If Howard Kendall,our most successful manager, suggests that in his view the ideal manager for us would be Duncan Ferguson, assisted by an experienced hand, we should take note. Why? Because he knows what makes a winner, he was a winner. Many appear to have dismissed the idea without a second thought. Well, I hope BK doesn’t rush to judgement, but applies a bit of analysis and imagination. So here’s a few factors to support the idea:
- Character/charisma – HK said this "Naturally he would need somebody working alongside him but he would be a great figurehead, would command respect and offer a real presence. He has put in the time on his coaching qualifications and he is undoubtedly a leader. So why not?"
We should think about this a bit; is this possibly the most essential quality of truly great managers, the ability to demand respect and be a leader? Certainly, in my lifetime the greatest managers, Clough, Ferguson, Mourinho have all been leaders, have all had this mercurial quality.I personally can’t understand much of what Alex Ferguson says and therefore I’m fairly certain the foreign players didn’t have a clue what he was saying when he was giving them the hairdryer treatment or kicking boots around the dressing room. But Man Utd’s great players in recent years gave everything they had and more. So I’m fairly certain its a case of not so much, what you say, but how you say it ,that gets through to minds of young footballers. Martinez is apparently favourite for the job at this point, but does anyone believe if Alex Ferguson was manager of Wigan his players would make the ludicrous mistakes in defence which we’ve seen from Wigan this year?
They simply wouldn’t dare play so appallingly week after week, they’d be too scared, they wouldn’t show him such disrespect. It sounds harsh but I believe you need to have a bullying aggressive character to be a winner as a football manager as you have to command that respect and be able to instil a sense of fear. If that is what it takes then HK is right, Big Dunc (I’ll refer to him as DF from now on) is a leader.
- Experience as a manager – this is DF’s major flaw in the eyes of many, but is it correct that his lack of managerial experience means he shouldn’t be considered for the job? Well, the second favourite for the job is Neil Lennon, the same Neil Lennon who became manager of Celtic without any managerial experience at all. And lets not forget the experience of possibly the most sought after manager in world football, Pep Guardiola. Who did he manage before he became Barcelona’s manager? Barcelona reserves, for one season! Fortunately Barcelona’s board didn’t take such a blinkered view.
- Youth team – I believe that DF has been helping Kevin Sheedy and Alan Stubbs manage the Under 18’s and under 21’s respectively this year. Anyone noticed how well they’ve done this year? With the financial position of the club we either have to unearth good players cheaply ( as Moyes did so well) or produce great youngsters, if we are to succeed. I believe we have some great youngsters coming through and DF will know their strengths and weaknesses already.
- Tactics – well, here is the real weakness in putting forward the case for DF but I’m sure people in the club who know him will know exactly how he would wish his team to play. I have no idea myself but readily accept that if he expressed the view that football should be played like Stoke then he should be shown the door immediately. Hopefully, he would want to play attacking football rather than the ultra cautious approach of Moyes (I’ll never forgive him for having to watch 11 years of having everyone in our box at opposition corners). I’ve got a theory about managers attitudes being dictated by where they played in their careers... Alex Ferguson – centre forward, Brian Clough – centre forward, Moyes, Allardyce, Pulis – all defenders and all manage with the belief that you defend first and foremost and if you get a goal its a bonus.
- Continuity – a very important factor for us in my view because if someone comes in with new backroom staff and completely different set up it will take time for the club and players to adapt. If in that process of adaptation we suffer in the league then we simply don’t have the money to buy our way out of trouble.
- Assistant – following on from previous point I believe we have in place the ideal assistant for DF, namely Alan Irvine. He was assistant to Moyes for years and all the players spoke very highly of him. He left to try his hand at management but had little success. Having done so he would have gained valuable experience. To be fair to Moyes its acknowledged that his preparation for games in terms of ensuring that the players were aware of what to expect from the opposition was very thorough and Irvine would know exactly how to continue that.
- Cost – it would cost nothing for DF and Irvine. Contrast that with the £10m release clause for Laudrup, and no doubt similar fees payable for any other manager if they are currently in a job.
- A real wild card here – Wayne Rooney. OK, so this a complete flight of fancy but bare with me on this and consider these points:
- The papers are full of the fact that WR has put in a transfer request at Man Utd.
- We know he was sued by Moyes over his book. It’s suggested the 2 have made up but it seems unlikely they’ll ever be best buddies; there’s no doubt WR will have grave reservations now Moyes is manager.
- If WR leaves its being suggested he will go to PSG or Bayern Munich. I cant see him settling abroad somehow.
- Importantly it must not be forgotten that its the World Cup after next season and WR needs to be playing and I think this is the main reason he wants to leave Man Utd. If he stays at Man Utd he’ll be on subs bench more often than he’ll be on the pitch. If he comes to us he’ll play every single minute when he’s fit.
- Moyes is supposedly interested in taking Baines and Fellaini to Man Utd. If its true then we swap the two of them for WR
- WR’s idol in football is well known...its Big Dunc!
- Finally, once a blue always a blue. I believe it was true then and its true now. He’s one of our own.
Obviously huge obstacles may stand in the way of it happening. His wages would be a problem but Fellaini is our top paid player and I don’t think Baines would be far behind him. The club would surely approach the sponsors and say to them that if they help this happen by renegotiating their sponsorship deals then they will have their brand being represented by one of the biggest names in world sport. Perhaps the current board members might be willing to put some money in on the basis that if the club profile is raised significantly then their shareholdings will considerably increase in value. In any event, I don’t think WR would squeeze us for every penny he could get, he doesn’t exactly need the money.
- THE SPECIAL ONE – From the moment he joined us we knew he was special. His playing career never hit the heights it should have done due to injuries and poor management. But very rarely has a player had such a bond with the fans of any club, we loved him and he loved us. Not many footballers have the crest of their team tattooed on their arm. Just imagine for a moment how you would feel if he stands before you on the pitch holding above his head one of the great trophies of European football and you stand there singing his name "Duncan, Duncan Ferguson, Duncan Duncan Ferguson". Is it just chance that he should be here at the club at this pivotal time, or is it his fate? Is it his destiny? Is it our destiny?
Reader Comments (65)
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2 Posted 11/05/2013 at 06:51:35
Besides, even if we could genuinely afford £40million+ in transfer fee and £150k+ per week in wages (we can't), then there are far better players than him around for that sort of money,
He has been very disappointing.
3 Posted 11/05/2013 at 07:14:08
4 Posted 11/05/2013 at 07:18:01
1) Duncan is no manager (yet).
2) Howard has a drink problem
5 Posted 11/05/2013 at 07:56:49
6 Posted 11/05/2013 at 07:49:15
7 Posted 11/05/2013 at 08:13:41
8 Posted 11/05/2013 at 08:24:24
9 Posted 11/05/2013 at 08:27:41
I would love a decent name to take charge. I've got nothing against Mackay, Martinez, Big Dunc et al but it doesn't quite inspire players to want to play for them. I also think that'll be Moyes' problem if his first year or two are trophyless.
I don't think I could stomach O'Neill, McLeish or Reidy in charge. It'd just make me want to cry
10 Posted 11/05/2013 at 08:39:21
Guesswork about unproven backroom staff is NOT the solution, unless you are writing the outcome as well as the drama in the script. Well, WE are NOT!
When we appointed Moyesie, he was a sought-after young buck on the block... Still is so it seems.
Personally, I think Us Toffs will see that DM had played all his best hands here. And the lack of conviction to go for the jugular will be his downfall.
I'd like Slaven Bilic. Injuries won't hamper his leadership here. Steve Clarke — Now THERE is a man with an incentive to win EVERY derby match.
I do Like Roberto Martinez, BUT His side(s) have been models of inconsistency, sadly with too many in the debit columns. Personality wise? He's sheer class, and would grace the hallowed halls of "The Grand Old Lady".
Final note:
I shall clap Man Utd's new manager One THOUSAND times for each first team trophy he brought here in his 11 years... This is NOT Alan Ball, Duncan Ferguson being sold and leaving Goodison in tears of heartbreak... This is a man taking 30 pieces of silver.
I'd have had his chattels in a bin bag on Walton Lane
12 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:26:18
13 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:32:25
14 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:42:05
If he went and did a god job with someone in the championship then maybe but right now its way too risky...
15 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:44:13
It most definitely could work but probably wouldn't.
16 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:43:32
17 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:48:43
The names doing the rounds are either pie in the sky or an amalgam of Moyes Lite (shudders).
In fact the more I think about it he's exactly what we need.
18 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:59:14
19 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:54:01
Some good points made.
The problem is that there is no outstanding candidate, so why not try Ferguson.
Kendall was young when he took over and had only previously managed Blackburn in the old second division, and hardly set the world on fire.
Paul @111 , Guardiola was a midfielder, and a very good one.
20 Posted 11/05/2013 at 09:58:56
I will never forget the sight of Bilac & Big Dunc laughing in the main stand during a match we were getting beat in. It was around the time Bilac was due to his loyalty bonus.
In my 60 years on this earth I have only ever shouted abuse out a match and the above was one of them. The other by the way was at Tommy G who at the time was doing his Sunday league impression just after a world class dribble.
I didn't want David Moyes at the time of his appointment but thank heavens we got him.
21 Posted 11/05/2013 at 10:17:02
If we want a manager with a real incentive to do well, especially on Merseyside, who has great experience of winning and presence, we could do a lot worse than............................. Rafa Benitez. Yes, we know he misbehaved while he managed the shite, but put that aside - he would win things and would want to build a winning side, and can get in people's faces.
Moyes is said to be ready to advise Kenwright regarding his replacement - can you just imagine some if the names he will put forward - maybe even Neville among them!
We could do an awful lot worse than Benitez!
22 Posted 11/05/2013 at 10:27:06
23 Posted 11/05/2013 at 10:26:13
This is so important an appointment to the future of Everton that it can't be taken lightly with flights of fancy.
This is a job interview and the criteria for the appointment is key.
Right now I think we need a new manager with:
A successful track record (which rules out most of the "candidates")
An upward career curve (which rules out Mark Hughes and Martin O'Neill)
A decent European scouting network
The ability to develop talented youth players
Proven ability to work within a budget
Fits in with EFC (which rules out Benitez!!)
Sorry, can't come up with names. I don't know enough about the Porto bloke
but, looking at the list of runners, I think he may be the closest to that job specification.
24 Posted 11/05/2013 at 10:55:36
I don't necessarily think he would be the right choice, given some of the alternatives, but I am slightly surprised that his name appears nowhere (not even in the ToffeeWeb poll)
25 Posted 11/05/2013 at 11:10:23
There's no way that doesn't appear pedantic by me but c'mon lads, it lowers the whole tone of this great site! "That Colin Hervey eh, what a keeper he was!"
26 Posted 11/05/2013 at 11:26:56
"The names doing the rounds are either pie in the sky or an amalgam of Moyes Lite (shudders)."
And the more I think about it the more I'm starting to think that maybe a promotion from within is the best way forward. Not sure about Big Dunc though, maybe Sheedy?
But for me, Martinez too inconsistent, Lennon and MacKay too Moyes lite, Laudrup seems a good choice but something for me doesn't ring true about him. The rest are either too fanciful or too shite. Although I wouldn't mind a punt at Lambert.
I just think that we need someone who can continue Moyes' good work but has a bit more adventure than him.
27 Posted 11/05/2013 at 11:46:49
28 Posted 11/05/2013 at 11:35:57
29 Posted 11/05/2013 at 11:55:59
30 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:08:40
First choice has to be Laudrup but his buy out clause puts him out of the running at a rumoured £10million.
Big Duncan - never in a month of Sundays - no experience. Forget the romantic notions, this is a really serious appointment and we have to get it right.
Martinez - has his attractions but not sure about having to fight relegation every year with Wigan, don't know if he is at least partially to blame for that.
Pereira - not a bad option, although no experience of English football.
Lennon - psycho?
Poyet - supported his compatriot Luis Sewerage during his recent and past troubles - so no thanks.
Di Matteo - no compensation fee, experienced manager at WBA and Chelsea. (although sacked at WBA), attacking football. Worth consideration.
Mourinho - come and prove you are really the special one and work miracles with no transfer funds.
Benitez - ha ha ha ha ha
31 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:18:16
Ok he was born in Leeds but he played for Scotland so that should satisfy David Moyes who bizarrely seems to be having a say in who should succeed him.
He appears to be doing ok at Motherwell.No doubt on an even smaller shoestring than we have
32 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:25:13
Instead we should go for a manager who can change the way we approach games and make us a team that goes to big games and tries to win; as oppose to trying to not lose. There's no point going for a manger who is worse than the one who just left (or leaves on June 30th), so why not aim as high as we can and at least ask the best out there? All they can do is say no and the we're still in the same situation.
I'm sick of aiming for the middle when other teams and fans expect the top
33 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:18:45
This talent for signing future stars on the cheap will be required to keep our club competitive, as we clearly have a policy of selling players on for a large profit. We need to find value for money, and you only need to look at the shite, to see literally hundreds of millions flushed down the drain on domestic overpriced rubbish.
Big Dunc would have been O.K. 30 years ago,but not in the modern game I'm afraid.
That's why I would be happy to see Solskjaer as our next manager. Never had a break out of the game, and would almost certainly be able to identify some bargains from the Scandinavian Leagues.
34 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:28:31
35 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:18:16
For this reason, I think it's a non-starter, and we should be looking to bring in someone with a bit of experience with maybe Duncan as his No 2.
For what it's worth, I would go with Martinez, if available (best of a bad bunch) but have got a horrible feeling old Bungalow Bill will "promote" Mr Round.
36 Posted 11/05/2013 at 12:40:39
37 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:13:43
Apparently, within the coaching fraternity his work and dedication has been noticed and he has been earmarked as a coach of the future, It might be too soon but I can assure you it wouldn't be dull if he got the job alongside somebody more experienced.
38 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:18:33
Apparently his first 11 cost £15m - the price of one curly haired Belgian.
39 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:12:28
To tell the truth, I don't really know who I would like as Manager because Moyes will take some replacing. I know who I don't want and that is Mark Hughes or Fat Rafa O'Neill and that clown who supported the sewer rat, Poyet.
40 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:39:29
Cough, cough...relegation..cough..
41 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:37:30
It is audition time for two of the leading candidates.
42 Posted 11/05/2013 at 13:44:52
They were a shambles against Swansea, but he has been offered the three other P.L. clubs including Liverpool - and is probably gettable (is that a word?) Probably 60/40 against for me, mainly because of the relegation issue. Has signed some good players though.
43 Posted 11/05/2013 at 14:08:31
44 Posted 11/05/2013 at 15:03:57
45 Posted 11/05/2013 at 14:51:16
I'll get me coat....
47 Posted 11/05/2013 at 15:47:33
48 Posted 11/05/2013 at 15:58:04
Don't get me wrong, don't mock it till ya try it but I just think we need someone with some experience at a good standard as are next man.
Maybe then IF the new man struggles and gets sacked, then look to the likes of Dunc or/and Stubbs to steady the ship and take it from there.
But as for who I'd like as manager, well for me, take ya pick realistically from Martinez, Pereira, Poyet, Solskjaer & Mackay.
Out of those names I'd prefer one of either Martinez, Pereira or Solskjaer. Poyet I wouldn't mind and Mackay I wouldn't be too fussed but he's not up there with my top picks I'll be honest.
I wouldn't mind the likes of either Bielsa or De Boer but I'm not sure either would fancy it, especially not De Boer after getting Ajax into the CL, he'll want a crack at that next season.
What would be people's thoughts on Laurent Blanc?. Free to speak to anyone, worked wonders at an unfancied Bordeaux and won them the league for the first time in years when in charge and they never reached them heights since he left. Didn't do so well with the national team but had some divs in the camp that caused unrest. Would anyone mind him?
49 Posted 11/05/2013 at 16:53:39
52 Posted 11/05/2013 at 18:46:12
Sheedy and Stubbs though would actually be my first choice thiinking about it. I think on the back of their sucess we should give them a chance.
53 Posted 11/05/2013 at 19:58:20
Moyes will pick our next manager.
I think he'll go for someone in his Image from the lower leagues.
Welcome Malkay Makay.
Personally I like Martinez but no one really stands out but neither did Moyes.
54 Posted 11/05/2013 at 21:07:13
My fear at the moment is we will appoint another underwhelming manager (Moyes was) and not get so lucky, I fear another Villa repeat after O'Neill left and plunge down the table, right back where we started when Moyes came.
Some have mentioned it on here but response has not been forthcoming, but sadly our best bet for staying where we are and possibly edging forward is Benitez, I know this won't sit well on here and trust me it doesn't sit well with me either, but beggars cannot be choosers, he is a higher profile manager who does well with his teams (Inter apart) and knows the European game well and would attract some better foreign players to our club, do we swallow our pride and make what in the game would be a top appointment, or do the usual Everton and go for past glory Everton players and the underwhelming?
55 Posted 11/05/2013 at 22:48:37
the manager needs to have premier league experience or experience in a european league.
Ferguson, yeah when he's had good on the job training in the lower leagues.
Sounds to me like Kendall wants to hold his hand, and I so no on both counts of fergie being manager here, and kendall ever coming back again...2 times coming back was traumatic enough.
56 Posted 11/05/2013 at 22:52:55
Carl Taylor - you say failure in the premier league?? he sole remit was to keep them up, long enough to create a team, and with their resources that would take years...anyone who can keep a team in the premier league with a tiny budget is no failure...Moyes on the other hand, did he win us anything except mediocrity of the best of the rest...what silverare did he win in his time here, given his budget was massive compared to little wigan?...think you should be giving credit where it is due...wigan out played citeh today, and played good attacking cohesive football and managed to snatch the winner, even though they had plenty chances through out the game to score...funny world, you win an FA Cup, keep a team that has no place financially in the premier league season on season, trying to build a decent side (which imo he has done, despite the position they are in) and then get called a failure..despite doing what he was hired to do (minus the cup and europa league)....so tell us carl, where is our silveware and why are we not in europe too? Respect where it is due to Martinez
57 Posted 11/05/2013 at 23:03:02
Solks has seen it all, been part of the most successful clubs in the premier league, won all kinds of things.
I say bring solks here, and give him a try, I fancy he would do really well for us. He is a winner, and fergie has notihng but praise for the guy and knew he would make a tremendous manager one day.
I would have loved for him to have played at Everton, but due to one reason or another we never pulled signing off.
He knows his stuff, plays some good looking football and gets his results.
58 Posted 11/05/2013 at 23:13:58
59 Posted 12/05/2013 at 00:11:25
60 Posted 12/05/2013 at 10:28:20
Can you really imagine Duncan going to MU if they called? Moyes was never a True Blue - and he never will be. I'm grateful for what he did, in many ways (not all, by any means), but he isn't fit to look at Duncan Ferguson.
61 Posted 12/05/2013 at 10:38:09
Anyone wanting relegation, albeit with an honourable mention, should stick with Martinez. He'd be as bad as Lennon, Mackay or Hughes.
We need a man of substance (such as Slaven, Laudrup, Duncan (not yet though) etc. ). a man's credentials (vide The Cat's comments about HK when he signed him) are even more important than his managerial experience for a club like Everton.
63 Posted 12/05/2013 at 10:52:50
On another point with you Paul ( and you are not the only one) I want to know on what basis Slaven Bilic is a 'man of substance' because he showed surprisingly little when here as a player. He has managed a national side that were decent at best, and then left to the big money Russian Premiership where he has not been heard of since?
On Ferguson et al, Its good that old boys are involved in the team but is the Original poster forgetting that this is a top six Premier League club and not a Championship also ran? People criticise the board and then suggest giving the management to an untested duo of Ferguson and Sheedy. He was a bright light in a dark time for the club, but looking back will get us nowhere.
Lastly is Derek (420) for real in suggesting he is surprised that Dave Jones has not got a mention?
64 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:02:48
65 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:07:16
Mark,
Our net transfer spend is below wigan's over the last few years. See above.
This is a very difficult one. He clearly has great talents but do we want him if Wigan get relegated?
66 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:14:32
It's hard to define substance in words and with commensurable categories. Mackay, Hughes and Martinez do not qualify, in my own mind; Bilic, Ferguson and Laudrup do. I suspect it's connected with values and intelligence (in the Ancient Greek sense of sensitivity). For me being Everton (and true to our core values) is more important than winning the title - though I'd rather both. Winning a la Ferguson (cheating etc.) would bring me no pleasure.
I suppose people are all different. No one's view on here is right; it's just an opinion - and an opinion can be a very wonderful thing in debate.
67 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:22:16
However it will be Mackay or Martinez. The later I would say is a step up from Lennon, Hughes etc. His team were first class yesterday and its a gamble but he might achieve more with better players.
68 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:35:58
69 Posted 12/05/2013 at 11:53:05
I was never proud of Moyes (though he did well), and I like to be proud of an Everton manager. I suppose most fans I encounter these days just want to win (at any cost). Shame such people support Everton ... I think to myself quietly ;-) .
70 Posted 12/05/2013 at 13:17:03
I'm not saying he is the one above all others but he has had the top flight experience and done it on a shoestring budget. I hope he gets it but soft lad will probably pick Malky McKay.
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1 Posted 11/05/2013 at 06:27:59
We have no idea of his leadership qualities other than the passion he expressed for the Blues as a player.
Alan Stubbs has more managerial experience leading the U21s and I would say it's too soon for him, too.
I'm convinced that where Everton are right now — which is a lot better off than the last time we appointed a new manager — demands a top-class manager. We're the 6th best team in the most popular league in the world (that's not to mention the fact that Moyes was very well paid) so there's got to be a number of excellent candidates who would be very, very interested in the job.
I just hope Kenwright has his sights set high enough and isn't looking for another pragmatic option. I would love to see us go for a "wow" factor name, though our ability to land them might be hampered by the amount of money available for team building...