Evan Ferguson F Roma (loan from Brighton) b.2004

[rebelmusic]

Having a terrible game from what I've watched. I'd be surprised if he isn't taking off at half time. Unless he's following instructions or is still injured, I can't really understand his game plan. He looks exhausted

Edit: Roma just scored and Ferguson's run played a part in creating the space but still...he always does something decent when I post a criticism so maybe I should keep them in reserve until the march game 😂

[Eirambler]

Really poor first half from him. Always seemed to be wherever the ball wasn't. Absolutely no sign of any energy or willingness to chase down lost causes. Often just standing still as the ball was played around him. Teammates frequently seemed to be looking for him to make a bit of space so they could try a ball in but he wasn't doing it. Hasn't looked particularly fit or mobile, but then he hasn't looked fit or mobile since he was about 18.

Roma have scored - the best you could say from his point of view was that he had a great view of it. So there may be some more space for him in the second half if he is kept on beyond half time.

[rebelmusic]

Interestingly Gasperini was full of praise for him after the match. He did take a knock to his ankle yet again, it's looks like he's going to have a persistent injury there for his career. Apparently it's already been decided he'll be on the bench on Sunday

He did improve in the second half it must be said and he did stay on for the whole game but I'm still surprised by the managers reaction. Maybe he was working to a game plan that wasn't so obvious to the audience

[Buckett]

I only saw the last 10 minutes and I thought he looked alright. He won a couple of free kicks. He awkwardly did well to assist the assist for their second goal. Good to see him playing full matches too

[culloty82]

Malen didn't do himself any favours against Milan tonight, missed a number of decent chances when played in before being taken off, so Ferguson should be able to return to the starting XI if/when he's fully fit again.

[Eirambler]

That's assuming he's still at the club to do it.

[tetsujin1979]

Ferguson included in Roma's Europa League squad for the knockout stages
There was a link with Galatasaray earlier in the week (Turkish transfer window closes tomorrow), but that should be the end of it
https://www.asroma.com/en/news/74821/the-giallorossi-included-in-the-uefa-list-for-the-second-phase

[Eirambler]

That does leave open the possibility though that his second half of this season ends up a lot like his second half of last season where he is out on loan but plays very little club football.

[pineapple stu]

Seems to have recurring ankle problems. That can't be good.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0208/1557409-its-not-easy-gasperini-on-fergusons-ankle-issues/

[Eirambler]

"Every time he changes direction the ankle sprains". That maybe explains why all he's done all season for Roma is run in straight lines up and down between the centre circle and the opposition penalty area - he potentially doesn't trust his body to do anything more than that.

Unfortunately, him retiring by 25 due to persistent recurring injuries is a real possibility at this point. He's miles away from the player he was when he first broke through and seemed to have all the attributes needed to go right to the top.

A largely irrelevant side story, but I can actually relate a bit to this. I had recurring ankle problems for years playing football as well. Got over them in the end through a combination of wearing special ankle protectors over my socks and an absolutely ridiculous amount of stretching them out in every possible direction before every game, which I still do to this day. It did stop the problems I had, but I'm guessing Ferguson's ankle issues are a lot worse than mine.

[Fixer82]

"Every time he changes direction the ankle sprains". That maybe explains why all he's done all season for Roma is run in straight lines up and down between the centre circle and the opposition penalty area - he potentially doesn't trust his body to do anything more than that.

Unfortunately, him retiring by 25 due to persistent recurring injuries is a real possibility at this point. He's miles away from the player he was when he first broke through and seemed to have all the attributes needed to go right to the top.

A largely irrelevant side story, but I can actually relate a bit to this. I had recurring ankle problems for years playing football as well. Got over them in the end through a combination of wearing special ankle protectors over my socks and an absolutely ridiculous amount of stretching them out in every possible direction before every game, which I still do to this day. It did stop the problems I had, but I'm guessing Ferguson's ankle issues are a lot worse than mine.

Yep. I regularly have to go back to the balance board when the ankle acts up. Very frustrating. Hopefully he gets over it

[Grafter]

I'm assuming everything stems from that fateful Fabinho tackle 3 years ago...?

[Exgrad]

I'm assuming everything stems from that fateful Fabinho tackle 3 years ago...?Yea and Brighton / De Zerbi overplaying him after that. Critical time in his development that Brighton fcuked up as they were in midst of trying to pump him up into another 100m player.

[Eirambler]

It could be that, and then him putting too much pressure on the other ankle to compensate for the weakness in the injured ankle causing the second one to go as well.

Or it could also be as simple as him having **** ankles that were going to let him down regardless of the Fabinho incident.

[rebelmusic]

This is one of those finicky ones where there's a constant stream of short term fixes but what he probably needs to save his career is take the rest of the season off and focus purely on getting the issue fixed. If he's constantly trying to get ready for the next game window then I worry this will just progressively get worse

[Exgrad]

Hurzeler on the way out, looks like hes trying to get ahead of the sacking as story obviously sourced from his side. Maybe a way back for Ferguson, i do think he might have been better advised just getting his head down with Brighton and getting on with it rather than the risky loans he's been sent on.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/02/12/fabian-hurzeler-future-doubt-brighton-data-led-strategy/

[Exgrad]

A drive by on Cashin in the middle of the article (in fairness he never was a Premier League footballer, whatever the data said):Critics believe Brighton have squandered around £300 million over the past four transfer windows that has made Hurzeler’s job incredibly difficult, while the club have continued to cash in on their best talents.During the summer 2024 and winter 2025 windows, Brighton, according to Transfermarkt, spent £245m on players who have failed to make a significant impact. It is believed the club were warned off Eiran Cashin, but signed him on the back of strong data reports in any case.Cashin cost Brighton almost £10 million and has since been loaned to Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, having made just two substitute appearances for the South Coast side.

[Eirambler]

The Cashin signing was absolutely mental in fairness, it was clearly a case of trusting the data over common sense and there was posts on his thread here pointing that out at the time. Nobody else was remotely interested in him at that level but they still let Derby sting them for £10m for him.

[CraftyToePoke]

This is one of those finicky ones where there's a constant stream of short term fixes but what he probably needs to save his career is take the rest of the season off and focus purely on getting the issue fixed.

Didn't he do that at Brighton, one time ? When the club wanted him to play through it.
There was another procedure last season.
The Italian managers comments, however you view them, seem to suggest both ankles which isn't an injury, its worse.

[rebelmusic]

Hey got a little spell on the sidelines but I don't think it was managed well on any level. He probably needs to take a leaf out of Chio's book and just accept this season is over and focus purely on getting the ankles sorted. Hard for a young player to do that has something to prove

[rebelmusic]

HH seems a lot less concerned than the rest of us: https://extra.ie/2026/02/14/sport/heimir-hallgrimsson-injury-evan-ferguson

[EalingGreen]

Maybe finances, not form and fitness, will determine whether EF's future will be at Roma or elsewhere? For this Swiss Ramble analysis of 2024/25's accounts suggests they're not in a very strong position, money-wise:
https://swissramble.substack.com/p/as-roma-finances-202425

Meaning that if he can be made into a "cheap punt" he'll stay, but if he's liable to cost them any sort of decent fee/wages etc, then he'll be back to BHA?

[Eirambler]

I don't see him staying on there beyond the summer, certainly not at the pre-agreed transfer fee anyway. Gasperini isn't a huge fan and he hasn't done near enough on the pitch to justify the outlay. To be honest he'd be better served going back to Brighton in the next few weeks and putting a full focus on trying to get his injury issues fully resolved ahead of preseason, if that's even possible.

[rebelmusic]

I was starting to think Celtic would be a good option but then I remembered it's more of a cesspit than twitter. I don't think he's physically cut out for the championship yet so somewhere on the continent is probably best for him

[Razors left peg]

The ankle is a serious concern at this point. If it was a case that another surgery was needed but it would put him out a year he would still be just better off to do it at this stage, but it might not be that simple. Ive had achilles tendon issues for about 15 years now and have seem multiple different doctors, even tried stem cell injections and there is nothing anyone has been able to do to fix the problem. I would hope that Ferguson has something curable and not something that will continue to just drag on. We've seen plenty of players over the years that had their career destroyed by constant injuries. Keith O'Neill is the one that always stands out, and his problems were caused by degenerative bone disease I think.If Ferguson can get this sorted I hope that next season he goes to Holland or a least somewhere a little bit less in the forefront of media, like what Troy did, and try get his career back on track. Hes a similar age now to when we thought Parrott moving to the Dutch league was a little bit of a last chance for him, so hopefully Ferguson can do the same

[pineapple stu]

Looks like he's ruled out of the play-offs - that Keith O'Neill comparison may well be quite apt

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2026/02/26/evan-ferguson-to-miss-irelands-world-cup-play-off-against-czech-republic/

It's slightly concerning how many of our young players who made early breakthroughs are going backwards at this early stage in their careers. Ferguson, Idah, Bazunu, Omobamidele, Connolly, Molumby - probably others too. Collins isn't quite at the same stage but has still been dropped the last while and hasn't quite shaken the idea that he has a brainfart in every match. Ogbene has had two bad injuries for a player of his pace and it's not clear yet how that's impacted him.

We've Kelleher, Parrott, a couple of dependable but unspectacular centre-backs (Scales, O'Shea, Egan, O'Brien, Dunne) and that's really about it. And we don't seem to have another wave coming through to even argue over getting excited about.

[Fixer82]

It’s time for Browne, Johnston, Idah, Cannon, Knight, Sykes and a few others to really step up and help get us over the line.

I’ll just assume Szmodicz is out of the picture

[Razors left peg]

Could Elding be a bolter to make the squad with Idah and Ferguson out?

[Paddy Garcia]

I don't think his paperwork is complete yet

[ifk101]

The ankle is a serious concern at this point. If it was a case that another surgery was needed but it would put him out a year he would still be just better off to do it at this stage, but it might not be that simple.

I share your concern. Doesn't sound good at all. Have ignored the talk surrounding Evan as just noise but think there is genuine reason to worry for him now.

[Razors left peg]

Read today that hes been sent back to Brighton again this week to have it assessed. You'd hope that somewhere along the line they have sent him further afield than Brighton to meet with top ankle specialists around the world.

[Eirambler]

Confirmed for surgery now. Can't help but feel that decision should have been made back at Christmas, if not earlier. Hopefully the issues can be fully sorted out through surgery but there's no guarantee. Another season of his career lost unfortunately. His ankle issues started around November/December 2023 so he's looking at close to three years lost at best, even if he was to get back fully fit for next season.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, out for the season and likely the World Cup if we get there. A disaster from his point of view - and not great for the play-offs either of course. Injuries are starting to mount for it. Johnston and Brady the latest to join the injury list (in Brady's case he made his first league appearance of the season last week and wasn't in the squad yesterday)

[Plib]

Can't see Roma taking up the option to buy him based on what he did. Brighton don't want him either, tough time for him now. Hard to even guess where he'd end up. Netherlands would seem like a step too far down, maybe Germany if there's interest. Serious pity, but the talent is there, hopefully this surgery sorts it and he kicks on

[MeathDrog]

It looks like it's a calculated risk by Ferguson. Take action on the ankle now and rule out the rest of the season in the hope that he may be fit for the WC. If he kept playing on a bum ankle, he risked further injury and properly ruling himself out.The downside is of course are chances of getting there in the first place are lessened because he's not available.But yeah, it has been another disaster of a season. Hard to look at it any other way.