15 Jun 2023 19:55:05
Heya ed1. How are you? Hope you are well with the new clan. Now that I've been all polite and thrown you off your game, I was wondering if you could do a profile on evan Ferguson. Or even give us your thoughts on the lad. As an Irishman I'm obviously excited by such a prospect but I'm trying not to get carried away. I'll admit- I haven't seen him much this season and I always worry about any young kids seen as the next great hope. Especially after one big season. I just saw sky have him touted as a future 100 million striker and I was hoping to get your or anyone else's insights. And no I can't see him wearing the pool colours anytime soon. Although that would be the dream for an Irish player to be a star for pool. Long time since that happened.

{Ed001's Note - he is a really good player, we always seem to end up putting him up as an option whenever we discuss forwards for a club to buy on the pod. He has it all, except experience. Big, strong, quick, technically strong, composed. But I think he needs to stay at Brighton for a couple more seasons to make sure when he moves it is on his terms and to a team that intends to make him the number 1 striker at the club he joins.

I can see him easily fetching 100m at today's prices in a couple of seasons if he continues to progress. He just needs to keep working hard and living right, plus avoid any major injuries or betting scandals, and Brighton will almost be able to name their price. The good thing for him is that he is at the right club. Not just are they good at developing players and improving them, but they have been desperately trying to find a player like him for a while now. So they will give him the chance to shine. It is all in his hands now.

How are things with you mate? Things are good here. Lots of cyclones though, which are interesting if you get caught outside when the rain starts! I was less than 5 minutes walk from home when one storm broke and by the time I got home I was wading through knee deep water. One of my friends, she is only little though to be fair which is why I call her Frodo, got swept away in a flash flood while walking to pick her kids up from school last week. She ended up frantically ringing everyone she knew trying to find someone to lend her the money for a taxi to get back as she had ended up a few miles away! And there are earthquakes too. It is certainly never dull here, though it can get a bit messy if you are having a pee when the quake hits and the building starts swaying about.

When is the next book out? I know you love that question....}

1.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 07:29:44
Aoe. From an irish point of view it would be great if ferguson would go to very top of game, seems a long time since we've had anybody do that. We seem to be producing few better players now, kelleher, collins, bazunu and adombhile (Norwich lad) all i think have the ability to play at top end of prem.

2.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 08:21:56
Brighton is a good club don't you think Ed? The way they keep selling their key player but always have a good replacement. I don't know how they keep finding all these good young players, develop them and sell them for good money later. That what i would say a good sustainable policy if you're not a state run club. They play good football too.

Btw, i read there's an earthquake at 10 o'clock in Philippines yesterday. A small one from what i read. Hoping you and family are not affected. They do have a lot of earthquake in Philippines. Flash flood is a normal thing there from what i heard.

{Ed001's Note - yes Brighton have an excellent scouting set up based around the owner's stats modelling business. Like Brentford it gives them an advantage as they are able to have the scouting set up ahead of even the richest clubs. With the added advantage of being able to buy players to develop in a lower pressure environment where the manager can risk playing them as a couple of bad results won't see him fired.

All good here mate. The quake was like being on the train the way it chucks you about. They have volcanoes too mate. It is never dull here that is for sure. I hope all is well with you and yours mate?}

3.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 08:59:41
Thanks a million for thy reply Ed. Really in depth. Totally agree that Brighton is the best place for him. Hopefully he stays there another two or three seasons and continues to develop then gets the move that suits him. I think it really helps that he’s not English so hopefully the media don’t build him up and he stops working on his game. Happens far too much. Wow- that sounds insane with the weather. Cyclones and flash floods and earthquakes? Oh my. Well nowhere is perfect but if you love it then that’s all that matters. Yeah I’m barely existing on the site at the moment. I read it every day but I’m just putting the finishing touches on the final book in the series so my head is very much in that. After the editors get it back it’ll be another few months. Ten bleeding years I’ve been writing this series. Where does the time go when everyone is shouting at you for missing deadlines. I’ll be glad to be working on something new for a while, glad to not have to be in that world anymore. I actually moved myself to a lovely house miles away from everything. I’m surrounded by fields and no people whatsoever and it’s what I’ve wanted all my life. Have a good one mate.

{Ed001's Note - that sounds great mate - the ideal place to move onto the next book and have everyone shout at you for missing deadlines on that....}

4.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 09:01:57
Totally agree digger. We look like having some decent young lads. Not sure about the manager though. I’m not calling for his head yet. Perhaps I’m wrong and he’ll turn it around. Though I’d still love mick back Perhaps with Roy as his second ?.

5.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 10:10:11
AOE, Digger as an Irishman myself i agree, we look forward with hope - I honestly think some of these guys have a big future if the keep working hard

Think for Ferguson, he is definitely at the right club for his development. Brighton continue to impress me every season

What are your book series AOE?

6.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 11:39:18
Sounds a bit rough that ed, where you living? Bootle?

{Ed001's Note - hey! Nothing wrong with Bootle, it is a classy area and produces classy people. For those not from Liverpool, Bootle is the posh bit. Honest.}

7.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 13:22:55
AOE's books are really good. Anyone looking for a good read, highly recommend any of them. The series is fun, Little Book of Lies is hilarious.

8.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 13:26:24
I live close by in Malaysia. We're basically neighbour Ed. We don't have earthquake and volcano here. So not much to complain. But it is so hot here these days. Wait till end of year, it will be a monsoon and flood season here.

{Ed001's Note - that's right, I remember you saying now you are in Malaysia. It is the humidity that gets you isn't it?}

9.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 14:00:43
Bootle is the posh bit. Really,

10.) 16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023 13:59:56
Yes the humidity here is on another level i would say. I guess that what you get living in southeast asia. Although we don't have earthquake and volcano here, so its a bit dull compared to you Ed. But im not complaining though, both sound scary to be honest. But both have pretty place to go, especially the island.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think volcanoes effect this island but the earthquake wasn't scary. It was just like being on a fair ride really.}