Villarreal in for Ferguson testimonial

Petition anyone??

Should Moyes have had a testimonial for 11 years as manager?

What about the bold Bill himself?

I always laughed at the fact during his Newcastle days (a move he and us never wanted) that the other players in the changing room would have seen his Everton 9 tattoo showing where his heart was.

He gets a testimonial, simply, because he is a legend. He made the late 90s semi-watchable in the midst of a plethora of failure, not because he was good, but because he was a true blue and gave me (as a perpetual underdog at the time) something to cheer for. That deserves recognition.

If I remember correctly, Big Dunc was on £35k a week during his last few playing years with us so his bank balance shouldn’t really need boosting from money from the average fan.

He was a legend at the club but IÂ’m also not a fan of these testimonials in an age were almost all Premier League players are millionaires long before they get near retirement.

I loved the guy when he played and yes, I was there at Villarreal when Collina robbed us.

Give the proceeds to local charities Dunc, youÂ’re not short of money.

Meanwhile Evertonians who’ve never earned £35k in a year let alone a week will skimp and save for the pleasure of chanting his name!

ItÂ’s not about money (and who cares where it goes anyway?) itÂ’s a chance to honour a club legend - which have been in short supply for the last thirty years.

I, for one, welcome one last chance to see Duncan pulling on the royal blue jersey for one last time.

He was our leader however he never there?

I remember 1997 and the so called "Great Escape" where was he?

I think he spent most of his time on the bench then he was always sent off?

I donÂ’t wish injury on anyone but I wasnÂ’t sympathetic put it that way.

I donÂ’t want to re-open the legend/not a legend debate with regards to Ferguson but surely people can see where this is going with regards to a precedent being set.

Davie Weir had eight years a player and a year and a bit as a coach. His behaviour on the pitch didnÂ’t result on him missing a lot of games. Should he get one?

DonÂ’t get me wrong, I like Ferguson now. I like his passion but a testimonial is way over the top for me after the playing career he had.

Have to agree with you Phil, I just donÂ’t get it, suppose itÂ’s part of the greater theatre. which is part of our chairmans life.

This guy cares about this club and its fans. He had only just got down towards the Gwladys St when the team was making it way back down the tunnel. I think he got the biggest cheer all season when he ran across the pitch to catch them up.

He may not have realised his massive potential as a player, been injured/suspended too much but when he played he was awesome. If we show a glimmer of his passion next season we may do okay. In the last 20 years no one comes close to being a legend compared to the guys from the 80Â’s except Dunc. Maybe Tim Cahill for the same reasons. IÂ’m sure he will pass proceeds to charities as thatÂ’s the type of guy he is.

A deserved testimonial, although a bit odd for a coach. IÂ’ll be going.

Sure he got me punching the air on occasion, but in short, I felt he wasted a lot of his talent and was generally a shit professional and bad role model.

But I have no problem with the game.

Firstly, IÂ’m fairly sure testimonials these days arenÂ’t the same as they were in the past - ie: old pro getting a big dollop of cash before heading into retirement.

Many charities/good causes seem to benefit from these things, so thatÂ’s...good.

Secondly itÂ’s decent opposition and IÂ’m all for that.

Plus I actually am a fan of todayÂ’s Duncan.

IÂ’m impressed with his honesty regarding his past and the changes in lifestyle and think what he can pass on to young players is important.

I believe people can change (for the better) and believe Duncan has.

Oh and like the rest of us, he genuinely loves Everton.

Anyway, IÂ’m going.

I agree with some of the comments above, when we were shite he at least gave us something to cheer, for me we under used his football skills as he clearly could play on the ground but instead we just launched it at him.

Ooh penalty German Women...

I agree Ferguson never lived up to his potential as a player and he himself seems fully aware and quite rueful of that fact. If you listen to him speak (and can attune to the accent) heÂ’s actually quite articulate when addressing the mistakes and misdemeanors of his playing days. HeÂ’s obviously mellowed as a man as heÂ’s matured, and his time away from football seemingly helped him to realise that he had a stronger love for the sport than he once allowed himself to believe. H

Anyway, beyond all that, IÂ’d gladly grant him a testimonial solely for being the last Everton player truly capable of putting the fear of god into the redshite. Their entire back line turned into nervous wrecks when he was around and whatÂ’s more...he knew it.

Shane,

Ferguson did spend ten years playing for Everton though (ok, playing, recuperating from injury, sitting out bans, and staring wistfully out of the bars in Barlinnie wondering how his birds were doing). It was just split over two spells.

He first came on loan in 1994 and signed for Necastle in 1998. Came back to Everton in 2000 and played his last game in blue in 2006.

My point is cheerfully withdrawn.

But of a win-win situation. And people are complaining!

IÂ’m afraid that, being born in the 80s, your opinions (and mine) are completely invalid. We were too young to idolise the title-winning sides and our second-rate heroes werenÂ’t fit to scrub Alan BallÂ’s boots. Face it, youÂ’re not a true Evertonian in some peopleÂ’s eyes, unless you were born in a certain era.

I wrote to the club and got jack shit back, a chance for his family to attend Goodison along with former players like Latchford, Mckenzie, Dave Thomas, Mick Lyons etc.

Surely this would have been a more fitting occasion.

ItÂ’s like a miniature work of art.

The other ticket will be for my grandson.

Maybe IÂ’m wrong though, because as John Daley, points out, heÂ’s a changed man these days, probably sees the error of his ways more than anyone, and maybe Everton are lucky to have somebody with that experience around the club.

I think this knowledge would be great at under 18-21 level and was therefore surprised that Duncan was promoted to the first team so quickly.

That said you canÂ’t have enough genuine Evertonians in the set up for me, and as long as HE IS GOOD ENOUGH, I wouldnÂ’t have a problem with Duncan Ferguson managing Everton one day.

Playing DevilÂ’s Advocate here, is it possible CollinaÂ’s decision was correct. I have just reviewed the disallowed goal a few times and IÂ’m afraid canÂ’t even identify Marcus Bent let alone spot any misdemeanour. What does stand out though is that immediately ,several Villarreal players all point to something and yell at Collina. That is not the usual initial reaction of a team who have just conceded a vital goal, disappointment or a goalie berating poor marking are rather more common.

I know the conspiracy theories, but is it possible that Collina actually just reacted to what he witnessed.

Still think he shot JFK and kidnapped Shergar though!

And the last line - Â’Face it, youÂ’re not a true Evertonian in some peopleÂ’s eyes, unless you were born in a certain eraÂ’ - bitter, revealing and 100% untrue.

There are a million different views and opinions expressed on TW about the team, the manager, the board and all things Everton.

And these views are expressed by many different posters of different ages (abilities, heights, shoe sizes...).

Do some (of us) wax lyrical about the past?

Certainly but... itÂ’s allowed.

Is it boring?

Maybe, but I had to listen to my dad and uncles drone on about Tommy Lawton, now my nephews have to listen to me drone on about Alan Ball – it’s just how it works.

But what is definitely fucking nonsense (and extremely insulting) is stating some see others as Â’not true EvertoniansÂ’

My experience of this site is that on the very rare occasions that the Â’better blueÂ’ rears his/her ugly head, they get a swift (and deserved) kick in the plums.

To suggest as you do that there is some wholesale age discrimination going on is utter bollocks.

Phil, to say that your opinions are completely invalid is a bit daft, would you rather us fans who DO remember past great teams keep our opinions to ourselves or would you rather hear about the likes of Alan Ball etc.? If so, then weÂ’d better change the words of "And if you know your history"...

Nobody asks to be born in a particular era but weÂ’ll all have our own heroes and memories to pass on.

ItÂ’s just that ours are better than yours....:-) .

ps. I had to listen to my arl feller talking about Dean, Dunn, Geldard etc......try following THAT line up!

I used to love hearing my dad tell me about his days, DixieÂ’s 60th goal, the 6-4 game v Sunderland, how Jackie Coulter was the dirtiest player he ever saw etc etc. I feel if you are part of the Everton family, the old geezer talking about the golden days isnÂ’t your opponent.

Anyway, we saw Rod Belfitt.

Ferguson deserves his testimonial and should be remembered as a decent centre forward during a time that our team was pretty average. Unfortunately, due to the vast money available to certain clubs in our league we will never again win titles in the near future. We are one of the better also ranÂ’s until we are bought by a mega rich outsider which so far is not in the offing.

Both of our recent managerÂ’s are shopping at basement level and hoping to unearth new stars on the cheap. Fans will say we spent a lot on Lukaku and McCarthy but we took in more than they cost in outgoings which is the way we do business.

So far we have signed Cleverley on a free and Delofeu for less than £5 million. Clubs like West Ham and Sunderland are each aiming higher whilst the top half a dozen clubs are dealing in hundreds of millions. We are looking at those club’s surplus players and hope to improve them which seems a bit unlikely.

Anyway, lets hope that the Villarreal testimonial for Ferguson gets well attended and the fans get a spectacle that augurs well for the coming season.

I got a ban for telling him what I thought of him then, so best be careful now. HereÂ’s a clue, it rhymed with Â’wosserÂ’.

I do feel for our younger supporters who have never seen Everton win a league, my 2 Sons included. So maybe he thinks that because he hasnÂ’t seen the glory sides, then what he says are great players might get a different reaction from our generation.
But Phil you and the younger generation are just as good if not better than previous generations of blues, as its not easy to support a team in bad times.

Then I would meet someone who hasnÂ’t missed a game, home or away, for umpteen years, and I realised I was not quite so dedicated or knowledgeable as I had thought.

Then a few years ago I started reading this site, and began to read posts from people who havenÂ’t been to the match for years. Or never been. But they get up at 3 in the morning in Thailand or California, New Zealand or New York, or listen to the radio from Bootle, to find out how our beloved Blues are getting on, many times to be crushed by the teamÂ’s failure to match the passion of the support.

Do I agree with the views of everyone who posts on here? No chance. Do I respect them as fans, and their right to express their opinions? Absolutely.

To say the views of any post 80s supporter is not welcome on this forum is ridiculous. The only thing that gets up my nose is when people make ludicrous comments like NaismithÂ’s the worst player to ever wear a blue shirt. Obviously not seen any of the dross I have watched over the years

The likes of Straq, whilst giving 200%, were awful players at this level but didnÂ’t play that much. There were also far worse players than Naismith back in the 90s but he IS very average and IÂ’m always underwhelmed when I see his name in the starting XI.

IÂ’ll never forget away to Spurs a couple of years ago when the crowd were chanting Â’keep him onÂ’ when he was subbed off after a shocking performance, he passed and dribbled the ball out of touch a couple of times before he was put out of his misery.

I live in Australia and pay $109 per month for Foxtel just so I can follow the Blues. All views are valid, even if you donÂ’t agree with them. ItÂ’s taken me two years of being on TW and a couple of bans to make me realize that.

I love the diverse opinions as it never ceases to amaze me. Long may it continue. Martinez out big Dunc for manager and chairman, haha.

The amount of kids who follow Everton home and away is fucking brilliant to see, special fans who keep going despite there team not winning anything during their lifetime.

These kids always make me feel proud, they would go to the end of the earth to watch our great club.

Eugene, you gave me the picture of the great Leonard Rossiter, saying whose Tommy Lawton! Brilliant.

He would also Â’informÂ’ me that big Bob Â’couldnÂ’t hold a candleÂ’ to Bert Lockjaw or Fred Ricketts or Albert Bedbugs (or whoever).

As I said, it’s just the way of things, but none of it suggests for a second anyone is ’not a true Evertonian’ – that is simply disingenuous nonsense.

By the way I remember in that Rigsby tirade, him specifically saying players of the past would ’make mincemeat of this lot today’ and that ’all you got in my day then when you scored was a brisk handshake – these days you get covered in love-bites’.

Some years back in the Â’90s we were playing Bolton away and were, as usual, crap. A lad in front of me stood up and gave our players both barrels along the lines of "IÂ’ve spent all me dole coming here today and you fuckers donÂ’t give a shite!" I really felt for that lad and those like him that day.

Incidentally, Eugene, that Bert Lockjaw was some player...

Bobby Latchford walked on water mate.

Murdo heÂ’s deadly serious I think. Big lazy useless bastard he usad to call him! But maybe it was because he had seen Tommy Lawton!!

And please donÂ’t get him started on Davies Hicks on haha

Steve Brown – Yes I did once say ’Thank god for that result’ after we lost. It was daft, I guess, but we played awful and were on a string of bad results. I wanted Martinez out and I feared that a positive result from such a negative performance would only prolong Martinez’s tenure at a time when I think 90% of us wanted him gone.

I never want Everton to lose, but I didnÂ’t want Martinez to be able to spin the game into some sort of mental victory for himself when everyone else could see he was all over the place.

However, as one of todayÂ’s Evertonians who pay a lot more of our disposable possible income than those previously, I welcome the fact that our recent talisman has an opportunity to say thanks to the fans and donate money to charity. We are a desperate club in an ever-increasingly financial world.

Feel free to get off the Everton roller-coaster if the modern teams are not up to the previous standards set by the billionaire owners of their day (eg, Sir John Moores) and let those of us who live on small mercies celebrate someone who stood for our passion in darker times.
COYB - NSNO

Whether you can count them as legends is a matter of opinion obviously. We all have different viewpoints of what defines legendary status. Is it the memories and moments they gave us or the success they had?

Anyway, I sadly was not as fortunate as some of you who grew up in eras of success and great players like Kendall, Ball, Big Nev, Sheedy etc.

You only have to look a the sad case of the late Mick Buckley to realise that the are some ex Everton heroes out there doing it tough. How about an "Everton heroes" pre-season game instead. (I also think the current generation should throw in a one off donation too, as iÂ’m sure theyÂ’ll be set up for life by the time theyÂ’re 25!)

Or are you referring to the time when Moyes didnÂ’t offer him a contract extension after the 2006 season, and Dunc decided to leave us and retire rather than play anywhere else?

Or are you referring to the time when Duncan left us and moved to Majorca for five years to retire and cool off, then returned to the club, apologized to Moyes, and asked to coach the Everton youth team with then Academy Director Alan Irvine voluntarily?

Phil was talking about you!

IÂ’d say to her, "What are you worried about? YouÂ’ve never ever seen Everton."

SheÂ’d say, "Well, youÂ’ve never seen Dixie Dean; I have." SheÂ’d seen Dixie bring the cup up Scotland Road in 1933.

IÂ’d say, "Mam, I wasnÂ’t even born in 1933."

"DoesnÂ’t matter," sheÂ’d reply.

"Mam, there thereÂ’s no answer to that," IÂ’d say, shaking my head.

Ah the noble art of 3D, desperate disingenuous deflection – "It was tongue in cheek, guv, honest!" Erm... "you’re a pontificator" etc blah waffle (Jesus – took you a day to come up with that!?)

Well fine, IÂ’ll let others decide Phil.

Here is what you wrote:

"I'm afraid that, being born in the 80s, your opinions (and mine) are completely invalid. We were too young to idolise the title-winning sides and our second-rate heroes weren't fit to scrub Alan Ball's boots. Face it, you're not a true Evertonian in some people's eyes, unless you were born in a certain era."

People can decide for themselves if itÂ’s Â’pretty clearÂ’ that this was simply a smiley, tongue-in-cheek bit of jolly bantery-boo.

Or bad-tempered, frustrated, narked shite that finishes by insulting (and lying about!) Evertonians of a certain vintage.

As for your "Yes, I did once say 'Thank god for that result' after we lost. It was daft, I guess, but.."

Yeah yeah Â’but, but, but..Â’

Phil Sammon after Everton win – Link

It doesnÂ’t matter how old I am or you are, when I think of him I think of the great times, the unfulfilled promise and waste of talent.

For me, legends consistently produce the goods over a long period. He didnÂ’t.

That was about as pathetic a riposte as I think IÂ’ve ever seen.

It took me Â’a dayÂ’ to reply because we are in time-zones nine hours apart. Bless you thinking that IÂ’d stew on your comment for hours.

IÂ’m not reneging on my comment. I was having a pop at you for implying your legends are more valid than mine. You did say that didnÂ’t you?

I donÂ’t question that youÂ’re an Evertonian. But it does strike me that the majority of your posts seem to be tending to personal qualms you have with fellow posters rather than current EFC matters. Bit of a bore really.

One of "todayÂ’s Evertonians"?

Let me educate you sonny boy (joke – couldn’t resist) there are a couple of things that, generally, you don’t/can’t retire from.

The mafia is one; being an Evertonian is another, so you’re no more "one of today’s Evertonians" than I am or anyone else is – if you’re an Evertonian who hasn’t died yet, you’re "one of today’s Evertonians"

So those Â’previouslyÂ’ are paying the same as you.

Reading where this thread has gone, it is obvious (and understandable) that you and other young/younger blues are frustrated, but getting snotty with other Evertonians wonÂ’t get you anywhere.

Angry? Want to vent? Get up to Goodison and vent to the man in charge. ThatÂ’s what weÂ’d have done in (starts running for cover) my day.

All I could come up with as a riposte was, Â’What the hell for, they all speak in Russian now!Â’

I know youÂ’re not, you would never do a thing like that.

"Yes I did once say Â’thank god for that resultÂ’ after we lost but..." blah blah.

For younger Evertonians who havenÂ’t seen us win a trophy and who missed seeing some of the greatest Everton players, I would take some consolation from the fact that you also missed some of the worst.

Do you remember Winston Bogarde? (Chelsea 2000-2004)? High earner, Chelsea, wanted to sell him as high earner at club, but he refused to sign for anyone else so stayed at club. Only played 9 games. But wouldnÂ’t be sold by Chelsea. Maybe for different reasons. But he had to sign on the other teams dotted line and he didnÂ’t. Think it comes under the Bosman ruling.

So Ferguson could have stayed couldnÂ’t he Chris? But as I said he left us. Because he wanted to.

I think Ferguson was a different set of circumstances; maybe he got a good signing-on fee and a wage increase when he moved to Newcastle, and I could understand that.

Bogarde just played Chelsea for mugs and they couldnÂ’t do anything about it, a bit like McMannaman with Liverpool.

I appreciate that Duncan – in the pantheon of Everton players – may not have laced the boots of many of those true legends; however, a little like the Cannonball Kid, he was a beacon of hope in dire times. And don’t forget that Dave Hickson also plied his trade across the park and I don’t hear too many voicing their concerns about his behaviour / love for all things Everton. If people don’t want to attend Duncan’s testimonial because of some misgivings about the merits of the man then they don’t have to.

For those who do wish to attend, then they are also free to support the player if they so choose. It really is that simple and I don’t understand all the angst about what is just another pre-season friendly – albeit a testimonial game where most of the money will probably end up being donated to nominated worthy charities.

We were actually playing Newcastle at home – Monday night or midweek match, and Duncan didn’t play. Nor did he want to go to Newcastle, but he was cashed in. That was from the horse's dad’s mouth – and I know, cos I was there!!

Duncan was never the best player to play for us by a long chalk, and his occasional misdemeanours – with the exception of strangling Steffan Freund – used to be as frustrating as hell. He did, however, give 100% and hope to us all while on the pitch, and was really up for it in the big games.

A current captain with an attitude akin to his would propel us upwards in my opinion. I donÂ’t begrudge him his day, and those who do, need not support it.

First, I do recall Winston Bogarde. Chelsea defender who earned a rep for just pulling down a paycheck after a big money move to Chelsea via then manager Vialli (maybe). Then Ranieri got hired and didnÂ’t have much use for him. Chelsea was stupid with their finances B.A. (before Ambramovic) and were paying him an absurd amount of money which made him practically impossible to sell or loan out, since the club wanted 100 percent of his wages picked up...and that wasnÂ’t happening. The guy was 30 years old, and wanted to make one last payday. The difference between the two; Bogarde loved the money, Ferguson loved Everton.

Remember Everton was a club and a fanbase that stood by him no matter what. When he went to jail, he said that he never forgot all of the letters and support he received from Everton fans; Dunc even got a letter from a certain young, local prodigy who currently plies his trade for Manchester United and captains England from time to time. Everton gave him a home, a place to grow, support-hell, he met his wife in Liverpool. Duncan loved and still loves Everton and he wanted to finish his career with us.

Then heÂ’s told that the club is looking to sell him because of our emerging financial problems. Duncan said in an interview that he was heartbroken by this news. He was told the club needed to move him and he realized that there wasnÂ’t much that he could do about it; "If it wasnÂ’t Newcastle then it would be someone else." Duncan took the positive outlook that "If the club is in financial trouble then maybe me going is the best thing that could happen...but I am still disappointed to be leaving."

Sorry for the lengthy response...actually very few of my comments are short, but I believe in bringing information into a discussion.

Now IÂ’m pretty sure that you will disregard everything I have written; probably consider DuncanÂ’s own words as "players speak" so he wonÂ’t look bad for the fans. I get that you see his agreeing to go to Newcastle equaling a desire to leave us; and you use BogardeÂ’s refusal to leave Chelsea as exhibit A. But Bogarde wanted to "honor his contract" (make his money), and clubs refused to meet ChelseaÂ’s transfer demands to take him away. But Duncan was and is emotionally connected with Everton. He loves the fans and loves the city, and he was heartbroken that the club were getting rid of him, whereas Bogarde had no emotional contection; he just wanted his money.

Duncan felt that he had no choice, but that the move would benefit the club in the long run. The Newcastle transfer aside, you never once heard of him putting in a transfer request to leave, and never once heard of him pining for a move elsewhere. If you think that he wanted to leave so badly then those rumors would have been everywhere, even in 1998.

Just when I thought I was out... They pulled me back in!

IÂ’m a Â’madeÂ’ Evertonian for sure!

How anyone can feel anger toward Ferguson (Still?) for not refusing to sign is mind-blowing. As he realized himself, he had no choice in the matter. It was a done deal.

By the way, I like Duncan, sent him a nice letter and a book on birds when he was doing his porridge. I just donÂ’t think he has it in him to be a top manager, weÂ’ll see.

Chris Wilson, I think exactly that! Players talk. You know the saying mate, actions speak louder than words. And in his actions he left and signed for them.

But, in the reality of the situation, he had no choice. Surely you can see the difference?

Or perhaps not, as you seem to believe he did have a choice – even given the situation. I think you’re wrong in that. Read what Chris wrote. It’s clear that he really had no choice. He definitely did not chose to leave us.

You not liking testimonials is fine; not thinking heÂ’s a legend... sure. But claiming he chose to leave us? Sorry, no. Not having that. He was forced to leave.

Phil... is Roberto safe?

When Kenwright took over, one of the things that he and Smith did was to put the situation right and bring Ferguson back.

"The move was forced on me," said an adamant Ferguson. "Everton simply didnÂ’t want my services any longer. I knew on Monday morning that Everton were inviting offers for me. I knew by Monday afternoon that it was Newcastle, and the deal was done after the match that night."

"The manager had told me on Monday morning the club was looking to sell me if the money was right, but I donÂ’t think he knew a move was actually on later that day."

"He brought me into his office and just said I was being put up for sale. He said it wasnÂ’t his idea to sell me and that it was for financial reasons."

"I was numb with shock really. It sickened me. I couldnÂ’t believe it. I am absolutely heartbroken to leave the club."

Ferguson continued: "I think everyone knows what Everton Football Club means to me. I thought I would finish my career there and I wanted to finish my career at Goodison Park. I approached the club for the new contract which I signed last season and a month ago I had been talking to my agent about asking for an extension to that deal."

"I was happy to be at Everton for life, if they wanted me. In the last couple of days my world has turned upside down. I was preparing for Everton against Charlton Athletic and now I am going to be playing for Newcastle against Wimbledon."

"It has been a traumatic time for me and my family."

Ferguson paid tribute to the Everton fans who treated him as a cult hero following his move from Glasgow Rangers in 1994, and vowed never to forget their support, especially when he was serving a jail sentence in GlasgowÂ’s Barlinnie Prison.

"I will never, ever forget the Everton fans and I mean that. They will be with me forever," he said.

"When I was in jail it was a very difficult time in my career and my life and they stuck by me. All the letters I got then I appreciated so much; they made a hell of a difference. Everything they were saying to me I will remember. They were encouraging me and saying keep your chin up. It did help."

"The support I received from the people of Liverpool was special. Everton fans will be in part of my blood because of the way they stood by me. Their loyalty to me was one of the main reasons why I love Everton so much. I will always have fond memories of the club. Getting to captain the club and wearing the Number 9 shirt after so many other great names meant a lot to me. Maybe you donÂ’t realise how much at the time, but I did genuinely love the fans and the club."

"Hopefully they will see me as someone who put his heart into the club and did his best for them."

Ferguson was sacrificed by under-fire chairman Peter Johnson, as the club’s main asset, to raise funds and ease Everton’s financial troubles and the Scottish striker insists he was left with no option but to sign for Premiership rivals Newcastle in a five-and-a-half year deal which could earn him up to a staggering £40,000-a-week.

In an honest admission he said he could understand being sold if the drastic action benefited Everton in the long run.

"I donÂ’t know Peter JohnsonÂ’s and Walter SmithÂ’s thinking," he said. "If the club is in financial trouble then maybe me going is the best thing that could happen. If they can bring in two or three star players as a result, then it could be the best thing in the long run. I can understand that, but I am still disappointed to be leaving."

"But how could I stand in the way? If they didnÂ’t want me there, I have got to move on. If it wasnÂ’t Newcastle, it would have been someone else. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but sooner rather than later because the decision was made that Duncan Ferguson can go."
------------------

How anyone can view that as player Â’spinÂ’ to ensure he comes out of things smelling like roses, I donÂ’t know.

This maybe took the shine off DuncanÂ’s farewell, so maybe he might get a chance to say a few words that might galvanise the crowd, getting ready for a new season?

John, with the money now involved in football, I personally think that testimonials, should only be granted to players in the lower leagues. But after reading that post, IÂ’m sure youÂ’ve put a couple of thousand on the gate!

Legend? No question. My generation's Dave Hickson, as someone mentioned. To deny him that is to actually do the club a disservice. If not Duncan from the nineties, then who else?