Harry Redknapp backs Ledley King for World Cup spot

[mawspurs]

Source: BBC

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says centre-back Ledley King deserves to be in England's World Cup squad despite his injury problems.

Redknapp believes King, 29, is ideal cover for John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, even though his club appearances are restricted by persistent knee troubles.

"You'd take him to the World Cup all day long - he's that good," said the Spurs boss.

King, who has 19 caps, was last called up to the England squad in March 2009.

But that decision angered Redknapp at the time, who said King could not play two games in a week. England boss Fabio Capello later allowed the defender to leave the squad, having had his medical team assess him.

Redknapp later said there was no disagreement between him and the Italian and said King could play for England if he was rested properly between games.

And the Spurs boss has re-iterated his stance that King, who has played 14 times for Spurs this season, could prove crucial to England's plans in South Africa.

Redknapp said: "He's special - that's why when he's fit, I play him.

"He's desperate to play for England. If you lose Terry or Rio, you know he's going to come in and do a job for you.

"If you are in the semi-final and you have a suspension, you can bring him in."

King, who has been made Tottenham captain again following Robbie Keane's loan move to Celtic, is unable to play matches in quick succession because of his knee problems.

Capello has said he will not take unfit players to the World Cup finals in South Africa, putting places for the likes of goalkeeper David James and Ferdinand in doubt.

However, the Italian may have to re-evaluate his stance should injury problems persist for England's centre-backs.

Ferdinand has only played nine games for his club this season because of a long-standing back problem, while Redknapp has said that Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate could miss the rest of the season with a groin injury.

[sharky127]

Lets just get him fit for us please Harry, keep the carrot of the WC dangling in front of him and keep him fit for the rum in to our most important season in donkeys years!

I can't actually see Capello taking him though even though he does rate a fit King as Englands best CB, he's not a risk taker!

[spurdownunder]

3 games in a week? Doubt it.
Would love to see Ledders win the world Cup though!

[shelfsider]

who better to wear the captains arm band, better than any of the rest

[UbeAstard]

Any sensible England manager would be taking Dawson over LK at the moment.

[1882andallthat]

As good as Ledley is when he is fit there is just no way on earth Capello is going to be taking a player who will probably not be in a position to play consecutive games in quick succession, added to the fact that Ferdinand will be coming back from a long lay off.

You would also have to factor in that if Ledley started a game, then its just as likely that he would have to be substituted in the last 15 -20 mins of a high pressure game as has happened on many of the occasions when he has started for us this season. (Thats virtually haing to set aside one of the three substitutions in a game to start with, and in the knock out stages that would count against England as you would also have to factor in the likelehood of extra time)

Despite his undoubted ability, Capello will be unwilling to take the risk for these reasons alone.

[JimmyG2]

If you had to put a player in for a one off game because of injury, in say the semi final who would you pick, Ledley, Dawson, Upson or whoever?
Ledley is not 'unfit' in Capello's terms. He has a medical condition which makes it difficult for him to play frequently. But I notice that he played twice in five days recently and 3 times in eleven days missing only the Leeds match.
As the best centre half in England, even now, he would be a better choice as one of the four centre halves that will be taken, than some others who are not as good.
I thought that he was excellent against Villa as captain co-ordinating the back four, giving Bale the freedom to roam by his covering play. He makes a difficult job look deceptively easy.
Take him Mr' Capello, you know you want to.

[JuanRebelde]

Yes, let him go to SA but don't be surprised if we don't see him play again until months into the season 'Arry.

[1882andallthat]

If you had to put a player in for a one off game because of injury, in say the semi final who would you pick, Ledley, Dawson, Upson or whoever?
Ledley is not 'unfit' in Capello's terms. He has a medical condition which makes it difficult for him to play frequently. But I notice that he played twice in five days recently and 3 times in eleven days missing only the Leeds match.
As the best centre half in England, even now, he would be a better choice as one of the four centre halves that will be taken, than some others who are not as good.
I thought that he was excellent against Villa as captain co-ordinating the back four, giving Bale the freedom to roam by his covering play. He makes a difficult job look deceptively easy.
Take him Mr' Capello, you know you want to.
History in previous World Cups tells us that a decision to take a player who you can't be sure will either break down with an injury or have an adverse reaction to a pre-existing condition will usually end up backfiring, Robson, Owen, Beckham, even to some extent Rooney, to mention a few all spring to mind. If we took four central defenders and one of them was Ledley, if one picked up an injury in the group stages that leaves 3 including Ledley, who could be called upon if one of the others is carried off in a game.

Its a fact beyond dispute that we can never fully predict what games he will be available for in our season. Over such a short space of time in a World Cup you just cannot leave that sort of thing to chance, knowing his availability is a risk before he even gets on the plane. Its is true that he has featured recently in 3 games over 11 days but it is equally true that he has been unavailable for 2, 3 or even more games at a time. Sorry I have to disagree on this occasion JimmyG2 but its the one position where have the luxury of at least a string of other more than decent alternatives to chose from. (I agree they may not be quite in the same class as King but the alternatives are more than adequate).