Everton break through wall of worry under Talismanic Ferguson

Everton badly needed a result today; one point would have done in the circumstances but three would have been priceless and cometh the hour, cometh the man to inspire a performance of high intensity, desire and determination that was matched by a raucous and then rapturous Goodison Park.

Lyndon Lloyd 07/12/2019 52comments  |  Jump to last
Everton 3 - 1 Chelsea

Maybe a few weeks or months down the road Evertonians will look back on the start of December 2019 and wonder, as they did two years ago when the club lifted itself clear of relegation danger during the transition from David Unsworth and Sam Allardyce, what all the panic was about. But this past week, after humiliation in the Merseyside derby, the dismissal of Marco Silva and with a daunting run of fixtures in the run-up to Christmas, there was a deep sense of foreboding at Everton.

There may have been 23 more games to go in the Premier League season before kick-off today and, as the big man himself acknowledged to the press yesterday, plenty of time for this team to drag itself out of the bottom three but Duncan Ferguson will have been acutely aware of the low ebb that Everton found themselves after three successive defeats.

Everton badly needed a result today; one point would have done in the circumstances but three would have been priceless and cometh the hour, cometh the Talisman, wearing Howard Kendall's watch it would later be revealed, to inspire from a hitherto listless and directionless team a performance of high intensity, desire and determination that was matched by a raucous and then rapturous Goodison Park.

The team sheet, featuring the much-maligned Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin, Theo Walcott and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a player who hadn’t scored since October, might not have been greeted with much enthusiasm but the trust instilled in them by Ferguson was returned ten-fold. To a man, Everton scrapped, harried, chased and bull-dozed their way through a blistering first half in which they took an early lead and then held Chelsea at bay, ceding as much as 80% of the ball to the visitors and yet still managing to carve out a great chance to go into the interval with a bigger advantage.

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And when the pace of their efforts inevitably dropped in the second half, they retained their shape, their concentration and work ethic to eventually stifle a Chelsea team that came to Goodison with one of the best away records in the division. Indeed, it was to the credit of Frank Lampard’s side that they didn’t wilt in the face of Everton’s ferocious start and early strike through Richarlison.

At times in the first half they danced around the close attention, snapping tackles and full-blooded lunges from Blue jerseys, manfully trying to play their way through the maelstrom and with a bit more fortune, they might have ruined Ferguson’s day. Willian was a particular threat during the first 45 minutes and Michael Keane almost gifted him an equaliser with 18 minutes gone with a horrible touch on the edge of his own box and Tammy Abraham came very close to touching him one of the Brazilian’s centres from the right. Meanwhile, when Djibril Sidibé over-committed exposing the home side’s right flank, Mason Mount also nearly connected with the young striker later in the half but his ball was just a few inches off his toe in the middle.

Otherwise, however, it was Everton’s no-frills, back to basics approach of getting the ball forward early, winning second balls and 50-50 challenges that was the dominant theme. A widely-shared post-match statistic revealed that the team made 37 tackles overall in the game, the most by a Premier League side this season and more than any Everton team in over decade.

It was over-exuberant at times but largely remained on the right side of the line between passion and illegality and yet there was plenty of silk on show as well from what remains a talented squad, even with the mounting injuries – Yerry Mina missed out with a hamstring strain, Lucas Digne went off with a groin problem and Mason Holgate limped over the finish line – that threaten to ensure that the next month remains keenly challenging regardless of the opposition.

In a pleasing and long-overdue break from Silva’s reliance on a lone — and all-too-often isolated — striker, Ferguson deployed Richarlison up front with Calvert-Lewin and the difference in terms of the latter’s game was significant. Both players were involved in the opening goal, a well-worked move that Richarlison started by collecting a pass from his strike partner and laying it off wide to Sidibé who still had plenty of work to do to advance and whip in a perfect cross that Richarlison met in the middle with another unstoppable header. A goal straight from the playbook of Big Dunc, the player.

Calvert-Lewin was involved again with a quarter of an hour gone when he chested Jordan Pickford’s pinpoint clearance down with aplomb to Walcott who stabbed it back to him first time to break the line of two defenders and put him in on goal but from the angle he couldn’t beat Kepa Arrizabalaga.

With fresh instructions from Ferguson at the break, Everton emerged from half-time with the same sense of purpose that had served them so well in the first period and they doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart. Sidibé, who responded admirably from his poor showing in the Anfield derby on Wednesday with a great performance, got in smartly to knock the ball off Christian Pulisic’s foot and Kurt Zouma, back at Goodison for the first time since his loan spell with the Toffees ended in May, could only slice it into the air.

Calvert-Lewin jostled with Andreas Christensen as it dropped, got a fortunate bounce off Zouma that took it beyond the defender and had time to weigh up his shot before steering it beyond Kepa to make it 2-0. Ferguson, who had leapt down the touchline in unbridled joy for the first goal, went galloping out of his technical area again, this time scooping up a ballboy as he celebrated what felt like a massively important second goal.

Chelsea were back in it within three minutes, though, thanks to an accomplished finish by Mateo Kovacic. Lampard’s side attacked down their left flank and N’golo Kanté found Cesar Azpilicueta but his centre was swept out of the six-yard box by Digne. Unfortunately, it went straight to Kovacic who guided a controlled first-time shot past the unsighted Pickford and inside the post to make it 2-1. The Video Assistant Referee deemed that, despite appearing to be blocking the keeper’s line of sight, Abraham did not sufficiently interfere with play.

Walcott had a chance to restore the two-goal lead when he burst past the last defender but went for goal with Richarlison lurking in the middle and Kepa made a decent one-handed stop while Kanté set Mount up at the other end with a great chance to test Pickford but he drove his shot well wide and into the Park End.

Sensing that his team might need bolstering in midfield, Ferguson withdrew Richarlison with 20 minutes to go and introduced Tom Davies, a decision that did not sit particularly well with the Brazilian, but Christensen was still afforded too much space in the 79th minute to advance and ping one narrowly off target from distance.

A minute later, Holgate, another particularly impressive performer on the day, blocked Mount’s volley and Pickford tipped Azpilicueta’s shot over from the rebound as Chelsea continued to press for an equaliser but it was to be Calvert-Lewin’s day.

Kepa’s pass out from his area missed Zouma and was intercepted by the alert Walcott who tucked a beautiful pass between two Chelsea players and into Calvert-Lewin’s path. He back-heeled it to Davies who couldn’t quite dig it out from under his feet, Kanté blocked the loose ball and it ricocheted nicely for Calvert-Lewin to stretch out a boot, knock it through the legs of both Azpilicueta and the keeper and into the empty net. Lady Luck, who had utterly abandoned Silva, smiled on the Blues today.

It’s not clear at this point how long Ferguson will remain in charge at Goodison. If he is given the responsibility of overseeing the next few games or even asked to stay on in the role until the end of the season, you would hope that future results won’t tarnish what was a magical day for him and a match that will live long in the collective Evertonian memory. The way he spoke after the game, you got the feeling he would have loved to take this match and result back home with him, put it on the mantle if he could and just be happy with that for the time being.

More than a few supporters questioned the wisdom of appointing Ferguson, a first-team coach about whose abilities we knew very little, to the job of taking up the reins from Silva with the team in such dire need of a pick-me-up but he has answered the call in typically “Duncan” fashion — with a passion and hunger that left no player on that team in doubt of what it means to represent Everton Football Club. In the context of the weak displays Goodison has seen this season, reaction that he and a bear-pit crowd managed to inspire in the players should not be understated.

His influence spurred the Blues to a massive victory that smashed through the wall of worry that has surrounded the club and its supporters as they viewed this pre-Christmas schedule with dread. A trip to rejuvenated Manchester United will test the team to the limits but there’s no question that a performance of this ilk will have struggling Arsenal quivering in their boots back at Goodison in a fortnight’s time and there is renewed hope for the cup tie against Leicester as well.

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Tony Hill
1 Posted 07/12/2019 at 23:18:30
We saw a side two yards faster. The one I'm excited about is Holgate. He really could be one of the great defenders if he knuckles down and cuts out the empty-headed moments. I think he will.
Jimmy Hogan
2 Posted 07/12/2019 at 23:32:51
Who was Captain today?
David Pearl
3 Posted 07/12/2019 at 23:39:11
Sigurdsson.
David Pearl
4 Posted 07/12/2019 at 23:50:21
Richarlison had his usual snarl when walking off the pitch. In all fairness, he'd ran his race... and put in a great effort. I worried about his attitude after Silva was sacked but he showed what he is about today.

Personally l would've taken off Iwobi. However tactically it was a good call shape wise. If Walcott and Digne hadn't got late knocks, I'm pretty sure that Calvert-Lewin would've come off as he could barely walk. Some effort the lads put in today, it really was. COYB.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to go away mid-May, hopefully off planet. Unless we can get past them in January and lift the cup. Catterick, Kendall, Royle, Ferguson... you never know!!

Jerome Shields
5 Posted 07/12/2019 at 00:06:45
Everton do have the players and the know-how. All they need is a Manager who can fine-tune them against different styles of p!ay and prepare and motivate them. Everton were set out to win today and credit to Duncan for preparing and motivating them, realising their potential.

It seems that the most important attribute a manager will need at Everton is being able to get players to buy into that winning mentality, which Duncan always had and still has.

Today, Big Dunc answered the question: 'What does he do?' The answer is he eats, drinks and sleeps Everton. That question, after today, will never be asked again by any Everton supporter.

John Kavanagh
6 Posted 07/12/2019 at 00:08:27
Lyndon - I believe Arsenal are now on their longest run without a win since the 1970s. If they don't win against West Ham or Man City then they will arrive at Goodison hoping to end that winless run.

Our uncanny record for gifting teams on a losing or winless streak and giving away goals to players who haven't scored in donkey's years is legendary in the football world.

Beating Arsenal in such circumstances would be an even bigger achievement for the big man than today, because this has been a habit of ours for decades.

Rick Tarleton
7 Posted 08/12/2019 at 07:37:57
That was magnificent. They played with spirit, they played with feeling, they played. All the things that I and everyone else complained about last week wee eradicated. Calvert-Lewin was a centre forward, Sigurdsson was seen making a tackle. Give the man a job.
It's not fair to judge anyone or any team on one game, but it wasn't a bad start!
Ferguson must at least be considered for the list of candidates.
Laurie Hartley
8 Posted 08/12/2019 at 07:51:14
It is a strange old world.

I now find myself asking the question, is there another human being on the planet that could have orchestrated that win?

I can’t think of anyone. Those 3 points are so precious.

Bob Parrington
9 Posted 08/12/2019 at 07:52:32

I wrote this before the game on another thread. Does Duncan fit this description or not??!!!

"Hopefully it will not be Moyes but I'd like the new manager to be a person with vitality, tenacity and personality, who isn't afraid to show some emotion from the touch line. A guy who can really get the players working as a team with guts and determination".

Amit Vithlani
10 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:12:37
Bob @ 9 he does. Moreover I don't see a new manager on the horizon. Kovac was only there to watch one of several games. He isn't interested in the vacancy, apparently.

Dunc will stay on, and I think passion and pride will keep us going for a few games. Leicester will hate visiting us - they are favourites, and Dunc will wind us up, Joe Royle style. DCL & Ricky are our Ferguson & Rideout. I pray Iwobi can turn into another ex-Arsenal talisman, Limpar. Digne the next Hinch. So many parrallels!

Bill Fairfield
11 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:24:50
Pure theatre haven't enjoyed a game so much for along time,nothing like Goodson when its bouncing,well done Duncan
Neil Lawson
12 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:29:59
Many of us will remember the Derby game when Joe Royle had just taken over and Dunc powered in the winner. The start of the Dogs of War. Not quite up there with that evening but not too far away. The passion generated in the crowd, and now in the keyboards of ToffeeWebbers is palpable. Even the BBC appear to love us. That is a miracle. No fancy Dan manager for me. Yesterday is a reminder of the Everton we love. Remember always too, the Bayern game. Skill and passion and commitment blasted them off the Park on that wonderful evening. Oh for its continued return.
Dale Rose
13 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:39:34
Norwich was awful. The red shite on Wednesday even worse. Chelsea just showed what team we can be. Motivated and aggressive. A team who could have beaten anyone. Lets hope it is the catalyst that carries us forward. Ferguson was outstanding. Couldn't believe how we played.
Martin Mason
14 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:47:34
I'd hate to see DF be under too many expectations and be totally deflated when he gets into that inevitable bad run but based on such an increase in performance he needs to be given the chance initially as Head coach and if necessary working with a replacement on an almost equal basis with a view to taking over. Maybe that doesn't work though. Maybe we could loan him out like a player to get the experience as top man.
Tony Everan
15 Posted 08/12/2019 at 08:55:52
Unless it is Pochettino or Nuno Espirito Santo I don't see any upside into replacing Duncan with a compromise manager. What's the point ?

Duncan kept it simple, back to basics, the players knew what they were doing and did it well. It's all that Moyes, Sam, etc etc will do if they were hired. None of them could match Dunc's passion.

If Dunc continues until the end of the season and adopts the same uncompromising, simple but effective tactics we will finish in upper mid table.

A better decision on the next manger will be made if it is properly thought out. He should come in June ready to recruit a few players and to have a full pre-season.

Denis Richardson
16 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:25:07
Ecstatic about the result yesterday. Just had a feeling we’d win after the gloom of the Silva cloud was lifted.

Amazing that after all these years people still don’t realise its a simple game. For all the tactics and flipcharts and statistics, the main and most important thing is for the players to put a shift in and play as a team. If you don’t have this it’s irrelevant what formation you play or how good your players are.

Yesterday big Dunc brought passion, fight and pride back to the players and the club. That’s the first job of a manager. Those three things can be summed up in one word - Motivation.

We have decent players they were simply not motivated. Blame the players to an extent but that’s what the managers job is. First and foremost.

Re the next manager? Right now don't think many people are spending time worrying. First let’s enjoy the win and getting some pride back.

Please let’s not sign another manager in the Martinez/Silva ilk. Get the players motivated and let them play their natural game rather than over coaching them.

What a game that was!

Frank Sheppard
17 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:33:05
It's worth repeating again “A widely-shared post-match statistic revealed that the team made 37 tackles overall in the game, the most by a Premier League side this season and more than any Everton team in over decade.” What an amazing statistic.

So the BIG question is, could Big Dunc actually “manage” and do a good job for us, or was this a golden moment for him to treasure.?

Raymond Fox
18 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:37:50
Keep Ferguson in charge, what do we need another manager for.

Tactics, he surely knows enough about style of play and tactics, it isn't that complicated is it!!

We will obviously still lose games that's a given, we have a good middle of the table squad, play to our strengths and put the effort in and we will finish mid-table comfortably.

Alan McGuffog
19 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:40:45
Ultimately it will end in tears. Because this is Everton. But, until then let's enjoy... and I'd love to see him in the tech area up against that gurning fraud at Mordor in January giving it loads.
Jimmy Hogan
20 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:42:57
It was a bit hide behind the sofa, hoof ball out of defence for 10 minutes after they scored to make it 2-1, but we survived because our work rate and passion in the tackle was outstanding. Calvert-Lewin thoroughly deserved his second.
Eddie Dunn
21 Posted 08/12/2019 at 09:57:37
Dunc showed that if you keep things simple- the players can all grasp the nettle. We have a few unpolished diamonds in our side but given time this lot could really gell.

He was the catalyst that made the chemistry happen and the crowd responded to every tackle every effort to close down.

Marvellous stuff. If He can gather the needed points it buys the club time to evaluate who they want and Ferguson can put his name in the hat. Hopefully that can all wait till the summer, depending on results.

Tony Abrahams
22 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:05:23
Think positive Alan, not everything ends in tears you know, although I don’t believe there will be a dry eye in the stadium, once Everton finally win some silverware after this unbelievable Barron spell.

I didn’t know Sigurdson wore the arm-band, but agree with Tony H, and thought Holgate was the one that was trying to really lead the team yesterday, alongside Luca Digne?


Derek Taylor
23 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:07:39
If only we could bottle what occurred yesterday. It was an event to remember, however cynical we may have become over the constant failures of Board, Managers and players since Moshiri filled BK's pockets to take control !

I have no idea whether or not Big Dunc has it in him to become a good permanent manager of our club although, on the evidence of yesterday, I'm certain he would provide us with a team of organised, hard working players ( most tackles in 11 years ) whose heads would not be full of philosophies and intricate patterns of crossfield passing.

In short, I'm done with fancy Dan coach/managers who've won strings of minor honours in weak leagues abroad, the last two of which have sunk us to depths we could never have envisaged. If the football ignorant owner persists with his love affair with these 'no mark' appointments, I, for one, will immediately become a lover of Everton past.

Dan Nulty
24 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:12:38
I don't think Duncan is the man to take us forward. It was great yesterday but I genuinely don't think he'd be the man if we were struggling in front of him. Once the players have heard his energy, fight, passion, work hard, aggression speech a few times I'm not sure what else he will have to say. Can't imagine Jeffers having any tactical nouse either.

Yesterday was brilliant, don't get me wrong, but it is papering over the cracks. I'd rather we didn't rush but give the job to someone with a proven track record of success.

Delusional to say Ancelotti but I'd love it. I'd take Benitez, Bielsa from Leeds. Blokes who know how to set teams up and can make the most of what we have.

I thought taking Richarlison off yesterday was a bit odd given Walcott and Iwobi were not exactly setting the world alight. Didn't see much of sigurdsson either.

Bob Parrington
25 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:13:50
Amit #10 Iwobi comes in for lots of stick from some TWers. But, as in some other games, his work rate was high and the resultant press drew mistakes from Chelsea players. I understand the complaints from others about % successful passes but, if we fairly analyse those pass situations, many of these were from high pressured positions.

I think Iwobi is an important member of the squad.

Derek Knox
26 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:26:36
I have always said confidence can work wonders for a team and it's players, and under Silva there was very little or no evidence of that, but yesterday's result, especially considering who the opposition were will have worked wonders.

A bit like the old advert, for those who are old enough to remember " A Double Diamond works Wonders " for a firm called Ind Coope. Well, Duncan indeed was our Double Diamond yesterday.

I appreciate the football was not replicating Brazil or Barcelona, but it was certainly as someone mentioned before a " Dogs of War " type of performance.

Can it be repeated? I see no reason why not, and it will be interesting to see for our next match away at United, who have pulled off a few good results recently themselves, if we can.

I suspect after the effort put in yesterday, we will not emerge injury free, as there were a couple of worrying signs, Digne looks to have sustained something more than could be cured in a week, and a couple of the others looked weary and battle fatigued at the end.

I have not seen or heard any injury updates yet from the OS but fingers crossed and having eight days to recover, may help those who need any treatment between now and our next away match.

I erroneous mistyped snatch before instead of match, and not only corrected it but wondered in some way if it was an unwitting premonition as to the result at Old Trafford, which is what it would be, but a very welcomed one at that.

Dave Williams
27 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:27:44
For anyone wondering if Duncan is tactically aware just watch a rerun of yesterday’s game.
He took over a team which was supposed to play a high line at the back which was ripped to bits by RS. His right back had suffered the humiliation of a first half substitution. They have tried to play out from the back for a few years but never looked comfortable. The opposition play possession football.
So what does Duncan do- sit deeper in defence so that the attacking full backs are not so exposed. Get the ball clear when defending rather than risk passing ourselves into trouble by losing possession in dangerous areas. Press in a pack like the Royle and HK1 teams used to do ( Ebbrell may have been a useful aid in this as an original dog of war).
Push Richi much closer to Dom so that we can benefit from the knock- downs which usually fall to the defender because there is no one wishing twenty yards of him.
Scrap any notion of zonal marking- just get bodies in the box and kick the ball clear.
Sit deeper in midfield so that we are tackling people face-on rather than be forever pulling at their shirt from behind because we were too high up the pitch.
A lot of tactical changes yesterday supported by god knows what was said to the players but to get even Morgan fired up like that was an achievement in itself.
Give Duncan a few games to see if the players can maintain this- the skill is there and the better football will come through but at the moment we need points on the board, a plan to beat Leicester in the cup game and then let the RS see what a real Everton team can do in the FA cup.
The man has got more to come.
Bob Parrington
28 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:31:30
Something else about this game? Sigurdsson! When I watched the game live I thought he was not really in it. But, when I watched it again, I saw something else. He was in the game 100% but, really, I think he was trying so hard that he regularly was doing too much and misplacing passes and response to passes. The guy was giving so much more than we regularly give him credit for. Nobody could genuinely criticise him for effort. I think the same goes for some other players, including Walcott.

Dunc must have got so deeply under their skins that they were prepared to spit blood for the team. And I like that.

Dave Williams
29 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:31:57
Dan- don’t dismiss Jeffers. As a player he was very clever, found space better than any player I’d seen other than Rush and he clearly had a good football brain.
Many TWebbers dismissed Duncan as a cone carrier and no more without having any actual information about whether or not this was true. They should be choking on their cornflakes this morning.
Geoff Williams
30 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:34:32
I just hope fans don't get too carried away following yesterday's game. The result was fantastic and the players put in a real shift and the manager showed a passion that has been missing for years from those on the touchline.

I was expecting the worst having seen the team selection and the lack of options on the bench. None of the front six was renowned for their tackling ability but apparently the team made more tackles than any Everton side since 2007 - just shows how little I know. Iwobi was particularly effective closing down their fullback but going forward he looks like a player with his boots on the wrong feet. Walcott continues to fluff his lines in front of goal. I thought that my two least favourite players, S&S, had really good games but lacked the class of Mount. A mixture of passion and desperation earned this result but will this group of players be able to reproduce performances like this week in week out I doubt it.

I was so pleased to see Everton play with two up front and it is no coincidence that DCL had such a good game.

Well done to Ferguson for giving me a decent weekend free of angst!

Paul A Smith
31 Posted 08/12/2019 at 10:37:02
Dave Williams great post. Too much said with no real information. Too many trying to include Ferguson into Kenwrights role which stinks.

He is far more important in values than near enough anyone who walks through the goodison doors.

You can virtually see all the posts that fall for everything the media say or guess at.

Geoff is correct too. Enjoy that great result but stay vigilant. That style is hard to pull off every week and we got a lot of ricochets as a result of our pressure.

These players are going to have to match that effort every week now.

Rob Halligan
32 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:02:15
Dave # 29, you are spot on mate. Nobody has got a Scooby Doo what goes on at Finch farm. We can all see these video clips on the official Everton website, showing the team in training, when in fact, all we are seeing is them running around, followed by small groups playing in a circle with one touch football, with one player in the middle trying to cut out the pass. Something we've all done when we played amateur football. We are not going to see tactics being discussed and whatever else is discussed during training, whether it be by the manager, assistant manager, coaches, or whoever. Things that the club simply would not allow to be filmed.

So yes, nobody knows what goes on at Finch farm, and nobody knows what big Dunc does at Finch farm.

George Stuart
33 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:03:22
Ferguson hasn't got what it takes to win a European championship, he may not even have enough to win a premiership but I do believe he has enough to take that squad into top six and that is the stepping stone we need right now.
And lets face it, thats what its all about, twating some bunch of poncing superstars who no-one gives us a chance against.
Oh would that it could have been at Anfield.
Many of us would have shown to the taciturn one the door after Leicester, Norwich truth be told.
Derek Knox
34 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:07:03
Further to my previous post, didn't want to end up with a slightly shorter version of 'War and Peace', but on the subject of Duncan being a suitable candidate for Manager, as has been mooted many times in the last few after match hours.

I believe this raises as many questions as possible answers, which at this stage would be pure conjecture, and Duncan himself was quite pragmatic in his post-match interview.

Which I also thought, with him being historically, not one to hog any limelight, and notably reluctant to speak to any journalists without the use of a few Anglo-Saxon expletives. Normally with two word answers containing advice on sex and travel!

He was in contrast, quite diplomatic and when asked about being in the position permanently, he proudly made no disguise of his desire as 'one day for that to happen' but would it be in the immediate future?

This again raises more points, can he replicate that team spirit and performance in every game from now on? Being positive and saying yes, would it be prudent to wait till the end of the season, to get a clearer overall picture?

With the working relationship with M Brands, which, as far as I am aware is a good one, what happens in the January Transfer Window, and how much would be made available?

I am sure Duncan would gladly continue till the end of the season if offered, as Custodian/Caretaker but what would be his position if they did opt for a top Manager? Would he continue, and in what capacity?

Brent Stephens
35 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:19:26
Dave #27 - for me that encapsulates well the tactical changes made yesterday. All those tactical elements hung together. Under Silva I'm afraid that little hung together tactically.

Another poster - "Ultimately it will end in tears. Because this is Everton." As empty of thought as #27 is packed with thought. "This is Everton"? That doesn't mean anything.

Rick Tarleton
36 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:28:38
Look, we had 30% possession and won; under Silva, we've had 70% possession and lost. "No doubt there's something strikes a balance" But this display showed passion and intensity, the things we were missing under the old regime.

In the short term, at least, let's give Ferguson a chance, he may not be the man to lead us to challenge the elite, but he might just get us out of the relegation dog-fight.

Well done, Ferguson, for revitalising the team and renergising Goodison Park.

Paul A Smith
37 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:30:23
Derek, that last paragraph is a great point and something I thought about a lot last night.

Taking the role temporarily is fine but where does it leave him? It's not impossible to go back to his coaching role, of course, but that itself carries a whole different mentality and emotion.

Looking from the outside and listening to him recently, it seems he is worried about being without Everton?

Taking into account all he has come through since coaching and what he wants going forward, I can see or sense his fears and don't want another man with great Everton values feeling like part of his bond is broken.

The same feelings make me wonder if I want him to get the job because I don't want fans turning on him or him facing the sack because he isn't ready?

He comes across a great man whatever happens. The kind of man I want around spoilt footballers.

Barry Cowling
38 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:36:42
I didn't get much sleep last night and was up at 6 am this morning, on a Sunday! – so excited with what I had seen. I am genuinely pleased for Dunc. Goodison was rocking – just like the old days.

I wasn't there but watched it on TV. I cannot believe how biased the commentary was, proper RS rubbish. I wanted to turn it down but I was watching it in a pub.

But let's not get carried away, it just takes the pressure off a rushed decision – and hopefully no Moyes.

Colin Glassar
39 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:45:18
Great victory yesterday but let's not get too carried away.

This is still a very dysfunctional club under Moshiri and Kenwright. Do they really know what to do? Do they really have a plan? Do they have a profile for the next manager? Do they trust Brands or has he been sidelined? Personally, I don't think they do and they will try and muddle through until the end of the season.

I worry about the club's future as these two have shown themselves to be completely incompetent. One sparrow doesn't make a summer.

Eddie Dunn
40 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:45:56
Dave Williams, perfecty put. Derek, also spot-on.

We simply have to enjoy this "moment" as the beauty of yesterday was its simplicity effort, application and passion. After drowning in tactical instruction and dogma, the players were encouraged to srcap and they actaully played some good stuff. The first goal was lovely, a super cross and a glorious header.

Obviously they can't put that much passion in every week, but they now know that effort is appreciated and rewarded. Some more big games to come.

Derek Knox
41 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:51:35
To Michael and Lyndon, a few have suggested a poll as to who the majority of TW would want (realistically) as next Everton Manager, would that be considered or possible to do?

I know we have had polls on here before, but rather than it be a multi-choice type of exercise, it would be more intriguing if it could be left to each individual TW, to propose who he or she thought would be the best fit.

I appreciate this would possibly involve more work for you both in collating all the proposals, but it would represent a fairer picture of who would be genuinely the most popular choice. Given a multi-choice, is limited to a degree and more or less narrows the prospective candidates to those only on that list.

Michael, I know you emailed the Club, on behalf of TW, regarding the situation of Silva, whether that worked or not or indeed influence their inevitable decision we will probably never know (maybe coincidental but it seemed to work).

I think the Board or those at Everton should be made aware of what the fans want, as has been said on here many a time we are in it for life, and have the interests of Everton Football Club at heart.

I believe in the States they used to have a saying, (may still do) the 'Consumer is King' and generally dictated the prices of items in the stores not being subject to massive price hikes.

Maybe, they should be reminded that the Fans are Kings, because without us, arguably they could survive without the fans but for how long? Hate to mention it but we are supposed to be 'The Peoples Club'.

Brian Harrison
42 Posted 08/12/2019 at 11:57:23
I think we all knew that Ferguson would inject passion and pride in the performance and, as always when we play a top 6 side at Goodison, the fans would be fully supportive. Given the fact that Ferguson was in charge ramped up the crowd reaction even more than normal and especially scoring so early took all the pressure off the team.

I really liked the fact that he stopped this nonsense of having both centre-backs inside the box for goal-kicks. All that ever seemed to achieve was us losing the ball deep in our own half. When you have someone as good in the air as Calvert-Lewin, why not use his strengths, and even if he doesn't win the ball, he will put enough pressure on the defender which might mean we pick up the 2nd ball deep in their half. On hearing the side while walking up towards the game, I was a little surprised but, with so many injuries, Ferguson didn't have many alternatives.

I wondered what sort of performance we may get from Richarlison now his mentor had been sacked, but he put in a very good performance. I found his substitution weird, I know he had taken a knock earlier but he was still more effective than Iwobi or Walcott. Yes, they both chased back and helped out but neither for me ever look like scoring. The other disappointment is, when Richarlison did come off, Ferguson never went over to him to give him a pat... very strange, given the fact he scored and played a big part in most attacks.

So delighted with the result, I think the substitution of Davies for Richarlison was going to see Davies sit in midfield to try and deny Chelsea have as much possession as they were having; but no, he played in a direct replacement for Richarlison. Now Ferguson can point to Tom being involved in the 3rd goal, so endorsing his decision, but for me, Tom struggled when he came on.

The real test is can Ferguson get that same reaction away from Goodison Park? That will be the acid test, as his predecessors have struggled to get results away from Goodison. And our away game against Man Utd will be a big test – they will be full of confidence after beating Man City away.

But Ferguson has earned the right to see if he can get performances away from Goodison, and time and results will tell.

Nicholas Ryan
43 Posted 08/12/2019 at 12:37:38
I said to my mate yesterday that, with Dunc in charge: "Well, at least we won't get any players saying - Do you know what, Boss, I just don't fancy it today - their careers wouldn't last 3 seconds."

My mate responded: "You mean their lives wouldn't last 3 seconds!!"

Alan Shearer summed it up well on MotD, when he said simply: 'Have some of that!'

In all the hustle and bustle and 'Dogs of War' stuff, it still needs one cool head, to calm it all down, and be the glue that keeps it all together. Yesterday, that person was Morgan Schneiderlin, who just did the necessary, without fuss or panic. Perhaps, we've finally found his 'niche'.

Duncan may not be the answer long-term, but he can get us through to the end of the season, when things will be a lot clearer, and we won't need to make a 'panic' appointment.

Paul A Smith
44 Posted 08/12/2019 at 12:41:07
I think players' attitudes are so much different when there is a man in the room that you don't want to fall foul of or disappoint.

Hence Schneiderlin's performance. He was switched on where he normally switches off. And Holgate, who has a courage I love to see, seemed to rise to the passion, along with Sidibé.

Those 3 were standout performers for me.

Mike Powell
45 Posted 08/12/2019 at 13:57:54
That was the Everton I love, played with pride and passion, they chased and closed down every ball. This was all we have been asking for, play for the shirt. The ground was bouncing just like it used to be at Fortress Goodison.

Let's keep it up, let's hope it's the start off a good run of games.

Jack Convery
46 Posted 08/12/2019 at 14:11:16
Tackling is back in fashion – they don't like it up em'!

And no resorting to elbows in the back of the head or stamping on an opponents leg whilst he's lying on the ground, unlike some.

Dan Nulty
47 Posted 08/12/2019 at 14:30:04
Dave Williams, completely get what you are saying and, to be fair to Duncan, he changed us tactically yesterday and it worked.

I am just trusting my gut, hope I am completely wrong, I just don't see Duncan as having the ability to get us to kick on. Absolutely perfect for the situation we are in currently though.

I agree that Jeffers was a fantastic player when he left us, he had the ability to anticipate play and find space. As someone who played rugby and was extremely instinctive as a winger, then went into coaching, it is extremely hard to coach that to players. Really hard to coach anticipation, reading body language etc. Jeffers doesn't strike me as an excellent communicator so I can't see him being a success.

Let me be clear, though, I really hope I am wrong. I hope they are both extremely successful, short- and long-term. When you watch the game back, we rode our luck massively yesterday, I thought Chelsea were poor and it feels like that is what we need in order to get 3 points. I'm not convinced by our defence/midfield and it took an unbelievable and completely unexpected performance by Calvert-Lewin to get some goals. I'll be honest, I didn't think he had it in him but I'd never criticise his work rate.

I hope it is onward and upward from here but I'm certainly not going to get carried away.

Bobby Mallon
48 Posted 08/12/2019 at 18:45:22
Dan Nulty, Chelsea did play well we just played better. We were more clinical and tackled more
Dan Nulty
49 Posted 08/12/2019 at 19:20:49
Their defence was poor and decision making in the final third was uncharacteristically off. Come on, calvert Lewin hasn't bullied anybody before now and yet won almost every header against Zouma and Christiansen. Great if that becomes the norm, I am just not getting carried away like some on here. Hope I am wrong, one swallow doesn't make a summer in my view, I think as an Everton fan I am entitled to be realistic or pessimistic, that way it doesn't hurt quite as much!
Tony Everan
50 Posted 08/12/2019 at 19:37:54
Just shows that possession is a meaningless stat.

It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

and that's what gets results

Danny O'Neill
51 Posted 08/12/2019 at 20:53:16
I think yesterday showed what motivation can do. I'm a massive football purist, but you can't win unless you earn the right to play football. You do that through passion & desire. Passion & desire alone won't win you football matches, but you have to have it or the ability doesn't matter; and vice versa.

So, it seems apparent that having watched the same players yesterday as we have for the previous part of the season, motivation was missing. That was Sliva's problem. He seemed very popular with the players but there was no fear factor. To coin Peter Reid's quote on the recent Howard's Way film: "I'd have run through brick walls for him". Silva was / is a coach, not a leader. Like Martinez before him.

To repeat what I said on the forum yesterday, let's not knee jerk here and make an emotional decision. Let's not have a United / Solskjaer moment. Forget yesterday, that club will unfortunately have to sack a club legend & fans' favourite at some point in the near future.

Let's continue the search for the right manager. Duncan can buy the club time so they don't have to make a stupid short term decision (e.g. appoint Moyes god forbid). But don't ruin Duncan by riding the wave of emotion & making him an offer he can't refuse.

Elevate his status and make him assistant manager in any future structure but don't give him the top job just yet.

Laurie Hartley
53 Posted 10/12/2019 at 21:53:59
Brian # 42 - tactical master stroke. He was on a yellow and wants him available and recovered for Old Trafford ;)

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