Slam Dunc! Ferguson81 puts fire into Everton
Jubilant caretaker revives Toffees
HAVING been through five managers since 2016, it turns out Everton have always had a blue Jurgen Klopp under their noses.
In 90 minutes at a pulsating Goodison Park, interim boss Duncan Ferguson not only lifted his club out of the relegation zone, he appeared to orchestrate the entire crazy afternoon.
The cult hero of the Gwladys Street End whipped up the crowd, wildly celebrated goals with touchline sprints and hugged ball-boys, and got an extra shot of adrenaline out of his players sadly lacking under Marco Silva.
Big Dunc played old-school 4-4-2, the way he liked, and ordered anyone in a blue shirt to give blood, sweat and tears.
Fittingly, their first goal came from a bullet header by Richarlison — the type Ferguson was famous for as an Everton centre-forward. The others were grabbed by Dominic Calvert-Lewin in his manager’s old No9 jersey.
The Scot, who was part of Silva’s coaching staff, may not get the job full-time — with David Moyes and Vitor Pereira the leading candidates — but a straw poll among Evertonians would overwhelmingly give the job to their hero. Owner Farhad Moshiri was wearing a broad smile at the final whistle that hasn’t been seen too often this season.
‘I’ve scored goals and been to Cup finals for this club but that was an incredible feeling, something that can never be taken away from me,’ said an emotional Ferguson.
‘I would’ve hugged the linesman if he’d been there after one of our goals. To see the look on the faces of the kids [ball-boys] was amazing. One of them was in tears, so was I.
‘It was emotional and exciting, just how it looked. The players were all a colossus. The atmosphere was unbelievable, it was very difficult to get the information on to the pitch.
‘I had 4-4-2 in my mind. Being at Goodison, I thought it might get the fans up for it. They want managers to be passionate with the body language. We are a family club.’
As vanquished Chelsea boss Frank Lampard correctly put it: ‘It was definitely an extra-dangerous game for us with a new manager. I expected a bounce from them and that’s what happened.’
Ferguson, 47, had lit the touchpaper in his programme notes. ‘When Evertonians have their blood up, it is the greatest place in the world to play your football,’ he wrote.
Players and supporters alike took notice and the noise stayed at Volume 11 from the moment
Richarlison powered in Djibril Sidibe’s cross to give Everton an early lead — the Brazilian’s third headed goal in consecutive games.
Ferguson, suited and booted, took off along the touchline with a turn of pace Theo Walcott would have been proud of. The players snapped into challenges so that fourth-place Chelsea couldn’t register a shot on target in the first half despite 70 per cent possession.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was encouraged to use his long-kicking skills. Gylfi Sigurdsson, deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, was waved back by his boss if he was tempted to venture too far forward. With Chelsea gradually finding their passing range, Everton needed a second goal and it arrived at the start of the second half.
Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen got in each other’s way, the ball ricocheted into the path of Calvert-Lewin who slotted in from six yards. Lampard was fuming. ‘It was really poor defending from us,’ he said. ‘They were direct which was understandable. But we have allowed games to go away from us recently.’
Chelsea pulled a goal back after 52 minutes when Mateo Kovacic’s drive from just outside the box went through a crowd of players.
Chelsea kept pressing, though Everton still looked dangerous on the counter and Walcott was only stopped by one superlative tackle by N’Golo Kante.
They finally grabbed a third goal after 84 minutes. Substitute Tom Davies seemed to have lost the chance in the penalty area but was just able to poke the ball to Calvert-Lewin who slotted in.
‘I love Dominic as a player. He linked the play well and put in an incredible shift,’ said Ferguson. ‘He wore the number nine shirt with pride. A colossus.’ Calvert-Lewin has worked closely with Ferguson in training over a long period.
‘I have a very close relationship with Duncan. He has stuck by me for the three years I have known him,’ he said.
Former Bayern boss Niko Kovac was present to watch the mad scenes of joy. ‘I am sure he enjoyed it but I haven’t a clue (about the manager’s job),’ added Ferguson.
Club sources say Kovac’s attendance wasn’t linked with the vacancy. If it’s not filled before next weekend’s game at Manchester United, no Bluenose will mind having Big Dunc in charge again.