New Everton boss Lampard: We must be patient with Dele

Posted Saturday, February 05, 2022 by Tribalfootball.com

New Everton boss Frank Lampard is delighted with their deadline day business.

Writing in his programme notes for his first game as Everton manager – an FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Brentford for which Dele Alli, fellow deadline day signing Donny van de Beek and Anwar El Ghazi are all ineligible to play in – Lampard said: “The timing of my appointment, on transfer deadline day, made for an incredibly hectic few hours trying to complete the deals we wanted.

“Dele and Donny were the two players we prioritised and the owner, Chairman and Board worked extraordinarily hard to get those moves across the line.

“When you receive that support from above, it hardens your desire to repay those people with results and performances.

“We are excited about getting to work with Dele. He has all the attributes to be one of the best players in the Premier League.

“That was the level he attained a couple of years ago and I can see the hunger in him to get back there.

“We need to be patient with Dele, he's come to a new club and not had an awful lot of football of late.

“But the Dele I know scores and creates goals, he's aggressive and passionate and up for the fight. There is everything in there to be a proper Everton player.

“Donny is another player who needs a platform to show what he can do. We want more goals from midfield and he can help with that.

“He's a tremendous passer of the ball and can put his foot in, too. Above all, talking to Donny, I could see the motivation and desire to play for Everton."