Season 2021-22 Opinion Talking Points

New Signings, New Manager – Will Everton Improve In 2022?

A thoroughly disappointing Premier League season has seen Everton approach the January transfer window with desire and determination.

A new manager, a few high-profile reinforcements and suddenly there is renewed hope and expectation around the club for the second half of the season.

Much like the anticipation when you are playing a new online slots game for the first time, a (relatively) successful transfer window can inject new life into how we experience football and make the old feel new again.

Rafael Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm last summer, paid the ultimate price for the Toffees' underwhelming performances as Frank Lampard took over the reins last week.

Despite taking charge on the final day of the transfer window, the former Chelsea manager pulled off a massive deadline-day capture, securing the services of Dele Alli.

After falling down the pecking order at Tottenham Hotspur, the advanced playmaker was desperate to secure a new challenge elsewhere, with Everton swooping in to offer him an escape route. 

Alli failed to live up to his potential in north London, but a switch to Goodison Park could be what he needed to get his stuttering career back on the rails. 

Manchester United misfit Donny van de Beek, who has moved to Merseyside on a short-term loan, is still an unknown entity in the Premier League. 

The 24-year-old earned a reputation as one of the most exciting up-and-coming midfielders in Europe during his career at Ajax, but something went wrong for him at Old Trafford.

Given Lampard's affection for talented players regardless of age, Goodison could be the right place for the Dutchman to revive his career and hit the ground running in England's top-flight. 

Highly-rated right-back Nathan Patterson joined the Toffees earlier in January. But he is still waiting for his inaugural Premier League appearance following his £16m arrival from Rangers. 

The same goes for Anwar El Ghazi, who arrived from Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season, but has yet to make his debut for Everton.

Meanwhile, Vitaly Mykolenko has already launched his Goodison career after coming in to replace Lucas Digne, who left for Villa Park following his bust-up with Benitez.

The £17m acquisition from Dynamo Kyiv carries a reputation as one of the left-backs with the most potential in Europe and should be a massive addition to Lampard's side in the future.

So it is fair to say that the Everton chiefs have done everything in their power to give the new manager a high-quality team to work with as the Toffees hope to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle.

They currently languish only four points clear of the drop zone, and it will be up to Lampard to find a formula to mount a comeback relying on established club stars like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

This Everton squad has plenty of potential, but following a dismal first half of the season, they need an incentive to regain their confidence and get back to winning ways.

Perhaps the recent 4-1 win in the FA Cup against Brentford could provide an insight into Lampard's early work at Goodison.

If the weekend result is anything to go buy, Everton fans can go into the must-win league encounter against Newcastle on February 8 with some confidence.

With four points separating the sides ahead of the kick-off, that could prove to be a pivotal fixture in the Toffees' efforts to find their way out of the bottom half of the table. 

But the managerial change, coupled with a raft of eye-catching signings, gives the Merseyside faithful plenty to look forward to in the second half of the season.

A coveted European finish is seemingly out of reach, but even a top-half finish could be considered be a success after everything Everton have been through this season. 

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