Anton Ferdinand Dead or Alive??

[PeterReadingborn59]

Have Reading really signed Ferdinand for two seasons?

Another season for him to sit in the stand?

[linkenholtroyal]

Anybody seen anything new on Ferdinand watch, is he still going?? has this phantom injury finally killed him off??

[WAZZOCK]

I would say his recent family tragedy probably has something to do with his recent absence. Get off him back.

[Ian Royal]

I would say his recent family tragedy probably has something to do with his recent absence. Get off him back.

His fitness problems and the season having finished a couple of weeks ago are probably bigger factors.

[wiggso]

I would say his recent family tragedy probably has something to do with his recent absence. Get off him back.

that's a lot of compassionate leave

[Ravel]

So how much is he on a week, and are the Thais paying it or is it coming out of our budget

The amount that the Thais have invested in players and staff (essentially underwriting our wage bill and transfer activity) outweighs Ferdinand's wages. However, they would have invested that money anyway. There isn't really a difference between "coming out of our budget" and "the Thais paying for it".

There are insurance schemes available that cover the cost of players' wages and treatment incase of an injury. I would hope that the club takes these policies out.

[blueroyals]

If there's one good thing that has come out of this signing is any credibility that Samrit had as an "advisor" to the owners has now vanished.

I'd rather it take a "pay as you play" punt on Anton Ferdinand than a 5 year deal for another Pogrebnyak to figure that out.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Most definitely alive and back to full fitness?
http://m.chicago-fire.com/news/2015/06/ ... icago-fire

[Scampi12]

Most definitely alive and back to full fitness?
http://m.chicago-fire.com/news/2015/06/ ... icago-fire

If this can be a sign he's getting back somewhere to a decent fitness level, him and Hector at CB next season wouldn't be such a disastrous idea.

[msmivie]

Agree, BUT not many return to full fitness in their 30's after a long time out.

[Snowball]

Good behind-the-scenes stuff from SC (who also seemed to get
a very positive review from The Pog)



Anton may not be a world-beater but he'd be brilliant in the Championship

If he could be fit for the whole season and Ferdinand-Hector was our main central defence
with Cooper as back up, that looks really promising.

Having said that, we need to hope we get at least one more full season from Hec...

[3points]

this could be very positive news and is probably why SC was OK in letting Pearce leave and not pay over the odds

[John Smith]

I respect the optimism from everyone but we are forgetting a fundamental fact here: Anton Ferdinand is horseshit. He's really really bad.

[Sutekh]

I respect the optimism from everyone but we are forgetting a fundamental fact here: Anton Ferdinand is horseshit. He's really really bad.

No he isn't, not at Championship level anyway. And he has played a very commanding and outstanding 48 minutes for us so far

If he comes back 100% fit finally and can retain it through the season then I think he would be a valuable asset. Still could do with some experience as back up though for those moments of injury, suspension and loss of form to whoever is the favoured pairing. I don't think we should rely on specialist backup just being Cooper and Sweeney

[melonhead]

Good behind-the-scenes stuff from SC (who also seemed to get
a very positive review from The Pog)



Anton may not be a world-beater but he'd be brilliant in the Championship

If he could be fit for the whole season and Ferdinand-Hector was our main central defence
with Cooper as back up, that looks really promising.

Having said that, we need to hope we get at least one more full season from Hec...

for twenty minutes last season Ferdinand was easily the best CB we had

[Hoop Blah]

I really wouldn't get carried away with this.

In effect he's gone to Chicago for a kick about, much like he did for us. If he's anything more than 4th choice centre half then we're taking another massive gamble.

[SCIAG]

I respect the optimism from everyone but we are forgetting a fundamental fact here: Anton Ferdinand is horseshit. He's really really bad.

No he isn't, not at Championship level anyway. And he has played a very commanding and outstanding 48 minutes for us so far

If he comes back 100% fit finally and can retain it through the season then I think he would be a valuable asset. Still could do with some experience as back up though for those moments of injury, suspension and loss of form to whoever is the favoured pairing. I don't think we should rely on specialist backup just being Cooper and Sweeney

Well, it was fine last season...

We're probably gonna have 7 centre backs between 18 and 21 next season, I'd be surprised if none of them are good enough to cover for a few matches - particularly as one of them is Cooper.

Plus, in both our seasons where we got promoted to the PL, we only used two centre backs (in the second case, we didn't sign Gorkss for the first few matches, but once he came in, he played every minute).

[LoyalRoyal22]

If we was given a deal on anything close to, or above 10k a week, someone at boardroom level needs shooting.

[rfc58]

If we was given a deal on anything close to, or above 10k a week, someone at boardroom level needs shooting.

If he got a deal any better than pay as you play, someone wants shooting.

Last few seasons, his fitness record is shocking.

[Scampi12]

Am I alone in thinking Anton had a pretty solid performance against the Thai XI? Won almost everything in the air again and appears pretty commanding across the back line.

Obviously it's hard to judge anything by 60 minutes of football, but seemed as if he's back to a pretty decent level of fitness and ready to return as a starter next season.