Graham Potter’s press conference included a significant defence of his on-loan forward Evan Ferguson, who has returned from the international break with a ‘start’ and a goal for Ireland and must be in high spirits.
Potter defends Ferguson but most of the criticism was over his lack of selection, not about the player himself!
I’m not sure that I have read much criticism of the player himself, but Potter was at great pains to defend the young forward. As picked up by many, including the independent.ie, Potter spoke at length about Ferguson:
“He’s been good in training and yeah he’s come back in a good place. He’s always been ready to help the team and settled in well with the group.”
“From our perspective that (criticism) is unfair to be honest. You have to see the context of where he was in terms of the minutes he’s played previously and how he was on his return from injury.”
“We got him at the really early stages of the return-to-play stage, so to think you can just walk into a Premier League team and hit the ground running and play, that is difficult but he’s come on, he’s helped us and the last four matches we’ve picked up seven points.”
Clearly, however much Ferguson was sold’ to the Claret and Blue fans (who were, and still are, desperate for somebody to enjoy watching as a lively goal threat) as ready to hit the ground running – Evan Ferguson was nowhere near match fit.
The ‘criticism’ that Potter referred to was never aimed at Ferguson.
When a West Ham spokesman told Claret and Hugh that “Ferguson was not injured, [just] not selected” before he appeared as a 90th minute substitute against Everton mid March, the criticism wasn’t intended for the young striker-more so aimed at the Hammers head coach who set his side up without a striker when he’d spent months carefully rehabbing and preparing Ferguson for that very role.
That’s what frustrates and is beginning to bore Hammers fans.
So let’s be clear, from Everton onwards and for Tuesday’s fixture, Ferguson kicks his heels on the bench because Potter doesn’t want to play him, not because he’s injured.
The criticism was aimed at Potter for not playing Ferguson and Potter explained why he hasn’t played Ferguson. I’m quite happy with that personally.
That really doesn’t sit right it was potter who pushed for him Why would he not play him if he’s fit to play if he wasn’t brought in to play then why take him on loan a complete waste of money totally pointless ????????any ideas ??????
Losing faith in Potter, yet another manager not setting the team up to have a go. All this holding back players is a load of nonsense, save them for this, not showing that, at this rate we need to buy 17yr olds just so they can get a game when they’re 25. All this nurturing crap is just that, crap! Poor manager with poor team selection and tactics. When will we learn.
Potter wanted him on loan, then sits him on the bench yet in potters world that equates to us criticising the player! The blokes a genius
The truth is that Ferguson has looked really clumsy and rusty in the minutes he’s played and so if that’s the same in training Potter won’t start him . Ferguson was just cheap cover for Fulkrug if he got injured again or was not capable of playing 90 minutes .
That looks to be a lot of waffle.
How could he have been of assistance in last 4 games with so little game play?
He’s swerving the issue for not playing Ferguson or Guilherme.
Summerville & Fullkrug being injured left space for either or both being played.
Would have thought having another to fit players would have been a good problem.
Come on Potter your defence is handling opponents attack so get these attacking players on field.
Draws are negative especially if teams around you are winning.
Still have that uncertain feeling about the West Ham team and Potter.
As fans, when we get that confident feeling back, then we can all relax, and look forward to games.
Potter’s selections leave one scratching the head, when Ferguson is left on the bench as the very centre-forward that is needed, and Jarrod fills in?
And the amount of off-target shots per season is alarming with Soucek, Jarrod, Antonio + Kudus the main culprits. And add to that when was the last time a midfielder scored a wonder goal? = That was Mark Noble, right? So what are trainings there for?
And the big question is … who will Potter play against Wolves … Ferguson or Fullkrug ???
My guess is, right in the Potter’s mould = not one of them. Coyi !
– God bless West Ham –
no, it wasn’t Mark Noble. either Emerson (left back), Masuaku’s accidental winner against Chelski or the best of the lot – Pedro Obiang’s 87 mph cannonball against the Spuds. Nobes got one around the same time
Potter says he was returning from injury and not ready for Premier league action so why sign him. We needed a player who is fit to play immediately like Asensio on loan at Villa. This recovery at this stage should be a Brighton problem not West Hams. In January our three forwards was down to one Ings, we are playing Bowen and Kudus up front because of this stupid signing.