How's your maths? He was as said in comms only ever scheduled to play 30 mins.

i think he's a right back.

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Probably right. However, with us not being heavily linked to signing defenders, it seems we're happy for Ferguson to essentially be the CB/RB cover that Kouyate & Kelly were last season.

That suggests a certain degree of faith in his ability. However, for the first time, there's a genuine issue if he gets injured. If any of Clyne/Ward/Guehi/Anderson/Tomkins are injured, Ferguson is front and centre. Lots of players have spoken in the past about being more injury prone when they're only playing bit part roles and not getting regular minutes. Seems he'll have to play a lot of U23 minutes this season even if he is in and around the first team, just to get his body used to playing.

The slightest hint of any injury in pre-season and I think it'll force us into the transfer market.

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If you come on as a sub and you're withdrawn after 32 minutes, there are only two possible conclusions and neither of them is a good look for Ferguson. Either,

1. You simply performed so poorly that, even in a pre-season game, you were pulled off or,

2. The medical team has dictated that you play half an hour and not a minute more (although in that case, you'd think it would make more sense to bring him on after 60 minutes and let him finish the game). If that's the case then his recovery is clearly much more early stage than many of us hoped or thought and he's probably at least three or four months away from anything close to match fitness.

We have a free hit with Ferguson this year; it's the last year of his contract; we're clearly not going to offer him a sizeable new one, and for now, we might as well keep him around in the vague hope that the worst is behind him and we get some sort of return on our investment. I suspect if he's not made any kind of mark by the January window, he may well be quietly moved on.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Agreed. I don't see it as a negative, merely a cautious approach based on his previous injury record.

If it was stated he would play 30 minutes and did that (well 32 minutes actually) then i can't see an issue. He has not had a pre-season for a few years now so the club will be careful with his progress and will closely monitor things.

I didn't miss it. That was very clearly my option 2.

"2. The medical team has dictated that you play half an hour and not a minute more"

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.