Lampard lauds players' hard work and improved form

Damn, there's a sentiment that won't go down well with certain members of the congregation here!

However, I think no small amount of the credit goes to Frank himself. He has incorporated that steely attitude, not only defensively but all over the pitch.

I have yet to see a single example of something that drove me crazy at times last season -- a player losing the ball and then waving his arms and pouting before trying to get it back. This season they're all relentless on recoveries, and did you know we're up near the top of the league in that category?

See you Saturday, Blue Boys!

He has addressed most areas of the pitch with little money, solid defence, a midfield with power and pace, and Maupay looks promising upfront with Calvert-Lewin hopefully back.

We look a different team and he's heading in the right direction, a manager we can trust, in my opinion.

And I have no problem with him giving credit to the Unholy Trinity in the Boardroom – they did (eventually) come through for him and Thelwell with the money for quality additions.

Now don't get cocky, lads – we need to keep the momentum going by bringing home 3 points from a poor Southampton on Saturday.

Nope. He prioritized the back line. Our first signings were Coady and Tarkowski, and he gave young Patterson a chance from the beginning and I firmly believed he would have done so even if Seamus was healthy.

Then he completely revamped a dire, dire midfield.

He learned from his mistakes at Chelsea, and he's creating a team in his image. I'd honestly give him an A letter grade thus far, despite last year's record. He inherited a gawd-awful team and ethos, and in a single window (basically) he's completely reinvented Everton.

A huge shout out to Kevin Thelwell as well, as he's done a marvellous job in moving on players and also buying intelligently, in places of need, and on the whole economically responsible. Thelwell gets another A letter grade from me thus far.

For the first time since Carlo – who did what he did on stupid expenditures and smoke-and-mirrors – I am very, very bullish on Everton. Long may that continue, the future is bright again, and Hope has shown her pretty face on this great club again.

We'll soon replace West Ham as the Best of the Rest. That means European football for us to look forward to, and I don't care if it's 'only' the Europa League or Conference League. We need Europe and we need trophies!!

Haven't been this optimistic since the first season under Bobby.

Onwards and upwards, super Frank.

We're never going to catch up with the Big 6 because of the 30 years of mismanagement at boardroom level... but at least we can hope we put out a team that can play good football and win more than we loose.

He saw problems in midfield and defense and has addressed them head-on while being unafraid to drop players or move them on.

Not the best, but you have to work hard, keep working hard and then work harder until the game's finished.

That should always be the very minimum and we haven't had that since Moyes.

If Iwobi can change and step up and up again, then it gives me hope we won't be in a relegation scrap.

I've set my expectations low.

Also pleased to see the small Lampard out brigade from the start of the season have gone quiet too. 3 points on Saturday please!