Andros Townsend has now shared what went wrong for Frank Lampard during his time as Everton Manager.
Lampard was Everton manager for just under 12 months, but was dismissed back in January as the Blues sleepwalked into a second consecutive relegation fight.
Succeeded by Sean Dyche as manager, Frank Lampard ‘didn’t work out’ at Everton according to Townsend despite doing ‘everything right’.
Indeed, Townsend, who was released by the club earlier this month after two years at Goodison Park now suggests that the players had to do more when Lampard was boss.
Speaking with talkSPORT, Townsend said: “So for me he did everything right, we went into last season – well I definitely went into last season – I was injured, but I thought we’ve got a good squad here, we’re going to make a real go, we’re going to get back into the top half.
But it didn’t work out that way, and as players, obviously from the outside of it you can say, ‘bad manager, bad coach, bad owner.’
MORE EVERTON STORIES
But as players, we’ve got to look at ourselves, we definitely didn’t do well enough under Frank last season and this season just gone as well. I feel a bit sorry for Frank.”
Townsend empathetic for Lampard, but Everton were on crash course for relegation under his tenure
Everton went on a winless run of eight Premier League games immediately prior to Lampard’s sacking, picking up just two points during that period.
There is no doubt Lampard had a strong bond with the Everton fans, but realistically the former Chelsea boss wasn’t sacked soon enough and should have been relieved of his duties prior to the break for the FIFA World Cup.
There is no doubt that Everton’s players let Lampard down last season, but Sean Dyche was able to grind out results that his predecessor failed to.
It is a shame Lampard did not work out at Everton, but had the Blues persisted with him, they would likely be preparing for life in the Championship right now.