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

[Jimmy Grimble]

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This chimes with what lots of us have said. Ferguson either can’t or won’t play at the intensity the other forwards we have can.

It’s a huge shame because Zamora is correct, Ferguson does appear to be the best finisher.

Football is always evolving though and so it appears is FH. There may well be a time where he uses a system that suits Ferguson more than our current one does. Whether both of them remain at the club long enough for that to happen is a different matter.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

This, to me, is the most telling statement on the thread. “The manger wants stamina runners”, which Ferguson ain’t, and I don’t think his physiology will allow him to be. You could hardly have called Bobby Smith a stamina runner but his goals record tell a different story of how the game was set up in his day and how a big bustling centre forward could be one of the best of his time.

Absolutely he does, and it's part of the reason he loves Ayari, and Minteh, and so on.

But Fab also loves a sub, and Ferguson is certainly strong enough to play part of the game. It's not as if Welbeck is a 'stamina runner'.

But what Ferguson doesn't seem to be is someone who drops deep and gets involved. But the lad can finish, see Wolves this season. And that header against Leicester and hattrick against Newcastle were sublime. I hope Fab can find a way to use him when he comes back

 

[CheeseRolls]

Ok, sorry. "Ruled out" is a perhaps too much.

Lets phrase it this way: it is more likely that Evan Ferguson was abducted by aliens than allowed to play through some virus we couldn't be arsed to test for (and therefore missed out on), five months after a global pandemic ended.

Are you aware that the most vociferous defender of the glandular fever theory and the likely originator of this claim on NSC are related by marriage?

This is a fact!

There was ample opportunity to concote this story. I have evidence to suggest that they crossed paths in Marseille, Amsterdam and Rome.

No smoke without fire.

 

[WATFORD zero]

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That makes sense and unfortunately for Evan the pure stamina approach seems to be working with recent results and a 34 year old Danny Welbeck seemingly able to out stamina a 20 year old Evan Ferguson.

Top class football has been going this way for quite a while so I wonder, whether for Evan's sake he can turn himself into a 'stamina runner' or whether it's simply not possible within his physical make up. Sadly, I don't think it's dissimilar to when Bob Sanchez was told he had to get better with his feet if he wanted to be top level although with Evan, it still may not be achievable through hard work and practice.

Just hope he can change if he wants to play at the very top level

 

[Flounce]

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Given his current form I am delighted that he didn’t stay here and get used as a sub. Our subs recently have come on firing. Good idea to send him on loan to get fit with WHU. He has looked a passenger whenever he has played for us or Ireland this season, goal against Wolves aside. He may well come good but he’ll have to do well in pre season to even be considered next season, assuming that he’s not off loaded in the summer.

 

[Hiheidi]

I assume Tzimas is a "stamina runner"? Anyone know?

 

[WATFORD zero]

I assume Tzimas is a "stamina runner"? Anyone know?

I would have thought the medical they undertake would be able to give some good guidance on their physiology, although with the number of youngsters we sign, it must be hard to know what they will be like when 'fully grown'.

 

[Hugo Rune]

This chimes with what lots of us have said. Ferguson either can’t or won’t play at the intensity the other forwards we have can.

It’s a huge shame because Zamora is correct, Ferguson does appear to be the best finisher.

Football is always evolving though and so it appears is FH. There may well be a time where he uses a system that suits Ferguson more than our current one does. Whether both of them remain at the club long enough for that to happen is a different matter.

Ferguson is obviously similar to the likes of Glenn Murray and Chris Wood.

The later is having the best season of his career and does f*** all running and high pressing every match.

It’s horses for courses but if I were in charge of transfers at Forest, I’d be bidding for Ferguson all summer with big money as Chris Wood’s career is not going to last out the decade.

 

[chickens]

at 20 a player’s body is still growing and changing, it may be as simple as patience.

The fact that Potter isn’t playing him tells us a lot, and gives the lie to the idea of a personality clash with Hürzeler.

I would like us to keep Ferguson on the books but loan him out a division down (or elsewhere in Europe) next season, and then see how he’s developed after some more time away.

For whatever reason, he’s not at the races atm, and it is a shame given his promise. I would still trust him to find the back of the net given space and opportunity, but he hasn’t currently got the ability to make those spaces and fashion those opportunities. He has to work out how to regain those skills for a career at the top level.

I really hope that he can regain the confidence in his own body to make a proper nuisance of himself, and start getting some chances away. It’s so frustrating to watch, because we all know he can, it must be a thousand times worse to be the person living through it. The only way through is to keep working hard and have patience with yourself.

Easier said than done when the hard work doesn’t feel like it’s translating into improved performances on the pitch.

TLDR - time and patience required. The rest’s up to Evan.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I assume Tzimas is a "stamina runner"? Anyone know?

Stefanos Tzimas | 1. FC Nürnberg | Player Profile | Bundesliga

All official season statistics and career data on Stefanos Tzimas. With news, videos and goals from Stefanos Tzimas in the Bundesliga this season

www.bundesliga.com

 

[macbeth]

at 20 a player’s body is still growing and changing, it may be as simple as patience.

The fact that Potter isn’t playing him tells us a lot, and gives the lie to the idea of a personality clash with Hürzeler.

I would like us to keep Ferguson on the books but loan him out a division down (or elsewhere in Europe) next season, and then see how he’s developed after some more time away.

For whatever reason, he’s not at the races atm, and it is a shame given his promise. I would still trust him to find the back of the net given space and opportunity, but he hasn’t currently got the ability to make those spaces and fashion those opportunities. He has to work out how to regain those skills for a career at the top level.

I really hope that he can regain the confidence in his own body to make a proper nuisance of himself, and start getting some chances away. It’s so frustrating to watch, because we all know he can, it must be a thousand times worse to be the person living through it. The only way through is to keep working hard and have patience with yourself.

Easier said than done when the hard work doesn’t feel like it’s translating into improved performances on the pitch.

TLDR - time and patience required. The rest’s up to Evan.

could be argued that he should be playing at a higher level but i don’t think a season netting 30 goals or so for USG would do him any harm at all

 

[chickens]

could be argued that he should be playing at a higher level but i don’t think a season netting 30 goals or so for USG would do him any harm at all

My thoughts too. There comes a point where confidence building becomes a key part of what a player needs.

 

[seagull_special]

I look at Solanki, was hyped as the next big thing and then took 3 seasons to adapt to the Premier League. Best thing would be to send him out on loan for a couple of seasons and forget about him. He has all the attributes of a top class striker but his confidence is shot.

I hope it all comes together for him, he is a top lad with good family support, hopefully his current struggles will make him stronger and fulfill that potential.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I look at Solanki, was hyped as the next big thing and then took 3 seasons to adapt to the Premier League. Best thing would be to send him out on loan for a couple of seasons and forget about him. He has all the attributes of a top class striker but his confidence is shot.

I hope it all comes together for him, he is a top lad with good family support, hopefully his current struggles will make him stronger and fulfill that potential.

i also look at Harry Kane who I think, at that age, was sat on the bench alongside Jamie Vardy at Leicester. Plenty of time yet and Kane had numerous loans out at that age. Difference being he had never played for Spurs first team.

 

[JBizzle]

They have given up with him since Antonio back in August and they are signing Jonathan David on a free

If you think West Ham have a chance in hell of signing Jonathan David, you must be high. He'll go to a far higher status club than them

 

[Justice]

If you think West Ham have a chance in hell of signing Jonathan David, you must be high. He'll go to a far higher status club than them

Yep with Liverpool & Newcastle in the race Sham no chance