Bringing The Right Chemistry

Soon after Sam Allardyce was confirmed as the new manager of Everton Football Club, his most trusted lieutenants followed him through the door at USM Finch Farm. In assistant manager Sammy Lee and first-team coach Craig Shakespeare, the Toffees boss has added two of the most highly-regarded coaches in football to his backroom team. Everton magazine sat down with the duo to discover how they will use their collective knowledge to boost the Blues

Craig, what did you make of your first game as a member of the coaching staff here at Everton in the recent win against Huddersfield Town?

Craig Shakespeare: It couldn’t have gone any better. We are in a results business and when you look at it from the point of view of putting smiles back on people’s faces then, of course, it was great to get the three points. Performance-wise, we know we can improve but it was about getting the three points.

Any pre-match nerves?

CS: It was the first day for me so I met everyone for the first time! But I have to say I was made to feel very welcome by everyone; the staff, the players and everyone in and around the ground. You felt the buzz around the place and I had that tingle back that I’ve not had for a few weeks. That only became stronger when I was back at the training ground.

Sammy, as Craig mentions, there certainly was a buzz about Goodison Park that day.

Sammy Lee: There was and so there should be at Goodison. It is one of those grounds where the crowd can be the 12th man. Everyone knows about Goodison because it is a fantastic football stadium. It always creates a fantastic atmosphere and we need that to help us get back up the table to where this football club should be.

Could you sense a few nerves in the team, especially in that first half?