Dukla Leicester Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/10800449/how-craig-shakespeare-was-at-heart-of-leicesters-premier-league-win Sounds a bit chaotic last year.
davieG Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 How Craig Shakespeare was at heart of Leicester's Premier League win Craig Shakespeare played a bigger part in Leicester's title win than many know. We reveal why he's a wise choice as permanent manager until the end of the season... "He was holding the place together." Kevin Phillips painted a very different picture of what was going on at Leicester City last season, when Sky Sports asked him about his former coach and colleague Craig Shakespeare. Former Sunderland and England striker Phillips, who helped the Foxes to the Championship title in the final year of his playing career before joining the coaching team for their miraculous escape from the Premier League relegation zone in 2015/16, knows the club well. When Nigel Pearson was sacked he was kept on with assistant manager Shakespeare to work with new boss Claudio Ranieri. It was at times, Phillips says, a challenging experience. With Ranieri regularly flying to Italy to visit his sick mother before coming back for the final preparations for Premier League games, it was left to Shakespeare and the coaching staff to look after the team in the manager's absence. And then respond to his tweaks and changes when he returned. "I worked there for a short period under Ranieri and at times the organisation wasn't good," recalls Phillips, who left to become assistant manager at Derby County in September 2015. "If it wasn't for Shakey it could have fallen apart a lot earlier. Of course the manager takes all the credit for winning the league - which he deserves an awful lot of - but it would have been a lot more difficult for them to win it without Shakey being there. "It was certainly a learning curve for me and Shakey, because at that time it was us running it with [goalkeeper coach] Mike Stowell, and Ranieri came in. We'd have our sessions planned for the players and literally as we were walking out onto the training pitch Ranieri would come over and say I want to do this now with them, and he'd change it. "We were like, 'fine, go on then, you take it'. But he'd say, 'no, no, no you take it'. And he's telling us to put a session on that he wants and we don't know what it is. We had to adapt. "Shakey can do that, he can adapt in tough situations. He's got that talent. That comes from being in the business a long time and working with experienced people. "You also have to give the players credit. They kind of policed themselves last year. They managed themselves really well." Ranieri's sacking in February caused a storm. It was seen as a cruel, heartless move by the Leicester board to dismiss a man who had delivered the club their greatest moment just nine months earlier. Yet, since the Italian's departure, there has been a sudden response from the players. With Shakespeare overseeing the team, they have reverted to the high-intensity, swift, counter-attacking football which earned them so much success last season. Back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Hull City have shifted the mood, alleviated fears of relegation and sparked talk of the potential for a Champions League turnaround in their last-16 tie with Sevilla, with the second leg at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday. "Shakespeare has the trust of the players," Leicester left-back Christian Fuchs said last week, and the Birmingham-born coach has been credited with rejuvenating the atmosphere at the training ground. That connection with the players is something Phillips - who was also coached by Shakespeare at West Brom - can confirm. "Shakey was very good at mixing with the players but never got too close," he said. "And I think that's really important. "He's got a streak about him, he wouldn't be afraid to dig someone out in front of the group if they did something wrong and that commands respect in the dressing room. "I've seen it over the years, when an assistant has been put in charge, there are certain players that might just try to take the mickey a little bit, thinking he's only here for a short period. But it certainly looks like he's gained the respect of the players and they've certainly responded to him." But beyond his personal relationships with the Leicester players, it is Shakespeare's hard work and attention to detail which sets him apart. When it comes to preparation, tactics and training, he is highly regarded. His call-up to work alongside Sam Allardyce and then Gareth Southgate with the England team is testament to that. "He's unbelievable," says Phillips, when asked about Shakespeare's approach. "He gets in at 7.30am and there's no stone left unturned. He looks at everything and he's very thorough in what he does. "That's what you have to be to be successful and in the two games Shakey has been in charge the players have gone onto that pitch knowing their job and knowing their team-mates' jobs, too. "They'll be well prepared under him, training will be really structured and that can give them a clear mind going into the games at the weekend." With Shakespeare confirmed as Leicester's manager until the end of the season, there is clarity for the entire club, in terms of the rest of this campaign. There are still plenty of challenges ahead; the Champions League presents a tantalising opportunity, but the three-point gap to the relegation zone remains a threat. Leicester will need good leadership through this period. The signs are, they've got it in Shakespeare.
StanSP Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Don't like this at all re: Ranieri Quote We'd have our sessions planned for the players and literally as we were walking out onto the training pitch Ranieri would come over and say I want to do this now with them, and he'd change it. "We were like, 'fine, go on then, you take it'. But he'd say, 'no, no, no you take it'. And he's telling us to put a session on that he wants and we don't know what it is. We had to adapt. I do like this (Shakespeare) Quote But beyond his personal relationships with the Leicester players, it is Shakespeare's hard work and attention to detail which sets him apart. When it comes to preparation, tactics and training, he is highly regarded. His call-up to work alongside Sam Allardyce and then Gareth Southgate with the England team is testament to that. "He's unbelievable," says Phillips, when asked about Shakespeare's approach. "He gets in at 7.30am and there's no stone left unturned. He looks at everything and he's very thorough in what he does. "That's what you have to be to be successful and in the two games Shakey has been in charge the players have gone onto that pitch knowing their job and knowing their team-mates' jobs, too. "They'll be well prepared under him, training will be really structured and that can give them a clear mind going into the games at the weekend."
Guest the fox Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Loved this bit " "Shakespeare has the trust of the players," Leicester left-back Christian Fuchs said last week, and the Birmingham-born coach has been credited with rejuvenating the atmosphere at the training ground. That connection with the players is something Phillips - who was also coached by Shakespeare at West Brom - can confirm. "Shakey was very good at mixing with the players but never got too close," he said. "And I think that's really important. "He's got a streak about him, he wouldn't be afraid to dig someone out in front of the group if they did something wrong and that commands respect in the dressing room. "I've seen it over the years, when an assistant has been put in charge, there are certain players that might just try to take the mickey a little bit, thinking he's only here for a short period. But it certainly looks like he's gained the respect of the players and they've certainly responded to him."
Corky Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Phillips left in September 2015. Things might have changed behind the scenes after he went.
FoxInTheBirstallBox Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Just as long as kev doesn't get his job back here because of it!!!!
STUHILL Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Surprise surprise.. the real truth is now slowly starting to emerge from the press.. This is why pundits like Savage and co. should really learn to hold their tongue before they go off on uninformed tirades. Loved reading the bit about Shakey being incredibly focused on attention to detail and preparation etc. Maybe he does have what it takes to be a top manager. Wonder if he will bring Kevin Phillips back in now. I would!
AKCJ Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 I don't like people throwing mud at Ranieri like this What he did at this football club was utterly sensational and we all owe the best day of our Leicester City supporting lives to him.
brookfox Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Not doubting it's true but the cynic in me thinks... McLaren sacked on the Sunday, his backroom staff likely to follow, Phillips releases newsworthy story on the Monday to raise his profile... seems a bit too much of a coincidence!
Corky Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Seems to be the in-thing to kick Ranieri at the moment. To deal with the title run-in pressure whilst tending to his ill mother in another country takes some effort and should be applauded for that. He made mistakes this season but we should always be grateful to him for overseeing the title win and calling him a fraud is out of order, I'm afraid. Have some respect.
Babylon Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 Well that doesn't pull too many punches does it....
Babylon Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 3 minutes ago, AKCJ said: I don't like people throwing mud at Ranieri like this What he did at this football club was utterly sensational and we all owe the best day of our Leicester City supporting lives to him, the players, the owners, all the staff especially Walsh and Shaky and ex managers putting much of it in place. I've edited that for you, because it was never just about him. It's that kind of stuff that's spouted by the talking heads on tv who don't know our club.
AmarteyAndChill Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 So did Claudio actually do anything last season? -Joke btw
bovril Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 44 minutes ago, Sharpe's Fox said: Fraudieri exposed Whatever happens, history will remember him as the man that guided Leicester to the most improbable title win in the history of football. Some fraud.
matty98 Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 We should do everything we possibly can to keep Shakey at Leicester, if not our loss will definitely be someone elses gain.
AKCJ Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 6 minutes ago, Babylon said: I've edited that for you, because it was never just about him. It's that kind of stuff that's spouted by the talking heads on tv who don't know our club. You're not wrong, but Ranieri was the manager of the club and with that he took full responsibility. The buck stopped with him when it came to decision making.
Babylon Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 9 minutes ago, Corky said: Seems to be the in-thing to kick Ranieri at the moment. To deal with the title run-in pressure whilst tending to his ill mother in another country takes some effort and should be applauded for that. He made mistakes this season but we should always be grateful to him for overseeing the title win and calling him a fraud is out of order, I'm afraid. Have some respect. I think it has a lot to do with the press reaction. They've shown little knowledge of our club and everything that went into us getting into that position, seemingly laying all the credit of late at the door of Ranieri. People have pushed back the other way somewhat to make a point that it wasn't just about him, I've had it on twitter where other fans just don't get it and you end up posting extreme examples to prove a point... and it makes it sound like you're totally rubbishing the bloke.
Babylon Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 4 minutes ago, AKCJ said: You're not wrong, but Ranieri was the manager of the club and with that he took full responsibility. The buck stopped with him when it came to decision making. That would be true had he not been forced to accept all the backroom setup, training schedules, diets etc etc. I think the situation we had was fairly unusual really, as his influence was limited seemingly in quite a few areas. Anyway, I don't want to bash the bloke as he played as much a part as anyone else for me. A total group effort and just a perfect coming together of 100's of different things.
Ted Maul Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 13 minutes ago, Corky said: Seems to be the in-thing to kick Ranieri at the moment. To deal with the title run-in pressure whilst tending to his ill mother in another country takes some effort and should be applauded for that. I'll always appreciate Ranieri's part in the title win, but the more info that emerges, the more I'm appreciating the players' and existing backroom staff's increasingly significant roles in it At times I have found myself criticising Ranieri, but that's more of a response to fans of other clubs putting the players and Shakespeare down- Ranieri had shown countless faults and flaws this season, but what he did last year should not be discounted in the slightest.
Corky Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 5 minutes ago, Babylon said: I think it has a lot to do with the press reaction. They've shown little knowledge of our club and everything that went into us getting into that position, seemingly laying all the credit of late at the door of Ranieri. People have pushed back the other way somewhat to make a point that it wasn't just about him, I've had it on twitter where other fans just don't get it and you end up posting extreme examples to prove a point... and it makes it sound like you're totally rubbishing the bloke. Few people have been more annoyed than me at the reaction to the sacking and I'm all for balance in this discussion. I don't agree with the way Ranieri has been called a fraud or had last season taken away from him and questioned, that's all. I don't disagree with the decision to change him as manager but won't believe he contributed very little as you have also said how well he reacted within games last season.
StanSP Posted 13 March 2017 Posted 13 March 2017 20 minutes ago, Corky said: Seems to be the in-thing to kick Ranieri at the moment. To deal with the title run-in pressure whilst tending to his ill mother in another country takes some effort and should be applauded for that. He made mistakes this season but we should always be grateful to him for overseeing the title win and calling him a fraud is out of order, I'm afraid. Have some respect. I don't think anyone isn't grateful for overseeing the title win. But it was down to Ranieri and everyone else at the club. Not just him. I do agree that he shouldn't be called a fraud, though. You don't get the reputation he earned by being a fraud.
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