Frank Lampard warned over ‘dangerous’ comments by Chris Sutton

'He was chucking things out there and I wonder whether he will regret some of the things he said'

Chris Sutton has questioned whether Everton manager Frank Lampard was right to publicly criticise his players following the 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Toffees exited the FA Cup in humiliating fashion at Selhurst Park, and Lampard did not hold back in his interviews after the match. The former Chelsea man questioned whether his players had the 'b******s' to compete in big games and said he did not have 'a magic wand to get inside people's heads and change resilience'. However, Sutton has admitted that the 43-year-old's comments could very easily backfire.

Lampard has won just two of his seven league games in charge

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's The Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "The team are in an absolute mess but his language was extremely strong, questioning the side's courage. "He talked about [how] he doesn't have a magic wand to get inside people's heads and change resilience across the whole squad. Well.. is that not his job? When you look at what Eddie Howe has done at Newcastle United there has been a noticeable change.

"He was chucking things out there and I wonder whether he will regret some of the things he said because I think it can be damaging within the dressing room.

"It's not a good dressing room at this moment in time but [when] you start questioning players' courage, I think that there may be a problem.

"He's come out and slaughtered his players and yet he needs these players to keep him up, so what he said is very, very dangerous in my book. It's a big gamble what he said and let's see whether the players react.

"From the outside, people may be looking at players who he has recruited, who haven't hit the ground running, and thinking he could have done much better."

Lampard has won just two of his seven league games in charge of the Merseyside outfit, losing the other five. However, the vital 1-0 victory over Newcastle United last week moved the Toffees three points above the relegation zone, having played two fewer games than 18th-place Watford. While Everton currently find themselves out of the drop zone, they will have to play Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal this season.

Sutton thinks Lampard's comments are 'worrying'

Sutton suggested that Lampard's words 'worried' him as they could indicate that the former midfielder is doubting himself.

He added: "I just wonder with Frank, and wondered at the time he took the job, I thought he was brave,' Sutton continued. 'Everton is a big club, but the club were in a real mess. This was always going to be a difficult task for him.

"His words at the weekend worried me a little bit, and they worried me, because I actually thought for the first he may be doubting himself in maybe taking the job.

"My worry for Frank is if things don't work out here, where does he go from Everton? He's an intelligent man, but the way he's talking I think there's massive frustration.

"I think he had a difficult job to take on mind. I think most of the blame lies with [Rafa] Benitez on this one but he hasn't made the impact which I think he expected to and the Everton fans expected him to."

Everton travel West Ham United on April 3, hoping to increase the gap between them and the current Premier League bottom three. Related links:

• Frank Lampard shows broken hand suffered in last-minute winner celebrations
• Everton fans calls for Lampard to be sacked and replaced by Steve Bruce
• Frank Lampard hits back after Dele criticised for looking like he was ‘dragged off the street’