Is it time to give up on the King?

[Cheltenham_Yid]

This may turn into a controversial post i know. I love Ledley King, he has been a rock for us at the back whenever he has played.

But this knee injury isn’t clearing up, and as Harry said if he had played at Aldershot the other night, it would have "ended" him there and then.

Should we look to move on from Ledders now, i think its time we bought a Replacement for him, not cover.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

no

 

[spurslenny]

didn't we go through all this last season?

 

[mil1lion]

He was excellent last season. No need to replace him, but we do need to have a couple of players coming through for the future. I think Dawson is more than capable for the time being, and Corluka can cover well at centre back too. But these things can be said for any player. We always have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. We've seen players pick up serious injuries that put them out for numerous months, no matter of their injury records. So its always important to have a good squad of players, and King is a very important part of our squad. If he's performing well, why think about replacing him?

 

[trevor_spanner]

On one hand i love him, he's class and an england player

on the other hand we have a piss head injury prone wages idiot on HUGE wages who nobody will sign because he is a crock

 

[NEVILLEB]

He shouldn't be counted in our 4 centre backs.

However if he's fit to play he should

 

[spursgirls]

Very hard one this. I'd play him every match he's able to play, but look upon him an a bonus to the squad, not the mainstay of the defence now. With Woodgate and Daws both fit, I don't worry if Ledley can't play, as I have confidence in the other two, but, as we have seen now, if they are injured too, we're in deep trouble. Effectively we have only 2 CBs,Woodgate and Daws , with Ledley sometimes able to play.
Much as I love Ledley, I can't help feeling he's near the end of the road, and that it could be counter productive to play him, as a constantly changing pairing isn't good good for the team. In an ideal world, he would be able to play every week, but we know this isn't realistic.
I think Harry has to see how he goes at the start of the season, and make a decision before January, if he doesn't get in another CB this transfer window.

 

[Shanks]

I've p[osted this exact thing the last 3 seasons now.

But he still plays at a decent bloody standard.
See how it pans out I guess, if he can play, then great, if not, give hima coaching role or something.

 

[fazza]

I think we should build a starting 11 without him, it's a bonus then if and when he is fit, could be used more as a luxury player, I agree though that this cannot go on and on.

 

[Winchy85]

Can an Admin set up an auto Ledley King thread that pops up once every couple of months so we can debate this again where he debate in general ends up, fuck me he's our best defender by a long way and when he's fit we all want him to start because he is god like at the back.

 

[Fordy]

At every pre season i think we should replace him but then he plays and hes fucking awesome. how the hell he still keeps that fantastic 1st touch after not touching a ball all week is beyond me.

 

[spurslenny]

the Ledley situation is a perfect oppotunity to promote a younger CB from within, i.e Dervite. He could learn first hand from Ledley and fill in as the 4th choice CB when King's rested/injured.

He's on the OS as a first team player now, so i reckon this is what's gonna happen.

 

[hybridsoldier]

No team in the league has this situation, its damaging the club.

When Ledley plays we normally win and often keep a clean sheet. Without him we have one of the more error-prone and horrible defences in the league. 1 game a week is good enough for us. But then we got this problem every summer when he is off for however long and comes back and we are struggling with how to get him back to the level he can play again.

Its a lose-lose situation. You can't tell him to stop playing at his age, if you release him its horrible PR and not fair on the guy. If this carries on its just damaging consistency and a big problem.

One thing I am hopeful of is that Harry is never scared about trying youngsters and giving them a chance so I think we will see more of Dervitte.

 

[raf18]

kind of agree with you but he is too good to let go at the mo. maybe next season. i'd rather have him every other games or every 3 games than have dawson replace him. we need to get a top class realistic replacement if that is even possible

 

[Coyboy]

I've p[osted this exact thing the last 3 seasons now.

But he still plays at a decent bloody standard.
See how it pans out I guess, if he can play, then great, if not, give hima coaching role or something.

I find that difficult to believe. His knee problems started in the summer of 2006 but there was no one who knew it was a chronic condition. It has only been since 2008 that it was clear he could only play every so often.

 

[EZSpur]

the Ledley situation is a perfect oppotunity to promote a younger CB from within, i.e Dervite. He could learn first hand from Ledley and fill in as the 4th choice CB when King's rested/injured.

He's on the OS as a first team player now, so i reckon this is what's gonna happen.

Actually mate, i'd go as far as suggesting that Ledley should be our 4th choice option and that we should bump up someone like Dervitte (or even someone we possibly buy in ie Distin) to 3rd option.

In this way, we won't neccessarily be replaceing Ledders - in fact he'd still be an integral part of the CB options, but it would allow him lots of rest for games (possibly key games), aswell as allow players like Dervitte to gain more 1st team experience.

Ledders is still The King, but even he must realise that it can't be good for our team if he only plays once every 2-3 weeks and without training aswell.

It was a very different game back in the days when Paul McGrath did the same thing for Villa, but nowadays its all about pace and power, so truthfully, how long can Ledley keep it up!

I really really hate to say it, but Ledley, you gotta take a step back!!

 

[Shanks]

I find that difficult to believe. His knee problems started in the summer of 2006 but there was no one who knew it was a chronic condition. It has only been since 2008 that it was clear he could only play every so often.

It may have been 3 posts about this over a couple of seasons then, if you want to nit pick ;-)

Still, I posted a few posts about King, not being captain was the first, second about maybe getting rid of him.

Each time, he has come back to play very well.

I still have reservations though, for the team to get consistant at the back, I really am not sure, such a unique situation.

 

[The Original Yiddster]

dont need to give up on him but need to ensure we have a quality CB cover who is good enough to keep King out when he is fit otherwise you just have a holding player who knows he will be out as soon a King recovers and that wont drive the level of performance required

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Actually mate, i'd go as far as suggesting that Ledley should be our 4th choice option and that we should bump up someone like Dervitte (or even someone we possibly buy in ie Distin) to 3rd option.

In this way, we won't neccessarily be replaceing Ledders - in fact he'd still be an integral part of the CB options, but it would allow him lots of rest for games (possibly key games), aswell as allow players like Dervitte to gain more 1st team experience.

Ledders is still The King, but even he must realise that it can't be good for our team if he only plays once every 2-3 weeks and without training aswell.

It was a very different game back in the days when Paul McGrath did the same thing for Villa, but nowadays its all about pace and power, so truthfully, how long can Ledley keep it up!

I really really hate to say it, but Ledley, you gotta take a step back!!

But when fit (forgetting the knee, just when he is fit ont he whole) he plays once a week, like last season.

That equates to around 32/33 league matches in an average season.

I think most of us would happily take that.

 

[Coyboy]

Getting a player who can keep King out when fit will be easy. Rio?