Duncan Ferguson-Everton Cult Hero- Part 2
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton | 7 May 2006
No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. Turkish proverb
So having scored 42 goals in 133 games, it happened. Peter Johnson agreed to sell Big Dunc (behind Walter’s back) for £8 million, a hefty price by anyone’s standards, and many blues were in a sense of shock. This pretty much sealed the end for Johnson, who was the king of the secretive transfer deal. The supposed £3 million plus for Steve Simonsen was a creative piece of accounting which would probably have made the directors of Enron a bit self-conscious.
To further exacerbate the issue, Duncan bagged 2 on his debut and also started talking to the press. The first was not a big shock, the second was astounding. There is definitely a pattern emerging here with Everton. Rooney hardly spoke to the press when he was with the Blues yet under Alex ‘Doesn’t he do a brilliant job with the kids’ Ferguson he’s been positively thrust in front of the despised media.
Anyway, in an apparently Franny Jeffers signing-esque display of sentimentality. August 2000 saw the return of the big man, who had made just 24 league starts in 2 seasons at Newcastle.
So here’s some second spell memories.
Charlton home – 23/8/2000 - Making debut’s for Everton is something Duncan must hold the record for, he’s probably made about 4 if you count him coming out of jail, and on this occasion he trotted on for the last 20 replacing the man it’s really hard to remember playing for Everton, Mark Hughes. We were one up and desperately needed a win having started the season with our annual Elland Road defeat. A cool slot followed by a deflected effort meant Dunc bagged 2 at the Street End, and all was well in the world.
Leeds home – 28/9/2003 - Having failed to make a start in the previous season, Duncan appeared to be at the top of Moyesy’s liability list. The highlight of this ultimately terrible season was the 4-0 drubbing of Leeds. James McFadden was superb on the wing (probably for the only time against top flight opposition) and Steve Watson scored a brilliant hat-trick. Everton could easily have had 8 or 9, with the rested Rooney missing sitters at the end. All this aside, the highlight was a trademark header from Big Dunc and the complete do-ing he gave to World Cup winner Roque Junior. It was more a case of Rocky v Roque as Duncan bulldozed the Brazilian who was subjected to what looked like a terrifying examination. Joe Royle used to wax lyrical about Dunc in a way that fast bowlers are described – unplayable. Junior agreed.
Norwich away – 23/10/2004 - Everton were in 3rd and spent the first half comprehensive outplaying Norwich. Gravesen, Kilbane and Osman all looked imperious as we strolled around at Carrow Road, giving the impression of being able to score at will. But we don’t like to do things the easy way. So after being 2 up at half time, we allowed Norwich to get back to 2-2. Enter the Big Man, who rose majestically at the far post, yet almost seemed to be facing the wrong way by the time he made contact. No matter, he planted a great header into the opposite corner, and 3 points were ours.
Man Utd home – 20/04/2005 – The RS were hot on our heels but most Blues would have probably expected a draw at best. Rooney's first return had been horrible with a meek surrender at an ugly FA Cup tie. This was different from the outset as Everton sought to get stuck into their more glamorous opponents. Tim Cahill hastened Roy Keane’s retirement (well Scottish football, same thing) by giving him a hard time all night. Gary Neville got a deserved sending off for a heinous offence, which was being Gary Neville. And 10 years after he’d done it previously, Duncan grabbed the winner with a great header, in the second half, from a set piece, at the Street End, with the only goal of the game. Rio Ferdinand was the victim this time as Dunc showed too much guile, class and guts to power it home. The best night at Goodison in 5 years plus, was complete.
Birmingham – 23/04/2005 – 3 days later, Everton were in grave danger on undoing all the good work by losing at home to Birmingham. After his Herculean efforts of Wednesday, Dunc had enough in his locker to roll off the bench, and grab a crucial equaliser with 5 minutes to go. Somewhat surprised to score at the Park End for a change, Fergie decided to have a closer look by dextrously vaulting the advertising boards and joining the throng of celebrating Evertonians. A vital goal.
Villarreal – 24/08/2005 – We’re all hoping Duncan will play and score today, but it is slightly misleading to suggest that he hasn’t scored in what is probably his final season. Having finally got a foothold in the tie with Arteta’s free-kick, this big game player decided it was time to get involved. His immense header from a corner was a thing of beauty. Destroyed by a ref who seems to think he’s a legend but is actually shite.
After reflections on the West Brom game, which will hopefully see Duncan play from the start, we’ll take a cheeky look at the times Dunc got sent-off, all things of beauty in their own special way.
