When Shane Ferguson went on loan to Birmingham in February of 2013 and stayed on loan there for the following season we thought that’s exactly what the Northern Ireland International needed.
So we were more than surprised when Shane struggled even to make the bench at the end of the 2013-2014 season when Birmingham were struggling against relegation under former Newcastle coach Lee Clark and they just avoided relegation on goal difference.
That put a big question mark over his future.
Shane Fergsuon in action for Millwall
But there’s some good news with Shane and that is he’s starting to play well for Millwall on loan and he scored a couple of goals in the 4-1 home win over Colchester last Saturday although the Lions lost 2-1 at Fleetwood last night.
It seems that Shane is enjoying his football again and it helps that he is playing regularly at the Den and he’s made 16 appearances with two goals so far this season.
It seems Shane’s been practicing too much on the training field at Millwall:
“I got told off a couple of weeks ago because I was out there too long. “Everyone was in, I was the only one outside.”
We had a game the next day and I was probably doing too much before a game so one of the staff said ‘come on we have to go in now, stop doing what you’re doing’.”
“So I got chucked off!” “I’m just enjoying my football and there’s not much of a better season than winning games.”
“I have been working hard in training with my finishing.”
Ferguson can play anywhere on the left-hand side including at left back, left wing back and a left winger.
Steve McClaren will have to take a hard look at the Newcastle players out on loan in January and make a determination on who he wants back on Tyneside to help us in what looks like yet another fight against relegation this season.
Shane could play left back for the team or out on the left wing – and he works his socks off for the side too and would track back.
The 24 year-old will be motivated to play well so he makes the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 Championships in France next summer.
Somehow we don’t expect Steve McClaren to bring him back to Newcastle when his loan spell completes on 9th January and we could even sell him then before his contract expires next summer.
Shane has played 32 times for the Newcastle first team and 22 times for Northern Ireland.
Comments welcome.
30 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:16 PM
Comment #1Probably too late for him with us. Decent for a Championship side possibly. Too small for the Prem.
BandB
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:20 PM
Comment #2G2
Indeed. It makes you think just how much of the makings of a ready-made Championship side we have accumulated and retained on our books, doesn’t it?
GeordieTwo
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:31 PM
Comment #3I wonder BandB. It makes me curious again about Ashley. There is no huge TV money in the Championship. His main source of football income would be gone. And many less people would see his SD hoardings. I think he plans to stay in the Prem with little thought to how to go about doing it. He assumed McLaren would have us mid table after spending 50 M. But he didn’t count on the fact that the squad is poorly set up overall.
John Tudor
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Comment #4SAID ONCE SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES
THIS CLUB IS A JOKE
Ron Knee
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:36 PM
Comment #5G2
And he still seems to have misguided faith in Charmless.
BandB
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:38 PM
Comment #6I ask the same question I’ve asked before G2.
What did he do to intervene in our slide last season?
He gambled on Carver doing just enough.
On the final day, he was as powerless as the rest of us.
I’m not saying he’s come up with a cunning plan to make relegation preferable..
Just that I think is prepared to take the gamble, and he’ll insure for it.
GeordieTwo
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:44 PM
Comment #7That seems to be true BandB. What an odd attitude for an owner. Complete tosser. As Ron Knee and JT have pointed out. Still has faith in his executive, Charnley, and Carr and possibly even McLaren? When will he panic? He sees 3 clubs struggling below us (just). As it stands we’re clearly the fourth or fifth poorest club in the Prem. Will that make him think we’ll be safe? January should be interesting.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:52 PM
Comment #8I just want to throw some wood or gasoline on the fire when talking about Colback!
In you disregard Tiote I would have any other player in midfield before Colback!
Those two are nothing but a running liability and a throw away…but right now we cannot be picky 🙂
lesh
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:57 PM
Comment #9The prospect of any quality incomers looks ominous for January if McClaren’s been told to look at bringing loanees back before buying.
Bally typical of Charnley (if it is him that’s actually calling the shots), minding the pennies when reglegation’s a real risk.
Talk about fiddling while Rome burns – Nero wouldn’t even be racing with this tight-fisted incompetents!
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:57 PM
Comment #10It’s really nice most tea-times to have a world renowned Canadian footy expert such as Geordie2 share his knowledge with us .
“Too small for the Prem”
Thanks G2
Shane Ferguson – 5’10”
Alexis Sanchez — 5′ 6.5″
David Silva —— 5′ 7″
Juan Mata——— 5′ 7″
Wayne Rooney — 5′ 9″
Lionel Messi —– 5′ 7″
I think you’re getting confused with gridiron footy
Oh and I nearly forgot
Peter Beardsley — 5′ 8″
Ron Knee
Nov 25, 2015 at 5:59 PM
Comment #11G2
I think it’s pretty clear he regards relegation as a disaster, not only for the loss of TV money but also, as you say, the lack of advertising exposure.
Charnley and Carr must be hammering the ‘Give it time. It’ll all come good’ mantra, but if, as I suspect, we are in the drop zone next weekend, we might see some action from the Slug.
GeordieTwo
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:01 PM
Comment #12It’s going to be very tight indeed if we don’t get a decent striker and CB in during the window. But as we all know Ashley likes a gamble. And he is staying until we win something as well, so that should be quite a while shouldn’t it?
toon kk
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:02 PM
Comment #13MA would never have thought we’d be in the situation we’re in now after spending his fifty mil, neither did the majority of fans come to that, but it could be nothing else, the majority of our player’s are the same flops who have struggled for some time. The board chose to ignore our flaws of pace, defence, wingers and still kept to the regime by buying for a for the future striker.
John Tudor
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:04 PM
Comment #14jib 4’6″
Ron Knee
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Comment #15League One champions?
Jail for Ashley
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:10 PM
Comment #16I’ll never forget the look on Churners and Mashleys faces at the end of the W Ham game, it wasn’t of happines or of relief, it was the look of two sleazy criminals as they’d just got away with murder !
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:17 PM
Comment #17If you want to talk left backs
Leighton Baines 5’7″
Alberto Moreno 5’7″
Kieran Gibbs 5’10”
Cesar Azpilicueta 5 9″
Gael Clichy 5′ 8″
Da de da de da 😎
John Tudor
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:25 PM
Comment #18as the oracle points out demo’s make no odds to tfgt so what, the same came be said for relegation he has loadsa dosh he doesn’t give two faks
John Tudor
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:27 PM
Comment #19hes had more from us than he paid over the odds for and will get his payment for the drop and whatever else he can flog from under us
goodnite
andrew84
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:29 PM
Comment #20John Beresford was 5’6” as I remember…
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:35 PM
Comment #21Andrew
Indeed
Alan Kennedy was 5′ 10″ the same height as Ferguson.
SPRINGY
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:36 PM
Comment #22if ferguson could offer anything then get him back but dont believe this is the case…probs just paper flanel…..sounding desperate at the minute tbh
Jail for Ashley
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:39 PM
Comment #23toon kk,
After that Soton game on the opening day, although not an accomplished performance there seemed to be a new sense if optimism, so much so that my pate put a grand on twp ten at 3-1, I thought he’d gotten a steal, there is something inheritely wrong behind the scenes and has been in all but two of Ashleys eight years, the Championship was a group of players embarrassed by relegation and determined to put it right, the season we finished fifth was a team that was inspired by two players fighting to put themselves in the shop window for a CL club to come along. Both teams were dismantled in our pursuit of nothing more than mid table mediocrity. Any hopes of bettering yourself must surely fade when you hear your captain spilling the beans of who we’re really trying to compete with.
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:39 PM
Comment #24On another tack all together
The Dutch media is chokka with sites linking us to Bas Dost.
I’m watching Wolfsburg at the moment vs CSKA Moscow
The Dutch journos say he’s not fussed about CL footy he just wants to play in the Prem.
BandB
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:42 PM
Comment #25Of course, “small” can refer to general frame size, as G2 was probably well aware.
Having stood next to Beardsley, Beresford, and Ferguson, I have no doubts about who I’d rather be kicked by.
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:43 PM
Comment #26Bendtner has just come on for Dost
Jib
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:45 PM
Comment #27Mother Hen guards her chicks
How commendable
BandB
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:46 PM
Comment #28Button it, small fry 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:51 PM
Comment #29Jib just sneers at everything while completely unawaress that he lives in a very fragile glass house.
John Tudor
Nov 25, 2015 at 6:57 PM
Comment #30i thought he lived on the streets