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

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Whether Evan did or did not have a particular medical condition is between him and his doctors and his employer.

I think we can just comment on what we see. A still very young player who has shown immense promise but who's early career seems to be stalling over the last year or two.

None of us really know the reason why. The only evidence we've directly seen are some brutal fouls which have resulted in injury, which may have nothing, something or everything to do with it.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

If only he could get photographed in a nightclub or two then we could have a lovely binfest and shake our wise old heads at the folly of youth.

Seeming to lack energy or spark for no obvious reason (beyond NSC FACTS) is just depressing and a crying shame for the lad.

 

[BBassic]

Well done. You got the point they were making.

Proper smart me.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Just been talking to a Sham season ticket holder mate and he already thinks he is shitehouse.

EFA

 

[ManOfSussex]

Same for me at 18-19 years old.
Took 2 years ish and a Tonsillectomy as well.

Ditto that having Glandular Fever at 13-14 years old for me. I had my Tonsillectomy the same day England lost 2-0 in Oslo in a world cup qualifier under Graham Taylor to compound a rather miserable day.

 

[Han Solo]

Rubbish! Nobody on NSC has said that he did have glandular fever. He did have an illness - that was published information and a fact - but the details were never disclosed. A lot of intelligent and rational discussion ensued on NSC, and glandular fever ticked all the boxes in terms of explaining his lethargy and slow recovery. So - did he have glandular fever? We don't know; neither do you. Could it have been something else? What? We don't know. But is it possible that he had glandular fever, and is that a reasonable theory based on observation? Yes, of course it is.

I'm not sure if this is satire but assuming its not...

Lets simply stick to the facts, and see if that can get us a clue or not, huh? Leave the intelligent and rational stuff to me, please.

September 2023
Sept 2: Evan Ferguson scores a hattrick against Newcastle.
Sept 7: It is revealed that Ferguson has been playing through a sore patellar tendon and felt too sore to answer the call up from Ireland.
Sept 14: Evan Ferguson resumes training
Sept 16: Ferguson makes a five minute substitute appearance against Manchester United
Sept 21: Ferguson is missing against AEK
Sept 23: De Zerbi reveals Ferguson "had a temperature" which was the reason he missed the AEK game
Sept 24: Ferguson starts up front against Bournemouth

Since this (one game against AEK) is the only time Ferguson has been missing through illness and the rumours of this "glandular fever" started a month later, we have to presume that September is supposedly when Fergie had this fever.

So in September, according to intelligent and rational discussion on North Stand Chat, Evan Ferguson suffered from glandular fever AND played four games of professional football.

I don't know any doctors, so lets use the sometimes practical tool that is ChatGPT to ask if this is even possible:

"It would be extremely difficult—if not impossible—for elite footballers to play at a high level while suffering from glandular fever. The virus (Epstein-Barr virus, EBV) causes extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, and an enlarged spleen, which poses a serious risk of rupture if subjected to physical contact."

So according to rational and intelligent discussion on Fergie missing one game through illness, Roberto De Zerbi decided to put Evan Fergusons life in danger (that spleen rupture is no good) through starting him against Bournemouth.

We can believe that. We can believe all of this nonsense. Or we can just accept the lad had a cold and missed a game. What seems most reasonable to you?

 

[Han Solo]

Same for me at 18-19 years old.
Took 2 years ish and a Tonsillectomy as well.

As someone who has suffered from it, do you feel it would have been possible to play against Manchester United and Bournemouth while being affected by the disease?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

As someone who has suffered from it, do you feel it would have been possible to play against Manchester United and Bournemouth while being affected by the disease?

The best answer now, would probably be

"Man Utd yes, Bournemouth no"

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I absolutely disagree with the theory he had it easy to start because we were on a high.

Some of his goals were far from easy. The late equaliser at Leicester, scoring in a high pressure game at home to Saints to get to Europe, a backheel at Bournemouth when we got battered for long periods, goals in a struggle at Stoke away. even last season, a great goal at Forest when we were up against it. he was scoring for Ireland too.

We will probably never know if it was kick started by injury or illness or our lack of service last year, but it's started the same way at West Ham, which is a real shame.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

As someone who has suffered from it, do you feel it would have been possible to play against Manchester United and Bournemouth while being affected by the disease?

Probably not to be honest.
It zapped the energy levels no doubt. Muscle fatigue and general lethargy (hence EF's general demeanour on the pitch this past 18 months – maybe).

My cause was also not helped by me living a slightly Aaron Connoly lifestyle shall we say at Uni at the time

 

[Flounce]

OK assuming Evan has not had glandular fever and has recovered from whatever injuries he has had why does he look so lacklustre and lazy whilst being out muscled by defenders now?

He is looking an absolute ringer from the player we saw when he burst onto the scene.

 

[Han Solo]

Probably not to be honest.
It zapped the energy levels no doubt. Muscle fatigue and general lethargy (hence EF's general demeanour on the pitch this past 18 months – maybe).

My cause was also not helped by me living a slightly Aaron Connoly lifestyle shall we say at Uni at the time

I would say that from we what about Evans game time during and after his alleged glandular fever, this would be a much more likely cause of his form deterioting. I'm not saying it is so, but its hardly unheard of that a teenage star wants to party.

 

[chaileyjem]

t it's started the same way at West Ham

So far he's played 91 minutes of football for West Ham.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I would say that from we what about Evans game time during and after his alleged glandular fever, this would be a much more likely cause of his form deterioting. I'm not saying it is so, but its hardly unheard of that a teenage star wants to party.

I'm not seeing lots of pictures of him emerging from nightclubs or hearing stories to that effect.

This sort of lazy speculation is of no more value than sitting around guessing the effects of any health issues he might have had. And actually it's more damaging to the fella's reputation.

 

[Han Solo]

I'm not seeing lots of pictures of him emerging from nightclubs or hearing stories to that effect.

This sort of lazy speculation is of no more value than sitting around guessing the effects of any health issues he might have had. And actually it's more damaging to the fella's reputation.

Again, not saying it is like that, its just infinitely more likely than him playing with glandular fever.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Again, not saying it is like that, its just infinitely more likely than him playing with glandular fever.

How can it be infinitely more likely given there's no evidence at all to support this? Because he's Irish?

Leave the intelligent and rational stuff to me please.

 

[Machiavelli]

Yes, I know. In the same way that someone who states that Evan has had glandular fever would have to provide evidence. Pretty sure we'd all accept that he has been off the boil for a long while now. Whether he can speculate....er....no, that's where the parody ends, as I didn't understand that last bit.

This is a silly argument.

Agree with this.
I was responding to a comment that claimed to state Evan did have glandular fever was misinformation and pointed out that, in order for this to be the case, you'd have to be informed that he didn't have glandular fever.

 

[Hiheidi]

September 2023
Sept 2: Evan Ferguson scores a hattrick against Newcastle.
Sept 7: It is revealed that Ferguson has been playing through a sore patellar tendon and felt too sore to answer the call up from Ireland.
Sept 14: Evan Ferguson resumes training
Sept 16: Ferguson makes a five minute substitute appearance against Manchester United
Sept 21: Ferguson is missing against AEK
Sept 23: De Zerbi reveals Ferguson "had a temperature" which was the reason he missed the AEK game
Sept 24: Ferguson starts up front against Bournemouth

It is really useful to see it set out like this, but it's worth noting that...

Bournemouth 24 September: Yes, he did start against Bournemouth but was withdrawn at half time (reported because he was feeling unwell).

He then started the next match against Villa on 30 September, but was again withdrawn at half time.

Whatever the reason, it's clear that an injury started to take its toll in September '23 and he also had an illness which lasted at least a couple of weeks. After which, he has found things harder on the pitch.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

How can it be infinitely more likely given there's no evidence at all to support this? Because he's Irish?

Leave the intelligent and rational stuff to me please.

I am shocked that no one has considered all that fence jumping he did. His knees are probably shot.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Young guy with a big frame that could be vulnerable until he finishes growing. Too much been landed on his plate - in some respects his hat trick did him no favours as he could have developed quietly in the under 21s to reappear some time in the future more of the finished article. That, however, may not have prevented his fitness issues, but there again, no big deal would have been made of it.
I hope he can chug along at West Ham, enjoy his football, and come back to a journey through Europe.