Everton in the Championship. It’s unthinkable, right?
After all these years, if the Toffees were to be relegated, it would come as a huge shock to the football world, but it is not out of the question at this stage, and plenty of fans are sweating over the future.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. The squad needs to be rebuilt, and Lampard could be the person for the job.
Will Everton get relegated?
Anyone who placed a bet on Everton getting relegated before the season will probably have received some pretty generous odds. It was not seen as likely – so the cash out may have been considerable if you backed this outside bet.
In football betting terms, the teams in the bottom three don’t come as a huge surprise, but Everton is in trouble. However, reports suggest Lampard won’t be going anywhere as he was recently employed.
Everton’s games in hand could prove extremely important, but Burnley do tend to have ways of getting out of trouble – so it would not be completely impossible for them to overtake the Blues.
What Everton could look to do in the event of relegation (and what they may try to do)
What steps can Lampard take if this squad does the unthinkable – takes Everton into the Championship?
Sell Richarlison
This one will hurt. Is Richarlison really going to be up for the fight in the Championship? It is most likely that he will have suitors abroad and there could even be some decent offers for the Brazilian striker.
Everton might not get the money they would have a couple of years ago, but the funds could be used to bring some fresh faces into the Championship.
It’s likely that the striker will leave in the summer either way.
Keep the leaders
To bounce back at the first time of asking, Everton will need some players to lead them and show the right sort of character. This is something that has been a weakness at times this season, and there hasn’t been enough leadership on the pitch.
In the Championship, the likes of Coleman, Godfrey, Allan and even Pickford could play leadership roles, demonstrating the high standards expected. Ben Godfrey has been crucial to promotions from the Championship before with Norwich City, so he knows the league very well.
Blood young talent
Plenty of players have been sitting on the fringes of the Everton team for a while now, and the Championship provides an opportunity for some of them to get some game time.
Lampard has already shown that he is happy to play Anthony Gordon, but players such as Jarrad Branthwaite might finally get the game time they crave.
Lampard could also have a good look at the under-23 squad to see if there are any players who are ready. The ex-Derby manager had a good record of bringing through youngsters there, and hungry young players could be key to an Everton rebuild.
The highly rated Lewis Dobbin and Thomas Cannon are a couple of the players who could be key.
Keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin
This is not going to be easy if the team goes down. Calvert-Lewin is premier quality and will want to keep his chances of going to the world cup alive. However, he is the sort of player that can be perfect in the Championship.
To get out of the league, you need to have players who frighten defenders, and who are good at bullying players physically. Dom fits the bill.
This is an extremely difficult ask, but hopefully Calvert-Lewin would feel some loyalty to the club he has been with since a young age. The club that has enabled him to be called up to the England squad.
While Calvert-Lewin hasn’t hit the heights in the Premier League yet this season, we have seen what a difference a quality, physical striker can make to a team. You only need to consider what Aleksandar Mitrovi? has done at Fulham, as he approaches a ridiculous, record-breaking season.
It sounds like a big claim, but Calvert-Lewin, with the right service, could get 30 or 40 goals in the Championship.
Sign some fresh faces
Everton has a plethora of players who are ‘good enough,’ but when you reach the Championship, you need to know that everyone is up for the fight.
Everton could possibly have their pick of players from rival Championship clubs – especially if they have money to spend by selling some of their better players. There’s every chance that players such as Pickford and Richarlison will go, which will help to raise funds.
This could lead to some big signings, with Championship players such as Joe Worrall and Keane Lewis-Potter being linked with moves away. These are the sorts of players who can be fantastic in the Championship but can also grow with the club as time goes on.
There’s no point in signing journeymen who may get Everton promoted but will also need replacing as soon as the club is back in the Premier League.
Conclusion
Lampard has a job on his hands in the summer whatever happens. This season has not been good enough, and even some of the January signings have struggled to hit the heights. Everton needs something of a rebuild, and Lampard could be the man for the job.
Time will tell if Frank’s Everton will go forward or backwards.
Photo by Unsplash