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Big Dunc's Book Shelved!
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Just heard that the long awaited book on Duncan has, in the word's of the assistant at Waterstones, been abandoned. Could it be litigious and yer man's got his lawyers on to the case? What will I buy the Mrs for Christmas now? Anyone out there got an inkling as to why it's been pulled?
Eric Yarker, Posted 06/10/2009 at 13:40:30
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Big Dunc was a man who never talked to reporters or gave interviews to Sky after the game. He never even collected his man-of-the-match awards. You could say he disliked the limelight.
Is it any wonder a book about him would be cancelled? I bet the big man himself warned the author not to release it.
Is it any wonder a book about him would be cancelled? I bet the big man himself warned the author not to release it.
I wouldn’t be surprised to find that he didn’t like the title much.
’LIFE AND CRIMES’ hardly sets him in a good light and that’ before you even open the book!
I read Mark Ward’s book and found it fascinating, but I wasn’t really interested in this one for some reason. It may be sacrilege to some for me to say this, but I loved Big Dunc at first, but eventually I was sick and tired at his inability to control himself and getting sent off so many times. The one at Wigan and the one at home to Bolton where he just punched players in the stomach for no apparent reason brought ridicule upon him from fans of other Clubs and by the time he retired his star had fallen in my eyes.
A shame, but true for me and quite a few other Evertonians I suspect. Also, it wasn’t his fault, but we were the Kings of Hoofball when he played as Unsworth, Watson et al just lumped it up to him hoping for a flick on. More often than not he won it, but the rest of the team did not read the play well enough and nobody latched onto his pass.
I’d have titled that book, "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lad?"
’LIFE AND CRIMES’ hardly sets him in a good light and that’ before you even open the book!
I read Mark Ward’s book and found it fascinating, but I wasn’t really interested in this one for some reason. It may be sacrilege to some for me to say this, but I loved Big Dunc at first, but eventually I was sick and tired at his inability to control himself and getting sent off so many times. The one at Wigan and the one at home to Bolton where he just punched players in the stomach for no apparent reason brought ridicule upon him from fans of other Clubs and by the time he retired his star had fallen in my eyes.
A shame, but true for me and quite a few other Evertonians I suspect. Also, it wasn’t his fault, but we were the Kings of Hoofball when he played as Unsworth, Watson et al just lumped it up to him hoping for a flick on. More often than not he won it, but the rest of the team did not read the play well enough and nobody latched onto his pass.
I’d have titled that book, "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lad?"
Another title could’ve been "Potential Unfulfilled".
In many ways he was an "Everton"-type player, and I suspect was seen as the belated replacement for Graeme Sharp. We’d been tracking him since his Dundee Utd days, but couldn’t raise the money to sign him. Leeds were after him, to the point of parading him in a Leeds shirt, but that deal didn’t go through and Walter Smith signed him for Rangers.
Of course we ended up getting him thanks (!) to Mike Walker, but the incident with John McStay probably made him a marked man in referees eyes — though more often than not he was more than able to justify the red cards by his stupidity on the pitch.
The one red card that rankles with me was when he was sent off at Arsenal, for swearing at David Ellary. Ellary was a fucking hypocrite — he’d allowed himself to be mic-ed up for a Channel 4 documentary, and in one game Tony Adams called him a "fucking cheat". Ellary pretended not to hear the swearword and didn’t even book Adams for calling him a cheat. Big 4. England Captain. Familiar?
Duncan obviously felt the "magic touch" from the fans at Everton, as many other players have done.
Yet despite his injuries / suspensions, and given his ability with his feet as well as aerial ability, he should have scored more than 72 goals in almost a decade of service.
In many ways he was an "Everton"-type player, and I suspect was seen as the belated replacement for Graeme Sharp. We’d been tracking him since his Dundee Utd days, but couldn’t raise the money to sign him. Leeds were after him, to the point of parading him in a Leeds shirt, but that deal didn’t go through and Walter Smith signed him for Rangers.
Of course we ended up getting him thanks (!) to Mike Walker, but the incident with John McStay probably made him a marked man in referees eyes — though more often than not he was more than able to justify the red cards by his stupidity on the pitch.
The one red card that rankles with me was when he was sent off at Arsenal, for swearing at David Ellary. Ellary was a fucking hypocrite — he’d allowed himself to be mic-ed up for a Channel 4 documentary, and in one game Tony Adams called him a "fucking cheat". Ellary pretended not to hear the swearword and didn’t even book Adams for calling him a cheat. Big 4. England Captain. Familiar?
Duncan obviously felt the "magic touch" from the fans at Everton, as many other players have done.
Yet despite his injuries / suspensions, and given his ability with his feet as well as aerial ability, he should have scored more than 72 goals in almost a decade of service.
Hard to disagree with the comments above but those things aren’t the reason that I’ll remember him so fondly.
Simply, at a time when our players didn’t seem to give a fat rat’s clacker, he stood out as the one guy who genuinely gave a shit and could lift you off your seat. Probably the last player I felt or will feel that about.
In those years, was there anything better than a Duncan Ferguson goal at Goodison? Even in his later years.
"You don’t have to imagine the atmosphere now just... take it in".
Simply, at a time when our players didn’t seem to give a fat rat’s clacker, he stood out as the one guy who genuinely gave a shit and could lift you off your seat. Probably the last player I felt or will feel that about.
In those years, was there anything better than a Duncan Ferguson goal at Goodison? Even in his later years.
"You don’t have to imagine the atmosphere now just... take it in".
Well said Ernie,
The man showed a true passion for the football club in an otherwise forgettable age.
I doubt there would be many other rmembers of that side who would be remembered as fondly as Dunc.
The man showed a true passion for the football club in an otherwise forgettable age.
I doubt there would be many other rmembers of that side who would be remembered as fondly as Dunc.
But Liam (Reilly), the question a lot of us (older?) blues question is (in a roundabout way) his ’passion’.
If you’re a professional sportsman and you’re out on the piss and smoking, does this indicate that your ’passionate’ about playing football? (for us or anyone else).
If you smack someone in the guts KNOWING you’re immediately going to be sent off, does that show a passion for playing?
My guess is psychologists who would tell you this behaviour shows a passion for NOT playing.
I certainly question some of his ’injuries’
His excuse for bevvying just before the cup final in 95 was "I’m only sub’.
Eh?
Well what would have happened if we’d needed him after 2 mins?
I’ll tell you - the club he had so much passion for would have been fucked - BECAUSE OF HIM.
I don’t doubt for a second he has/had a lot of genuine feeling for the club he played with and for a modern pro, that IS rare.
However, my lasting view of him will always be that with more application and a more of a...er.. Phil Neville-like attitude, Duncan could have been twice as good and scored twice as many.
Natural talent-wise, he was definitely one of the best I’ve seen.
Sadly his application was, imo, often shite.
I once read an article by someone who reckoned Ferguson hated (or had grown to hate) football.
When I read it, it actually made a lot of sense to me.
Anyway, I not trying to turn anyone against him. These are just observations and I do accept that if you’re of a certain age, his importance would be a lot more...um... important.
If you’re a professional sportsman and you’re out on the piss and smoking, does this indicate that your ’passionate’ about playing football? (for us or anyone else).
If you smack someone in the guts KNOWING you’re immediately going to be sent off, does that show a passion for playing?
My guess is psychologists who would tell you this behaviour shows a passion for NOT playing.
I certainly question some of his ’injuries’
His excuse for bevvying just before the cup final in 95 was "I’m only sub’.
Eh?
Well what would have happened if we’d needed him after 2 mins?
I’ll tell you - the club he had so much passion for would have been fucked - BECAUSE OF HIM.
I don’t doubt for a second he has/had a lot of genuine feeling for the club he played with and for a modern pro, that IS rare.
However, my lasting view of him will always be that with more application and a more of a...er.. Phil Neville-like attitude, Duncan could have been twice as good and scored twice as many.
Natural talent-wise, he was definitely one of the best I’ve seen.
Sadly his application was, imo, often shite.
I once read an article by someone who reckoned Ferguson hated (or had grown to hate) football.
When I read it, it actually made a lot of sense to me.
Anyway, I not trying to turn anyone against him. These are just observations and I do accept that if you’re of a certain age, his importance would be a lot more...um... important.
Actually Eugene, I also remember the 80’s side very well, when the Rat, Mountfield and Psycho Pat were all classed as been exceptional players, but none were shrinking violets.
I remember, especially the Rat going after many a player who had ’done him’ previously in a game with one intention only, to give some back. But all of these players are fondly remembered.
I think, (although sometimes no arguments), Dunc was harshly treated because of his reputation, AKA Collina and that would frustrate anyone.
As regards the boozing, I think football then had a different culture towards diet and nutrition to todays players and boozing was more readily accepted. The game has now evolved and that wouldn’t be accepted today.
Personally, I enjoyed watching him and in a better team, I think he would have flourished, injuries notwithstanding.
I remember, especially the Rat going after many a player who had ’done him’ previously in a game with one intention only, to give some back. But all of these players are fondly remembered.
I think, (although sometimes no arguments), Dunc was harshly treated because of his reputation, AKA Collina and that would frustrate anyone.
As regards the boozing, I think football then had a different culture towards diet and nutrition to todays players and boozing was more readily accepted. The game has now evolved and that wouldn’t be accepted today.
Personally, I enjoyed watching him and in a better team, I think he would have flourished, injuries notwithstanding.
Duncan’s a hero, total legend in my opinion - never mind anything that he did regarding getting sent off & all that, that was all part of his charm.
Was there any better feeling than Duncan slamming one in at Goodison over the last 20 years? Since we were any good in the 80’s, he’s just about all we’ve had to shout about and for that he should be respected and applauded.
Not my all time Everton hero, but certainly in the top 3.
We’ll drink a drink a drink, to Duncan the King the King the King, hes the leader of our football team.....he’s the greatest centre forward that the World has ever seen!
Was there any better feeling than Duncan slamming one in at Goodison over the last 20 years? Since we were any good in the 80’s, he’s just about all we’ve had to shout about and for that he should be respected and applauded.
Not my all time Everton hero, but certainly in the top 3.
We’ll drink a drink a drink, to Duncan the King the King the King, hes the leader of our football team.....he’s the greatest centre forward that the World has ever seen!
Beats me why anyone, other than a serial masochist would ever read, let alone buy, an autobiography of a footballer.
"We scored seven that day and yours truly was lucky enough to ’bag’ four of them" ...puke, puke.
If you want a great one try ’Sir Alf’. Truly illuminating and thought provoking.
"We scored seven that day and yours truly was lucky enough to ’bag’ four of them" ...puke, puke.
If you want a great one try ’Sir Alf’. Truly illuminating and thought provoking.
With regards to your problem about what to get for Christmas, you could try ’The Manager’ by a certain David Moyes. It’s going to be out in a couple of weeks and Amazon are taking pre-orders for it now. Didn’t really think Moysie would be writing an autobiography this early in to his management career, but I bet it will be an interesting read.
Clearly in a minority of one here, but have always been totally mystified by the adulation of Ferguson. I always saw him as a goal-shy, injury-prone, money sponge who retarded our development for years by forcing the team to play atrocious hoofball for years. I was gutted when he re-signed, particularly when Gullit had paid such a ridiculous price for him.
I’m a bit gutted that it's been pulled. While I used to like the fact that he never wanted the limelight (but still made millions through wise thinking and investing).
Ferguson for any fan born after the Kendall years was the only hero they had to admire. His opinions have always remained a mystery — and I would have liked to have read his opinion of the newcastle switch...
But alas, its been pulled. Maybe it’ll be re-authored and published again?
Ferguson for any fan born after the Kendall years was the only hero they had to admire. His opinions have always remained a mystery — and I would have liked to have read his opinion of the newcastle switch...
But alas, its been pulled. Maybe it’ll be re-authored and published again?
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1 Posted 06/10/2009 at 14:27:07
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