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Ferguson: We need the fans behind us

Lyndon Lloyd Thursday, 20 January, 2022 23comments  |  Jump to most recent

Duncan Ferguson has called for Goodison Park's famous bear-pit atmosphere to help push the Blues to three much-needed points this Saturday as they take on Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick-off.

The Scot is back in temporary charge of team affairs at Finch Farm following the dismissal on Sunday of Rafael Benitez and he will lead the players for a second caretaker spell starting this weekend.

Ferguson's first assignment as stand-in boss in December 2019 was a memorable, adrenaline-fulled 3-1 win over Chelsea and he is hoping that once again the Everton faithful will be there backing the players all the way for what he admits is going to be a difficult match.

“We are Evertonians. We love our club and fight as hard as we can for it,” the 50-year-old told evertontv. “We need everyone in our corner. We all know it's been a difficult time. Results have not been great. Results have been really, really poor, to be honest with you.

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“So we need to make sure that we're all together — everybody at Finch Farm, everybody at the stadium, everybody in the City… they need to get behind us and I'm sure they will.

“The atmosphere [against Chelsea two years ago] was one of the best I've ever experienced at Goodison, and I am sure [the supporters] will be well, well up for it.

“We really need them to push us across the line for the whole game. I really can't emphasise enough how important they are for the 90 minutes and I know they will be with us.

“That support lifts you; it gives you confidence. We are all going to make mistakes, that happens in football but people have got to keep behind the players as much as they can.

“I know at times it's been difficult but they need to stay behind the players and keep going to the 90 minutes because the players are going to have to keep going to the 90 minutes.

“It will be an incredibly tough game for us and everybody needs to be in that stadium and to keep going to the final whistle and hopefully, we will get the right result.”

Assisted by Leighton Baines, John Ebbrell and Alan Kelly, Ferguson has been leading the squad through training this week, where he says he has been impressing on them the need to show the requisite fight that appears to have been lacking on too many occasions in recent weeks.

The Blues have only won one League game in 13 and have slumped to 16th place but with key players now fit again after their injury problems, the platform is there to reverse fortunes and start moving up the table again.

“The players have always worked hard,” Ferguson stressed, “but I am pushing them as hard as I possibly can. Then they will feel great coming off the training pitch, as we all do when we put in a good day's work.

“They are upbeat sessions, with hard work and clear and simple messages. I am getting among the players and telling a few home truths because the past has not been good enough.

“But it is in the past. We move forwards. The game is coming and let's get ready for it.

“The [players] should give everything. They should run themselves into the ground. They should roll up their sleeves and fight for the club in every single game.

“Imagine if you asked a fan to put a shirt on and get on the pitch, what would they do? We need to be doing that.

“I have to improve the tempo and aggression of the team, keep chipping away at the players about how important it is to get the victories.

“I have confidence in the players and the team and think they can win every game and that will be no different on Saturday.

“We have a lot of great players in there and they will step up, I am sure.”

 

Reader Comments (23)

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Will Mabon
1 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:07:11
Saturday is getting bigger by the hour...
John Raftery
2 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:19:10
A timely reminder that supporters should support the team. It should not really be necessary but sadly in our case I am afraid it is.
Mike Gaynes
3 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:21:00
Good work by Duncan to remind the fans how important they are to this situation. I'm sure Goodison will take it to heart. Wish I could be there to blow out my own vocal cords.
Len Hawkins
4 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:23:25
Well if that rallying call doesn't get the place buzzing then nothing will. He said he has told the players a few home truths well that is long overdue and much needed, now it's over to the players to show how much the club means to them other than a large bank transfer.
John Boon
5 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:27:43
I think Duncan/Baines combination will always have the supporters behind them. Evertonians just expect a concerted effort for ninety plus minutes. Actually most fans would support the team no matter who was in charge, but it is far better if the general consensus agree with the appointment.

Having listened to Ferguson's interview he does not give the impression that he wants the job on a long term basis. He just couldn't be as bad as those who have preceded him.

However after the Villa game I am sure that Toffee Webbers will be ready with their many diverse perspectives. Amongst them there will be those who still cannot handle anything that is not in total agreement that with just what they think. One of the beauties of TW is that it allows for individual points of view. NOBODY is always "Right" all the time. The Everton Board have consistently proved this FACT, particularly over the last eight years.

C.O.Y.B for Saturday. We will support YOU, but you will need to support US.

Niall McIlhone
7 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:33:25
Have seen the interview,no hyperbole from Dunc, just a lot of plain speaking. From the training ground snippets, it looks like Allan is out, and I didn’t see Delph in training. Anything has to be better than that horror show at at Carrow Road, I hope very much that will prove to be the watershed. He did make it clear that the fans need to play their part, and we should have confidence that if we don’ t get the win, it won’t be for lack of trying with Ferguson in the dugout.
les mallinson
8 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:33:56
I hope nobody takes the job because there's only Dunc who can get us out of this shit. He'll have the gladiator's giving their all and Goodison baying for blood of the opposing slaves 🤪🙏
Jay Harris
9 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:37:43
The team selection should be telling with Duncan saying he has had to have a few words with one or two.

Ive got every confidence in Duncan and Bainesy its just the "one or two" that worry me.

Its a pity El Ghazi can't play as he would be keen to prove a point.

Iakovos Iasonidis
10 Posted 20/01/2022 at 17:49:40
In the poll I voted for Potter and I wish we could lure him at the end of season but until then I want Ferguson. Cannavaro is the last name mentioned...
Ray Robinson
11 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:02:04
Only one thing puzzles me. Why has Ferguson waited until now to have a word with one or two players? I can't imagine he allowed himself to be gagged by Benitez. Still, good luck to him. We, the crowd, have a big part to play too.
Rennie Smith
12 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:06:55
I hope it's a repeat of the Chelsea game because that was one of the most memorable in all my years of going. I'm sure it will be raucous, not just because the big man will have them fired up but also Slippy G will be trying to keep out of his considerable shadow.

Stick one on him Dunc! No ball-boy will be safe!

Jerome Shields
13 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:13:42
I expect Everton to win.
Geoff Lambert
14 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:19:53
Lets just hope this bunch of wasters actualy give us something to cheer for.
Kieran Kinsella
15 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:28:56
Must be embarrassing for Mason Holgate and Seamus Coleman, hearing "home truths" from Dunc about not performing for the sacked manager, for the sixth time, Keane, Pickford, DCL, Davies a fifth time. He should just have someone record it this time and put it on Youtube for the next time, and the next time, and the next time. And that lot are probably the ones who seem to care the most versus the likes of Gomes, Tosun etc hearing it for the third of fourth time. Bunch of wasters.
Tony Twist
16 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:47:29
Let's hope he gets off to a flier and we get a good win. I hope he has more about him than just relying on the players running themselves into the ground, that should be, frankly, a given. I wish him every success, prove them doubters at the club wrong.
Habib Erkan Jr
17 Posted 20/01/2022 at 18:57:12
Win, lose, or draw, Everton always will have my support. Having a manager I can respect will make showing such support a hell of a lot more pleasurable.
Derek Taylor
18 Posted 20/01/2022 at 19:07:32
I always had the feeling that Benitez team selection, formation and tactics had political undertones. Ei; they were all specifically chosen to piss people off. RS acquaintances assure me it happened 'over there' frequently !

If I'm right, it worked a treat as £Millions in' FO money' has made for a comfortable retirement.

Raymond Fox
19 Posted 20/01/2022 at 19:29:27
Gerrard has Villa playing well, it's likely to be a nail-biter on Saturday. Their slight favs in the betting, which says everything about our form.

It's all about the score. I don't care how we play as long as we don't lose. the nightmare scenario is they score first.

Oliver Molloy
20 Posted 20/01/2022 at 19:53:19
Everything you would expect from Ferguson and we can only hope the team put in a performance.
I'm concerned about this match to be honest.
All the pressure is on us and Gerrard will be making sure his team know this.

This is a MASSIVE fucking game lads!

Gary Willock
21 Posted 20/01/2022 at 20:01:46
On the match day, in the ground, we’ll be there big fella. I’m going to be singing my lungs out from the bullens. Shouting for everything. The players need to do their bit too tho. We want pressing, we want attacks, we want fight. No lackadaisical passing round the back.

Let’s see a positive formation, with real intent to win. Imagine it’s going to be a 4-4-2 but ideally a 4-3-3 would be my preference. Assuming they’re all fit, maybe something like:

Pickford
Patterson Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Townsend Allan Doucoure
Gray DCL Richie

Allan needs to sit and destroy, and the other two need to be conscious of covering their fullbacks bombing up one at a time. If DCL still off the boil, but Richie in the middle, Gray on the left and give Gordon or Dobbin a go on the right.

Desperately need a real left footed DCM if we have anything left in the kitty.

Graeme Beresford
22 Posted 20/01/2022 at 21:05:05
First game in ages where I actually feel confident we can win. Villa are a good team on paper but with new signing let’s hope they haven’t gelled as yet. I think the place can be rocking however yet again first goal is so important. If they scored first everyone’s heads go down and fans think here we go again, if we score first the place will bounce and everyone will know Rafa just couldn’t get the best out of the players. If we score first I fancy us to score again after. But let’s have it right everyone will need to work. They have so much quality. It will be tough!
Frank Wolfe
23 Posted 20/01/2022 at 23:47:57
Looks like Allan is out, so will be interesting selection choice.
He could go 4-2-3-1 :-
Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko
Doucoure, Gomes
Gordon, Richy, Gray
DCL

or 4-3-3 :-
Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko
Doucoure, Holgate, Gomes
Richy, DCL, Gray

Holgate has played DM before under DF and did well. Godrey is another option there.

Niall McIlhone
24 Posted 21/01/2022 at 06:47:06
I like your team Gary #21 but as Frank says (#23) it looks like Allan is out( are we selling him to Lazio? ). I don't think Holgate is too bad a shout, we basically need someone ratting about to do a number on Coutinho's delivery from the No 10 position. If Mina is fit, why is he unavailable? I would ideally like to see him alomgside Btanthwaite, but Dunc won't risk that match up.
I' d also like to pitch that Andros Townsend needs to be appointed as Team Captain with Seamus as Club Captain. For me, AT' offers professionalism and a good level of commitment, and he appears very popular with the squad. With Seamie's place now less certain, I think we should be re-building our midfield around Townsend, and Doucoure.

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