Does Anton have regrets?

Although not really given any option, still get the feeling he wishes he was still at the SOL. Maybe should have negotiated a lower salary then....

Still havn't changed my opinion that it was a good move, as he was nowt but a decent sub, but hey-ho..




ANTON Ferdinand feels he could have flourished at Sunderland if boss Steve Bruce had shown more confidence in him.


The 26-year-old made a deadline day switch to Queens Park Rangers, despite showing good form for the Black Cats in the opening weeks of the season.

Ferdinand, talking at an event to support anti-racism campaign Kick It Out’s Action Weeks, said: “I believe I could have reached my potential at Sunderland under a manager like Steve Bruce, who was one of the best defenders of his era.

“I believe if I would have been given that chance and given the confidence from him I could have lived up to my potential.

“When I did get the confidence from him at the start of this season, then you saw a different me in a Sunderland shirt.

“At the time I thought I’d got the love and credit I deserved at the club, then next thing you know I wasn’t there any more.

“I’d like to think that with the start I had he’d have wanted to keep me, but he’s the only one who can answer that question.”

Ferdinand admitted Sunderland tried to sell him to Ukrainian side Dnipro, a move that did not appeal to him.

“When that offer came I think they were going to get quite a big sum for me so obviously the club were pushing for me to go, but it didn’t interest me,” he said.

“And when I said it didn’t interest me they said, ‘we won’t be able to offer you a new contract’.

“Because I only had a year left I had to think about it a bit more. But Ukraine wasn’t the one for me.”

Ferdinand is now feeling positive about his future, despite QPR’s 6-0 hammering at Fulham at the weekend.

He added: “Neil Warnock has restored my confidence.

“He talks to me about my game, his man-management seems to be spot on.

“(At Fulham) It was at times embarrassing being on the pitch. It’s unfortunate that it came just before the international break so there’s time before the next game and it’s going to be hard not to dwell on it.

“Having so many new players there is going to a come a time where you are going to come unstuck and things like this are going to happen.

“Just because we’ve gelled in the first couple of games doesn’t mean that we’re not still trying to get to know each other. At times in the game it showed.”

 

I made my feelings clear about Anton at the start of the season, and I feel that we sold him just as he was showing a high level of consistancy...Then this bloody Bramble mullarky has come up, which just makes matters worse..

 

I'm sure he does, but its hardly his fault that the club more or less forced him to leave when the offer/s came in for his services.

Was it Ferdinands decision to be told that "QPR have put a bit in Anton and we feel its good for the club, even though you have started every game this season". A player can only speak to another club once given the permission to do so by his current employer. We accepted the bid and effectively told the lad we didn't want him.

Perhaps Bruce may regret selling Ferdinand too as Turner clearly isn't upto premier league football.

 

Thing is RAW - I completely agree with you but, he also showed a lot of consistency when RK first signed him and he looked an excellent player and well worth the money - this was mainly because he had to fight for his place - with Brambles wandering hands and nasal passage he would be in a similar confortable position and this may again affect his performances to the negative. We'll never know I suppose but the way things were I had no problem with the club selling him - had Brambles habbit been found out earlier then I'd have said keep him - what a wonderful thing Hindsight is eh!

Edit: Pie Dodger - Turner struggled for the first half hour of the game against West brom but he won every ball in the second half - cleared everything from our end and played well - it's only one game you're judging him on and after a shaky start he did OK

 

Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket... We are supposed to be a premier league team with a squad capable of progressing from 10th place... It sure would help to have a few proven premier league defenders on the books just incase something unforseeable occurs, or even a forseeable event such as an injury or two.

 

Anton was neither a thorn in our side, nor was he an error strewn defender and personally, he really seemed to like it here (unlike some of our southern or foreign players) so why he was peddled is beyond me. Not hindsight, as I said it at the time but this really was a sale too far and he was actually our most consistent defender this close season and early full season imo. We have been left very short on numbers again at the back imo.

That Titus has disgraced himself and us so early after that sale has only exacerbated the problem further.

 

I totally agree mate..

 

The thing that will piss him off really is the fact that, and I have spoken to him on a few occassions (before he left) is that he new he was not wanted by Bruce and was kicked out of the club. He thought he had turned the corner this year (although only a few games but was looking OK) and was really enjoying his football. He did like the NE. He liked the social side and the friendliness. I remember talking to his dad who stayed for the first week when he signed and he said almost straight away that the people were great and he would like being here. Anton was straight down the middle for me. He tried his best. sometimes good, sometimes not so good, he loved the club and the fans. Unfortunately for us, I think his best years are still ahead of him.

 

I don't have any level of close contact with players like you clearly do and reading your post makes me shake my head in disbelief.

When we first signed Anton I was very pleased. Having read the Hammers forums I was confident we had signed a good player. Anton cost a bit but at the time money was being slung around like confetti. I had some reservations as for some reason he came with a reputation of being a London nightclub lad and Sunderland isn't the place for people like that. However not only did he appear to enjoy his time here, he put in a lot of effort with various charities which shows a touch of class. Anton never moaned to the press or complained even when he wasn't getting a regular game, he just sat biding his time and slotting in a right back, left back and centre half. Anton is a model pro and is exactly the type of lad any club with firmly visualised ambitions should be looking to retain on the books.

I for one will miss Anton and as always where there is an opportunity to analyse whether Bruce is upto the job at a club the size of ours it would appear that he isn't a very good judge of character when he sells the likes of Anton ahead of Bramble. I hope Anton goes onto get a few callups.

 

I agree with that...