Nathan Ferguson

[Snowflake Royal]

Bit harsh on Sticks

More so than bench sitting or U23s here.

And at this point he's looking 4th choice behind O'Connor, Burns and Williams.

[linkenholtroyal]

Bit harsh on Sticks

I do wonder whether he flatters to deceive a bit, like Holmes, Abbey, McIntyre. We have a bit of rose tinted spectacles as he is homegrown. 4th choice or a loan would be where I say he is at the moment unless performances improve.
But on Ferguson we maybe looking at this the wrong way. He is an investment opportunity. Rather than a realistic first team starter at the moment. Probably low wages due to his injury issues. Have 1 year plus an extension year. Hope he comes good and sell on for 250-500k in a year if not don’t resign.

This is a business signing not a football signing and this the game we are now playing.

[Hound]

I’m not too sure what Stickland really offers. He’s ok all round but not esp big, quick, strong or good on the ball.

As he’s not going to get much quicker or taller then he needs to work a lot on his ability on the ball imo

[MR. CYNICAL]

I’m not too sure what Stickland really offers. He’s ok all round but not esp big, quick, strong or good on the ball.

As he’s not going to get much quicker or taller then he needs to work a lot on his ability on the ball imo

He is 6ft 1in you know

[Snowflake Royal]

I’m not too sure what Stickland really offers. He’s ok all round but not esp big, quick, strong or good on the ball.

As he’s not going to get much quicker or taller then he needs to work a lot on his ability on the ball imo

He is 6ft 1in you know

Which is not remotely tall for his position. And he tends to play hunched over a bit... though more so last season than this.

[Clyde1998]

This idea seems like a waste of wage bill to me. We have 4 specialist CBs plus Dorsett, and enough depth in FBs and midfield.

Put his potential wages on a striker.

They may be thinking it is a low cost/high reward signing as he was very highly rated before his injury. If he does sign, and no guarantees of that, then it may allow the club to loan out a player for more game time than they would otherwise get with us.

Stickland, for example, would benefit from L2 / National League exposure.

This. Like most of our young players over the past few years, they've been stunted by our inability to loan players out without massively harming the depth of the first team. Stickland's been a regular for our U21s for three seasons. He needed a loan at the very latest last season to assist his development and probably the year before.

If signing Nathan Ferguson allows Stickland to go out on loan for a season and we believe there's scope for him to develop well as a result, we should absolutely consider it. I just wonder if he's now too old for him to progress meaningfully beyond lower League One level at best.

[MR. CYNICAL]

I’m not too sure what Stickland really offers. He’s ok all round but not esp big, quick, strong or good on the ball.

As he’s not going to get much quicker or taller then he needs to work a lot on his ability on the ball imo

He is 6ft 1in you know

Which is not remotely tall for his position. And he tends to play hunched over a bit... though more so last season than this.

Keith McPherson, Mbengue and even Williams all only 5' 11!

[Snowflake Royal]

He is 6ft 1in you know

Which is not remotely tall for his position. And he tends to play hunched over a bit... though more so last season than this.

Keith McPherson, Mbengue and even Williams all only 5' 11!

Which is short for their position, at least now.

[Hendo]

Sounds like he had a good game - https://x.com/RFCLatest/status/1957712283783819328

Nathan Ferguson vs Norwich U21s (15/08/25):

75 Touches
76% Pass Accuracy (41/54)
56% Accurate Long Balls (5/9)
11 Passes Into Final Third
71% Duels Won (10/14)
8 Clearances
100% Successful Tackles (6/6)
5 Recoveries

[MR. CYNICAL]

Which is not remotely tall for his position. And he tends to play hunched over a bit... though more so last season than this.

Keith McPherson, Mbengue and even Williams all only 5' 11!

Which is short for their position, at least now.

So are you saying that Stickland isn't tall enough for his position yet Derick Williams is, even though he's shorter?

[Hound]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

[Hound]

Keith McPherson, Mbengue and even Williams all only 5' 11!

Which is short for their position, at least now.

So are you saying that Stickland isn't tall enough for his position yet Derick Williams is, even though he's shorter?

It’s not necessarily a problem but like I said initially it’s a bit average. If he had great pace (Mbengue), was strong and powerful, or was great on the ball then fine. But he’s neither

[Hendo]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

Hector's loan to Aberdeen was the one which really kick-started his career with us. That's the one which always sticks in my mind.

[Snowflake Royal]

Keith McPherson, Mbengue and even Williams all only 5' 11!

Which is short for their position, at least now.

So are you saying that Stickland isn't tall enough for his position yet Derick Williams is, even though he's shorter?

No. I'm saying he's not tall for a CB. And agreeing with the original statement that his lack of standout physical attributes means to be a good CB he's got to be better on the ball (and positioning).

Mbengue made up for lack of height with determination and pace. Bindon's height and limited pace with composure, skill on the ball and reading the game. Etc etc.

[yuomi]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

Hector's loan to Aberdeen was the one which really kick-started his career with us. That's the one which always sticks in my mind.

And Camara really suffered by not getting a loan. Though quite what he must be showing in training to continually keep getting offered contracts here I haven't a clue.

On Ferguson, feels like a relatively risk-free chance to sign a player who had bags of potential. Bit like a Mola v2.0, but with a player who was more highly rated before they suffered their career-threatening injury.

[Snowflake Royal]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

I think we want players like Stickland to gain first team experience to continue developing. U23 football can only do so much. Benchwarming here isn't going to do a lot, and he's not ready for our first team quite yet.

It's not the answer for everyone. But it's a sensible step for a lot to transition between youth football and our first team.

Look at all the youth players we let go, like Stacey, Fosu, Hyam, Dickie etc. They all grew beyond us, because they played regular first team football below our level.

Being in L1 rather than Champ doesn't change things. Just the level is comparatively lower.

[Hound]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

I think we want players like Stickland to gain first team experience to continue developing. U23 football can only do so much. Benchwarming here isn't going to do a lot, and he's not ready for our first team quite yet.

It's not the answer for everyone. But it's a sensible step for a lot to transition between youth football and our first team.

Look at all the youth players we let go, like Stacey, Fosu, Hyam, Dickie etc. They all grew beyond us, because they played regular first team football below our level.

Being in L1 rather than Champ doesn't change things. Just the level is comparatively lower.

Did Stacey etc go on loan first? Genuinely can’t remember. Else I’m not sure it’s particularly fair as clubs were more interested in developing them as one of their own

I do think we overestimate how easy it is to find a club to loan people to at a reasonable level tbh. I expect it’s looked at then decided they are better off here playing PL2 than what’s on offer

[West F]

Bit harsh on Sticks

I do wonder whether he flatters to deceive a bit, like Holmes, Abbey, McIntyre. We have a bit of rose tinted spectacles as he is homegrown. 4th choice or a loan would be where I say he is at the moment unless performances improve.
But on Ferguson we maybe looking at this the wrong way. He is an investment opportunity. Rather than a realistic first team starter at the moment. Probably low wages due to his injury issues. Have 1 year plus an extension year. Hope he comes good and sell on for 250-500k in a year if not don’t resign.

This is a business signing not a football signing and this the game we are now playing.

Sounds like a signing Reading would have made. I will run it through the Wycombemeter and see what it comes up with.

Wycombemeter says: one year deal, £1K a week and he has to bring his own sandwiches and physio table.

[Snowflake Royal]

We seem a bit obsessed by ‘loaning players out’.

Do L1 clubs really do this a lot? Thinking back a decade or so I can only think of Kelly, Tshbola and Dorsett who ‘benefitted’ from a loan from us anyway and none have exactly pulled up trees as their career has progressed.

Loaning Stickland to a L2 club - a) is anyone going to really want him and agree to play him? b) we must know after being here for 6 years how good he is, c) won’t make him grow a couple of inches or get any quicker

I think we want players like Stickland to gain first team experience to continue developing. U23 football can only do so much. Benchwarming here isn't going to do a lot, and he's not ready for our first team quite yet.

It's not the answer for everyone. But it's a sensible step for a lot to transition between youth football and our first team.

Look at all the youth players we let go, like Stacey, Fosu, Hyam, Dickie etc. They all grew beyond us, because they played regular first team football below our level.

Being in L1 rather than Champ doesn't change things. Just the level is comparatively lower.

Did Stacey etc go on loan first? Genuinely can’t remember. Else I’m not sure it’s particularly fair as clubs were more interested in developing them as one of their own

I do think we overestimate how easy it is to find a club to loan people to at a reasonable level tbh. I expect it’s looked at then decided they are better off here playing PL2 than what’s on offer

Can't recall.

I'm sure we do look at it, and if we can't find the right place, fine. But it's something I think would benefit Stickers. NLS/N? Not so much. Decent NL or L2? Yeah I think so.

[Stranded]

I think we want players like Stickland to gain first team experience to continue developing. U23 football can only do so much. Benchwarming here isn't going to do a lot, and he's not ready for our first team quite yet.

It's not the answer for everyone. But it's a sensible step for a lot to transition between youth football and our first team.

Look at all the youth players we let go, like Stacey, Fosu, Hyam, Dickie etc. They all grew beyond us, because they played regular first team football below our level.

Being in L1 rather than Champ doesn't change things. Just the level is comparatively lower.

Did Stacey etc go on loan first? Genuinely can’t remember. Else I’m not sure it’s particularly fair as clubs were more interested in developing them as one of their own

I do think we overestimate how easy it is to find a club to loan people to at a reasonable level tbh. I expect it’s looked at then decided they are better off here playing PL2 than what’s on offer

Can't recall.

I'm sure we do look at it, and if we can't find the right place, fine. But it's something I think would benefit Stickers. NLS/N? Not so much. Decent NL or L2? Yeah I think so.

Stacey had loan spells at Barnet, Carlisle and Exeter. Played more for the latter two then he ever did for our first team.