Everton’s emphatic 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday was a welcome respite for the Toffees, who had been struggling to find consistency in their performances. However, despite the convincing victory, manager Frank Lampard was quick to point out that there is still room for improvement, particularly from one of his key players.
Lampard, who has been working tirelessly to shore up Everton’s defense, singled out midfielder Alex Iwobi for criticism, despite the Nigerian’s decent display against Wolves. The Everton boss made it clear that Iwobi needs to step up his game and provide more creativity and goal-scoring threat from midfield.
“Iwobi is a good player, but he needs to do better,” Lampard said in his post-match press conference. “He’s got the ability to create chances and score goals, but he’s not doing it consistently enough. He needs to work on his final product and provide more of a threat in the attacking third.”
Lampard’s comments may have come as a surprise to some, given Iwobi’s decent performance against Wolves. The Nigerian midfielder had a passing accuracy of 85% and created two chances for his teammates. However, Lampard’s expectations are high, and he knows that Iwobi has the potential to be a game-changer for Everton.
Iwobi’s inconsistency has been a problem for Everton all season. The Nigerian midfielder has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also had games where he has been anonymous. Lampard knows that if Iwobi can find consistency, he can be a major asset for the team.
Despite Lampard’s criticism of Iwobi, the Everton boss was pleased with his team’s overall performance against Wolves. The Toffees were dominant from start to finish, with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, and Alex Gray ensuring a comfortable victory.
“We played some great football today, and I’m delighted with the win,” Lampard said. “We created plenty of chances and took them well. It’s a great confidence booster for the lads, and we can build on this performance.”
The win over Wolves was a much-needed boost for Everton, who had been struggling to find form in recent weeks. The Toffees had lost three of their previous four games, and there were concerns that they might get sucked into a relegation battle. However, the victory over Wolves has given them some breathing space, and they can now look forward to their next game with renewed confidence.
As for Iwobi, he will be looking to respond to Lampard’s criticism in the best possible way. The Nigerian midfielder knows that he has the ability to be a top player, and he will be determined to prove himself against Everton’s next opponents.
In the end, Lampard’s criticism of Iwobi may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Nigerian midfielder. It may be the wake-up call he needs to take his game to the next level and become the player that Everton fans know he can be.
