | 143 | 41 | 42 | 60 | 165 | 1.15 |
| Source: Statistics Realize |
Analysis
BBC football editor-in-chief Phil McNulty
Everton manager Frank Lampard finds himself in such a dangerous position that it will be a bigger shock if he survives than if he is sacked.
Lampard has overseen a run of just one point in Everton’s last seven Premier League games, at Manchester City, and now they are in relegation trouble in 19th place with just three wins and 15 points from 20 games.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, who last attended a game at Goodison Park in October 2021, was on hand to watch the 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers West Ham that will surely end Lampard’s reign after Less than a year in office.
It certainly looked and sounded ominous when Moshiri refused to back Lampard as he stood outside the London stadium, though to suggest it wasn’t his decision was at odds with the usual impression given: that the billionaire’s volatility and impatience are at stake. behind so many bad moves, including five managerial dismissals, that have put Everton in this difficult situation.
Lampard’s class as a personality, and his willingness to interact with an increasingly angry fanbase, means fans wouldn’t celebrate his departure. But the results just haven’t been good enough after last season’s late relegation break.
Everton’s board were at least present at West Ham, as they were kept away from the last home game against Southampton at Goodison Park by safety advice, which meant they saw firsthand how disgruntled the supporters are, with further protests and banners demanding its removal.
This can happen eventually, but the person who currently appears to be in the most danger of being removed is Lampard.
‘We’re behind you’: words of encouragement from fans for Lampard
Strong away support brought banners expressing their anger at Everton’s board and the club’s decline in recent seasons.
The protests were witnessed in person this time by Moshiri, joined by chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, director of football Kevin Thelwell and director Graeme Sharp after board members were advised to stay lost last week’s home defeat to Southampton. due to security concerns.
Unfortunately for Lampard, so was the disappointing result.
However, he received a small morale boost before the match when a group of fans offered words of encouragement and reiterated that their disapproval was directed primarily at the club’s hierarchy.
“It’s not about you, that’s why all the guys are here to support the team,” a follower tells Lampard as he shakes his hand in the video shared on social media.
“We’re all behind you. I know you’re under a little bit of pressure, but we’re 100% behind you and we’re all here today.”
Everton host league leaders Arsenal next Saturday ahead of a Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield on February 13.
