talkSPORT pundit claims Everton have ‘perfect formula’ at the moment
Everton have enjoyed quite the resurgence under Duncan Ferguson, firstly, and then Carlo Ancelotti, and it’s been an enjoyable month or so.
The fact that the Scot has been kept around by the Italian is, of course, key to the Toffees’ rise up the Premier League.
The biggest endorsement for Ferguson was that a manager as decorated as Ancelotti saw something in him and valued him to such an extent that he kept him around and handed him a prominent role on his staff.
That’s quite the compliment for ‘Big Dunc’, and he’s repaid Ancelotti’s faith by playing an integral part under him.
Former Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara feels that the Toffees coaching duo have found the ideal balance.
“Duncan Ferguson come in and it’s changed the whole mentality,” he said on talkSPORT. “They were on the front foot, they went 4-4-2, and it was like the old school Everton side.
“Ancelotti’s come in and they’ve kicked on again. It’s the perfect formula. You’ve got that sort of guy who is no-nonsense and he’s going to say it how it is and you’re going to respect him for it.
“The you’ve got Ancelotti who’s been there and is a winner, but is the calming influence and you respect him for what he’s done. So they’ve got it absolutely perfect.”
Are these two the key for Everton?
Absolutely they are. Ancelotti was a massive coup when he was appointed, and things have probably gone even better than many people thought they would.
There was that awful loss to Liverpool’s kids, but that now appears to have galvanised Ancelotti’s players, and they’ve gone from strength to strength since.
They’ve claimed 11 points from a possible 15 since then, and should have had two more if they’d managed to avoid that disastrous collapse against Newcastle United.
The exciting thing is that you feel the club are only going to get better under the Ancelotti-Ferguson partnership.
In other Everton news, former England international Danny Murphy has told one Toffee he needs to zip it.