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Is it Big Dunc’s time to manage Everton?

By Paul Conatzer

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Duncan Ferguson the assistant head coach / manager of Everton celebrates and kisses Seamus Coleman of Everton on the forehead at full time during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on February 20, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Duncan Ferguson the assistant head coach / manager of Everton celebrates and kisses Seamus Coleman of Everton on the forehead at full time during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on February 20, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Duncan Ferguson is a passionate Evertonian, you couldn’t argue that. But is it his time to manage Everton, the club he loves?

Another Everton legend Neville Southall believes he is. The Welshman told the Liverpool Echo,

"“It’s important to support Big Dunc. He’s the only man since Joe Royle to show the loyalty and dedication to revive our fantastic club’s fortunes.“He has stepped up each time he has been asked with pride, passion, commitment and drive to help our beloved club.“If anyone understands the club it is him. We have tried all sorts of managers and in different ways they have all come up short.”"

Ferguson has been in the Everton backroom since 2014 and was named assistant manager by then-manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He also had four games as a caretaker manager after Marco Silva was fired. Included in those games was an emotional 3-1 victory against Chelsea, which saw Ferguson sprint along the Goodison touchline and embrace ballboys after goals. There were also draws against Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as a comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the League Cup against Leicester.

A small sample to be sure, but a promising one.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has praised the role Ferguson played in helping him develop into an England centre-forward.

He told the Echo,

"“Big Dunc has been the best possible mentor. He was with the first team when I joined as a 19-year-old and he is still there now, so he has been behind the scenes with me from the start to now.”"

Southall believes Ferguson has the opportunity to become the same kind of manager as another  Ferguson. Sir Alex.  He said in the Echo, that Duncan Ferguson wasn’t afraid to make decisions about players because he thought it would help the team and not worry about upsetting them. Southall added Ferguson also had the ability to set up different plans for different opponents.

Then there is also recent history. The last three managers to bring trophies to Goodison Park were former players (Harry Catterick, Howard Kendall and Joe Royle.)

As with all managers, there would be some cons involved in hiring Ferguson.

In Marcel Brands, Everton has a director of football to help guide transfers in and out. But, Everton’s iffy form raises questions about attracting top-quality players. Ancelotti’s reputation was a pull for players to come to Goodison Park. Ferguson just doesn’t have the same kind of aura and in truth, not too many managers do.

And while Ancelotti’s unexpected departure leaves Everton in the lurch and shortens the timetable to hire a new boss, there are other candidates to consider.

Reportedly high on the list is ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo. As reported by the Metro Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is reportedly ready to battle Crystal Palace for the services of Espirito Santo. Everton also reportedly received £30 million from Real Madrid for Ancelotti breaking his Everton pact.

According to a report in Football Insider, Moshiri has already contacted Espirito Santo’s agent Jorge Mendes. According to a Toffees insider, Moshiri has a very good relationship with Mendes having already worked with him to help bring another of his clients, James Rodriguez to Everton.

The article continues that the super-agent would like the ex-Wolves boss to join a club with financial resources and plenty of ambition. Everton fit that bill more than Crystal Palace.

And while agents play a huge role in attracting players to clubs, do the Blues want to sink or swim with Mendes being so prominent?

Apparently so, according to SkySports they report Everton is set to begin talks with the Portuguese, who has plenty of support from the club’s board.  Moshiri has been impressed with Wolves under Espirito Santo and believes he would be able to do the same with the Blues. And so it appears, the ex-Wolves boss is in the pole position.

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There are other candidates, according to the same report, former Everton manager David Moyes, now at West Ham is also a favourite.

Also mentioned, but likely now out of the picture, are, Marco Silva (why?) Vitor Pereira, Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard and Roberto Martinez.

For those who know their history, they don’t want to see the reappointment of Moyes. Kendall, couldn’t recapture the magic of his first tour at Everton with two different attempts.

Like Moyes, Benitez still has a house on Merseyside, but the ties to the other side of Merseyside make him and Stephen Gerrard unpalatable to the passionate Toffees’ supporters.

Antonio Conti had also been considered but he is in talks with Spurs according to the Independent.

Duncan Ferguson maybe a romantic pick to lead Everton forward, but there are too many questions to answer for his appointment to take place.

What do you think? Is Duncan Ferguson ready to lead Everton or do we need a more established figure?

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