Duncan Ferguson's Book

What exactly do you mean by "Dunc brought Rooney"? You mean in 2017 when Rooney returned and Dunc was a coach?

I'm not sure about his credentials as a manager, Christy. He undoubtedly worked hard to earn his coaching licences and was respected by Ancelotti and then Benitez followed by half a season under Lampard.

But his management career, once he tried to give it a go, didn't really work out. He left Forest Green Rovers with his team only having won one match and being relegated. Likewise at Inverness, relegated and sacked, although he was operating for a club in financial trouble.

I'd much rather read Alan Harper's new collection of poems or that Hartley fella on fly fishing, though I've never ever fished in my life.

I think Big Nev's is my favorite so far, Andy Gray's not far behind. As long as it's better than Kevin Ratcliffe's yawn fest, then it should be worth reading.

I'm only upto his time at Dundee. As he suggests, it's worth Googling “Jim McLean John Barnes” for a clip of old school management in action. Can you imagine our academy lads spending more time labouring than kicking a ball? Different times.

Pleasantly surprised by the book, not a run-of-the-mill sport autobiography. As you state, an eye opener.

Forest Green Rovers not only got relegated from League One, but after he left, they went straight through League Two and out of the League.

When he took over, they were bottom and had picked up 8 points from the previous 12 games, so it was a bit of a hospital pass.

As for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, then half-way through the second season, they went bust. So he never really had a good hand with which to play.

He seemed to be a respected coach by some reports, but maybe he wasn't cut out for full-time management and perhaps left it a bit too late?

That's the thing: he is about old enough to get a bus pass before he tries his luck as a manager. You have other guys in their mid-30s managing top teams.

But also, as you say, being a coach is different from being a manager. Take Kendall and Harvey for example.

Could not bring myself to buy it.

Saw Duncan at a Blackstock Market night a couple of weeks ago. (Birthday present!)

It went as expected, bitter about Silva, liked Koeman, cos he gave him a big raise.

Gave Moyes praise (obviously🤔) for letting him coach , “I worked for free, Bank holidays. New Year,” etc etc “I coached my arse off” loud applause… yawn

He got into coaching quite late, but he settled in at Everton and left it far too long to make a career.

He's making a decent career now though.

The book bounce will not last forever, obviously.

Having seen some of his interviews since it was written, that's definitely the impression I got.

Good advice... applies to ToffeeWeb as well though?

Different perspective. One of my cousins met him at an event in the week. Sent me photos and a video clip.

She couldn't speak highly enough of Duncan the person. He spoke highly of Walter Smith, Joe Royle and Howard Kendall, but didn't care much for Moyes.

Her words, not mine.

Praised Moyes for letting him come back and do his badges, but no contract.

You'll probably balance it out with a positive Moyes comment but it won't be this month.

tbf I was the same as Danny, totally didn't want him back, and again tbf to both of us, we've admitted he's done a great job so far.

Once he gets us back into Europe (where he left us) and a cup final, he can do one! Cos that's his limit.

"He can do one!!

Yes, that's the point I've always felt Danny was making. I'm not alone then?

Him just getting through the door was a massive favour, to then nail down a contract at half a million a year for god knows how many years, and then an actual stab at the big one?

He very nearly walked away with a £10M contract. And we'd still be dropping if he'd got it.

He then went on to say he managed to negotiate £50,000 a point while he was caretaker manager, based on the fact we beat Chelsea in his first game, we then drew with Man Utd and Arsenal, he made £250,000 in 3 games and was quite open and proud about that?”! He is all about money these days.

Next year he will be all about coaching youngsters again.

He wasn't on £500,000 a year as you guess, it was 0 then £25,000 a year, then Koeman made it £50,000/year So let's have it right .

The green monster appears when he later gets the caretaker job

I remember towards the end he would be picked up by referees for almost any contact and he just couldn't handle it. In the end, it was fair to say the game had passed him by.

The passionate, brutish, laughable Scot who you were never quite sure of what to make, a darker side that appealed to many, alas not me. But that's not to say I didn't love the goals, I did. The passion, I loved it, but the man? Too dark.

And if he'd been Scottish as well... he might just have got away with skirtgate!

On that basis, Trump is just another fraudulent, corrupt, lying shyster with a personal bank account to fill above all else.

Not having it mate, at all, ever.

For all his hard man image on the field, when I've seen Dunc on the telly in interviews etc, he come across as a really likeable guy, not thug-like at all.

Enjoy the book, and post a review if you like. Always interested in your opinion.

I'd be glad if he works to the end of his contract, as it will mean he's done well and consequently, so have Everton. What happens after that is anyone's guess and the owners' decision.

Anyway, this thread is about Duncan Ferguson. A player who frustrated me as much as he gave us memorable moments. A character when we needed one. I wouldn't criticise him for injuries, that's part of the game and I don't do that with other players.

I would have said it might be a generational thing, but it wasn't that straight-forward. My best mate (same age) adored him. He even grew his hair so he could wear it in that floppy style with a middle parting that Duncan was sporting at the time.

It didn't last long as Dave (RIP), started balding early and quickly in his 20s, so went "Grant Mitchell".

When Big Dunc left for Newcastle, my mate said it felt like his girlfriend had cheated on him, although I think that in hindsight, most would agree, the player had little warning or knowledge that transfer was happening.

Their Everton games played and goals scored records are virtually identical.

ToffeeWeb is fine for me as are most of the posters, including yourself, and it's free.

My granddaughter bought me the book, for Father's Day, as a surprise. If she had told me she was getting me the book, I'd have told her to buy me something better and a lot cheaper.

Get hold of the book yourself, Brendan, and let us know what you think of it.

Even though it's just a passing interest, as we won't receive anything and he's no longer an Everton player, I don't think I've seen a single rumour other than Newcastle.

Maybe with Isak potentially on his way out and Wilson departing to West Ham, it could be back on.

Similar to the book. As a player wouldn't even look at the press. Yet now is willing to go on anything if it'll help him sell a few copies. Must look at the wages they earn now with envy.

You can pick up a used copy on eBay for about £4.

How he worked for nothing when Moyes gave him a chance, right up until he earned £250,000 for his 3-game stint as caretaker manager, it was all about money.

I love Big Dunc for what he did on the pitch, the part about his off field antics, prison stay and life are better than most of the footballing anecdote in my opinion

I've always held the view that he was a talented footballer who wasted his talent through drinking. As a manager he retained his poor decision-making by accepting jobs where he was set up to fail.

His comments about Koeman were interesting. I would gave loved more on that time, but I guess the lawyers put paid to that!

If you really want to read it, you'll get it cheap enough soon enough. Better still, have a look at Cruyff's book, or Garry Nelson's books about working as a journeyman footballer.

I think they were the only jobs he was offered — although he had an interview for the Blackburn position (?) but never got it.

By the time he took the plunge, he had no pedigree to pick and choose.

He should have taken the plunge earlier if that's what he wanted to pursue.

I don't know if what he said is fact, but what he said opened my eyes.

Even though he didn't agree with the fans' treatment of Kenwright, he definitely didn't trust him.

Hundreds of ex-players have tried football management, most fail.

That includes the great Bobby Charlton (Preston NE) — he failed and never tried it again.

Different skill sets required.

I'm not really interested in the usual, self serving, books by so called stars but I do have two of Garry Nelson's.

I fascinating account of life at the bottom. I haven't read them for years but you've prompted me to get 'Left Foot in the Grave'? off the shelf to read again!

The one that has caught my eye is "Alan Ball. The Man in White Boots".

Interestingly, compiled from interviews and memories from his family and former footballing colleagues a decade after his passing.

Although I only ever saw him play for Southampton, I still remember my dad stopping the car when it came on the radio that Alan Junior's dad had been killed in a car crash abroad and they interviewed Ball, who was clearly heartbroken.

There, on the wall next to the bar, was a signed photo of Bally. Turned out he was a mate of the landlord (not there at the time) and used to pass in for a pint on his way back to Southampton from games in London.