Seasons2016-17Everton News
Ferguson's experience valued at Everton


Having initially been brought onto the club's coaching staff by former manager David Moyes in 2012, the former Everton striker and Talisman was elevated to a first-team coaching role in 2014, working under ex-manager Roberto Martinez.
The pair are believed to have had an uneasy relationship, however, with Martinez preferring to exert majority control over training sessions and Ferguson's role appearing to be nominal at best based on his limited interactions with players from the dugout.
Ferguson has been embraced by new boss Ronald Koeman and his assistant and brother Erwin, though, since their arrival from Southampton in June, with the latter describing the Scot's knowledge of the club and status as something of a legend from his playing days as being a vital link to the management team.
“Most managers in England bring their own entourage, a big group of people who take over and ignore the loyal workers in the club," Erwin said in The Mirror.
“I think this is what happened before with Duncan Ferguson. He was never involved, he was not valued. Ronald wanted him to be part of our team, of our staff, and wants him to be involved.
“The man is a club legend. Those kind of guys you don't leave aside. You have to use their experience and knowledge. They can help us get better and better.”
Under his brother, Ronald, Erwin Koeman has helped Everton make a decent start to the 2016-17 season, with the Toffees sitting in fifth place heading into the second international break of the season.
Most supporters feel that the team's position in the table could and should be even better, with a return of just one point from the last six available preventing them from perhaps being right up at the top with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Nevertheless, Ronald expressed to the media on Friday night how pleased he had been with the start and Erwin echoed those sentiments, while also comparing Everton to his former club in the Netherlands .
“We had a fantastic start and we want to make the fans proud," he continued. “Ronald and I have both been manager of Feyenoord, a massive working men's club in a big port.
“This is why Everton reminds us in every way about our old club. We both love a traditional club where the fans are hard working people, who are craving for success."
Reader Comments (48)
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2 Posted 03/10/2016 at 20:47:48
The Arteta, Pienaar, Baines, Osman one- an two-touch football was some of the best I've seen at Goodison and has set the bar for what should be on offer every week.
3 Posted 03/10/2016 at 21:21:59
I for one appreciate his ongoing involvement with the club and well done to the Koemans for keeping him there.
I have to say, though, John, I agree with the Route One scrappy stuff; I was hoping for a bit more of the School of Science style to be kept.
4 Posted 03/10/2016 at 21:29:40
5 Posted 04/10/2016 at 01:02:18
Many Evertonians, like me, placed him in the same category as the many Everton Greats, too numerous to list, who have graced Goodison Park over the club's history a Blue legend in every sense and a credit to the game.
6 Posted 04/10/2016 at 07:51:36
Whilst not in the Bartonesque category, I'll grant you, nonetheless he wasn't exactly a credit to the game.
7 Posted 04/10/2016 at 07:59:14
Personally I think it shows that the Koemans understand the value of tradition and the importance that the heritage of this club means so much to the public.
Few current players could teach them that, but retaining Sheedy, Unsworth and Ferguson shows that it's something they consider valuable.
BTW, for the naysayers above, this is not Koeman's team yet. The man himself has said it will take 2 years to build what he wants.
8 Posted 04/10/2016 at 08:08:04
Concerning Ross, I think if there is so much hype surrounding a player, they start believing it's true. When in reality, in my opinion, Ross shouldn't be anywhere near the first 11. Am I a knocker of Ross? Only in the respect of I don't think he's good enough. And my eyes tell me that and nothing else.
As for big Dunc, well jobs for the boys isn't it? A regular wage, for doing very little.
An Everton hero? Compared with Everton greats. Give me strength. More of a thug. How many goals did he score?
9 Posted 04/10/2016 at 08:16:44
They have seen something they like.
10 Posted 04/10/2016 at 08:19:09
I'd like to see Sheedy involved at some point. He's a real Everton legend and making his mark as a coach.
11 Posted 04/10/2016 at 08:20:26
"This is not Koeman's team yet.The man himself has said it will take 2 years to build what he wants."
Liam, don't come on here with all your fancy "let's have patience" and "it's a two-year project" nonsense.
Common sense and an idea of perspective? You should be ashamed of yourself!
12 Posted 04/10/2016 at 09:10:56
13 Posted 04/10/2016 at 09:38:29
I read somewhere that Ronald and Erwin made a pact with their Dad, before he died, that they would give him his final wish and work together. Always better to have someone who understands you by your side, and hopefully it's by working with his brother than can take Ronald to the next level?
Back to Ferguson, who always looked like a token gesture made by Martinez. He probably kept him out the changies at half-time in case he lost it, because we all know who would have been throttled if he had!
14 Posted 04/10/2016 at 09:46:51
He never lost a derby match in that first spell. He largely played in poor Everton teams and his hat-trick against Bolton on Boxing Day under Howard Mark III kept us up that season. Some of the best moments I've had as an Evertonian were because of Dunc.
I'm glad he is still at the club and actively involved. I wish Lukaku and our other big players had half as much fight in derby games as Ferguson did, for starters. If they did, then we wouldn't turn up to places like Anfield and act like rabbits in headlights.
15 Posted 04/10/2016 at 09:50:45
I'm guessing his goals-per-game record doesn't compare with our best; I think many of his sendings off were avoidable/stupid (and selfishly dropped his team-mates and supporters in the shite). And by his own admission, his off-the-park carry-on was very unprofessional.
But I'm always impressed when people have the strength to say to themselves "I've acted like an idiot, that's going to change". (nb: most don't most idiots usually attempt to justify their selfish/annoying behaviour to themselves and continue fucking up all the way to the grave.)
John Conteh has been a hero of mine since the early 1970s. When his career was over, he was only heading one way (bevvy, trouble etc). Yet he found the resolve to say "this is bollocks, it doesn't have to be this way, I'm out."
People have (understandably) raged about Joey Barton's carry-on over the years, but if he's genuinely attempting to break a cycle of idiocy, good on him.
Which is why I'm more impressed with Ferguson now than back then and why I'm delighted he's part of our training staff.
Great to have a coach who is respected by the players and one who can pull them to one side and say "I've done it the wrong way, which is why I'm qualified to tell you how to do it the right way."
It is also great to have coaches/staff 'on board' who genuinely and undoubtedly love the club and can convey the importance of results/performances to those just 'passing through'.
16 Posted 04/10/2016 at 10:50:01
I look at Mirallas, and often wonder why he doesn't produce a lot more. My guess would be in your post, because it looks like he has got something wrong in his make-up to me. I don't know him well enough to know but, from the outside looking in, this kid has got the ability to be a top player, but seems to lack the resolve?
It's never too late to change, but maybe it's just the manager's fault again!
17 Posted 04/10/2016 at 10:56:52
18 Posted 04/10/2016 at 11:09:35
We've been saying the same thing for years. But this time it's gonna be different, I tell yer... I can understand why some (myself) want success now, not 2019, but I guess I must be pragmatic, patient and understanding.
19 Posted 04/10/2016 at 11:14:20
However, like you, I would like success now as I am not getting any younger!
20 Posted 04/10/2016 at 11:25:27
Spurs, Stoke and Palace, lucky to get the points we did. Got what we deserved in the other games.
21 Posted 04/10/2016 at 11:28:15
Players shine for a very short time, and all of the knowhow built up over the career is often wasted if the man doesn't go into coaching.
I hope some of his aggression and passion rubs off on Lukaku, Kone and Bolasie. I would like to see an occasional snarl up top.
It would also be nice if we had a right nasty bugger in the midfield. Imagine Barkley with Mark Noble's attitude.
22 Posted 04/10/2016 at 11:53:03
It appears to me that the Koeman brothers are fighters and they want to be surrounded by similar people. Ferguson, Unsworth, Sheedy fit the mould.
This is why, despite the dissapointment of the last 3 games, I am confident about the future we will be great again.
Eugene sometimes if you are going bad and get "lucky", "life" starts knocking the corners off you and a decision is made to change. It does look like Duncan Ferguson has been through this process. Fortunately for him, Kenwright and the Koemans are amongst those who have supported him. I believe he will pay them back in spades.
23 Posted 04/10/2016 at 12:11:58
Big Dunc has had more than his share of "WTF is he doing?" moments, and will admit that himself, I imagine. But that is part of his appeal to us, I think our bad boy or troublemaker. Like Suarez, or Bellamy he is loved by his own fans, but hated by others, a hero or a villain is a matter of perspective.
If the players we have now who have arguably greater technical ability, play with the amount of passion that Duncan did, without the excessiveness that was part of his game, then we could be laughing all the way to Europe.
24 Posted 04/10/2016 at 12:17:32
Ronald knows from his time at Barcelona what it takes to make a very good team, and he was starting to put together a very good team at Southampton. Despite half the first team being sold before he took over. I am sure with the help of his coaches and the ability of Steve Walsh to spot a player, plus the backing from Moshiri, he will turn this club around.
I think it will be interesting to see how we get on against Man City, when he comes up against Guardiola. Given the fact that Cruyff asked Koeman to teach Guardiola everything he knew and took the young Guardiola under his wing while at Barcelona.
I know for the last 20 years we have been asked to be patient and, despite our patience nothing happened. But I think under this manager and the majority shareholder things will change. But it will take time and I would ask all our fans to show a little patience; yes, there will be bad days as he tries to assemble the team he needs to take us forward. But booing at half-time really doesn't help anybody, especially when you are having to put right the debacle of the last 2 seasons.
25 Posted 04/10/2016 at 13:02:17
I think it was Oscar Wilde who said "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future" not that Duncan was a real sinner, he just could have done things differently.
Now, he is trying to make amends.
26 Posted 04/10/2016 at 15:01:57
"Duncan has changed as a man, I could say a bit more about that but will leave it at that."
Ohhhhh, you tease Dave!
Nice Oscar Wilde quote. Not one for condemning anyone for all eternity for their misdemeanours too Old Testament for me. Dunc seems genuinely enthused in his role at Everton these days, which wasn't always the case during his playing career at the club.
I can understand Blues of a certain generation regarding him as a 'legend.' I witnessed matches when he was THE difference between winning and losing. I also witnessed many a match when he was less arsed than a less arsed Romelu Lukaku. For that reason, he doesn't get into my personal pantheon of who and what I consider an Everton 'legend.'
But... he was a character. Read this account of how he went on the lash before THAT derby game, Joe Royle's first as Everton manager, after Walker's sacking leaving us rock bottom and nailed on for relegation.
We have a couple of Bluenose Bizzies to thank for flushing him out before being breathalyzed that he was able to make the game!
27 Posted 04/10/2016 at 15:21:13
He fought, kicked and scored his way into my heart, I have never seen a better header of the ball, that passion and his physical strength combined is a top notch example of what it TRULY means to love Everton.
I still miss him in our team, he was a true CAPTAIN, not like this weaklings we see now like the feeble Jagielka.
Lukaku has LONG way to go in order to be like Duncan Ferguson.
28 Posted 04/10/2016 at 15:38:18
"...became the legend before he had become the player"
Love this.
29 Posted 04/10/2016 at 15:48:20
I don't think Duncan touches the demon drink anymore, he's had time to reflect on life while living in Majorca. It came to him that he missed football, maybe he didn't ever think he would, and so he is very happy to have another chance at the game. He is still a relatively young man so he can make a good career for himself on the coaching and possibly management side of the game.
Your summing up of Duncan's playing career is in line with the way I and many Evertonians think of it.
31 Posted 04/10/2016 at 16:21:21
I saw a documentary as well as he went through his qualification course and took defence as his team's subject I was very impressed by his intelligence, articulation and thought he was a different gravy to many footballers turning from pro to coaching.
In my book, he very much has the potential for management, and one day, of our great club.
32 Posted 04/10/2016 at 16:27:04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvD_YqhTn0
35 Posted 04/10/2016 at 18:07:53
On the subject of the thread, I've posted before re my contempt for the way Ferguson conducted himself when a player, on (except on those very rare occasions when he deigned to actually make an effort) and off the field, but if the bloke's finally making a consistent contribution that's valued by someone who always earned the status "legend" as a player, namely our manager, then so be it.
45 Posted 05/10/2016 at 04:46:01
46 Posted 05/10/2016 at 08:15:56
47 Posted 05/10/2016 at 10:30:42
48 Posted 05/10/2016 at 11:08:50
49 Posted 05/10/2016 at 11:28:55
50 Posted 05/10/2016 at 17:17:28
Some mate YOU are!
51 Posted 05/10/2016 at 17:28:14
52 Posted 05/10/2016 at 18:37:41
53 Posted 05/10/2016 at 19:38:55
54 Posted 05/10/2016 at 22:44:47
How time flies, eh?
55 Posted 05/10/2016 at 22:47:27
Me? Stirrer? Never!
56 Posted 06/10/2016 at 01:33:26
If Duncan Ferguson is a legend, I look forward to hearing from posters describing Big Nev's status. What's the next rating above Legend?
57 Posted 06/10/2016 at 09:56:05
But fans who were in their teens when Ferguson gave them something to hold on to, to believe in and who was someone who stood up to the RS or to teams who thought of themselves as our betters, well, he's THEIR legend even if he's not ours.
Fans of whatever club from whatever generation can truly call Nev a Legend.
58 Posted 06/10/2016 at 11:15:28
59 Posted 06/10/2016 at 11:22:43
60 Posted 06/10/2016 at 11:43:38
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1 Posted 03/10/2016 at 20:24:30
We've played nowt and still look weak up front and midfield.
ps: How does Ross merit automatic selection?