Everton break through wall of worry under Talismanic Ferguson

Personally l would've taken off Iwobi. However tactically it was a good call shape wise. If Walcott and Digne hadn't got late knocks, I'm pretty sure that Calvert-Lewin would've come off as he could barely walk. Some effort the lads put in today, it really was. COYB.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to go away mid-May, hopefully off planet. Unless we can get past them in January and lift the cup. Catterick, Kendall, Royle, Ferguson... you never know!!

It seems that the most important attribute a manager will need at Everton is being able to get players to buy into that winning mentality, which Duncan always had and still has.

Today, Big Dunc answered the question: 'What does he do?' The answer is he eats, drinks and sleeps Everton. That question, after today, will never be asked again by any Everton supporter.

Our uncanny record for gifting teams on a losing or winless streak and giving away goals to players who haven't scored in donkey's years is legendary in the football world.

Beating Arsenal in such circumstances would be an even bigger achievement for the big man than today, because this has been a habit of ours for decades.

I now find myself asking the question, is there another human being on the planet that could have orchestrated that win?

I can't think of anyone. Those 3 points are so precious.

"Hopefully it will not be Moyes but I'd like the new manager to be a person with vitality, tenacity and personality, who isn't afraid to show some emotion from the touch line. A guy who can really get the players working as a team with guts and determination".

Dunc will stay on, and I think passion and pride will keep us going for a few games. Leicester will hate visiting us - they are favourites, and Dunc will wind us up, Joe Royle style. DCL & Ricky are our Ferguson & Rideout. I pray Iwobi can turn into another ex-Arsenal talisman, Limpar. Digne the next Hinch. So many parrallels!

Duncan kept it simple, back to basics, the players knew what they were doing and did it well. It's all that Moyes, Sam, etc etc will do if they were hired. None of them could match Dunc's passion.

If Dunc continues until the end of the season and adopts the same uncompromising, simple but effective tactics we will finish in upper mid table.

A better decision on the next manger will be made if it is properly thought out. He should come in June ready to recruit a few players and to have a full pre-season.

Amazing that after all these years people still don't realise its a simple game. For all the tactics and flipcharts and statistics, the main and most important thing is for the players to put a shift in and play as a team. If you don't have this it's irrelevant what formation you play or how good your players are.

Yesterday big Dunc brought passion, fight and pride back to the players and the club. That's the first job of a manager. Those three things can be summed up in one word - Motivation.

We have decent players they were simply not motivated. Blame the players to an extent but that's what the managers job is. First and foremost.

Re the next manager? Right now don't think many people are spending time worrying. First let's enjoy the win and getting some pride back.

Please let's not sign another manager in the Martinez/Silva ilk. Get the players motivated and let them play their natural game rather than over coaching them.

What a game that was!

So the BIG question is, could Big Dunc actually “manage” and do a good job for us, or was this a golden moment for him to treasure.?

Tactics, he surely knows enough about style of play and tactics, it isn't that complicated is it!!

We will obviously still lose games that's a given, we have a good middle of the table squad, play to our strengths and put the effort in and we will finish mid-table comfortably.

He was the catalyst that made the chemistry happen and the crowd responded to every tackle every effort to close down.

Marvellous stuff. If He can gather the needed points it buys the club time to evaluate who they want and Ferguson can put his name in the hat. Hopefully that can all wait till the summer, depending on results.

I didn't know Sigurdson wore the arm-band, but agree with Tony H, and thought Holgate was the one that was trying to really lead the team yesterday, alongside Luca Digne?

I have no idea whether or not Big Dunc has it in him to become a good permanent manager of our club although, on the evidence of yesterday, I'm certain he would provide us with a team of organised, hard working players ( most tackles in 11 years ) whose heads would not be full of philosophies and intricate patterns of crossfield passing.

In short, I'm done with fancy Dan coach/managers who've won strings of minor honours in weak leagues abroad, the last two of which have sunk us to depths we could never have envisaged. If the football ignorant owner persists with his love affair with these 'no mark' appointments, I, for one, will immediately become a lover of Everton past.

Yesterday was brilliant, don't get me wrong, but it is papering over the cracks. I'd rather we didn't rush but give the job to someone with a proven track record of success.

Delusional to say Ancelotti but I'd love it. I'd take Benitez, Bielsa from Leeds. Blokes who know how to set teams up and can make the most of what we have.

I thought taking Richarlison off yesterday was a bit odd given Walcott and Iwobi were not exactly setting the world alight. Didn't see much of sigurdsson either.

I think Iwobi is an important member of the squad.

A bit like the old advert, for those who are old enough to remember " A Double Diamond works Wonders " for a firm called Ind Coope. Well, Duncan indeed was our Double Diamond yesterday.

I appreciate the football was not replicating Brazil or Barcelona, but it was certainly as someone mentioned before a " Dogs of War " type of performance.

Can it be repeated? I see no reason why not, and it will be interesting to see for our next match away at United, who have pulled off a few good results recently themselves, if we can.

I suspect after the effort put in yesterday, we will not emerge injury free, as there were a couple of worrying signs, Digne looks to have sustained something more than could be cured in a week, and a couple of the others looked weary and battle fatigued at the end.

I have not seen or heard any injury updates yet from the OS but fingers crossed and having eight days to recover, may help those who need any treatment between now and our next away match.

I erroneous mistyped snatch before instead of match, and not only corrected it but wondered in some way if it was an unwitting premonition as to the result at Old Trafford, which is what it would be, but a very welcomed one at that.

Dunc must have got so deeply under their skins that they were prepared to spit blood for the team. And I like that.

I was expecting the worst having seen the team selection and the lack of options on the bench. None of the front six was renowned for their tackling ability but apparently the team made more tackles than any Everton side since 2007 - just shows how little I know. Iwobi was particularly effective closing down their fullback but going forward he looks like a player with his boots on the wrong feet. Walcott continues to fluff his lines in front of goal. I thought that my two least favourite players, S&S, had really good games but lacked the class of Mount. A mixture of passion and desperation earned this result but will this group of players be able to reproduce performances like this week in week out I doubt it.

I was so pleased to see Everton play with two up front and it is no coincidence that DCL had such a good game.

Well done to Ferguson for giving me a decent weekend free of angst!

He is far more important in values than near enough anyone who walks through the goodison doors.

You can virtually see all the posts that fall for everything the media say or guess at.

Geoff is correct too. Enjoy that great result but stay vigilant. That style is hard to pull off every week and we got a lot of ricochets as a result of our pressure.

These players are going to have to match that effort every week now.

So yes, nobody knows what goes on at Finch farm, and nobody knows what big Dunc does at Finch farm.

I believe this raises as many questions as possible answers, which at this stage would be pure conjecture, and Duncan himself was quite pragmatic in his post-match interview.

Which I also thought, with him being historically, not one to hog any limelight, and notably reluctant to speak to any journalists without the use of a few Anglo-Saxon expletives. Normally with two word answers containing advice on sex and travel!

He was in contrast, quite diplomatic and when asked about being in the position permanently, he proudly made no disguise of his desire as 'one day for that to happen' but would it be in the immediate future?

This again raises more points, can he replicate that team spirit and performance in every game from now on? Being positive and saying yes, would it be prudent to wait till the end of the season, to get a clearer overall picture?

With the working relationship with M Brands, which, as far as I am aware is a good one, what happens in the January Transfer Window, and how much would be made available?

I am sure Duncan would gladly continue till the end of the season if offered, as Custodian/Caretaker but what would be his position if they did opt for a top Manager? Would he continue, and in what capacity?

Another poster - "Ultimately it will end in tears. Because this is Everton." As empty of thought as #27 is packed with thought. "This is Everton"? That doesn't mean anything.

In the short term, at least, let's give Ferguson a chance, he may not be the man to lead us to challenge the elite, but he might just get us out of the relegation dog-fight.

Well done, Ferguson, for revitalising the team and renergising Goodison Park.

Taking the role temporarily is fine but where does it leave him? It's not impossible to go back to his coaching role, of course, but that itself carries a whole different mentality and emotion.

Looking from the outside and listening to him recently, it seems he is worried about being without Everton?

Taking into account all he has come through since coaching and what he wants going forward, I can see or sense his fears and don't want another man with great Everton values feeling like part of his bond is broken.

The same feelings make me wonder if I want him to get the job because I don't want fans turning on him or him facing the sack because he isn't ready?

He comes across a great man whatever happens. The kind of man I want around spoilt footballers.

I wasn't there but watched it on TV. I cannot believe how biased the commentary was, proper RS rubbish. I wanted to turn it down but I was watching it in a pub.

But let's not get carried away, it just takes the pressure off a rushed decision – and hopefully no Moyes.

This is still a very dysfunctional club under Moshiri and Kenwright. Do they really know what to do? Do they really have a plan? Do they have a profile for the next manager? Do they trust Brands or has he been sidelined? Personally, I don't think they do and they will try and muddle through until the end of the season.

I worry about the club's future as these two have shown themselves to be completely incompetent. One sparrow doesn't make a summer.

We simply have to enjoy this "moment" as the beauty of yesterday was its simplicity effort, application and passion. After drowning in tactical instruction and dogma, the players were encouraged to srcap and they actaully played some good stuff. The first goal was lovely, a super cross and a glorious header.

Obviously they can't put that much passion in every week, but they now know that effort is appreciated and rewarded. Some more big games to come.

I know we have had polls on here before, but rather than it be a multi-choice type of exercise, it would be more intriguing if it could be left to each individual TW, to propose who he or she thought would be the best fit.

I appreciate this would possibly involve more work for you both in collating all the proposals, but it would represent a fairer picture of who would be genuinely the most popular choice. Given a multi-choice, is limited to a degree and more or less narrows the prospective candidates to those only on that list.

Michael, I know you emailed the Club, on behalf of TW, regarding the situation of Silva, whether that worked or not or indeed influence their inevitable decision we will probably never know (maybe coincidental but it seemed to work).

I think the Board or those at Everton should be made aware of what the fans want, as has been said on here many a time we are in it for life, and have the interests of Everton Football Club at heart.

I believe in the States they used to have a saying, (may still do) the 'Consumer is King' and generally dictated the prices of items in the stores not being subject to massive price hikes.

Maybe, they should be reminded that the Fans are Kings, because without us, arguably they could survive without the fans but for how long? Hate to mention it but we are supposed to be 'The Peoples Club'.

I really liked the fact that he stopped this nonsense of having both centre-backs inside the box for goal-kicks. All that ever seemed to achieve was us losing the ball deep in our own half. When you have someone as good in the air as Calvert-Lewin, why not use his strengths, and even if he doesn't win the ball, he will put enough pressure on the defender which might mean we pick up the 2nd ball deep in their half. On hearing the side while walking up towards the game, I was a little surprised but, with so many injuries, Ferguson didn't have many alternatives.

I wondered what sort of performance we may get from Richarlison now his mentor had been sacked, but he put in a very good performance. I found his substitution weird, I know he had taken a knock earlier but he was still more effective than Iwobi or Walcott. Yes, they both chased back and helped out but neither for me ever look like scoring. The other disappointment is, when Richarlison did come off, Ferguson never went over to him to give him a pat... very strange, given the fact he scored and played a big part in most attacks.

So delighted with the result, I think the substitution of Davies for Richarlison was going to see Davies sit in midfield to try and deny Chelsea have as much possession as they were having; but no, he played in a direct replacement for Richarlison. Now Ferguson can point to Tom being involved in the 3rd goal, so endorsing his decision, but for me, Tom struggled when he came on.

The real test is can Ferguson get that same reaction away from Goodison Park? That will be the acid test, as his predecessors have struggled to get results away from Goodison. And our away game against Man Utd will be a big test – they will be full of confidence after beating Man City away.

But Ferguson has earned the right to see if he can get performances away from Goodison, and time and results will tell.

My mate responded: "You mean their lives wouldn't last 3 seconds!!"

Alan Shearer summed it up well on MotD, when he said simply: 'Have some of that!'

In all the hustle and bustle and 'Dogs of War' stuff, it still needs one cool head, to calm it all down, and be the glue that keeps it all together. Yesterday, that person was Morgan Schneiderlin, who just did the necessary, without fuss or panic. Perhaps, we've finally found his 'niche'.

Duncan may not be the answer long-term, but he can get us through to the end of the season, when things will be a lot clearer, and we won't need to make a 'panic' appointment.

Hence Schneiderlin's performance. He was switched on where he normally switches off. And Holgate, who has a courage I love to see, seemed to rise to the passion, along with Sidibé.

Those 3 were standout performers for me.

Let's keep it up, let's hope it's the start off a good run of games.

And no resorting to elbows in the back of the head or stamping on an opponents leg whilst he's lying on the ground, unlike some.

I am just trusting my gut, hope I am completely wrong, I just don't see Duncan as having the ability to get us to kick on. Absolutely perfect for the situation we are in currently though.

I agree that Jeffers was a fantastic player when he left us, he had the ability to anticipate play and find space. As someone who played rugby and was extremely instinctive as a winger, then went into coaching, it is extremely hard to coach that to players. Really hard to coach anticipation, reading body language etc. Jeffers doesn't strike me as an excellent communicator so I can't see him being a success.

Let me be clear, though, I really hope I am wrong. I hope they are both extremely successful, short- and long-term. When you watch the game back, we rode our luck massively yesterday, I thought Chelsea were poor and it feels like that is what we need in order to get 3 points. I'm not convinced by our defence/midfield and it took an unbelievable and completely unexpected performance by Calvert-Lewin to get some goals. I'll be honest, I didn't think he had it in him but I'd never criticise his work rate.

I hope it is onward and upward from here but I'm certainly not going to get carried away.

It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it

and that's what gets results

So, it seems apparent that having watched the same players yesterday as we have for the previous part of the season, motivation was missing. That was Sliva's problem. He seemed very popular with the players but there was no fear factor. To coin Peter Reid's quote on the recent Howard's Way film: "I'd have run through brick walls for him". Silva was / is a coach, not a leader. Like Martinez before him.

To repeat what I said on the forum yesterday, let's not knee jerk here and make an emotional decision. Let's not have a United / Solskjaer moment. Forget yesterday, that club will unfortunately have to sack a club legend & fans' favourite at some point in the near future.

Let's continue the search for the right manager. Duncan can buy the club time so they don't have to make a stupid short term decision (e.g. appoint Moyes god forbid). But don't ruin Duncan by riding the wave of emotion & making him an offer he can't refuse.

Elevate his status and make him assistant manager in any future structure but don't give him the top job just yet.