Is it right/fair that King plays in big games?

[theShiznit]

with all the talk about King, and the fact that he has himself admitted that he hasn't been training and will more than likely not be fully fit until next season ray:

is it fair that other players who will undoubtedly feature prominantly over the remaining weeks of the season are simply cast aside, for a player who has not trained and is not fully fit?

this could cause resentment amongst his team mates.

Don't get me wrong i think Ledley is head and shoulders above every defender at the club (even Woodgate) and love him more than the Bible allows but i know if i was a Dawson or a Kaboul, and i had done all this extra training that Ramos has asked for and played my heart out in matches to be left out for the important games would leave a bitter taste.

also what constitutes a big game now? is it purely Uefa cup games or Liverpool, Chavski in the league do they count?

Personally i would pick King for as many games as is physically possible without doing him any harm, but looking at it from another perspective it does seem a tad harsh :shrug:

 

[Chris12345]

yeah this thought crossed my mind... i just guess that Daws/Kaboul/Rocha etc know that King is club captain/"the man"...

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

is it fair that other players who will undoubtedly feature prominantly over the remaining weeks of the season are simply cast aside, for a player who has not trained and is not fully fit?

this could cause resentment amongst his team mates.

But who are these players?

Michael Dawson, been error-prone, seems to be lacking confidence and hasn't had a good season. Some fans would sell him for a can of diet coke.

Richardo Rocha, probably too busy wondering why he doesn't make the bench.

Younes Kaboul, given plenty of chances this season and made numerous errors, and not looked the business, at least not yet. Young and does not have any right to be pissed at being benched.

Tom Huddlestone, a midfielder
Didier Zokora, a midfielder

Ledley King has proved this season that he doesn't need match fitness as much as most other players. He can not play (and not train as rumored) for a month but still step up and play the game of his life, in A CUP FINAL! I know no other bigger legend.

 

[lennon321g]

if dawson/kaboul started yesterday we would have lost.No doubt in my mind

 

[bomberH]

I was thinking about this earlier and couldn't come to a reasonable conclusion, so i watched some online porn. I still have no idea if it will create bad feelings amongst the squad, but my ballbags are now empty.

Ok, i've thought about it and you're right about everything. We should play King in the important games because, as he proved yesterday, he can play immensely on a monthly basis. And yes, i'm sure Kaboul and Dawson will feel pretty shit about it but they probably accept the situation cos they know just how damn good he is.

But remember, Woody has played something like an average of 20 games a season in his career, which surely means they'll be plenty of opportunity for others to come in.

All depends on what happens with King. I'd be tempted to rest him for the rest of the season if his knee's still playing up. We're in Europe, get him 100% ready and if it's still fucked and he has to semi retire, then do so next season and become a player coach type thingy, only playing when absolutely necessary.

 

[theShiznit]

Well he (Ledley) seems to think he will completely heal and will sue anyone who says otherwise (perhaps he'll even fight ya :wink

it would not be such a gamble to play him in Uefa either as we are allowed more subs to cover the possiblity of Ledders retiring hurt (cricket term don't sue me)

 

[speccy_spur]

As Hoddle said on Sky, Ledley is a 'Rolls Royce'. Keep him safely tucked away and only bring him out for special occasions when he will always be a class above. This is the way it is for this season - I would play King in the Uefa cup only from now on and perhaps the vital last game or two in the league. Then strict rest and recuperation for the summer, no tour with the team, feet up and a cup of tea only (no sugar of course). Then he's 100% for next season as we push for top 4!

The other CBs are smart enough to know that he is the best there is, no arguement.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

It's good that England aren't doing anything of note this summer. Capello would doubtless have wanted Ledders for all the games (2 a week) and it could have set him back hugely. Hopefully he'll now have a nice rest and be fit enough for a weekly game next season.

 

[Wellspurs]

As Hoddle said on Sky, Ledley is a 'Rolls Royce'. Keep him safely tucked away and only bring him out for special occasions when he will always be a class above. This is the way it is for this season - I would play King in the Uefa cup only from now on and perhaps the vital last game or two in the league. Then strict rest and recuperation for the summer, no tour with the team, feet up and a cup of tea only (no sugar of course). Then he's 100% for next season as we push for top 4!

The other CBs are smart enough to know that he is the best there is, no arguement.

I thought it was Jamie Redknapp who said King was like a Rolls Royce?
League position is less vital now we have qualified for Europe, so put him in cotton wool and saving for UEFA FINAL.

 

[Marty]

Of course it is. Ledley can be the difference between victory and defeat (and he pretty much was v Chelski), and the whole team knows that.

As pointed out already, Kaboul's still learning his trade in this country, Dawson is error-prone, though not so much when beside Woody or King, Rocha doesn't seem to be in Ramos' plans at all and Huddlestone and Zokora are essentially midfielders who can do a job at the back if necessary.

 

[fortworthspur]

Is it right/fair that King plays in big games?

oh hell yes.

 

[Teemu]

No, absolutely not. Burn him at the stake and recall Gardner from his loan.

 

[Pinto]

If Dawson and Kaboul were good enough we would just put King on the shelf and get him totally healed but they aren't so King comes in and plays the game of his life, hard to argue against him if he plays like that.

I keep thinking about all the points we gave away this year while King wasn't playing, we really would be 5th or 6th right now if he was healthy all year and playing like the first year Santini/Jol was in charge.

Very happy about Woodgate getting a cup win as well, quality player also ravaged by injury. If both Woodgate and King are healthy for long stretches next year, Spurs will have a great shot at top 4 IMO.

I am just very excited about the future. :hump: Lets not worry about how some backups feel about losing their place because of their poor play, now if they had played outstanding this year then maybe I would be more outraged but they didn't so I'm not.

 

[Kyras]

I can see why it wouldn't be just to play King, however, as others have said, he's Ledley King; the best central defender in the world. Centre back is probably the most important position on the pitch against the biggest teams.

Also, I'm sure Kaboul was probably grateful that he wasn;t playing against Drogba and Anelka.

And Dawson and Kaboul hvae gotta be grateful for their medals which Ledley helped win.

 

[guiltyparty]

It's not fair, no, but then life isn't fair. It wasn't fair always picking the small, speccy kid last in PE, but everyone did it. Because they wanted to win. So do we. So King gets the special treatment. Sorted

 

[Defsta]

oh hell yes.

Seconded.



Ledley makes the difference when/if we are going to beat big clubs.

 

[davros]

- Rocha couldn't have expected to be picked after barely featuring for Ramos.
- Kaboul was on the bench and played for almost 30 minutes - he cant have any complaints.
- Dawson hasn't been in great form and, although he may have played a blinder had he started, we know from experience that King is the more competent, reliable player.

Ramos did exactly what he was hired to do. He managed the team superbly in recent weeks to ensure that we fielded strong enough teams to pick up points in the league, make progress in Europe, and, most importantly, reach and win a very difficult cup final, cementing our place in Europe again next season and putting some silverware in the cabinet.

Fair? Yes, of course it is. The season isn't just about our big games. If our best players are available and fit for a big game it would be foolish not to play them in favour of players who have put in more hours on the field and in training but simply aren't as good. Dawson is still young enough to have potentially many finals ahead of him. If he develops into an incredibly solid and reliable defender he can play himself higher up the pecking order.

 

[Berbati]

Everything good for the team is right/fair.

 

[edson]

We should treat King the same way that Villa use to use Paul McGrath let him train when he wants and rest when he needs to and play him when he is fit. King is that gifted you just have to let him get on with it On his day King is one of the best defenders in world football and I'm not over exaggerating i have only seen him have one bad game for England and that was when he was put in midfield against Reqelme who we all know is one of the best passers in world football.One more thing King should be made to Sign a pay as you play contract.

 

[N10toN17]

We have a squad, Ramos picks who the hell he likes and when the King is available he plays because he's very special.