It's getting dicey for Everton.
After their midweek loss to fellow relegation battlers, Burnley, Everton sit just one point above the relegation zone with nine games left to play.
Unfortunately for them, in those nine fixtures, they face Manchester United, Leicester City x2, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace - not an easy run.
Since Frank Lampard took over the club, he has lost seven of his nine Premier League games in charge, and the bounce they hoped to get after sacking Rafa Benitez has not happened.
So who is to blame? Well, John Giles doesn't lay the blame at Lampard's door, at least not yet anyway.
"There's only so much you can do, it does take time when you come into a new club, especially when they're in the position they're in.", Giles told Off The Ball.
"They're not there by accident."
"There are some lads there that shouldn't be there, he's got to sort out who they are. Who are the good lads? Does he have time to get new lads in?"
On the question of experience, one could argue had Everton selected a manager with experience in a relegation battle, they would be in a better position than they are now. Giles disagrees.
"I don't think so. If you look at the managers who were there before Frank, they were all experienced, Benitez was extremely experienced. He couldn't do it there."
"This hasn't happened overnight. Whoever was bringing the talent in, it wasn't good."
"Obviously an experienced manager would have a better chance, but they've had experience. Frank is not a Benitez, but he has enough experience to know when he comes into a dressing room what to do."
"But it's very difficult when you've got a group of players not doing what they should be doing."
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