Latest news with #DuncanFerguson
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I hope we've signed the French Duncan Ferguson'
We asked for your views on Everton's new forward Thierno Barry and what you make of his £27m signing from are some of your comments:Ramo: I hope we've signed the French Duncan Ferguson, that would make the new ground rock!Ron: For a relatively young player, he seems to have done pretty well in La Liga, which hopefully will give him the confidence to take that experience into the Premier League. David Moyes is the perfect manager to encourage and coach the lad to realise his potential. Good luck. Look forward to watching him in Barry is young and looks like he is getting better each season, which can only be a good thing for Everton. We now need a fast right-sided midfielder and a classy This is the start of the rebuilding. Barry looks like the type of forward Everton need to spearhead the attack. However, we have to have players who can find him. Decent wingers and wing-backs must be the next some of you were more pessimistic and wanted to wait to see how good Barry could be in the Premier Time will tell if he is a good signing. He has done well in Spain, but the Premier League is better and tougher. For now, we must all get behind him from the start. No better manager than Moyes to work On paper, this is a very promising signing. But, as we Evertonians know all too well, football isn't played on paper. He has got the physique to succeed in the Premier League, but we obviously have to find the players who will supply him to get the best out of him.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fiorentina star on Man Utd radar after 19-goal breakthrough season
Moise Kean, Manchester United and the Long Road from Misjudged Talent to Maturing Striker Kean's evolution in Florence reopens Premier League doors Football often holds an unforgiving memory. For Moise Kean, the image etched into the collective Premier League consciousness remains that winter afternoon at Old Trafford in 2019. Brought on by Duncan Ferguson as a second-half substitute, then swiftly taken off within 18 minutes. It was a damning symbol, a visual shorthand for potential misread and squandered. Photo IMAGO Advertisement Now, five years later, Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring the Fiorentina forward's progress. As reported in The Athletic, Kean has a €52 million release clause active until July 15. It marks an unlikely, even ironic return to the narrative, Old Trafford potentially becoming the stage for his resurgence. And the resurgence is no mirage. Kean's 2024-25 campaign under Raffaele Palladino in Serie A was not just productive, it was transformative. Structure and trust deliver Kean's best form Much of Kean's early club career was spent bouncing between systems, roles and leagues. Juventus gave him little rhythm. Everton even less. A short loan at PSG flashed promise, but consistency evaded him. Advertisement Florence changed that. Palladino placed trust in him as the focal point of Fiorentina's attack and allowed Kean to operate where he is most effective, centrally, on the shoulder of the last defender, rather than drifting wide or reacting to tactical emergency. Photo: IMAGO Palladino was emphatic. 'Both I and the club have faith in Moise, and that might seem banal, but it is fundamental for a player.' The clarity of that belief translated into 19 Serie A goals, second only to Mateo Retegui of Atalanta. Only one of those strikes came from outside the box, and even that was a gift, a backpass snaffled before a calm finish past Yann Sommer. But that, in a way, said everything about Kean's game now. Direct, instinctive, rarely wasteful. Advertisement His presence in the penalty area has grown. Six shots on target per 100 touches last season was the highest rate in Serie A. It placed him well ahead of Rasmus Hojlund (2.2) and Joshua Zirkzee (2.45), two forwards United have heavily invested in or considered. Photo IMAGO Where Hojlund struggled to convert limited service and Zirkzee offered fleeting moments of guile, Kean gave Fiorentina relentless movement. Tracking data showed 39 per cent of his runs were made in behind defensive lines. It's the hallmark of a forward thinking a fraction quicker than his marker. Style of play and tactical identity Kean's hat-trick against Verona encapsulated his evolution. A clever diagonal run for his first, a strong aerial finish for his second, then a slaloming solo effort from the left channel for his third. Advertisement He is now a forward who asks questions of defenders, rather than reacting to what's given. The variety in his finishes illustrates a striker no longer trying to do too much, but simply doing what matters. Photo IMAGO What might be more significant for Manchester United is what this reveals about Fiorentina's role in that improvement. It is not simply that Kean became more prolific, but that the team around him understood how to extract his strengths. Regular minutes, repetition, an understanding of his movement patterns. This is where coaching and recruitment philosophies either collide or coalesce. Advertisement For United's head coach Ruben Amorim, that poses an interesting question. Does Kean offer the kind of pressing, linking and multi-phase involvement his system demands? Or does the Italian provide something more direct, a kind of explosive Plan B when combinations fail? There is no clear answer. What is evident is that Kean is not the player many remember. He is not the brooding teenager trudging off at Old Trafford, nor the Everton enigma shadowed by systemic dysfunction. He is 25, a player with identity and purpose, who knows where to be in the box and how to finish. Photo IMAGO English memory and the risk of misjudgement Kean's Premier League past has unfairly clouded his potential. English football often preserves reductive versions of players. Iago Aspas is remembered for one misplaced corner, not for nine seasons of prolific returns at Celta Vigo. Advertisement That sort of memory trap risks repeating itself. Kean was a teenager in 2019. His substitution by Ferguson, as ignominious as it appeared, said more about managerial instinct than footballing ability. The broader narrative ignored context, growth and age. Now, he is emerging from the shadows, but in a different light. There is nuance to his game, and strength in his simplicity. He plays within his limits, not constrained by them. For United, there is intrigue. Not just in whether Kean fits their tactical needs, but in whether their cultural instincts can move past a single snapshot of perceived failure. Our View – EPL Index Analysis United fans will remember Moise Kean for those 18 miserable minutes. That moment at Old Trafford became one of those viral clips passed around every time a debate sparked about young talent not cutting it in England. So the idea of him returning, not just to the Premier League but potentially to United, feels oddly dissonant. Advertisement There's also the scepticism that comes with good numbers abroad. Nineteen goals in Serie A, yes, but is Serie A's pace and quality comparable? Will he adapt to the pressing intensity? Will he track back like Amorim wants his forwards to? Or is this another Memphis Depay scenario waiting to happen, all promise, minimal delivery? Even the reported fee gives cause for pause. £45 million is a considerable amount for a striker who has not yet delivered in English football. United have had their fingers burned enough times to hesitate. Wout Weghorst, Odion Ighalo, even Hojlund for now, all brought in to fill a No 9 void and all still leaving fans craving more. If Kean signs, he will need to hit the ground sprinting, not just running. Old memories will not fade easily. But if he can match the Serie A sharpness with Premier League application, he might just surprise supporters.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What Moise Kean could bring to Manchester United: Off-the-shoulder runs and penalty-box prowess
Moise Kean's last Premier League appearance at Old Trafford was a deeply chastening one. Brought on as a substitute during Everton's 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December 2019, Kean, then just 19 years old, endured football's ultimate indignity when he was hauled off just 18 minutes later by interim manager Duncan Ferguson. Advertisement But with United now keeping tabs on the Fiorentina striker — as reported in our Transfer DealSheet — who has a €52million release clause active until July 15, the Theatre of Dreams could offer the perfect full-circle stage for his career redemption arc. Could he be a surprise option to revamp Ruben Amorim's stuttering attack? Here, The Athletic explores what Kean, revitalised by a resoundingly successful debut season at Fiorentina, can offer. That image of Kean trudging forlornly to the touchline at Old Trafford, head bowed, became symbolic of a striker who struggled to ignite a career full of promise. Juventus's youngest-ever debutant never managed consistent minutes, failing to reach 20 full league appearances in a season across two spells in Turin, his time at Everton, and loan stints with Paris Saint-Germain and Hellas Verona. That all changed last summer, when the Italian was signed by Fiorentina. Under manager Raffaele Palladino, who left the club at the end of the season, he was finally given a consistent run as a team's central striker. That faith was repaid handsomely, with Kean netting 19 goals in Serie A last season, a tally bettered only by Genoa's Mateo Retegui, who scored 25. Palladino summed it up best when he told Sky Sport Italia early in the campaign: 'Both I and the club have faith in Moise, and that might seem banal, but it is fundamental for a player.' Just as valuable as consistent minutes was the clarity around Kean's role in Florence. Below shows the locations of his attacking touches across his last four seasons in Serie A. At Juventus, where he was primarily used as a rotation option, his role varied depending on the demands of the game he was brought into, with the 25-year-old frequently deployed on the left flank rather than in central, more dangerous areas. Now, at Fiorentina, his remit is clear: attack the box and get shots off. Of his 18 non-penalty goals this season, only one came from outside the area — and even that was a relatively straightforward finish, as Kean skipped past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer after pouncing on a weak backpass and rolled the ball from range into an empty net. His increased presence in the box has significantly improved his shot production. Kean registered six shots on target per 100 touches last season: the highest rate in Serie A. By contrast, underperforming United forward Rasmus Hojlund managed just 2.2, the second-lowest figure among Premier League centre-forwards, with fellow striker Joshua Zirkzee only marginally ahead at 2.45. Advertisement While the United pair's bluntness is partly down to the limited service behind them, Kean's intelligent movement has made it easier for his Fiorentina team-mates to pick him out. Tracking data from SkillCorner shows that 39 per cent of his off-ball runs are directed in behind the defensive line, as he looks to exploit his explosive acceleration and meet balls played into space. His skill playing off the shoulder was on full display in his statement performance against Verona last November, when his hat-trick powered Fiorentina to a 3-1 win. For his first, Kean perfectly executed an intelligent outside-to-in run, meeting Lucas Beltran's threaded pass before slamming the ball past Lorenzo Montipo. The follow up effort showcases another string of Kean's bow this season at Fiorentina: his ability to latch on to crosses. He demonstrates sharp athleticism to wrestle his way in front of a defender and impressive dexterity and improvisation to stab the high ball in from close range. Finally, the effort that saw him take home the match ball, was a product of Kean's ball carrying and quick feet. Collecting the ball in the left channel, he drove past Reda Belahyane, then cut inside, taking two deft touches with the outside of his right boot before firing a low shot into the far corner. This knack for making long, rangy carries — combined with sharp close control and jinky footwork when defenders close in — is reflected in his player radar below. Based on FBref data and comparing Kean to all other centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues, he ranks in the 79th percentile for dribble volume. Looking elsewhere on the radar, his limited involvement in link-up play — measured by the percentage of short or medium-distance passes as a share of total passes — immediately catches the eye, with Kean in the bottom percentile. The consequence of his steadfast commitment to staying high up the pitch is that he rarely drops deeper to stitch together attacking moves. Advertisement With creative maestro Bruno Fernandes and the similarly dangerous new arrival Matheus Cunha pulling the strings behind the striker, United might be well stocked in the link-up department and prefer a forward who stretches the line. But if Amorim is looking for more all-round involvement from his No 9, this could be a concern. Players who struggle during bit-part Premier League roles early in their careers are often unfairly written off. Many in England still associate former Liverpool man Iago Aspas solely with his infamous short corner against Chelsea during a crucial game in 2013-14 — his only season in the Premier League — even though he's since thrived at Celta Vigo, recording nine double-digit goal campaigns in La Liga. Kean's infamous substitution remains his most defining Premier League moment but a stellar season for Fiorentina has shown that, when given the opportunity and trusted with regular starts up top, he is much more than those miserable 18 minutes. His potent box threat and razor-sharp movement suggest he has all the tools to overwrite that memory and forge a new Premier League narrative.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Your verdict on Everton's hard men
We asked for your thoughts on BBC Sport's Phil McNulty's ranked list of Everton's hardest players. Here are some of your comments:Michael: Your choice is very good but Jimmy Gabriel could hold his own among Can't really argue with the list as there is an element of subjectivity, but Roger Kenyon, Mike Bernard, Mike Pejic, Mike Lyons, Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp all have claims to be on the list. Johnny Morrissey is almost certainly top though, just above Duncan I first saw Johnny Morrissey play for England schoolboys at Goodison Park, talking about hard men , what about Tony Kay?Dave: Bruce Rioch was pretty tasty - I remember Graeme Souness, Boro's hard man, being stretchered off after a clash with Brucie!Michael: Absolutely brilliant series - I always loved Jimmy Gabriel. All fabulous legends, cheers Nobody took liberties with Johnny Morrissey. Rumour has it that he never lost a five-a-side match in training because the rest were too scared to go near him. I suspect he wouldn't still be on the pitch at half-time if he was playing now. Nevertheless, he was a wonderful player especially in the 1969-70 Championship winning 'Psycho' Pat van den Hauwe must be up there. If I remember rightly Kendall said "we've signed him because he plays a hard game within the rules". Then he got a red and three yellow cards in his first five games!David: What about Sandy Brown? He was the tastiest of them all. He would challenge anybody. I once saw him offer the ball to a Liverpool fan on the Kop to come and take it off him. Brilliant.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'The anti-hero who struck terror into defenders'
Every club has had a hard man - often adored by fans - but who is the ultimate tough operator in Everton's history? Chief football writer Phil McNulty is going through his top five on this page on second spot (scroll down to the post below for third place, and to 08:33 BST for fourth and fifth)...Duncan Ferguson'Big Dunc', the idol of Goodison Park, was the anti-hero Everton fans needed and loved when he arrived, initially on loan, from Rangers in late had the ability to strike terror into defenders, with then manager Joe Royle recalling his first match in charge being illuminated by the Scot, who was fired up after a foul by Liverpool's Neil Ruddock. He subsequently terrorised Liverpool's defence, something he made a habit of throughout his Everton career, by scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 took any liberties with Ferguson, with even some of the game's hardest figures making it their business not to cross him. Paul Ince, then Liverpool captain, was virtually picked up and thrown to the floor in another Merseyside derby at Anfield, "The Guv'nor" responding by gently ruffling Ferguson's hair in a friendly approach often edged into ill-discipline, with eight red cards in the Premier League - but there was also great ability to go with the fierce physical of course, Ferguson's reputation spread off the field. He served time in the notorious Barlinnie jail, and has told the story of how two burglars made the error of breaking into his house in the early hours while he was there with his family – and how they came off will top McNulty's list? Come back later on Wednesday to find out and have your say.
