Sport
Ex-Celtic Man Reveals Brighton’s Bizarre
After a rapid start to the season, things have not quite worked out as well as hoped for Evan Ferguson at Brighton this season.
The Republic of Ireland star has been billed as one of the most exciting young forward talents in Europe, and the early signs this season suggested he would back that up with a memorable Premier League campaign.
However, the hat-trick he scored against Newcastle United in September would ultimately prove to be the high point of his season, and he will now miss the rest of the season through injury having failed to score since the November 25 clash with Nottingham Forest.
Ahead of that Nottingham Forest game, former Celtic midfielder Charlie Mulgrew joined up with the Brighton coaching team for the week, as he begins his transition into coaching having retired from professional football.
Mulgrew appeared on the Scottish podcast Open Goal this week and spoke of his experience working with the Seagulls’ coaches – and one particular story may shed light on why Evan Ferguson has struggled so much in front of goal of late.
Mulgrew claimed that, during their training matches in preparation for the Nottingham Forest game, no time was given for Ferguson to enjoy any time on the ball, revealing that play would routinely stop immediately after the 19-year-old had the ball arrive at his feet.
There are two or three other coaches – this is different, I’ve not seen this before – Italian guys coaching the “other team.”
It was Forest they were playing that weekend, obviously Forest are a bit of a low block in a 4-4-2. He’s [de Zerbi] got them coaching the “other team” exactly how they [Forest] move. Bibs on, 1-11 is a Nottingham Forest team, how they would press, exact pressure, so the guy is right next to him saying, ‘Go now!’ and telling them.
It must be so bad for the boy Ferguson training two days in a row. He’s just got an Italian coach behind him…it’s all buildup coming towards him. He’s [the coach] just moving him, swinging his shoulders and body position.
Whenever the ball comes up to him, they’d blow the whistle and go back to the start. They saw the play through but they never, ever get to getting the ball or doing the final bit.
He must have been [raging] but obviously he’s got that much respect for the manager, he’s playing at the weekend, he’s just coming through…they all go work on their finishing themselves. They’re desperate for a five-a-side, they must be.
It’s a remarkable revelation if true, and does not bode well for Ferguson’s development as a goalscorer.
Though the former Bohemians man has undoubtedly benefitted from the wealth of Premier League game time he has enjoyed under de Zerbi, these training methods do not seem especially well thought out if Brighton are to get the best out of him.
Ferguson’s struggles are also partly down to the team’s poor form as a whole. Despite routinely earning plaudits for their style of play, Brighton have only won three Premier League games this calendar year. To expect an up-and-coming player to bang in the goals in such an underperforming team is a huge ask, and it is no wonder that the Meath man has struggled.
Ireland fans can only hope that the period of rest and recuperation will see Evan Ferguson back firing fit in the months to come – though Charlie Mulgrew’s revelation calls into question just how much good is being done for the youngster on the training pitch at Brighton.
