QPR fans will be able to cheer a Ferdinand in Hoops again this season as Les' cousin Anton has completed a big money move to Loftus Road from Sunderland.

Facts

Anton Ferdinand is a Peckham born 26-year-old centre half who came through the ranks at West Ham before joining Sunderland for a hefty £8m fee in 2008. He is the brother of Man Utd centre back Rio Ferdinand and cousin of legendary former QPR striker Les.

Ferdinand broke into the West Ham first team in the 2003/04 season, and was a regular the following season as they won promotion back to the Premiership via the play offs. A year later he returned to the Millennium Stadium with the Hammers for one of the greatest FA Cup finals of all time against Liverpool but his experience was to be an unhappy one. After the game finished 3-3 and extra time had been played Ferdinand missed a crucial penalty in the shootout as Liverpool secured a scarcely deserved win.

At Sunderland Ferdinand was part of an expensive recruitment drive by manager Roy Keane following the Mackem’s own promotion into the Premiership. Keane spent the thick end of £70m in his first season as a top flight manager but only kept his side up by the skin of its teeth and left the club midway through the following season as the bad results kept coming despite further significant outlay. Ferdinand has often been named as one of Keane’s most outlandish purchases, probably costing double his true worth at the time. Keane’s prediction that Ferdinand would go on to play for England at senior level has yet to come to pass.

Despite dividing opinion on Wearside Ferdinand has started this season as first choice, partnering former Man Utd defender Wes Brown at the heart of the Sunderland defence in the absence of Titus Bramble.

Keeping up the summer theme of unearthing indiscretions from our new signings – Ferdinand was fined two weeks wages by West Ham in 2007 when he lied to the club about visiting his grandmother on the Isle of Wight when he was in fact going to his twenty second birthday party in South Carolina.

He has signed a three year contract at Loftus Road for an undisclosed fee.

Reaction

The club's moving forward and things seem to be buzzing around here at the moment. I came down from London on Wednesday and spoke to the gaffer, and was impressed with his thoughts on where the club is going to go. I've heard good things about the manager and, after speaking with him, it's clear that he wants the best for me and wants me to do well. As soon as I came out of the meeting with him, I knew that QPR was the club for me." -Anton Ferdinand

“Anton's a player that I have always admired. He's got so much to offer. When you look at centre-halves in this country, you won't see much better than Anton on a good day. I'm going to try and give him more good days than bad! He's got to work very, very hard, but I see a lot in him. He's got a lot still to prove and hopefully he's with the right team to do that with." - Neil Warnock

Opinion

Overpaid, overpriced, accident prone, laughably inferior to his brother – it’s all been written about Anton Ferdinand, and a good deal of it has probably been written on LFW before. But, as I’ve written about Shaun Wright Phillips should he sign as well, things in this transfer window are all relative.

Had Chelsea just gone out and signed Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland we’d all be laughing now – laughing very hard indeed. We’d be looking forward to the legendary collapses in concentration, and hoping that they came just at the crucial point of one of Abromovic’s treasured Champions League quarter final matches.

But we are not Chelsea or Man City or Liverpool or Spurs or even Wolves or Fulham. We are QPR, we haven’t been here for 15 years and we’ve already established that our team is lacking in several areas at the new higher level. What we need is to improve our team to a point where it can stay in the league, then improve it again so it can consolidate its position, and then improve it again so it can compete and then maintain it. Fulham spent inordinate amounts of money when they first came into this league on players like Steve Marlet who wouldn’t get close to their team these days. They did it to stay in the league and give them a platform to build on. These days they don’t need to spend half as much in the transfer windows – just enough to keep things ticking over. It’s cost Al Fayed £196m to do this over the last decade, but it seems our new board is happy to swallow similar losses at the moment.

Anton Ferdinand has Premiership experience, lots of it. He knows what it’s like to mark Premiership strikers every week. Sure he’s not one of the best at it, but people like Vidic aren’t going to be hurrying down to Shepherds Bush just yet despite the strides we’ve made in the past week and a half. And considering we lined up at Wigan on Saturday with Fitz Hall and Bruno Perone as our centre backs it would be hard to argue he’s not substantially better than what we have already. Indeed Sunderland fans have actually warmed to his performances over the course of 2011. However it's equally difficult to say, with Sebastien Bassong and Scott Dann knocking around for similar money today, that we couldn't have done a bit better.

The problem I’m finding now reading through message board posts and news comments is that the Fernandes takeover has sent expectations sky rocketing. We are a brand new Premiership club with a tiny ground that cannot sustain a team even in the division below. We’re probably paying wages to people like Barton, Young and now Ferdinand far in excess of anything we’ve paid before in the club’s history and far more than we can afford without hand outs from the board. And yet I’m seeing comments that Young and Traore aren’t good enough, that Michael Owen would be a viable option, or Rio Ferdinand. It really hasn’t taken long for the lunatics to take over the message board asylum.

What Neil Warnock is attempting to do is inject much needed quality into our team by attracting players that want to come to us, and while he's certainly breaking the bank he isn't smashing it to pieces. Barton is a deeply flawed individual, Traore lacks experience and there are doubts about his ability, Ferdinand has a mediocre past history of performance level – but if these players were all perfect and guaranteed success stories they wouldn’t be coming to QPR.

It’s time for the Norwich test again. If Norwich were signing Joey Barton, Shaun Wright Phillips, Armand Traore, Luke Young and Anton Ferdinand this week what would we be saying? Chances are something like: “well they’ll probably stay up now.”

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Photo: Action Images

shrewranger added 00:32 - Sep 1 agree with just about every word,the fact is that we are all proud of the players that got us to the prem and they are all heroes ,but they are not good enough to keep us up.we've now got a great chance of survival.thanks to tony and amit.
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karlski added 00:58 - Sep 1 It's all relative indeed - how many of us could have seen this coming at the start of the season or at the end of the Bolton game? Every major shortcoming has been addressed - defenders with prem experience, pace, central midfield. If we keep our first team fit this squad is now good enough to give us a fighting chance by Xmas - and at that point the window opens again and it would appear there may be a couple more signings. Agreed that we may have been able to do better with Scott Dann rather than Anton seeing as he was available, but his fee was 6-8 million whereas I'd have thought we paid 3/4 for Anton so perhaps it was stretching us a bit much - or Dann didn't want to come. Bassong would have been excellent - and would have signed had Gary Cahill headed to White Hart Lane, not much we can do about Spurs pulling plug on that one. Over the moon to be honest, feel good factor should be worth some points all by itself at Loftus Road. Terrific day.

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cjc added 03:04 - Sep 1 As always I agree and praise your well written and excellent analysis, which you back up with interesting points and factos. However, I have to disagree with your 2nd to last paragraph, unfortunately it highlights you are struggling, maybe you just cannot cope, need a long holiday or just need more help, but please don´t denegrate fans harmless views, especially on a news blog. Just as you are entitled to your opinions surely the people on the forum are entitled to theirs without being called a lunatic, just because they either have different opinions or points to yours. You are the moderator, it doesn´t make sense, especially when some of the things you have pointed out are wrong. One of your criticisms has been over us doing a deal for Rio Ferdinand, considering I was the one who said the name (as you full well know) maybe I shall respond, but on this specific point you are also criticizing the new owners ambitions because Rio actually was contacted among other football stars we would normally just dream of, some paid off and some certainly didn´t. The ambitions of the owners are truly not something we are accustommed too, the logic behind it, is for another discussion for you to analyse, (I suspect it is world PR and a statement of intent) but at least allow them to do what they want without being called a lunatic because that truly does seem daft. Please don´t get me wrong I can honestly say I am a mad or at the very least happily eccentric, thank god. I am sure you are a decent bloke and personally we just didn´t start off on the right footing and sincerely I do wish you and the site the very best, so it can really grow as the club grows locally and internationally but please have a look at your moderation of the site, because it seems clear you have a conflict of interest. Everyone has different opinions but if you actually support and lead in the marginalising of some members on the forum, then really it becomes pointless and defunct from any serious debate.

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baldyhoop added 06:50 - Sep 1 Clive, I think you are right. Great reporting as ever, and I completely disagree with the conflict point made above. Now let's all join together and back the team.
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cyprusmel added 08:21 - Sep 1 Good Stuff Clive, very well written, I agree with all your comments on this occasion.
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DesertBoot added 08:22 - Sep 1 good write up Clive. Someone called "finesse" was really winding me up yesterday with his negativity and criticism. It's a pity the Bassong deal fell through because of Spurs not signing Cahill but we have a good defender in Ferdinand. A defender Warnock, judging by his comments, feels he can improve. As you say, if Norwich had signed such players as we have, we would be very jealous.

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YorkRanger added 08:32 - Sep 1 The facts are simple. Anyone who was at Wigan on Satursday will rejoice at the signing of Ferdinand. The ones that got away yesterday in the shape of Dann, Bassong etc are irrelevant. The challenge now for Warnock is getting the new players to gel together and quickly as we will have (amongst other things) a completely new back four on Monday week. For the record I think the critcism of Clive as moderator is unfair. He is entitled to dismiss other peoples views on the message board in the same way as anyone else is and in the same way that others can dismiss Clive's views. It remains a "democratic" board in that as far as I can remember Clive hasn't removed anyone from it simply because they disagree with him. It does seem to be at times that people take the message board a bit too seriously - especially given some of the nonsense that is written on there. The answer is simple for those who do not like having their views criticised or, at times, ridiculed - don't post on it!

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QPRski added 08:34 - Sep 1 Clive I agree with your assessement. Despite the best defensive record last yearin the Championship and all of our clean sheets, we all knew that the defense is too slow and not up to scratch for the premiership. This was brutally exposed bythe Bolton thius our subsequent depression. Ferdinand is a good signing although clearly he was the back up to Basson and that fell through at the 11th (or 10th hour). Under the "revolution"of the new ownership I think that we will be fielding a totally newback four : Traore, ferdinand, Gabiddon and Young. I just hope that it will gel quickly into a team. Building efficient teams and getting people to over perform is the forte of NW. He did a magnificent job with "average" (and I hope I do not offend anyone here) players last season, and I think he has a squad with which he can build a good team for the Premiership (certainly for survival +). Some will soon be worrying about the salaries and balancing the books, others that we son't have Messi or Ronaldo, - but lets enjoys the moment and as the future looks bright. I for one am looking forward to the next games!

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JB007007 added 08:58 - Sep 1 Thanks Clive. Overall I think we should be very satisfied with the way that this has all turned out. We have vastly improved our defence, strengthened our midfield and added pace up front. The squad has versatility too. Because of the late takeover, perhaps we wouldn't have signed Perone, Dyer and Shittu, but at the same time we may not have gone for SWP as Routledge may have been in place and I know which of those two I prefer. Shame about Bassong, but no doubt NW will go back in in January. I certainly feel more confident about our chances of staying up now. A big thanks to Tony, Amit and the board.

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SomersetHoops added 09:46 - Sep 1 Clive, As a long term supporter of QPR I think this has been our best transfer window since the concept was started. One of Tony Fernandes first demands of the fans was for us to be realistic about our expectations and he in return has delivered a transfer budget which we could only have dreamt of before. I agree some people have sugested unrealistic signings and I can only agree with you that to do so indicates a lack of understanding of football and makes their contributions of little value and they devalue the normally knowledgeable group on this board. Of course these signings are not top 5 players of top 5 clubs, but they are what Warnock wanted within what for QPR is a reasonable budget and have been evaluated and signed in a very short time. Our owners have invested sufficiently to maintain our Premiership status and will probably not get their money back any time soon. It is now up to Warnock to mould these players and what we already had into a squad and team that will walk through fire for QPR as he did in the championship last year. Thanks TF, Amit and Mr Mittal. Good luck Neil! Come on U RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRS!

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daveB added 10:23 - Sep 1 for me what we've done in the last two weeks is give ourselves a fighting chance of staying up. After Bolton I couldn't see a weaker side in the division than us, now we might be able to finish around 14th/15th if the new players settle in quickly. Anything higher than that is still a miracle
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spencer added 11:32 - Sep 1 Are these rushed signings? Possibly, but this is not the fault of Neil Warnock, the players or the new board.Had the takeover happened in May, chances are, Ferdinand would not be here..who really knows. Thing is...we cannot look back,we have to look forward.Like many, I was at the Bolton game, and saw us lose to an average at best attacking line.The opening game of a campaign where all bets are off and any result could happen.But , it never looked likely that we would get a result( In my opinion). Sure, i would have liked Dann etc etc...but maybe next season.I think the signings we have made, are the best possible we could have given the time scale.I think the owners have now given us a good chance to challenge for that ultimate 4th from bottom spot and maybe a little beyond...for me..that would be a result. For the record and please don't laugh..i actually think gabbidon looks ok. Fair play to the new board in all its efforts to get these new players in...and looking forawrd to the Newcastle game with renewed optimisim

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LambournR added 11:42 - Sep 1 Great pieces as always Clive. I think the important point of all is that if we were told 3 weeks ago that the chuckle brothers would be gone, replaced by someone who seems a decent down to earth sort, and that we would have bought Joey Barton, Shaun Wright Phillips, Armand Traore, Luke Young and Anton Ferdinand before the end of the transfer windows we would be running round the streets in joy. Pity we couldn't get Bellamy, even if it was for nothing more than to ensure that Dave wasn't in the 25 Really looking forward to the Newcastle game - my ticket was £5 cheaper as well!

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tamshoring added 11:59 - Sep 1 As a QPR fan now living away from London with work and family commitments weighing heavy I find it hard to attend many games these days. Indeed I had no intention of even trying to get to any home matches this season till Tony and Co saved us from those two mucking fuppets. I now rely heavily on all that you write Clive to keep me feeling at least up to date with all things Hooped. Your writing, in my opinion, is always spot on, hugely informed, funny and with a very liberal minded slant making me proud to be a Ranger. Thanks basically!! Last season was amazing, still got the bruises from pinching myself so much. This season after a frightening start would appear to now be going the same way. It's a great time to support our team. The people still criticising or just plain moaning are a sad reality. We've all been stuck next to them at games, moan moan moan, clap the odd goal, then straight back to the moaning. Strange sad souls. This is why LFW is so refreshing, there's a distinct lack of that moaning for moaning's sake going on. Thank fcuk for that, long may it continue.

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newgolddream added 12:06 - Sep 1 QPR V Newcastle, 12-09-201. KENNY, YOUNG, TRARORE, FERDINAND, GABBIDON, FAURLIN, BARTON, WRIGHT-PHILLIPS, TAARABT, CAMPBELL, BOTHROYD. Any better suggestions??
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N12Hoop added 12:06 - Sep 1 Think Stoke. Weren't that good when they cane up but year on year they have strengthened and yesterday they shelled out more than £20m. We need to survive this year and hope to build year on year. It seems like Bassong may well be available again come Jan but our new1st team, if fit, should be good enough for survival. We also need to be realistic about our attractiveness to targets at this stage what with neing faves for relegation but, as Clive says, the Norwich test is what we should be considering. On paper we look much stronger then them and Swansea. Hopefully there will be some more woeful performers out there and that we can get the necessary points on the board prior to the frigtening end of season run-in.

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ade_qpr added 13:01 - Sep 1 keep it rolling Clive think you and the site both excellent, points you make are on the money. Simple rule you must learn to walk before you can run and thus the players brought into the club won't win us the league but that is not the point, non relegation is. The strides the club have made have been giant ones and many more need to be made but they are heading in the right direction. Wages yes are high but thats a payment we need to make to achieve the results we need. ( May be Clive you could do a piece on wages and are they covered by payments the club will get for beening in the premier league - yes there is alot of dead wood but soon to be burn't ) The budget on transfers seems to agree with what was promised in extra funds 10 million was the figure I have read off others comments and I think we got value for money and certainly players that the vast majority of us didn't believe would be in QPR colours this season 2 weeks ago. So hats off to the board and NW the future looks a hole lot brighter.

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NorwayRanger16 added 13:45 - Sep 1 Clive you deliver as always, thanks for the quick articles on our new signings, always appreciated. Think the club shop will sell jerseys like never before, who can resist having Ferdinand on the back?! And just to put everything into perspective, Swansea re-signed Federico Bessone yesterday. Leeds third choice left back, who themselves sold to Leeds last summer! Can't wait for the Newcastle game, and even though i loathe international breakes i think this one is a blessing in disguise. Will give the squad time to gel and get to know each other a little better. We're in for a hard game against a tough and stubborn Newcastle team, and we might not even take anything from the match, but we're moving in the right direction and i'm looking forward the rest of the campaign now. COYR's!

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Antti_Heinola added 14:15 - Sep 1 cjc you need to be a little less thin-skinned. You say people have a right to their opinion, but then tick clive off for giving his opinion on those opinions. you can't have it both ways, son. Plus, Clive is of course quite right - expectations among some fans are stupidly high. We're a tiny, tiny club. By size only, we should be somewhere in the bottom half of the championship. I'm sorry, but the idea that Rio would, at this stage, give up his career at the best club in the country to come to us, is laughable. It just is. The club have not only made realistic signings, they've gone far beyond what any of us can have reasonably expected, and criticising these buys because of some Championship Manager dream of persuading players like Meireles or Rio to play for us is on the verges of lunacy. There, I've said it!

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jamois added 17:53 - Sep 1 Clive, returning to the third comment of CJC above, I'd just like to say that I expect you to continue using words like lunatic, asylum, moron etc. This site thrives on not only your reporting but your opinion also. In my book, this must include irreverence, wit, sarcasm, darkness and light touch, as the occasion demands. All things which you have, in the few years I've been a follower if not a contributor, managed to balance perfectly well. Those too easily mediated into mundanity by the digital age, the easily offended or those without perspective in their lives, can bugger off and go read the official site or the Bleacher Report, a real belter that one.

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