{"id":19137,"date":"2025-08-23T22:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T22:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/19137\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T22:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T22:13:10","slug":"evan-fergusons-powerful-debut-has-roma-fans-are-giddy-with-delight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/19137\/","title":{"rendered":"Evan Ferguson&#8217;s Powerful Debut Has Roma Fans Are Giddy With Delight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It was a hugely significant night for Irish football as Evan Ferguson made his first appearance in a Roma jersey as the Giallorossi began their 2025-26 Serie A season at the Stadio Olimpico, with Bologna paying a visit to the Eternal City.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Irish football fans had spent the summer wondering just what kind of form the Bettystown man would bring to Italy. Last season was a lost one for Ferguson, and Roma seemed like the exact place to get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.balls.ie\/football\/ireland-evan-ferguson-roma-future-637532\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">his career back on track.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The scar tissue that all Irish football fans carry meant the fixture also carried a potent sense of trepidation. What if Ferguson&#8217;s poor form lingered? What if he couldn&#8217;t fully acclimatise? What then for the best footballer this country has produced in two decades?<\/p>\n<p>Luckily Ferguson&#8217;s performance, especially in the first fifteen minutes of his first Roma match in Serie A, was hugely assuring, especially with the visit of Hungary to Dublin in two weeks time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Evan Ferguson back to his best for Roma\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It was also Gian Piero Gasperini&#8217;s first league match as Roma manager, and it was fantastic to see him back Ferguson and name him in his first starting XI.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"it\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udccb La nostra formazione per Roma-Bologna \ud83d\udc3a<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ASRoma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">#ASRoma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sTwyZdgsiF\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/sTwyZdgsiF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OfficialASRoma\/status\/1959311291589202271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Gasparini has a long track record of unlocking the potential of star forwards, and Ferguson rewarded his faith in those opening exchanges.<\/p>\n<p>His movement was sharp, his touch was superb and he was eager to get involved in the play. Ferguson had three chances in the first fifteen minutes of the match and inspired a flurry of praiseworthy tweets, both in English and Italian.<\/p>\n<p>The first take from many Roma fans watching the match is that Ferguson can cook, and if he can stay healthy, he&#8217;ll score loads of goals.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In just 15 minutes, Ferguson has shown hunger, relentless energy and a knack for finding dangerous positions. He\u2019s set to thrive in this system and should be the first choice number 9.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TREQUARTISTA (@TatticaPassata) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TatticaPassata\/status\/1959332771639226745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\n        Recommended\n    <\/p>\n<p>                        <a :href=\"https:\/\/www.balls.ie\/football\/article.url\" :title=\"article.title\" :aria-label=\"article.title\" class=\"not-prose col-span-2 md:col-span-1 ga-event\" data-category=\"Recommended Article Tracker\" data-action=\"click\" :data-label=\"https:\/\/www.balls.ie\/football\/article.url\" :data-value=\"https:\/\/www.balls.ie\/football\/article.url\"><\/p>\n<p>                                            <img class=\"aspect-video\" width=\"130\" height=\"73\" :src=\"https:\/\/www.balls.ie\/football\/article.image\" :alt=\"'Image for: ' + article.title\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Evan Ferguson is a BEAST<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Wayne Girard (@WayneinRome) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WayneinRome\/status\/1959330894839230622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">These darts into the box and strikes on goal from Evan Ferguson are menacing<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mfalsafa (@mfalsafa_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mfalsafa_\/status\/1959331476844982720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Evan Ferguson looks in brilliant shape.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EduardoHagn\/status\/1959330187566256286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Evan Ferguson is looking sharp already<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Bonetti\/status\/1959329569195843790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A bright opening half hour in a Roma shirt for Evan Ferguson. Already done more than Lorenzo Lucca in the match prior.<\/p>\n<p>Can see him having a 15 goal redemption season under Gasperini if he can stay fit. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RomaBologna?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">#RomaBologna<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Calcio Colin (@colin_calcio) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/colin_calcio\/status\/1959336482583519608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">HT: Roma 0, Bologna 0<\/p>\n<p>\u2705Ferguson looks fantastic<br \/>\u2705Once Wesley &amp; Soul\u00e9 get to know each other&#8230;watch out!<br \/>\u2705Lots of attacking intent<br \/>\u2b07\ufe0fDamnit, imagine Rios in this midfield <\/p>\n<p>The blueprint is there&#8211;this could be one of Europe&#8217;s most exciting teams in time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chiesa di Totti (@chiesaditotti) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chiesaditotti\/status\/1959339294528848188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In the end, a goal from rightback Wesley &#8211; another debutant &#8211; gave Roma a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Ferguson deserved an assist in the second half &#8211; setting up Man\u00fa Kone with a beautiful touch &#8211; but ultimately the French player missed the sitter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ferguson&#8217;s pass to Kone was Tottiesque<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jody (@anjody17) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/anjody17\/status\/1959347581768913202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"tr\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83e\udd76 Manu Kone zoru ba\u015fard\u0131&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mxHW0DB70W\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/mxHW0DB70W<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Calcio T\u00fcrkiye \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 (@CalcioTurkey) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CalcioTurkey\/status\/1959348196242514348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ferguson was replaced in the 70th minute by Artem Dovbyk and will no doubt take plenty of positives from his official debut.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE ALSO: The Seven Irishmen To Move To Italy And Join A Serie A Club<\/strong><br \/>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was a hugely significant night for Irish football as Evan Ferguson made his first appearance in a&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19138,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,10,18,16756,13,14,6,19,17,11,12,15,16,5,7,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-19137","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-eire","11":"tag-evan-ferguson","12":"tag-featured-news","13":"tag-featurednews","14":"tag-headlines","15":"tag-ie","16":"tag-ireland","17":"tag-latest-news","18":"tag-latestnews","19":"tag-main-news","20":"tag-mainnews","21":"tag-news","22":"tag-top-stories","23":"tag-topstories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}