You described him as "he's very basic on the ball and won't give you anything going forward which for a modern day full back is a bit of a drawback", which imo is a travesty.
He is composed, athletic and technically more than adequate.
How you can damn an 18 year old, playing in his first season, with such faint praise defeats me.
I'm just saying it as it is. I don't see any point in going overboard and I don't see anything wrong with pointing out what players are good at and what they aren't so good at. His age for me is largely irrelevant regarding his strengths and weaknesses, kids pick up experience and knowledge from playing games they don't change in terms of the type of player they are. I'm not sure Ferguson is a long term full back that's the point I'm making. In a Pulis type team yes, probably because full backs then basically just have to defend which is why Dawson (for example) was used at full back. In a more expansive team though full backs often are required to get forward and use the ball. That's not Ferguson's natural game. I don't see what is wrong with saying that.
On the plus side he is outstanding defensively in his attitude, his athleticism, his ability and the more he plays and the more experience he gains he may well become outstanding in his mentality and intelligence. For this reason, given the qualities he has I can see him becoming a holding midfielder and potentially a very, very good one.