[Albion] Evan Ferguson **Loaned to West Ham 03/02/2025**

[tstanbur]

I think it's silly to judge players on this kind of thing without knowing what is going on behind the scenes. Remember when the accepted knowledge of Albion fans at Withdean was that Murray only tried in the last year of his contract, as before that he just jogged around looking disinterested? And then further down the line it came out that he was playing with a double hernia, that was fixed in the Summer before his last year.

Ferguson's injuries may mean he isn't able to run around like a headless chicken and still get through 90s minutes, or he may be under strict instructions not to. I just don't believe that a young player like him would go on loan to a club like West Ham and think "I can't really be bothered to run around properly". It would make no sense whatsoever.

No one wants a player who runs around like a headless chicken.

I do want a player that puts in obvious signs of effort.

Even when he’s been involved with the ball, the determination is just not there.

He's weak, he can't look after it, he doesn't battle for it - all key attributes of a player like him and all attributes he had in abundance before.

If he can't do those basics because of physical issues/injuries then why is he even playing?

Pedro had a few games this season where he couldn’t be bothered. He got dropped as a result and learned his lesson. He now puts it in again.

 

[Commander]

No one wants a player who runs around like a headless chicken.

I do want a player that puts in obvious signs of effort. Pedro had a few games this season where he couldn’t be bothered. He got dropped as a result and learned his lesson. He now puts it in again.

Even when he’s been involved with the ball, the determination is just not there, which he clearly had before.

So you genuinely believe that a 20 year old footballer who burst on to the scene, had a taste of success and then got injured and has struggled since, and was then given a chance to get his career going again at a big club who get 60,000+ attendances just can't really be bothered to put the effort in? And that there are no mitigating circumstances that we aren't aware of at all, and it is solely down to effort? In a player that we have never, ever heard a single whisper about any kind of issue with his attitude.

I mean, maybe. But it feels incredibly unlikely to me. And you also have absolutely no idea that was why Pedro was dropped, that's just complete conjecture.

 

[Flounce]

So you genuinely believe that a 20 year old footballer who burst on to the scene, had a taste of success and then got injured and has struggled since, and was then given a chance to get his career going again at a big club who get 60,000+ attendances just can't really be bothered to put the effort in? And that there are no mitigating circumstances that we aren't aware of at all, and it is solely down to effort? In a player that we have never, ever heard a single whisper about any kind of issue with his attitude.

I mean, maybe. But it feels incredibly unlikely to me. And you also have absolutely no idea that was why Pedro was dropped, that's just complete conjecture.

Pretty well all comments on misfiring players on NSC are conjecture aren’t they?

Including the current form of Evan

 

[Commander]

Pretty well all comments on misfiring players on NSC are conjecture aren’t they?

Including the current form of Evan

Usually, yes. But stating them as facts is a mistake.

 

[tstanbur]

So you genuinely believe that a 20 year old footballer who burst on to the scene, had a taste of success and then got injured and has struggled since, and was then given a chance to get his career going again at a big club who get 60,000+ attendances just can't really be bothered to put the effort in? And that there are no mitigating circumstances that we aren't aware of at all, and it is solely down to effort? In a player that we have never, ever heard a single whisper about any kind of issue with his attitude.

I mean, maybe. But it feels incredibly unlikely to me. And you also have absolutely no idea that was why Pedro was dropped, that's just complete conjecture.

I didn't say he has a a bad attitude. My point is that if he is unable to show the effort required to be a PL footballer then why is he even getting minutes? I fully expect there is a good reason for it but the player we see at the moment is nowhere near the required level.

Also, I don't know that for certain about Pedro, of course not. But it looked pretty obvious at the time. Why do you think he got dropped?

 

[Commander]

Shit comparison imo, Murray was laconic but always effective in front of goal. Evan looks like he doesn’t give a shit, whether he does or not it is irrelevant. He should not even be on the pitch at PL level unless he is 100% ready to play and get to match fitness. Have you seen anything at all that suggest he should be being picked at either Albion or WHU? One quality goal against Wolves apart.

Murray was always laconic, Evan had a real bite and attitude about him when he burst on the scene, it has totally disappeared.

I do agree that his contributions this season for both us and WHU make no sense whatsoever at all….that he was even sent onto the field in the first place.

We may have played Murray in League 1 with an ongoing injury, things like that do not happen at PL level in this era. As I said I think it’s a shit comparison

It was one example. Look at Kane and Bellingham in the Euros last year. Neither of them were 100% fit, you could see they weren't, but they still played on. Kane could barely run. And I really can't believe they weren't their usual selves because they couldn't be arsed to run around properly.

 

[GT49er]

Ferguson was only 17 when Potter left us so no surprise he wasn't selected much.

Well yes - but you do recognise the fact that Potter is/was a dreadful manager responsible for all the bad things that have happened to Albion in the last five years, surely? It says so on here.

 

[Commander]

I didn't say he has a a bad attitude. My point is that if he is unable to show the effort required to be a PL footballer then why is he even getting minutes? I fully expect there is a good reason for it but the player we see at the moment is nowhere near the required level.

Also, I don't know that for certain about Pedro, of course not. But it looked pretty obvious at the time. Why do you think he got dropped?

Well he isn't getting enough minutes, is he? And the only way you get match fit is by getting minutes. So there must be a reason.

I have no idea why Pedro got dropped, but there could be any number of reasons. Maybe his 'couldn't be bothered' demeanour was down to fatigue or a niggle that was hampering him, and a few weeks playing less minutes sorted the problem.

All I'm saying is that nobody outside the clubs really know what is going on with these players, and I think people claiming it's just down to a lack of effort is likely to be wide of the mark, on the balance of probability.

I know someone who knows Evan quite well, but I haven't seen him for ages. I'll probably see him in the Summer and will ask what's happening with him then. I bet he'll know. And I will of course post it on here with a 'tap nose' type response when asked where the info came from.

 

[Lever]

So you genuinely believe that a 20 year old footballer who burst on to the scene, had a taste of success and then got injured and has struggled since, and was then given a chance to get his career going again at a big club who get 60,000+ attendances just can't really be bothered to put the effort in? And that there are no mitigating circumstances that we aren't aware of at all, and it is solely down to effort? In a player that we have never, ever heard a single whisper about any kind of issue with his attitude.

I mean, maybe. But it feels incredibly unlikely to me. And you also have absolutely no idea that was why Pedro was dropped, that's just complete conjecture.

I agree.
As supporters, we are passionate about our club and delight in seeing our players performing well. They obviously feel the adulation as well.
The psychological downside must be the nagging doubts and 'imposter syndrome' that some (particularly young) players surely feel when things are not going well and they are getting slagged off by press and fan sites.
I suspect Evan Ferguson could use the services of a good sports psychotherapist, if there is such a professional person available....

 

[Flounce]

It was one example. Look at Kane and Bellingham in the Euros last year. Neither of them were 100% fit, you could see they weren't, but they still played on. Kane could barely run. And I really can't believe they weren't their usual selves because they couldn't be arsed to run around properly.

Playing unfit players in big games, when you have a squad, is moronic, I’ll leave it at that.

 

[tstanbur]

Well he isn't getting enough minutes, is he? And the only way you get match fit is by getting minutes. So there must be a reason.

I have no idea why Pedro got dropped, but there could be any number of reasons. Maybe his 'couldn't be bothered' demeanour was down to fatigue or a niggle that was hampering him, and a few weeks playing less minutes sorted the problem.

All I'm saying is that nobody outside the clubs really know what is going on with these players, and I think people claiming it's just down to a lack of effort is likely to be wide of the mark, on the balance of probability.

I know someone who knows Evan quite well, but I haven't seen him for ages. I'll probably see him in the Summer and will ask what's happening with him then. I bet he'll know. And I will of course post it on here with a 'tap nose' type response when asked where the info came from.

Some minutes + Playing well and/or affecting games during those minutes = More minutes next time.

He's certainly had enough minutes with us and West Ham this season to state his claim for more.

Look forward to hearing the ITK explanation.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Before any kind of loan for next season is sorted, I would hope a chunk of pre-season is spent working out what’s going on with his biomechanics, what’s going on in his head and the causal relationship between the two.

Something is clearly impacting his ability to respond to the physical demands of elite level football. Find out what it is and try to put something in place to address it. Until then, sending him out on loan will result in more of the ‘What’s wrong with him?’ chat we’re currently embroiled in.

 

[WhingForPresident]

On the bench again.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Hopefully will get a bit of a run-out and score a worldie winner on the big stage

 

[Han Solo]

I'm guessing West Ham might not have a superfun day today and that there will be plenty of room for these kind of "nothing to lose"-subs in the second half. Good stuff if he gets 30-45 min.

 

[Si Gull]

Not brought on today. What was the point of the loan?

 

[A1X]

Was never the right move for him, he should have gone to League One and be smashing them in for fun somewhere

 

[Hugo Rune]

Not brought on today. What was the point of the loan?

From West Ham's perspective, he was cover for Füllkrug.

Sadly not needed now since he was unable to make a case for getting more game time when Füllkrug was on the treatment table.

 

[John1066]

Loaned to the wrong team in the wrong league. Needed plenty of game time in the Championship to get fitness and sharpness back

 

[brighton_tom]

The loan only made any sense when they didnt have Kudus and Fullkrug fit. Evan will get zero game time now they're back fit.