MY ACCOUNT
It was a busy deadline day at Everton, with a new manager and two major signings walking through the doors of Goodison Park.
Frank Lampard has been installed in the Toffees’ hotseat — and one of his first tasks will be to maximise the talents of midfield additions Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek.
Both players had been stagnating at Tottenham and Manchester United respectively, so how can the former Chelsea boss kick-start their careers? And how might he incorporate the duo into his side?
Ahead of his first game in charge — a home FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brentford — we attempt to answer those questions.
The lure of Lampard
Despite his relative inexperience as a coach, Lampard’s stature within the game is unquestionable — and fellow Premier League legend Michael Owen believes that will benefit Alli and Van de Beek.
Speaking earlier this week, he said: “[There are] Pros and there are cons for [Lampard] signing.
“Of course, maybe a lack of experience, but already, he’s shown that a big name or somebody that’s of his ilk can really bring in these top players.
“People want to go and play for him. They remember his playing days. So midfielders like Van de Beek are looking at him and thinking, ‘wow, he might be able to teach me a thing or two’.”
Taking shape
During his time as Chelsea head coach, Lampard tended to use a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation. So it would be fair to assume that he will set Everton up in a similar fashion.
A move away from the 4-4-2 often utilised by Rafa Benitez would create an extra spot in midfield.
But with Alli and Van de Beek surely not brought in to sit on the bench, Lampard might have a big decision or two to make in terms of personnel — although Abdoulaye Doucoure’s injury does take one midfield option off the table in the short term.
Versatile Van de Beek
Van de Beek’s versatile nature gives Lampard flexibility when it comes to deploying the Dutchman, who is on loan from Manchester United.
Able to operate as an attacking midfielder, in a box-to-box role, or deeper as a tempo-setter, the 24-year-old is not easy to pigeonhole.
As such, the former Ajax man ought to slot nicely into whichever system Lampard decides to utilise.
Creative Dele
After a hellish couple of years at Tottenham, Alli is a shadow of the prodigious player he once was — but his move to Everton gives him a much-needed fresh start.
And, like Van de Beek, the 25-year-old should fit into either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. His role is easier to predict however, given his past excellence in the No10 position.
Having scored only 24 times in 20 Premier League games this season — and posted one of the lower non-penalty expected goals outputs in the division (21.2) — the Toffees are crying out for some more creativity. Alli’s challenge will be to provide that.
Looking ahead
While Alli has signed permanently, penning a two-and-a-half year contract, Van de Beek will initially only be an Everton player for the rest of the season.
But even at this early stage, there appears to be every chance that the Dutch international will remain at Goodison Park beyond the summer.
In any case, the next few months could be as significant for Van de Beek — and, to a lesser extent, Alli — as for the Toffees in general, as they look to escape their current predicament and stave off any threat of relegation.
