---
title: "Stubbs hails Ferguson for Everton caretaker stint success"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/stubbs-hails-ferguson-for-everton-caretaker-stint-success/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Cuff"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-12-19T21:00:00Z"
modified: "2019-12-19T21:00:00Z"
---

# Stubbs hails Ferguson for Everton caretaker stint success

Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs has paid tribute to his former teammate Duncan Ferguson for the incredible job that he has done as the Toffees’ caretaker manager.

Ferguson took on first-team responsibilities at Everton following Marco Silva’s sacking earlier this month, while the club continued their search to find the Portuguese coach’s successor.

In three games so far, Ferguson has overseen a resounding 3-1 victory against Chelsea, a hard fought 1-1 draw with Manchester United and a brilliant comeback 2-2 draw with Leicester, although Everton would then go on to lose on penalties in the latter game.

![Michael Regan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2019/12/1194743771.jpg)

Unbeaten in regular time against three of the toughest teams in the Premier League, Stubbs has credited Ferguson for elevating the club to the point in which appointing Carlo Ancelotti became possible.

The Italian is set to be appointed as Everton’s new first-team manager after Saturday’s game against Arsenal, and Stubbs has given Ferguson praise for providing a more positive platform for the 60-year old to begin with. [Talking to talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/football/645263/everton-ancelotti-appointment-ferguson-revival-stubbs/), Stubbs said:

> Duncan has had a short-term impact on the team, he’s given them a bit of life and more importantly he’s given Everton fans a bit of optimism. He has shown, with a little bit of razzing up and with a little bit of heart and desire, what is possible.
>
> To be honest, it doesn’t speak volumes of Marco Silva beforehand that he wasn’t getting the players motivated.
>
> Duncan has lacked experience in managerial terms, but in terms of playing we’ve seen how he is and the team has reflected Duncan in their last three games, and there’s been a huge response.
>
> Duncan has given Ancelotti a better platform to work from than what he inherited from Marco Silva.
>
> I’ve got to be honest, the players and the club were really flat. The players lacked belief, they lacked confidence and every Everton fan approaching December was dreading this run of fixtures. But suddenly we’ve got four points from two games where everyone was expecting none.
>
> So I would have thought Ancelotti will be very thankful that he’s coming into a club with a bit more optimism about it than there was three weeks ago. He’ll have to lean on Duncan, but I think he will thrive on the passion of Goodison Park. It’s still one of the most difficult places to go to.

### Read Everton Verdict

Ferguson has undoubtedly done a fantastic job in his short stint as Everton boss, and Carlo Ancelotti should certainly be pleased that he is coming into a much more positive environment on Merseyside than just a few weeks ago.

Ferguson could have been forgiven for landing zero points in the few games he was due to take charge of, particularly concerning Everton’s form before Marco Silva’s sacking and the terrible run of fixtures the club has had to suffer.

With Everton have won four points from two games, and now with them set to face a similarly unstable Arsenal side, I’m full of confidence that under Ferguson we will at the very least see the players give their all against the Gunners.