Exactly this.
I remember the interview the poster is referring to, I also remember the one following the match vs City. Leaving aside the shit he spoke regarding the officials, he sounded rather confident (if not slightly arrogant). Asking for patience from the fans, advising them to avoid looking at the table for a while (and a few matches) etc. Soon afterwards the Spurs disaster followed (which is entirely on him) and the atmosphere changed for good...
Watching Everton play you get the impression they've been operating without a professional manager for years -and obviously the comment includes Anceloti's tenure whose work left zero mark whatsoever. I mean, it's difficult to discuss in terms of progress, the concept simply does not exist. What progress? No structure, no cohesion, no game plan. A build up based on instict and improvisations, combined with an amateurish defensive behaviour: Everton are lacking the very basics. If we do the mental exercise and imagine these players arriving every day at the training ground, so as to be trained by their captain, for example, or a teammate who would just take the initiative, how fucking different would it be? That's how bad it is...
On top of that, you have childish errors, totally unacceptable at this level. Vs WH, for example, they will equalise out of nowhere, only to immediately return the gift, fuck up ridiculously and lose the game by themselves, it's unbelievable. Iwobi and Keane (an England international, by the way), among others, are beyond criticism in that match, I am literally out of words trying to describe their performances...
I am just a fan writing these lines, somebody who simply loves the sport and watches football as much as he can. The guy in question is a professional manager. Rich, ambitious, with plenty of time, waiting for the next job opportunity. Either he does not pay attention to the reality of the PL or lacks the ability to make evaluations and valid assessments regarding situations surrounding him, clubs, players etc. Probably both, the latter definitely, as it seems. Everton's problems are well known for years, how the fuck can he go publicly saying he hadn't realised how bad things were? Is he for real?
If you don't follow closely developments related to your job, then I'm not sure you're actually meant for the job in the first place. Now he will need time to study the squad so as to make the right decisions. Which Everton cannot afford, since they are already in an emergency. He has already fucked up repeatedly in terms of tactics as well as the way he has handled the mental aspect. He inherited a squad with a low morale, now it's even lower. You see, it's difficult for players to perform under an unconvincing leader, I've seen it dozens of times...
Bottom line: Yes, Everton's problems exist long before Lampard's arrival. Yes, it's a highly complicated situation (unfortunately, Lampard's decisions so far have contributed to this). Is there hope for Everton? The answer is also a categorical YES, as far as I am concerned. I'll say it again, Everton have more than enough so as to stay up. In terms of human resources, Lampard is in a superior position, compared to the likes of Smith, Hodson (who has also inherited a team very poorly managed in recent years) and Dyche (the unluckiest of all)...
There is definitely room for immediate improvement for Everton, in order to avoid relegation. If there is any dignity in him, I would expect Lampard being the first to agree with this statement. Nobody is asking for anything more than that, just to leave three clubs behind him. At the moment, Everton are behind Brentford, for example, and just 1 point ahead of Burnley. No comment needed, it's embarrassing. No excuses if he fails, in my humble opinion. In such a scenario (that is, if he does fail), Mr Lampard should quit football for good. Being sure management won't miss his presence...