Duncan Ferguson lauds impact of under-fire Everton boss Sam Allardyce

Follow us on Google Discover

Sam Allardyce has come under huge scrutiny since arriving at Everton.

Everton first-team coach Duncan Ferguson has heaped huge praise on Toffees boss Sam Allardyce in an interview with the club’s official website, despite huge pressure on Allardyce’s shoulders.

Everton fans are becoming disillusioned with the former England manager despite guiding Everton back into the top half of the Premier League table, taking over late in 2017 with the Merseyside outfit near the bottom.

Allardyce has been criticised for a negative style of play, some nonchalant comments in the media domain and freezing out a number of Toffees stars such as Davy Klaassen, Nikola Vlasic and Cenk Tosun – the latter now showing his true colours.

But Ferguson chose to silence the critics by applauding the work done by Allardyce, stating that his presence and leadership are admirable qualities on the training ground.

“He’s brought his vast experience and he’s got tremendous knowledge,” said Ferguson. “He brought that wee bit of defensive solidity that we needed, and that’s been his main qualities. And he’s a leader.

“He has respect, he has the presence and has been there and done it. He has been the England manager and has managed a lot of clubs so has a lot of respect in the game. That is one thing I took when he first came in the building, he has a presence.

“The manager gave me a lot of leeway with my coaching, he has a lot of experience so I have learnt a lot from him.”

Allardyce will be busy preparing his Everton side to face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as they look to build on an impressive 0-0 draw with Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

The Toffees will be without six first-team stars, though, as Gylfi Sigurdsson, Phil Jagielka, James McCarthy, Maarten Stekelenburg, Mason Holgate and Eliaquim Mangala remain in the treatment room.