Duncan Disorderly
Nick Armitage has comments about the Everton Captain's latest reward

13 February 2004

Once again Duncan Ferguson misses the end of season run in.  It’s turned into a bit of a habit.  This season, it was for helping Stefan Freund’s neck into a smaller collar size and then showing his displeasure to the Leicester fans.  The result; a four-match ban and £10,000 fine.  Ten grand to Big Dunc is piss in the wind, but a four-match ban to his club is far more significant.

Remember Freddi Bobic being on the receiving end of Big Dunc’s over enthusiasm?  Anyone would think our Duncan didn’t like Germans but I suppose we can forgive him for that.

What is unforgivable is the regularity with which Duncan gets himself into trouble.  On the pitch Duncan is an aggressive man and that is part and parcel of his game.  He is also a marked man by referees.  This doesn’t help matters, but Duncan does himself no favours.  Strangling someone, no matter how objectionable they may be, and then giving the opposing fans the big what for is going to have repercussions.  Missing four games at his age for doing what he did is downright stupid, and he knows it.

This season a training ground bust up and alleged, but totally unproven, racist insults have also got him plastered all over the back pages.  Yet again it was for all the wrong reasons.

Let’s be honest, an Everton season isn’t complete without Duncan seeing a red card.  He’ll never change; you’ve got more chance of training an old dog to crap in a cat litter tray.  That does not justify his behaviour; a village idiot would have learnt by now.

The big question is: Does his inclusion when fit compensate for these relatively rare moments of madness?  It’s a risk / reward ratio.

The risk of him physically assaulting an opponent or telling a referee where to go is probably outweighed by the benefit of his presence on the pitch.  Despite the constant long balls to his head, which he probably doesn’t want, we have looked a more potent attacking force with Duncan in the team.

Nobody else in the squad, or the Premiership for that matter, occupies defenders like he does.  Irrespective of the cash he earns or the ability he has wasted, he is a presence that defenders just cannot deal with.  Campbell is finished.  Playing two midgets up front has never worked for us.  With the current squad, there is no alternative: when available, Duncan has to play.

For everyone who wanted to see Duncan back to his old ways, we should have been more careful what we wished for.  He’s back.

Nick Armitage

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