Lampard speaks out on Everton fine system as he admits ‘priority’ change this season

Frank Lampard has explained why he has now introduced a fine system at Everton similar to the one he used at Chelsea in his time at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard arrived at Everton last season with the Toffees in a relegation battle and decided not to immediately implement fines in that high-pressure situation.

But that has now changed, with Lampard revealing that many of the players like the attempt to improve discipline in the squad.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “When I went to Chelsea the feeling was that maybe discipline had not been spot on – that was from the players by the way, not my view, so we brought that in.

“It got a few eyebrows because of the numbers, and then in the second year at Chelsea I came off that a little bit and then you come into Everton.

“I think I said at the time it didn’t feel a priority last year to go ‘you are fined if you are late’, the priority was ‘can we get three points this weekend?’

Now we have got a little bit more time this season, the group is set up, the players have come in, I think a lot of the players, my feeling is they like there being some sort of policing of the standards and I think it can help if done right.

“We feel like the players are fully involved in it so they are happy with the levels, we are not killing them with the levels, but it is good to have something in place to make sure we stay on point.

“We certainly speak to the players a lot about the balance of confidence and progression and complacency, it is a very fine line and I think things like a leadership group and the right fines system can help keep that balance.”

One change Lampard did implement on his arrival was the creation of a leadership group which has remained this season, though it’s a fluid group with new members added over the summer.

He explained: “We brought it in at the end of last season and it was probably a critical time when we were trying to find ways to stay in the league. We had some experienced players – and some who are not here anymore – in that group.

“It looks different now. I have a lot of trust in it. There are good pros in it and a bit of balance that it hopefully represents all of the squad.

“I went into management and I wasn’t sure on leadership groups. I went through my career and I wouldn’t say I didn’t pay attention to it but I was fortunate that at the club I was at that it was just there. The leadership group just dealt with stuff without being a group.”

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