Evan Ferguson F Brighton b.2004

**Bottle of Tonic** · 05/03/2025, 8:53 PM

Unlucky not to be picked as WH are winning recently.

Not match fit when he arrived.

Not playing as WH don't need to develop him.

Rust, lack of confidence and match sharpness.

WH not playing him so they get him cheap in the summer.....

Some of the recent excuses offered up here. I'll go with occams razor and suggest he's not being picked at WH or Brighton because he's deemed not good enough in comparison to the other options in the squad(s).

He's a young player that's played damn all football since he broke through. Badly needs games somewhere/anywhere at this stage of his development.

**Eirambler** · 06/03/2025, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic

WH not playing him so they get him cheap in the summer.....

I was joking with that one to be fair. Reality is that he's a 20 year old striker and it's hard to get games in that league at that age as the main man up front. Clubs have other more experienced options that they are playing over him. He probably needs a year or two out of the Premier League, either in Britain or further afield, with a club that will start him every week. But most clubs that fit the description probably couldn't afford his wages. So he's caught to some extent.

**Razors left peg** · 10/03/2025, 5:48 PM

Collecting splinters again today

**~YTM~** · 10/03/2025, 7:14 PM

Same starting XI for the third game going. Did anyone really except Potter to make changes to his starting XI that beat Arsenal and Leicester in the previous two games.

**rebelmusic** · 10/03/2025, 8:27 PM

Watching the match. West Ham chasing the game...Potter just brought on 3 players and still leaving Ferguson on the bench. Considering how many clubs were chasing Ferguson this is an absolute disaster of a move.

Assuming he was promised game time. I dunno, raging at the moment!

Edit: okay he just brought him on 1 minute after I posted

**The Fly** · 10/03/2025, 8:54 PM

He just seems far too passive, and almost too relaxed. He still makes good runs so I�m sure it�ll come together for him at some point, and it�s easy to forget that he�s still only 20. Fingers crossed he�ll learn to impose himself much more on the game; with opponents and teammates alike.

Irish fans just have to temper their expectations now.

**rebelmusic** · 10/03/2025, 8:58 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

He just seems far too passive, and almost too relaxed. He still makes good runs so I�m sure it�ll come together for him at some point, but Irish fans just have to temper their expectations now.

It�s easy to forget that he�s still only 20.

Fair point. He was fairly anonymous. One decent chest down to another player towards the end but other than that he wasn't there. I'd liken it to Idah in that he needs a run of games where he's starting but it doesn't look like that's going to happen with this move. I'm not really frustrated with Ferguson at all but very frustrated with this loan move considering there was options in the championship and European leagues

**elatedscum** · 10/03/2025, 9:04 PM

watched from the 73rd minute (3 mins after Evan came on). Don't think he touched the ball until the 92nd minute. Made some decent runs etc but just never received it. When he finally got the ball, he shot from a stupid distance, shot was blocked. Chased back to win the ball, picked it up and then skipped a tackle and played a dangerous ball into Kudus. Centre back sliding backwards got a foot to it, spinning it into the air, Pope came out to claim but Kudus beat him to it, but Kudus' touch was too heavy and it went out for a goal-kick. Chested the ball down for a Kudus shot in the 94th minute. Shot was blocked by a Newcastle defender...

**The Fly** · 10/03/2025, 9:07 PM

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

Fair point. He was fairly anonymous. One decent chest down to another player towards the end but other than that he wasn't there. I'd liken it to Idah in that he needs a run of games where he's starting but it doesn't look like that's going to happen with this move. I'm not really frustrated with Ferguson at all but very frustrated with this loan move considering there was options in the championship and European leagues

Yeah, I just think when he �first burst onto the scene� most Irish fans were hoping (or assuming) that that was going to just carry on. And that hope wasn�t without foundation because you can see the intelligence and technique in him.

But because of a combination of factors he�s effectively starting again. As I say�fingers crossed!

**Razors left peg** · 10/03/2025, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

watched from the 73rd minute (3 mins after Evan came on). Don't think he touched the ball until the 92nd minute. Made some decent runs etc but just never received it. When he finally got the ball, he shot from a stupid distance, shot was blocked. Chased back to win the ball, picked it up and then skipped a tackle and played a dangerous ball into Kudus. Centre back sliding backwards got a foot to it, spinning it into the air, Pope came out to claim but Kudus beat him to it, but Kudus' touch was too heavy and it went out for a goal-kick. Chested the ball down for a Kudus shot in the 94th minute. Shot was blocked by a Newcastle defender...

I just watched it when Ferguson came on too and I just found myself frustrated watching like I do a lot of games now. Everyone just seems to play the same way these days. Its slow passing out from the keeper and around the defense all the time and no urgency. West Ham were fannying around with the ball instead of actually looking to create something. I couldnt help but think that we might not be too far away from a Sam Allardyce type character getting success from going route one again. I just find so much of football very bland these days with everyone trying to be a clone of Pep.

**Eirambler** · 11/03/2025, 6:01 AM

Fully agree with that. And Graham Potter managed teams are particularly bad for it.

As a team we need to be different because we can't play that way. We just don't have the technical midfielders to do it. With our strengths in defence and pace out wide (albeit injuries this month), I think we should be setting up to play fast counter attacking football whenever we play first and second seeded teams. Try to do something different to what nearly everyone else is doing.

**Snapshot** · 11/03/2025, 7:23 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I just watched it when Ferguson came on too and I just found myself frustrated watching like I do a lot of games now. Everyone just seems to play the same way these days. Its slow passing out from the keeper and around the defense all the time and no urgency. West Ham were fannying around with the ball instead of actually looking to create something. I couldnt help but think that we might not be too far away from a Sam Allardyce type character getting success from going route one again. I just find so much of football very bland these days with everyone trying to be a clone of Pep.

Says Stephen Kenny's (former) greatest fan.

**Drummerboy2** · 11/03/2025, 10:03 AM

Interesting to see if HH selects him to start v Bulgaria. I think he could form a great partnership with Parrott, who is apt for bringing other players into play.

**Eirambler** · 11/03/2025, 10:44 AM

I expect him to start, there's nobody else really for the centre forward role. Idah isn't doing enough at Celtic to move ahead of him, Cannon has gone off the boil. Parrott will be in contention for a start as well, but likely not as an out and out centre forward. He may be competing with Azaz to play behind the striker.

**rebelmusic** · 11/03/2025, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

I expect him to start, there's nobody else really for the centre forward role. Idah isn't doing enough at Celtic to move ahead of him, Cannon has gone off the boil. Parrott will be in contention for a start as well, but likely not as an out and out centre forward. He may be competing with Azaz to play behind the striker.

I'd be fine with either Azaz or Parrot as long there's a solid plan B if it's not working out in the first 55/60 mins. If that plan B is start Azaz and Ferguson to be replaced by Parrot and Idah I'll be holding my head.

**Razors left peg** · 11/03/2025, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

Says Stephen Kenny's (former) greatest fan.

One of these days am I gonna find my pet rabbit boiling on the stove ?

**Snapshot** · 11/03/2025, 1:14 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

One of these days am I gonna find my pet rabbit boiling on the stove ?

You dish, you cop. And boy, did you dish.

**Razors left peg** · 11/03/2025, 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

You dish, you cop. And boy, did you dish.

Oh no, some guy on the internet thinks I supported the Ireland manager too much. The horror, whatever am I gonna do. It obviously rules me out of ever having a football opinion again.... unless I can find 1 post from 4 years ago where I criticized Kenny in some way, then all will be redeemed

**CraftyToePoke** · 11/03/2025, 4:31 PM

There's proportionally a fair few KennyOuts still nursing wounds around the support. Still sore. Settling grievances that exist only in their own minds far as I can tell.

**Acornvilla** · 11/03/2025, 6:22 PM

Evan's still probably going to be the best striker of the lot, but right now I don't think he deserves to be starting by default honestly. The minutes would do him good and maybe lead to a turnaround for him, but Parrott and even Idah deserve their chance ahead of him for what they've done this year imo.

I expect HH to lead with Evan, it is the impression he's given generally, and I think any pick can be justified, but I don't think it'd be good for the morale of his competition if he is the undisputed first pick regardless of form/fitness.