Evan Ferguson joined Roma on loan from Brighton this summer in a bid to regain form. So far, he’s made seven Serie A appearances as his side sit in 2nd position. The team is certainly doing well, but how is Ferguson getting on in Italy? Israel Schmidt de Azevedoanalyses the Irishman’s season so far and how his style of play is fitting into Gian Piero Gasperini’s set-up.
Embed from Getty ImagesEvan Ferguson is not a traditional centre-forward. Although tall and physically strong, he possesses remarkable mobility and intelligence in his movement. He often drifts across the pitch rather than remaining fixed centrally, which is evident in his matches for Roma. Despite Gasperini’s system typically featuring two forwards, Ferguson frequently drops deeper or drifts wide to receive the ball, dragging defenders with him and creating space for teammates.
Technically, he is impressive and arguably Roma’s most complete forward in terms of all-round ability. However, at just 20 years old, he remains a player with significant room for development. After an excellent start to his senior career at Brighton, his performances dipped last season, though he has already surpassed half of last season’s total minutes in all competitions for both Brighton and West Ham, a sign of growing trust and consistency at Roma.
Ferguson enjoyed his best spell at Brighton, where he showed promise across league campaigns. While his ratings were not exceptional, his consistency stood out. The main weakness in his career so far has been cup performances. Despite an encouraging 2022/23 season, he often struggled to make decisive contributions in knockout competitions.
At Roma, he has featured twice in the Europa League, showing plenty of energy and movement but without producing numbers to match. This is partly down to Roma’s tactical setup, which has yet to maximise his movement or creativity in attack.
Ferguson’s positioning often sees him drifting away from goal, and Roma have yet to find an effective way to capitalise on his fluid movement. The system tends to rely heavily on individual plays from wing-backs or late runs from midfielders, a structure that benefits Artem Dovbyk more naturally than Ferguson.
Nevertheless, Ferguson’s style is highly valuable for a forward. He uses his frame intelligently, not only as a target for long balls but also to protect possession and create link-ups. In Roma’s clash with Pisa, for example, he received the ball inside the area, shielded it from his marker, dribbled left, and laid it off to Solé, who finished the move.
Though still searching for his first goal in Roma colours, Ferguson has contributed in other ways in Serie A, particularly through his passing and link play.
His heat map highlights just how much he moves across the pitch, constantly supporting link-up play and acting as a pivot in attacking combinations. While he gets into shooting positions, he often receives the ball too deep or wide to finish effectively.
In one sequence, Ferguson started wide, slowed his run to drop behind a teammate, then darted into the space between defenders to meet a cross, nearly scoring from the move. These moments show his intelligence in timing and positioning, even when end product is lacking.
Another key element of Ferguson’s game is his defensive work rate. Although less intense in Serie A than in the Europa League, his contribution without the ball remains strong.
Despite more minutes in Serie A, Ferguson commits fewer fouls and shows higher defensive involvement an encouraging sign for a player adjusting to a new league.
Still early in his Roma journey, Ferguson remains one of Europe’s most promising young strikers. His technical quality, mobility, and strength make him an asset, but his potential can only be unlocked if Roma adapt to his profile.
To get the best from him, Roma must use his movement more intelligently, varying crosses with low deliveries, encouraging midfielders to link closer to him, and using his hold-up play to create space for runners. With these adjustments, Ferguson could rediscover his scoring form and develop into a key figure in Roma’s attack.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Israel Schmidt de Azevedo
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