Inside Lampard's whirlwind first day at Everton and deadline day deals
Inside Frank Lampard’s whirlwind first day at Everton as the new boss gets to work, with Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli arriving in deadline day double deal – while Farhad Moshiri insists the club’s future is ‘bright’
- Frank Lampard was officially unveiled as Everton manager on deadline day
- Alongside his appointment, the club also added two new players to his squad
- Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli were both signed, the former on a loan deal
- Alli has arrived on a free initially as part of the sensational deal also negotiated
The first indication that a new era was dawning was the sight of silver people carrier trundling down Finch Lane at 10.54am.
Inside was Donny van de Beek, en route to complete the formalities of his medical. Soon, in a separate car, he was joined by his girlfriend Estelle Bergkamp.
This being transfer deadline day, it was always going to be busy at Everton’s training base. With respect to van de Beek, though, he was the most significant arrival. That honour belonged to the man whose car trundled through the gates at 11.40am.
Frank Lampard enjoyed a whirlwind first day at Everton after becoming their new manager
Here was Frank Lampard, ready to begin the task of picking a fallen giant off its knees.
Lampard, accompanied by two of his assistants, Chris Jones and Joe Edwards, swiftly made a beeline for the club’s Academy. He had some spare time, as first team training wasn’t due to start until 3pm, and readily exchanged high fives and fist bumps with those young boys who are a daring to dream.
A small gesture, perhaps, but it was important. Finch Farm, increasingly in recent years, has lost its soul; it used to be a bouncing hub, full of life and connection, but the constant chopping and changing of staff and revolving door policy of managers has killed the atmosphere.
Donny van de Beek arrived on a loan deal from Manchester United until the end of the season
That, in turn, has led to questions about the character of the squad Lampard has inherited. Plenty have given the impression they have arrived without much care for where they are or who they are representing and that has not gone unnoticed.
‘The players have to show the same passion as every fan that turns up to a game,’ said Lampard. ‘That will be my first message to the players. We have to do these things together. These things work both ways. We will try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.’
Much has been written since the sacking of Rafa Benitez about the need for an electric shock to jolt the place back into life and Lampard is prepared to give it. He hasn’t come north for an easy life and his first forays into the transfer market also showed he isn’t afraid of a challenge.
Van de Beek was a priority deal and Lampard had spent much of the weekend enthusing to Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright about the Netherlands international’s qualities and why a man who had found it so difficult to get an opportunity at Manchester United would be the right fit.
New boss Lampard will demand his players to show passion to get the supporters back onside
But the bigger surprise was the pursuit of Dele Alli, whose career has not so much stalled in the last two years but seemingly been in reverse, the memories of when he was bursting forward and scoring goals in World Cup quarter-finals are fading away.
Everton negotiated a remarkable deal with Tottenham; Alli, who was also courted by Newcastle, has left North London on an initial free and they will only receive £10million for the one time England man if he gets to 20 games – as he is cup tied, the maximum he could feature in this season is 18.
Alli is at a crossroads in his career and if he doesn’t grasp the nettle now, it is difficult to see how he will get the chance to play at genuinely big club again. Really, a player of his quality should be at the heart of England’s plans for the next World Cup but he is nowhere near that level at present.
Many will ask why Lampard has gone for two players who have a lot of similar qualities, such as ghosting into threatening positions, but when you consider that current midfield have only scored three goals this season, the additions are somewhat self-explanatory.
Dele Alli has also arrived in a remarkable deal which will see Everton pay nothing this season
What’s more, if anyone can get the best out of these two individuals it is Lampard, a man who made scoring from midfield such an art form. His achievements will resonate with these players and the standards he sets should inspire them.
‘I keep saying the words passion and fight and I think it relates to Everton,’ said Lampard. ‘It is probably the way I tried to build my own career as a player. I knew I had to work overly hard to be the best as I could possibly be. I’m the same as a manager and want to see that in my team.
‘I want to see a team that is confident in possession, can control games with the possession but also be exciting at the top end of the pitch. On the flip side, when we don’t have the ball you have to be aggressive. I will quickly work to make sure that is how Everton is.’
Farhad Moshiri vowed to ‘provide the system to support’ Lampard during his time in charge
There is a need to get immediate results, given the precarious nature of their position in the table, but it is crucial now that Lampard, who could potentially add Ashley Cole to his coaching staff, is afforded the time to get it right.
‘I will provide the system to support him,’ said Farhad Moshiri. ‘Maybe together, me and the fans, should be more patient. I’m also impatient. We have to get behind the manager. So let’s unite behind the team and start moving up the table. Our future us bright. We just need to be united.’
Moshiri needs to read back his own words. It’s the only way this new era will truly be able to proper.
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