Evan Ferguson F Brighton b.2004

[The Fly]

Joining West Ham on loan till the end of the season,no option to buy though….
He’ll get lots of game time which is the main thing, and if he (fingers crossed) does well then he’ll have increased/restored his value.

It’s a big opportunity for him.

[Fizzer]

Yeah, quite interesting that it’s a loan with no option/obligation to buy. Could be viewed in a number of ways, e.g. if Brighton are resigned to losing him, they don’t want it to be for a knockdown price. If he rips it up at West Ham his value will shoot back up. It could also mean that they’re beginning to look at the manager a bit, he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success, Brighton are more or less where they were position wise at the end of last season but they don’t appear to me to be quite as good and as seen yesterday are vulnerable to a trouncing which suggests more than just an off day.There’s definitely some kind of transition going on. I was a little concerned at Brighton’s seeming anxiety to offload Ferguson as it suggested some kind of long-term or permanent problem, particularly injury-wise. I’d be inclined to view developments in the past 24 hours as being fairly positive on that front.Main thing is that he’ll play and is going back to a manager in Potter who knows him and will have him playing to his strengths. There’s no doubt but that the kid is very, very good and if he stays fit and scores goals, the biggest and best in Europe will open the wallets wide in the summer.

[The Fly]

Assuming it’s all gone through without a hitch, it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s playing tomorrow night

[Acornvilla]

Assuming it’s all gone through without a hitch, it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s playing tomorrow night
I reckon he'll still be a sub until next week at the earliest given his lack of games. Decent move, West Ham are far from the worst team in the league and he'll get good opportunities given their striker situation.

[Stuttgart88]

Brighton might be in bad shape, but Evan looks leaner and fitter than I’ve ever seen him.

[The Fly]

I reckon he'll still be a sub until next week at the earliest given his lack of games. Decent move, West Ham are far from the worst team in the league and he'll get good opportunities given their striker situation.
Yeah, I suppose I meant whether he'll play tomorrow night, as opposed to 'playing' which implies starting.

Having said that I wouldn't be shocked if he actually did start.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Yeah, quite interesting that it’s a loan with no option/obligation to buy. Could be viewed in a number of ways, e.g. if Brighton are resigned to losing him, they don’t want it to be for a knockdown price. If he rips it up at West Ham his value will shoot back up. It could also mean that they’re beginning to look at the manager a bit, he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success, Brighton are more or less where they were position wise at the end of last season but they don’t appear to me to be quite as good and as seen yesterday are vulnerable to a trouncing which suggests more than just an off day.There’s definitely some kind of transition going on. I was a little concerned at Brighton’s seeming anxiety to offload Ferguson as it suggested some kind of long-term or permanent problem, particularly injury-wise. I’d be inclined to view developments in the past 24 hours as being fairly positive on that front.Main thing is that he’ll play and is going back to a manager in Potter who knows him and will have him playing to his strengths. There’s no doubt but that the kid is very, very good and if he stays fit and scores goals, the biggest and best in Europe will open the wallets wide in the summer.

There is not option to buy because Tony Bloom isn't convinced that Hurzeler is up to the job of manager - if Hurzeler is replaced in the summer then keeping Ferguson gives more options to the new manager.

[The Fly]

Yeah, I suppose I meant whether he'll play tomorrow night, as opposed to 'playing' which implies starting.

Having said that I wouldn't be shocked if he actually did start.
Update: West Ham's match against Brentford on the 15th will be his debut if all is signed and sealed.

[Eirambler]

It's just a three month loan really then. Mid February to May. West Ham out of all cups so he'll just have the 14 or so league games to make an impression, in a team that are already well clear of relegation trouble but are also miles off the European places. A low-pressure environment for him to play in is probably the positive aspect of that situation I guess.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/evan-ferguson-graham-potter-west-ham-debut-2025-b1211161.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1739577609

Interesting quotes from Potter on Ferguson. All bodes well for him to hit the ground running.

Will be a pleasant surprise if he starts today at home to Brentford.

[Olé Olé]

Doesn't start. Looks like Kudus or Bowen. Assume he will be in for a good 20 minutes at least.

[Joxerbrowne]

From Brightons bench to West Hams. Pointless move.

[~YTM~]

From Brightons bench to West Hams. Pointless move.

Yes the move is automatically a failure because a player who'd been out for weeks since Christmas with an ankle injury with just one 17mins appearance since then two weeks ago automatically didn't go straight into the starting XI.

[Joxerbrowne]

Yes the move is automatically a failure because a player who'd been out for weeks since Christmas with an ankle injury with just one 17mins appearance since then two weeks ago automatically didn't go straight into the starting XI.

He's been training for weeks now, should be fit enough to start by now.

[SkStu]

He's been training for weeks now, should be fit enough to start by now.

So he should have stayed to continue sitting on the bench at Brighton where he’s just not a fit in the managers plans? Instead of a change of scenery to a club that needs a 9 and under a manager who knows him and gave him his break? Come on…

[seanfhear]

As it turns out ~ ~ A move ( probably loan move ) to Arsenal could have happened if Havertz happened to get injured a bit sooner ~ ~ Ships in the night ! !

[Olé Olé]

On at half time

[SkStu]

Sets one up for Kudus with a cut back after a fine run into the box - Kudus misses a sitter basically.

[rebelmusic]

Watched the last 20 minutes. He looked lively and looks much, much happier. Pity they lost but bad tactics from Potter more than anything else. I don't think we'll be waiting long for him to score

[Olé Olé]

He looked decent. Coming on against Brentford when they are up isn't an easy ask. But he moved and pressed, did okay when used as an out ball. Created a chance for himself with good feet that he might have done better with and it was the type of chance we have seen him score a good few times in his fledgling career.

West Ham with Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta can hopefully create chances for him on other days.

[Olé Olé]

Watched the last 20 minutes. He looked lively and looks much, much happier. Pity they lost but bad tactics from Potter more than anything else. I don't think we'll be waiting long for him to score

They need to get from back to front much faster. The amount of ball played across the back was mad. The lad Scarles must have passed the ball back to Kilman almost every time he had it.

[rebelmusic]

They need to get from back to front much faster. The amount of ball played across the back was mad. The lad Scarles must have passed the ball back to Kilman almost every time he had it.

Agreed. They were still doing it in the 94th minute and it was infuriating. Hopefully they go on a good run though. A healthy Potter should mean a healthy Ferguson :)

[Eirambler]

Only saw the MotD highlights but he looked quick enough with that burst down the right wing just after he came on. Definitely no signs of long term or permanent impacts from the injury setbacks he has had.

If he shows any kind of form over the next month he should start both legs against Bulgaria. He's had a tough run but he's still the closest to a complete centre forward that we have by a distance.

[~YTM~]

Only saw the MotD highlights but he looked quick enough with that burst down the right wing just after he came on. Definitely no signs of long term or permanent impacts from the injury setbacks he has had.

If he shows any kind of form over the next month he should start both legs against Bulgaria. He's had a tough run but he's still the closest to a complete centre forward that we have by a distance.

I'd say once he's fit he starts given how Hallgrinssom has talked up his ability in the past.

[Razors left peg]

Ferguson on bench again today. I just don't get it from his point of view. When the loan was being lined up would he or his agent not have insisted he's only going somewhere he was guaranteed to play, even if like Bazunu he just goes to a different league to build his fitness.

Even if we think worst case scenario that he's just not as good as we thought then can only be seen by playing actual games. He's been at West Ham a month now so fitness can't be an excuse anymore. I just don't get it. There's only a few months left in the season and bench warming at another club is utterly pointless and it just seems stupid from his and his advisors to go there.

I get from West Hams point of view not wanting to change winning team

[seanfhear]

Maybe if West Ham got another win or two, and the teams below make no progress with regard to avoiding relegation ~ ~ Then surely Ferguson would get some, games / game-time !

[elatedscum]

i'd think he'll get in soon. they beat Arsenal without him, hard to drop anyone. A goal off the bench tonight would be a good thing...

[Rayzor]

i'd think he'll get in soon. they beat Arsenal without him, hard to drop anyone. A goal off the bench tonight would be a good thing...

Wasn't a fan of this move, think he was brought in to give them an option from the bench. Should of dropped a level, Leeds or Celtic would of been ideal.

[Razors left peg]

i'd think he'll get in soon. they beat Arsenal without him, hard to drop anyone. A goal off the bench tonight would be a good thing...

When the move was specifically about getting game time he shouldn't have been worried about getting into whatever team. As I said I get it from West Hams point of view but Ferguson or his agent should have been smarter

[Bottle of Tonic]

Doubt you can go to a club like West Ham (or anyone really ) and demand or be guaranteed a start. Its up to you the player to get picked. Every club has 2/3 players for every position.

He's a good player no doubt but lads assuming he's elite are dreaming. Might happen yet, probably won't. Hopefully he goes on to have a good career regardless of elite status or not. As an aside I'd hate to be a modern no.9. No balls put in to the box anymore. Come out for the odd little touch here and there and hopefully sneak a tap in sometime. Frig that.

[Rayzor]

Doubt you can go to a club like West Ham (or anyone really ) and demand or be guaranteed a start. Its up to you the player to get picked. Every club has 2/3 players for every position.

He's a good player no doubt but lads assuming he's elite are dreaming. Might happen yet, probably won't. Hopefully he goes on to have a good career regardless of elite status or not. As an aside I'd hate to be a modern no.9. No balls put in to the box anymore. Come out for the odd little touch here and there and hopefully sneak a tap in sometime. Frig that.

Agree with this, also because he's not a west ham player, they won't be playing him to help his development, really think he needed to go somewhere where he'd have automatically been first choice. Leeds would of made sense

[EalingGreen]

Maybe if West Ham got another win or two, and the teams below make no progress with regard to avoiding relegation ~ ~ Then surely Ferguson would get some, games / game-time !
With every higher position in the PL at the end of season being worth £3m (TV/Merit etc), even if safe from relegation, there remains every incentive to gain as many points as possible - esp at a club run and owned by such deeply unpleasant, unscrupulous people as at WHU.

Meaning that any (otherwise understandable) sentiment Potter may have of giving the likes of Ferguson regular starts in the run-in will cut no ice with the Board.

Meaning Ferguson will likely either have to smash it in training, and/or hope for injuries, and/or wait for the team to go on a losing run.

P.S. I see that EF came on after 73 mins - with the game safe enough, Potter resting Kudus for their next game?

[Bottle of Tonic]

Got about 20 minutes. 4th sub on for WH. Showed some nice touches here and there. However he had one clear chance one on one where he was slipped in by Bowen. Made a bags of it and it was blocked before even testing the keeper. Needs to go somewhere in the summer he has a strong chance of starting games and hopefully the goals will follow. Championship probably.

[seanfhear]

17minutes + 5 minutes of injury time ~ ~ Tis something anyway.

[irishfan86]

I’m not too worried. A bit of a reality check that it’s not just Brighton leaving him out could do Ferguson some good in terms of what it takes to be a premier league player. The raw ingredients are still there.

[elatedscum]

he really needed to do better with that chance. didn't need to score but at least needed to make the keeper work...

[Razors left peg]

Doubt you can go to a club like West Ham (or anyone really ) and demand or be guaranteed a start. Its up to you the player to get picked. Every club has 2/3 players for every position.

He's a good player no doubt but lads assuming he's elite are dreaming. Might happen yet, probably won't. Hopefully he goes on to have a good career regardless of elite status or not. As an aside I'd hate to be a modern no.9. No balls put in to the box anymore. Come out for the odd little touch here and there and hopefully sneak a tap in sometime. Frig that.

You missed the point of what I said. Bazunu went somewhere he was guaranteed to play. Of course you can have conversations in the background of only agreeing to go to a club if they are going to actually play you. As I said, I understand West Ham dont care, but Fergusons camp should have done a better job of having the conversation before he went to the club and if there was any doubt that he was going to be starting then maybe he should have gone somewhere in Holland or Belgium for example to get game time. Between the injury and competition for places at Brighton he has no football in a year. He has to just get minutes under his belt. The whole way this has been handled from Fergusons camps side is just baffling... and might only get worse if Fullkrug gets fit.

[Olé Olé]

Part of me thinks it is early doors. Let's see how it goes.

The other part of me saw him have a very good half against Brentford - 45 mins - and then go onto get 27 mins across the next two games and think it's all a bit disappointing. Particularly when he was brought in as almost their sole striking option and they've gone on to play without a striker for the games in question.

Two games now before the international break for West Ham. I hope he doesn't have only a bit part in those.

[Razors left peg]

Part of me thinks it is early doors. Let's see how it goes.

The other part of me saw him have a very good half against Brentford - 45 mins - and then go onto get 27 mins across the next two games and think it's all a bit disappointing. Particularly when he was brought in as almost their sole striking option and they've gone on to play without a striker for the games in question.

Two games now before the international break for West Ham. I hope he doesn't have only a bit part in those.

If he had moved to a new club permanently Id agree that its still early days and he'll probably play his way in. That theres only about 2 and half months left in the season and hes just wasted another month is the issue really. Hopefully he can force his way in, you could see the rust with that chance he missed yesterday. A sharp Ferguson would have taken one touch and finished, it was the sign of a player lacking in confidence and match sharpness

[Snapshot]

You missed the point of what I said. Bazunu went somewhere he was guaranteed to play. Of course you can have conversations in the background of only agreeing to go to a club if they are going to actually play you. As I said, I understand West Ham dont care, but Fergusons camp should have done a better job of having the conversation before he went to the club and if there was any doubt that he was going to be starting then maybe he should have gone somewhere in Holland or Belgium for example to get game time. Between the injury and competition for places at Brighton he has no football in a year. He has to just get minutes under his belt. The whole way this has been handled from Fergusons camps side is just baffling... and might only get worse if Fullkrug gets fit.
But he is getting minutes. "Conversations" have no legal binding, even handshakes are worthless (ask Kenny Dalglish). No club manager will guarantee starts. When was a club ever sued because a loanee didn't get x amount of "agreed" starts? I think it's possible, however, for the player and/or his owner club to apply for a loan annulment after a certain period if they feel aggrieved.
Bazunu: how do you know he was guaranteed starts?

[Razors left peg]

Bazunu didn't end up at a random place like Liege by accident genius

[Snapshot]

Bazunu didn't end up at a random place like Liege by accident genius
A good performance last week saved his bacon. Liege fans starting to whinge. Expectations yes. Guarantees no.

[Acornvilla]

Sure he could be hit by a bus in the morning

[seanfhear]

Sure he could be hit by a bus in the morningAlways best to keep your fitness and reflexes up to avoid that scenario ~ Which is why I have never been hit by a bus, yet !

[elatedscum]

Doubt it would be the case with either of these two given how established they are and their wage levels but you do get loans with significant financial penalties ie:

Liverpool loan Ben Doak to Boro. They agree to pay 50% of his wages as long as he plays 70% of the minutes he’s fit and available for and if he doesn’t reach that threshold then Boro need to repay the money

[Drummerboy2]

Ferguson wasn't match fit when he arrived so Potter put him on the bench. Unfortunately for him, WH seem to be winning recently, so Potter has decided not to change team much. Unlucky for Evan, but I reckon he will get a run in the team before the end of the season

[seanfhear]

Ferguson wasn't match fit when he arrived so Potter put him on the bench. Unfortunately for him, WH seem to be winning recently, so Potter has decided not to change team much. Unlucky for Evan, but I reckon he will get a run in the team before the end of the seasonYou would think that it would be a good idea for Potter to play Ferguson, if for no other reason to show that he chose a good player to take on loan !

[Eirambler]

Or, if he's flying in training, don't play him to keep his value down with a view to a summer transfer.

[seanfhear]

Or, if he's flying in training, don't play him to keep his value down with a view to a summer transfer.Machiavelli style thinking there !

[Razors left peg]

Or, if he's flying in training, don't play him to keep his value down with a view to a summer transfer.

It would take a hell of a lot of self control from Ferguson to go along with that kind of thinking :)