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

[Albion my Albion]

Personally, I think Evan must have eaten some spoiled dog in Springfield, Ohio. Lord knows what the Haitians there did to the dogs they were eating.

 

[Kit Napper]

It is infintely more likely because teenage superstars partying too hard is a thing whereas playing elite football with glandular fever in the 2020s isn't a thing. Many young players drink a bit too much or party too hard. Not many young players play in the PL during a bout of glandular fever or cholera or other severly impairing diseases.

Are you saying that evidence is needed to make one thing more likely than another?

If you come home and your wife isn't there, do you think its - given the lack of evidence - is equally likely she was abducted by aliens as the idea that she's just gone shopping some milk and liver-pie or whatever Brits buy these days?

Good point. It’s obviously far more likely to be the aliens than a shopping trip for some imaginary thing called liver-pie

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

There is a fatal flaw in your theory, it is far easier to document evidence for partying hard than it is for illness.

Now the pipe and slippers brigade on NSC may not be imbibing anything stronger than Horlicks these days before a 9PM bed time, therefore not being in a position to investigate, but those younger bucks will and are often very keen to display bumping into celebs and sports people in clubs and pubs on Social Media. Ferguson has been based in a city known for its nightlife, has anybody seen anything on Social Media showing him visiting? Likewise, if he liked partying I'm sure there would be plenty evidence every time he returned home to Dublin - is there? Any reports from London? Aaron Connolly was seen and observed burning the candle, hence the reputation he gained. Evan so far has not.

Consequently, this post contains as much supposition as those containing opinions on possible glandular fever, both are opinions and neither factual.

There is not a trace of a trail that Fergy is a large-haver. This means he isn't.
Were he to have been it would be all over social media with pictures,
and a chorus of kiss-and-tell reports of his tiny television (12" Murphy).

 

[GT49er]

This.

That......


.....or the other.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

My dog can talk. Unless you can categorically prove otherwise, then you'll have to accept it is true.

Sausages

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Same goes for the people talking about Evan having some disease or another. Feels like they should prove it rather than people proving he wasn't sick.
Given neither him nor any media source has ever mentioned him having glandular fever, its more likely than not that its just bullshit made up on NSC.

Very much this.

 

[ROSM]

Very much this.

I know we have been round the houses on this before (here is something I wrote previously). But those demanding evidence should realise that it ain't going to be forthcoming either way.

The club originally said it was a viral illness when he missed marseille at home.

I did read glandular fever on here afterwards. It was also stated by someone I know (the person who told me about Potter and chelsea 2 days before tuchel was sacked) who had some business dealings with ferguson and his agent last Sept that he was still feeling the after effects of a viral illness from a year before and that glandular fever had been mentioned in that conversation too.

So no the club have never said glandular fever specifically (and I wouldn't expect them to given that players with a slight strain are usually never seen for 6 months and only then in a hospital bed or on crutches)

Tagging @Herr Tubthumper and @Sarisbury Seagull as you both asked similar questions

One error in this is that it was athens not marseille

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I know we have been round the houses on this before (here is something I wrote previously). But those demanding evidence should realise that it ain't going to be forthcoming either way.


One error in this is that it was athens not marseille

I’m not demanding evidence. My point is there isn’t any. Why should anyone believe this? He’s one of many footballers who hasn’t quite lived up to the hype and expectation and it could be for many a reason.

 

[BevBHA]

I’m not demanding evidence. My point is there isn’t any. Why should anyone believe this? He’s one of many footballers who hasn’t quite lived up to the hype and expectation and it could be for many a reason.

I agree and, without trying to be too sceptical, I’d also add it would be in the agent and players interest to leak a story about an illness as a reason for such a rapid decline, rather than any other reason

 

[Han Solo]

I agree and, without trying to be too sceptical, I’d also add it would be in the agent and players interest to leak a story about an illness as a reason for such a rapid decline, rather than any other reason

Then it would be in the media rather than having its origin on NSC.

If Evan Ferguson had suffered from glandular fever, it would have been in his best interest to talk about it and make people understand his struggles rather than having people complain weekly about his performances and efforts.

But he has spoken of his well documented ankle problems, not the severe disease he allegedly played PL football with.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Then it would be in the media rather than having its origin on NSC.

If Evan Ferguson had suffered from glandular fever, it would have been in his best interest to talk about it and make people understand his struggles rather than having people complain weekly about his performances and efforts.

But he has spoken of his well documented ankle problems, not the severe disease he allegedly played PL football with.

Maybe it was his ankle problems? He wouldn’t be the first to have suffered a drop in form after an injury? Tariq Lampty also tore Newcastle a new one and he’s never been the same after his injury. Micheal Owen was another. Who knows?

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

Dave told me that Evan Ferguson had glandular fever in his ankle.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Apart from the goals, Evan didn't contribute much else, he was never particularly mobile and that used to frustrate DeZerbi. He's a target man and a good one when he's on form, but getting his fitness and confidence back is going to be a huge challenge, the premier league and paricularly a club like West Ham is an unforgiving environment.

 

[Han Solo]

Maybe it was his ankle problems? He wouldn’t be the first to have suffered a drop in form after an injury? Tariq Lampty also tore Newcastle a new one and he’s never been the same after his injury. Micheal Owen was another. Who knows?

Its certainly not impossible it has played a role. He spent the pre-season in Spain with what is considered the world leading expert on ankle injuries, and I'm guessing it wasn't for fun.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

As with anything, data can be manipulated to fit any narrative.

He scored 6 in 10 starts (950 minutes) in the first season, and 6 in 15 starts (1366 minutes) in the second season, when he was asked to do a lot more tactically. These are incredible stats for a player of his age.

Equally, he’s got 1 goal in 2 starts / 230 minutes this season. Again, not awful numbers.

Personally, I think much of the issue, whether there’s been fitness issues or not, has been his lack of tactical fit with FH. Sometimes that happens with a player, irrespective of their ability. He’s a typical number 9, in a world where typical number 9s don’t really exist anymore. Welbeck, who’s his biggest competition is undoubtedly a much more rounded player who’s more comfortable bringing others into play, so it was always unlikely he’d get the minutes required to get up to fitness.

I agree. The only thing I’d say is that I think early on Ferguson looked comfortable holding the ball up and fending off defenders, but there has been a clear drop off. Could partly be that defenders and their analysts have enough footage of him now to know how to manage his triggers and movements.

I think the bigger issue with Ferguson is that FH (and many other managers) will not like what he does out of possession. Picture Welbeck’s, Pedro’s and Rutter’s pressing, intensity and volume of sprints per 90; then try and picture Ferguson doing the same. It’s hard to see it.

Is that because Ferguson doesn’t follow instructions? Is it because he hasn’t got the stamina to sustain it? Is it because he wants to save his high intensity moments for when we have the ball? I have no idea!

 

[Anger]

Dave told me that Evan Ferguson had glandular fever in his ankle.

That is nasty (probably).

 

[ROSM]

I’m not demanding evidence. My point is there isn’t any. Why should anyone believe this? He’s one of many footballers who hasn’t quite lived up to the hype and expectation and it could be for many a reason.

But he did have a virus. That was confirmed. His performances dropped off almost immediately afterwards. He did have two lower limb injuries one of which needed surgery. Those are all facts. None of that is fiction and was all communicated by the club.

 

[Han Solo]

But he did have a virus. That was confirmed. His performances dropped off almost immediately afterwards. He did have two lower limb injuries one of which needed surgery. Those are all facts. None of that is fiction and was all communicated by the club.

When and where?

He had a temperature and missed the game against AEK. That is the only official communication I find about any illness and Evan Ferguson.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

But he did have a virus. That was confirmed. His performances dropped off almost immediately afterwards. He did have two lower limb injuries one of which needed surgery. Those are all facts. None of that is fiction and was all communicated by the club.

My point, again, is you do not know it was glandular fever.

 

[ROSM]

When and where?

He had a temperature and missed the game against AEK. That is the only official communication I find about any illness and Evan Ferguson.

And what causes a high temperature in a human adult?

It's a bacterial or viral infection, heat stroke, reaction to medication such as anaesthetic or antipsychotics or a more chronic illness.

So assuming it isn't 3 or 4(both of which could cause a loss of form eh) and it wouldn't have been 2 then it's more likely to be 1


But in reality you are dancing on a head of a pin here.