[Albion] Evan Ferguson

[The Fits]

We won’t sell him because nobody would pay our asking price. Every player is available at the right price.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

I agree but then you've got to wonder, if we had these two very talented individuals, why have we brought in more players in their positions, and ignored the defence.

Because maybe they’re not as talented/good as we think/thought they were?

 

[CheeseRolls]

If we’re offered a reasonable amount - £25/£30 millon - I’m all for shifting him and investing the money elsewhere. The drop off in his form has been alarming and I have serious doubts about him getting back to his previous level. He’s looked way off PL standard for a long time.

For a club who work a lot with data, 1 goal in 15 months for a striker who offers nothing else and other stats are poor - this is going to be a real concern.

I am all for doing nothing right now. He has nowhere near reached his potential. I don't need to quote sellective stats to support that.

 

[Nathan]

What valuation I wonder would they sell…..?

One Billion Dollars!

 

[jackalbion]

Because the ones we’ve bought in are better?
Agree about the defence though

Agree that some are better, and that concerns Julio, but then surely we should have been looking to sell this window, I'm not seeing a huge amount of logic in the signings we are making to construct a team capable of challenging for Europe, just a collection of highly valuable assets. I'm seeing the logic in a few years, but I'm struggling to see when we return in July, that we'll have Sarmiento, Buonanotte, Osman, O'Mahoney, Cozier Duberry, Sima, Moran all returning and all to be pleased with game time. It is and I don't like to say it, but looking like we could end up in a situation like those up at Cobham had this summer.

 

[jackalbion]

Because maybe they’re not as talented/good as we think/thought they were?

Surely those who watched Evan in his rise through the squads, and breakout into the first team can really think there is not a player in there. On his day I can't think of a more naturally gifted striker I've watched since we had Zamora. We've already let go of one striker who's gone onto to bang in goals, maybe we just aren't very good at spotting the best in strikers.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Because we have more effective attacking options and they have either had a sulk or haven't proven themselves worthy of dislodging Rutter, Welbz, and JP. I think based on this season it is impossible to say either Ferguson or Enciso deserves to be in the team over any of those 3 when fit.

Problem with this is Danny is getting older and is injury prone , Jao Pedro is not a number 9, fitness hasn't been brilliant and possibly wants a move, Rutter is also not a number 9 and is more effective coming from midfield.

Ferguson has/had the potential to be a top goal scorer and we need to understand what's going on confidence or persistent injury or indeed he just peaked early.

Enciso is the wild card , every team should have one.

 

[Wardy's twin]

I agree but then you've got to wonder, if we had these two very talented individuals, why have we brought in more players in their positions, and ignored the defence.

Very surprising we haven't got a couple of defenders in yet .

 

[tigertim68]

Very surprising we haven't got a couple of defenders in yet .

Why ? They don’t like buying in January, look at this time last year , we were so desperate for reinforcements, yet they still didn’t buy ,
resulting being knocked out of Europe, and a big decline in our league form , and finally resulted in losing RDZ

 

[Insel affe]

Agree that some are better, and that concerns Julio, but then surely we should have been looking to sell this window, I'm not seeing a huge amount of logic in the signings we are making to construct a team capable of challenging for Europe, just a collection of highly valuable assets. I'm seeing the logic in a few years, but I'm struggling to see when we return in July, that we'll have Sarmiento, Buonanotte, Osman, O'Mahoney, Cozier Duberry, Sima, Moran all returning and all to be pleased with game time. It is and I don't like to say it, but looking like we could end up in a situation like those up at Cobham had this summer.

You have kind of answered your own question about logic and buying young talent.
The model is buy a player that has potential to increase in value, I think it does not matter too much if they never actually reach the first team. It is about making money for the club to eventually be self sufficient, and sign players we actually need when the time, and price are right. Of course we develop players as well and it is beneficial to them as well as us, some will make it through into the squad and cement a place, but if they do not the majority will have a sell on value making the club money.

 

[Hugo Rune]

We won’t sell him because nobody would pay our asking price. Every player is available at the right price.

West Ham were rumoured to have had a massive bid for Cunha turned down.

If they are splashing the cash this window, we could benefit by getting a very good fee for young Ferguson if they turn their attention to us. Same goes for Arsenal.

 

[jackalbion]

You have kind of answered your own question about logic and buying young talent.
The model is buy a player that has potential to increase in value, I think it does not matter too much if they never actually reach the first team. It is about making money for the club to eventually be self sufficient, and sign players we actually need when the time, and price are right. Of course we develop players as well and it is beneficial to them as well as us, some will make it through into the squad and cement a place, but if they do not the majority will have a sell on value making the club money.

If we need that to sign players we actually need when the time and price are right, why have we completely ignored Centre Back!

 

[jackalbion]

West Ham were rumoured to have had a massive bid for Cunha turned down.

If they are splashing the cash this window, we could benefit by getting a very good fee for young Ferguson if they turn their attention to us. Same goes for Arsenal.

How do we benefit? We sell one of our best young talents and he fires West Ham up the table potentially, ABOVE US? What benefit do we get?

 

[Wardy's twin]

Why ? They don’t like buying in January, look at this time last year , we were so desperate for reinforcements, yet they still didn’t buy ,
resulting being knocked out of Europe, and a big decline in our league form , and finally resulted in losing RDZ

Because I keep hearing we are learning and we should have learnt from that, additionally I thought FHis still being backed by the club whereas I think that last January there was already tensions between RDZ and the board.

Personally I don't understand why we didn't buy in January last year and then spent record sums on some (so far) indifferent players. IMO Rutter is the only one who looks anywhere near his purchase price.

 

[Insel affe]

If we need that to sign players we actually need when the time and price are right, why have we completely ignored Centre Back!

Simply because the club have not seen a c/b available at the right price that fits their algorithm.
I think they track players that come up on these algorithms and only go for them at the optimum time, irrelevant what position they play.
That is the only reason I can think of.

 

[Hugo Rune]

How do we benefit? We sell one of our best young talents and he fires West Ham up the table potentially, ABOVE US? What benefit do we get?

It’s a gamble.

We benefit if he continues to be the player we’ve seen for the whole of 2024, they could get over pay for his services quite significantly.

He is certainly not one of our best young talents on recent form, nowhere near I’m afraid.

That said, I’d keep him and stick it out but the Naylor headlines today appear to suggest we’re not looking to wait for him to rekindle his amazing performances.

 

[ROSM]

Selling ferguson when we have already played 6 games in the 1st half of the season without a recognised number 9 (and without adopting a false 9 formation) would be bonkers. No team goes into the final 3rd with one injury plagued striker, one who is a 10, and one who plays best from deep.

We could very easily end up having to play mitoma as a striker for 6 or 7 games

 

[Wardy's twin]

Simply because the club have not seen a c/b available at the right price that fits their algorithm.
I think they track players that come up on these algorithms and only go for them at the optimum time, irrelevant what position they play.
That is the only reason I can think of.

the algorithm threw up some strange purchases this summer and doesn't look to have been balanced given the need for some cover at the back.

 

[jackalbion]

It’s a gamble.

We benefit if he continues to be the player we’ve seen for the whole of 2024, they could get over pay for his services quite significantly.

He is certainly not one of our best young talents on recent form, nowhere near I’m afraid.

That said, I’d keep him and stick it out but the Naylor headlines today appear to suggest we’re not looking to wait for him to rekindle his amazing performances.

As much as his recent form hasn't been ideal, before November 23 he was absolutely fine, since, he has either been playing with an injury, been in surgery, having minimal starts, and very little off the bench, I'm not surprised he's scored 1 in 12 this season. The club should be concentrating on trying to re-kindle that unbelievable form, not selling him off to a rival, just in case he is a dud, and as much chance that he isn't and he goes on to be another striker we let go.

 

[Hiheidi]

Simply because the club have not seen a c/b available at the right price that fits their algorithm.
I think they track players that come up on these algorithms and only go for them at the optimum time, irrelevant what position they play.
That is the only reason I can think of.

Yet we could have got Cashin for £4m a year and a half ago, but we're too slow, and are now buying him for £10m plus.