Evan Ferguson F Brighton b.2004

[texidub]

We're not quite there yet.
1h5147KLikU

I can't find it now, but an older video featuring the Nao robots saw one shuffle and shuffle and shuffle with the ball at the half way line, before it falls over, clipping the ball, which then rolls the length of the pitch and into the goal.

I love robot fail videos. In fairness, humanoids are better now, almost a decade later. Robot footballers' incompetencies are due to Moravec's Paradox - high-order reasoning (e.g. performing complex maths) requires very little computation, but sensorimotor and perception skills (walking across a field without falling over) require enormous computational resources. It's very counterintuitive and often expressed as 'the hard things are easy and the easy things are hard.'

So much of our knowledge of the world is built-in and we are not conscious of it. This is why you get AI experts like Yann Lecun saying stuff like (paraphrasing) 'Forget human level intelligence, first we need to achieve the intelligence level of a cat.' Advice some footballers -not Evan, of course-- would do well to heed.

[texidub]

We need a separate thread on robot footballers, as this conversation is beneath Evan! Anyway, New paper in Nature the other day about motor control for robots, which includes all-action graphics (https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-hierarchical-generative-motor-autonomous-robots.html) from the heart of a robot football match. Real roy of the rovers stuff (/s) :)


In this paper, we have demonstrated this with our extensive simulation, where a full-body humanoid robot is able to transport boxes, open doors, operate facilities (e.g., conveyor belts) within a warehouse setting, play soccer, and even continue operation under physical damage to the robot body," Li said. "Our study demonstrates the power of nature where the inspiration of how different cortexes work together in our brain can help the design of smart robot brains."

[tetsujin1979]

Documentary released by Brighton
https://youtu.be/0QNoBGlnXvk
Embedding has been disabled for the video, so can only link

[tetsujin1979]

Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and Evan Ferguson feature in the list of 270 names to watch closely from CIES Football Observatory
https://football-observatory.com/MonthlyReport90

[Diggs246]

Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and Evan Ferguson feature in the list of 270 names to watch closely from CIES Football Observatory
https://football-observatory.com/MonthlyReport90

Let's hope he is back in the starting line up first of all

[Olé Olé]

Let's hope he is back in the starting line up first of all

Doesn't start tonight either. Not overly concerned. That list demonstrates how unique a talent he is in his position.

[SkStu]

On as a sub and wins a penalty that Pedro converts. Lo Celso tripped him from behind as he was striding onto a ball passed to him.

[JR89]

Doesn't start tonight either. Not overly concerned. That list demonstrates how unique a talent he is in his position.

We have to remember he's still only 19. Would rather Brighton manage him correctly and he's still doing it a high level in his 30s. How many lads burst onto the scene as teenagers and by the time they're 30 are nearly finished.

I know injuries can play there part which Ferguson has had a couple already. He's still getting good minutes and setting records.

[texidub]

starts today against stoke

[Olé Olé]

Hasn't had much luck but, then again, Joao Pedro has scored two goals thar Ferguson really should have in his locker.

Part of the problem, at times, is that he clearly is told or he is seeking himself to occupy space between two of the central defenders and as close to them as he can. Give them something to pay attention to and that makes life easier for the runners.

Not much doing for the confidence the past few weeks. Looking forward to him getting the gander back up and scoring soon.

[mark12345]

We have to remember he's still only 19. Would rather Brighton manage him correctly and he's still doing it a high level in his 30s. How many lads burst onto the scene as teenagers and by the time they're 30 are nearly finished.

I know injuries can play there part which Ferguson has had a couple already. He's still getting good minutes and setting records.

He's a striker. Goals are his bread and butter. Right now he's a batch loaf short of a good meal.

[Jolly Red Giant]

He's a striker. Goals are his bread and butter. Right now he's a batch loaf short of a good meal.
He may not be scoring at the moment - but he is still playing to a very high standard. Brighton fans regularly regard him as the best player on the pitch.

[Olé Olé]

Probably nothing in this but the tabloids are all carrying that Chelsea are interested in Ferguson and Brighton are looking for £100m. Makes the top of the Guardian rumour mill and all!

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/12/football-transfer-rumours-evan-ferguson-chelsea-radar-brobbey-palhinha-zirksee

[Eirambler]

I think I'd nearly rather see him stay on the Brighton bench than go to Chelsea.

[JR89]

In the last 18 months Chelsea have spent over £200m on Brighton players and staff. Wouldn't surprise me if they try bring that spending to over £300m this year.

Don't think Ferguson's camp will be in a rush for him to leave Brighton. Still only 19 and said in the summer I could see him staying with Brighton till the summer of 2025.

[Diggs246]

I think I'd nearly rather see him stay on the Brighton bench than go to Chelsea.

Defo, this is like Doherty's move to spurs
If it isn't broken don't fix it

[nigel-harps1954]

Wonder do Bohs have a sell on fee..

[ontheotherhand]

Wonder do Bohs have a sell on fee..

They do. Somewhere in the region of 8% I think. Kevin's will get a nice chunk as well.

[tetsujin1979]

There's not a lot in the article, no quotes from anyone at Chelsea, not even a "club insider". They, and every other club, monitor promising young players across Europe, so it would be more newsworthy if they'd decided to ignore him. If I had to guess, the premier league is on a break at the moment, there's only a few games this weekend, and the paper needed to fill space.
You could do a find and replace in the article with Chelsea and any other top six club, and it would still be valid, apart from the transfers between Chelsea and Brighton.

[SkStu]

I’m 99% certain it’s 10% sell-on. So at £100-£120m it would be about €11.5-£14m. Not chump change.

Nigel and OTOH ^^

Since had it confirmed it’s 10%. I'd hope he stays and becomes a £100m-£120m player.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-dear-evan-ferguson-common-sense-here-dont-leave-brighton-chelsea

Opinion piece on F365 urging Ferguson to ignore any potential Chelsea approaches. Think everyone is aligned on this one.

[ontheotherhand]

Nigel and OTOH ^^

Since had it confirmed it’s 10%. I'd hope he stays and becomes a £100m-£120m player.

Is that bohs full cut or are Kevin's due a portion of the 10?

[JR89]

That would be Bohs full cut. Kevin's would be due a portion of the overall deal too. Think they get 5% of whatever he goes for.

[dr_peepee]

My understanding is that it’s 5% distributed across all of the development club. So Kevin’s would get a percentage of that 5%. As would Bohs on top of the agreed 10%

[SkStu]

Yeah the 10% is Bohs entitlement. I thought the training and solidarity payments were only triggered when it was an international transfer? So if he went to Chelsea, the only obligation is the 10% to Bohs?

[tetsujin1979]

Interesting stat about Ferguson's start today
1763929063587004464

[Jolly Red Giant]

Brighton are going through a bit of a weird phase at the moment - a lot of injuries - an unsettled side - poor results - and a manager who seems to have lost a bit of confidence in Ferguson at the moment.

[Razors left peg]

Brighton are going through a bit of a weird phase at the moment - a lot of injuries - an unsettled side - poor results - and a manager who seems to have lost a bit of confidence in Ferguson at the moment.

Watched the full game today. Might have been the 1st time I've seen him play 90 mins.

I think Brighton and Ferguson are missing Mitoma a lot, but Di Zerbi messes around with the team too much I think. There were 7 changes today from the last Premiership game. Ferguson was poor in 1st half. He was being muscled off the ball and just looked completely lacking in confidence. In 2nd half when a couple changes were made he improved a lot. Had one great chance that he should have score. In on keeper, tried to kinda dink it past him and went wide. Was big miss because Brighton were on top at 2 nil down and that would have made game interesting. He had another one on one that he didn't score from either that was called back for offside.

I think Adringa hurts Brighton more than he helps. He picks the wrong option so many times, he would drive me nuts if I was playing with him.

Ferguson looks like a lad desperately in need of a goal, but his movement is still good and if he gets 1 he'll prob get a few before end of season. Di Zerbi needs to stop messing around so much though. Think I heard that was his 104th different team lineup today.

[Jolly Red Giant]

I think Brighton and Ferguson are missing Mitoma a lot, but Di Zerbi messes around with the team too much I think.
Brighton fans make both of those points (and missing Solly March as well) - and they are getting very frustrated with RDZ at the moment (he is even rotating the goalkeepers for no apparent reason).

[Razors left peg]

Brighton fans make both of those points (and missing Solly March as well) - and they are getting very frustrated with RDZ at the moment (he is even rotating the goalkeepers for no apparent reason).

Every single game he makes a sub on 60 mins, no matter how the game is going. I don't think that helps players when u can see that time coming up and you're wondering if you're gonna get hooked. Ferguson seemed like he kinda loosened up a bit today when he knew he was staying on.

[irishfan86]

Definitely a tough patch for Ferguson and to the point others have made, the excessive rotation is a tough situation for any young player. I have no long term worries but would have been nice to see him convert one of those chances today — would like to see him bump this slump.

[seanfhear]

Maybe Roberto de Zerbi is getting distracted with the talk of bigger clubs ~ ~ And maybe the, players / club, are also getting distracted by that.

[tetsujin1979]

1765823443633680430

[pineapple stu]

Saw Brighton 1-0 up against Forest - check out the scorer in hope that Ferguson has started scoring again...but it's an Omobamidele own goal.

Oh well.

[CraftyToePoke]

Out for the rest of the season, De Zerbi today. Been playing through an ankle problem. Try again next year.

[John83]

I guess I had higher hopes than 6 goals again (in more matches, though I haven't looked up minutes) and his season over in April. But hey-ho, he's a monster prospect still. Hopefully next year will be great.

[tetsujin1979]

1783832369147019692

[Eirambler]

A season that promised so much in the end fell very flat for Evan. Maybe he was carrying that injury for a while and it was at least partly responsible for his poor run of form over the last five or six months.

[Eirambler]

De Zerbi mutually consented I see. The wheels really came off for him as the season went on, and Ferguson's form and fitness issues didn't help. Will be interesting to see how the next manager handles Evan's game time.

[CraftyToePoke]

De Zerbi mutually consented I see. The wheels really came off for him as the season went on, and Ferguson's form and fitness issues didn't help. Will be interesting to see how the next manager handles Evan's game time.

I don't think how he chose to speak about a youngster in the press several times helped his own cause. Cornered rat carry on IMO.

There are several more experienced pros at Brighton who didn't show up enough this season & caused this, why did you focus in on Ferguson ?

[Eirambler]

Because this is an Irish football forum. I couldn't give a toss what Billy Gilmore or whoever did or didn't do!

[CraftyToePoke]

Because this is an Irish football forum. I couldn't give a toss what Billy Gilmore or whoever did or didn't do!

So you use an Irish supporters discussion forum to isolate and focus blame on a 19 year old Irish player where a manager & entire squad have turned European form into relegation form. Classy stuff there.

[seanfhear]

You did get the " feel " that De Zerbi would be on his way at the end of the season ~ ~ Interesting how it all works out at Brighton this summer and next season and for the Irish players there.

[Eirambler]

So you use an Irish supporters discussion forum to isolate and focus blame on a 19 year old Irish player where a manager & entire squad have turned European form into relegation form. Classy stuff there.

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. When I said on a thread specifically about Evan Ferguson that his run of poor form in front of goal and misfortune with injury didn't help Brighton's season as it went on, clearly I was "using an Irish supporters discussion forum to isolate and focus blame on a 19 year old Irish player where a manager & entire squad have turned European form into relegation form." Jesus wept.

[Razors left peg]

I actually think that Ferguson could be a big reason that Di Zerbi has been moved on. Who's more important to the owners, a manager or an asset that showed signs that he could be worth 100 million quid to them. Ferguson didn't perform well in 2nd half of the season and maybe the manager wasn't getting the best out of him. From a business point of view that's a big saleable asset that is devalued and the owners might think a different manager could do better with the kid

[mark12345]

You did get the " feel " that De Zerbi would be on his way at the end of the season ~ ~ Interesting how it all works out at Brighton this summer and next season and for the Irish players there.

Brighton's season degenerated into a team that wasn't scoring nearly enough goals while conceding almost every game they played. Mitoma was a huge loss. This summer will be very interesting.

[CraftyToePoke]

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. When I said on a thread specifically about Evan Ferguson that his run of poor form in front of goal and misfortune with injury didn't help Brighton's season as it went on, clearly I was "using an Irish supporters discussion forum to isolate and focus blame on a 19 year old Irish player where a manager & entire squad have turned European form into relegation form." Jesus wept.

Its been pretty clear for months De Zerbi is a bit of an ar se biscuit of a human and I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was a far from ideal environment he created for Fergusons development & for all the players, time will tell. Ferguson also wrote off his season prematurely after having tried to play through an injury for some time.

But skip all that Eirambler and find a weird angle to attack Ferguson for not having saved yer mans job for him. Great stuff.

[Eirambler]

Please stop digging.

[tetsujin1979]

Attack the post CTP, not the poster

[CSAD]

When you want to be a top 10 PL side and Danny Welbeck is you're starting CF then you know you're in trouble, Brighton have totally made the right call.