What went wrong at Everton?

Poor Frank. He couldn’t quite make it to his one-year anniversary as Everton boss.

The Toffees’ 2-0 loss at West Ham proved to be fatal for the former England midfielder as the Merseyside club opted to part ways with Rafa Benitez’s successor.

Lampard had initially shown promise at Goodison Park by guiding Everton to safety last season, but sub-par attacking recruitment in the summer left him short-handed going into the 2022/23 season. For many, it was no surprise that the Toffees struggled under Lampard this term. Based on the evidence we’ve seen so far, there’s little to suggest that he’s capable of managing at the highest level.

Lampard oversaw a dire run of form leading up to his departure, with Everton currently languishing at the foot of the Premier League table.

But, as we’ve already noted, there was initial promise. So where did it go wrong for Lampard on Merseyside?

Richarlison was the spiritual hub of the Toffees last season and, more significantly, he scored goals.

Now, the Brazilian was hardly prolific during his time on Merseyside, but he was Everton’s leading scorer in 2021/22 and he bagged some massive goals down the stretch as they just about avoided relegation.

Thus, it was no surprise that clubs came calling in the summer and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham made Everton an offer they simply couldn’t refuse. Spurs completed the £60m purchase of Richarlison at the start of July, giving the Toffees ample time to secure a replacement.

However, all they could muster was Neal Maupay: the most inefficient forward on planet Earth. The Frenchman has since scored once in 13 Premier League appearances for Everton, with the Toffees struggling mightily to score goals during the first half of the season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a shell of the player he was once was with injuries continuing to take their toll. He, too, has scored just one league goal this term with Everton scoring 15 in total – the second-worst record in the division.

A lot of anger from Everton fans has been directed at the board rather than at the manager.

Those upstairs have failed the club in recent years, often rendering Goodison Park a toxic environment. Their recruitment has been dire for far too long, while their recent managerial appointments have come under heavy scrutiny. Rafa Benitez,…