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Search forFerdinand leaves West Ham for Sunderland
Thursday, August 28, 2008, 09:02
The 23-year-old centre-back refused a new deal at West Ham this summer, leaving the club with little choice but to cash in.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane said he was 'delighted' to capture the signature of Ferdinand - who underwent a medical will at the Stadium of Light yesterday (Tuesday).
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is resigned to selling Ferdinand but said the loss of another defender will leave him short of options.
"We're a bit thin on the ground," said Curbishley. "We've got injuries to James Collins, James Tomkins and Danny Gabbidon and Jonathan Spector at the moment – people that can play that position. So we are thin at the moment. But the board have accepted the bid so we move on and take things from there.
"If you're a manager you manage what you've got and I'm confident that when I get the people fit we've got enough people in enough positions – we've got cover - but at the moment we haven't got them fit, so we'll have to cope with that."
Even a fit Anton Ferdinand would not have been able to save Hammers fans from a thoroughly miserable trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
West Ham were completely outplayed by Mark Hughes' side – who have struggled themselves recently.
West Ham could have been two goals down before half time but thanks to the post and the cross bar the score remained level after 45 minutes.
However, Hammers midfielder Mark Noble was dismissed shortly before the break for two yellow card offences – one hand ball and one bad tackle.
From the moment he left the field West Ham's fate was sealed and it was only a matter of how many goals City would score. In the end they managed three without reply.
Another concern for Alan Curbishley was the injury which forced Carlton Cole of in the first half. His substitution for Freddie Sears meant that West Ham's only two fit strikers – Sears and Dean Ashton – were on the pitch.
Sears will probably start tonight against Macclesfield in the Carling Cup but Ashton may well be rested ahead of the visit of Blackburn Rovers in the league on Saturday.
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