Everton have lacked inspiration this season. The Toffees have also needed a true leader.

Yesterday, their caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson provided both inspiration and leadership at Goodison as he guided his team to a superb 3-1 win (BBC Match Report) over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

The Toffees threw themselves into every challenge, their attack battered Chelsea’s defence and they were fully committed in everything they did. It was a performance that the home faithful loved and it would’ve reminded them of watching Big Dunc the player.

Ferguson was a warrior. He gave absolutely everything for the Everton jersey when he was on the pitch. You felt that the Scotsman would bleed blue if he were ever to be cut open, he loved Everton that much!

His players all seemed to morph into Duncan Ferguson yesterday afternoon.

Under Marco Silva, they often looked timid and didn’t seem to have the appetite for a fight.

Duncan the manager didn’t come in and change everything with new glossy ideas and philosophies. No the interim gaffer just wanted to bring back the passion and add some extra bite. He also just ripped away some of the excess tactical baggage that’s weighed the team down this term and went back to basics.

Everton made more challenges against top four side Chelsea than they have in any other Premier League outing this season. Their win stopped a run of three defeats in a row and took them out of the relegation drop zone.

More importantly it was a performance that once again got Goodison Park rocking and showed the players that they are good enough when they work hard as a team!

It seemed very apt that Everton’s current number nine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, managed to produce a display that reminded the crowd of Ferguson.

He would jump for every ball, he clattered into any Chelsea defender who found themselves in possession and he grabbed two vital goals.

It also shouldn’t be lost on anyone that Richarlison scored the first goal under Dunc’s tenure with a header! No player has actually scored more headed league goals than Richarlison’s three this term. Ferguson will be proud, given his record in the air. 

“It was emotional, exciting, I was nervous. You have to make sure you get your team into a good shape, it was very difficult to get the message across because the atmosphere was unbelievable but I could not have dreamt it any better.”

Via Liverpool Echo

The Toffees have been linked with various top class coaches since ditching Marco Silva this week. But maybe they could wait a bit longer and see if Duncan Ferguson and his players can keep up this momentum.

The man himself has stated he’d never say no to the job:

 “It is one game at a time for me, that is the way I am looking at it, I asked to come in step in for Everton Football Club.”

“I would never turn that down, but I’m realistic too. It was for the game, I’m made up, I’m delighted for the fans, it’s three points and it’s massive for us.”

Via Liverpool Echo

Posted on December 8th, 2019 by scott
Filed under: Article