There’s probably a bit of both in the situation to be honest. Ferguson has jowls. That’s on him.
Im not absolving the player, Im asking how a player is let get so out of condition by his club, albeit that we assessing from a distance. Yes it could be work ethic, maybe why he has been let move on loan, on his way out of a club, but that doesnt bar the question of how he is being managed and/or motivated, if his interest is poor then there could be additional concerns etc. I suggested that his body type may make it difficult for him to stay in condition, especially post injury, not getting 1st class games. No green tinted specs, its a discussion forum, we can discuss without the indignant tantrum! Issues with s+c departments are certainly not new, how many new managers are appointed and start with getting teams to their standard of fit. Excess soft tissue injuries also raise questions in the relevant departments. He played most of an internation football match, was trying to make an impact to the detriment of his overall performance out on the wing at times, dropping deep, expending energy for a big chap, he scored in the latter stages getting back on the end of a 1-2 so...
Do you think Hallgrimsson would play a grossly unfit player when there are other options, risk an unfit player to additional injury?
There’s probably a bit of both in the situation to be honest. Ferguson has jowls. That’s on him.
S + c can just guide you you have to want to do the pool running, the anti gravity treadmills running and the bike work when you are coming back from injury and can't be on the grass. The difference in physical conditioning between parrott and ferguson was mammothOriginally Posted by Nesta99
For the first time in a long time these players looked like they were playing as a team (something that never happened under Kenny). That is a positive and HH deserves credit for it.
We still have a problem with central midfield - the players we have are just not good enough and we do need to try Collins (or Omobamidele) in midfield to see if it makes a difference.
Ferguson's goal shows the quality he possesses and he needs to be in the team - his position is as a 9 - Parrott can player behind him and has played quite a bit in the 10 role in the past. Ferguson's problems are two-fold - an injury that clearly has been worse that previously suggested and a manager that doesn't want to use him. The one thing I will guarantee is that Ferguson does not lack commitment - its not in his character.
Both O'Brien and Azaz look like they are going to develop into quality players. I was very impressed by O'Brien.
If we can sort out the midfield we have a potentially strong squad that could do some damage.
Last edited by Jolly Red Giant; 24/03/2025 at 9:17 PM.
There wasn't an indignant tantrum anywhere other than how you misunderstood the tone in which that post was written.
West Ham S&C crew recently enough guided a paper thin squad into Europe and once there they won a European trophy. I don't think they are the focus here, or even in the conversation.
To be fair, it I was looking for a bad take on the Irish football team, that's the first place I would go. Well...there and also to the comments under FAI social media posts.
Regarding the CM conundrum, I'd be keen to see Joe Hodge brought into the squad and given a game in June. Of all the candidates, he stands out to me as the one with the most ability and was recently the captain of the U21 team. If he can stay fit, he has the potential to be a PL regular.
End Apartheid Now! One Team in Ireland!
I posted in a chat recently (a month ago?) that Ferguson is actually starting to look leaner than he had done a year ago! He has an adolescent puppy fat look to him and always has imho.
He was clearly huffing and puffing on Sunday, no doubt about that, but wrt his appearance it has often crossed my mind that he might still be growing. My own son is the same age and goes through spells of fattening up and then before you know it he’s lean again, just a bit bigger. It’s how some kids grow.
Hes not even a standout player in L1 and hardly ever plays because of injuries. Hodge needs to prove that he can be a long term professional footballer first before he'd even be a consideration
Its really not that complicated!!!
Yep, we have Taylor and the option of pushing Collins up to midfield.
Knight needs to be benched anyway
Also, he's another midget midfielder.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Sorry to be piling on but yeah Hodge has a long way to go. I'd be bringing back Alan Browne before considering Hodge. Taylor and Lawal are our only immediate Box to Box hopefuls really though.
Taylor is more than proven at championship level and I expect he'll get another full season as a starter next year unless Ipswich pull a rabbit out of a wolf. He's been a late bloomer and hasn't looked out of place in the PL. He was more of an attacking midfielder last season but he's been coming off the bench with a general mix of either protecting leads or chasing a goal so his education this season has been great for him imo. Granted Ipswich have been horrendous at protecting leads.
His defensive play has improved a lot though and I'd expect Ipswich to be challenging for promotion next season.
I'm going to hazard a guess that HH viewed his first major challenge as stopping the constant losing, which he's arguably done so maybe he'll take the risk of not having two DMs in the future. We can hope anyway
Is Killian Phillips worth a look? If we're limited technically in the middle which Cullen and Knight clearly are, might as well have a bit of size in that position. Phillips is 6'3.
You've got no fans.
I thought he might have had an outside shot of making this squad.... to me hes probably a taller less good version of Knight so he wouldnt excite me massively, but he might be worth looking at in the summer
Its really not that complicated!!!
Does a good job for St Mirren breaking up play against SPL teams. Very physical, very energetic, but not really a creative player. Is that something we are missing?
Now, maybe he was a more attacking player at previous clubs, but whether he has that in his locker or not, he doesn't really get to display it for St Mirren.
Last edited by osarusan; 25/03/2025 at 5:11 PM.
Phillips is a taller Molumby really, and not as good at this point in time. He'll certainly run from box to box, but he might not have the ball with him while he's doing it.
Phillips has been doing very well for St Mirren. Some really good goals aswel, deffo worth a look in the friendlys.
Looks a long way short of being a PL player at the present moment. I'd be more interested in an approach to Dewsbury Hall. Not getting much of a look in at Chelsea but he did look like a PL player when he was a PL player at Leicester. He must realise that he's a long way away from an England call up, and he's a definite upgrade on pretty much everyone we have.
Is he definitely eligible?
According to a Gavin Coomey piece on The 42 this time last year.
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