Phil Brown questions Duncan Ferguson role at Everton, Ally McCoist defends him
Former Premier League manager Phil Brown has questioned if Frank Lampard is getting the right support at Everton, including from Duncan Ferguson.
Lampard took the manager’s job in January ahead of Ferguson, but kept the Blues icon at the club as part of his backroom staff.
But after four defeats in six league games since taking over, Everton now find themselves only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. Brown was speaking to talkSPORT when he suggested Big Dunc isn’t giving Lampard the support he needs, which led to a stark defence by fellow host Ally McCoist.
“They’re in trouble, big trouble,” he said. “They’re in free fall.
“Sometimes you’re looking for a little bit of inspiration if you’re a neutral on the sideline watching Everton, how they’re approaching games and they look void of ideas. Then you start looking at the coaching because of that, you know patterns of play, defensively they still look quite solid to a certain extent.
“He’s in a little bit of trouble and people are saying he needs help.
“But who do you turn to? You turn to your number two don’t you? That’s where he’s got to get his help from.
“He’s not going to get it from the supporters at the moment because they’re frustrated. He doesn’t look like he’s getting it from the players at the moment.
“Duncan [Ferugson] always steps up to the plate because there’s a fear factor, the love for the club, the passion for Everton football club. Is he not doing that now? If he’s not doing that now that’s the wrong way.
“If Frank hasn’t got that support, if Dunc’s not doing that, then he should be. That’s the point. Everyone at Everton football club has to step up, not just Frank Lampard. Everyone, to survive they have to step up to the plate.
McCoist quickly defended his fellow Scot by replying, “I can guarantee one thing, knowing him well enough, Big Dunc will be stepping up to the plate in whatever capacity Frank Lampard wants him to.
“No doubt about it. Absolutely no doubt.”
Insight
Lampard is far from being an experienced manager, despite having managed in the Champions League before and having played at the top level for almost his whole career.
It’s in these situations where he should be able to call upon those around him for help but Ferguson isn’t the most experienced either and that can’t be helping.
Everton need all the support they can get both on the pitch and off the pitch, but maybe the players need a new voice to give them the kick they need to get back into gear.
Ferguson is known for instilling fear in opponents and loving the club, so if he can get the players believing and loving the club in the same way then they have enough talent to get results and earn safety.
If not though, they are in big trouble with their upcoming fixtures and there is a real possibility that they’re already too far gone and that Lampard bit off more than he could chew.
In other Everton news, ‘Rubbish’ – Chris Sutton makes Everton relegation prediction, shares ‘major concern’