rabbikeane
Well-Known Member
- Mar 29, 2005
- 6,994
- 12,837
Gallas has another year on his contract, while King and Nelsen are out of contract this summer
King OR Gallas? (next season)
- Thread starter Dan Ashcroft
- Start date
Jack2
SC Supporter
- Jul 28, 2006
- 1,624
- 276
Unfortunately this season has very clearly shown that King is not anymore top level CB in the Prem. So as much as I hate it, it's propably time for King to go, most likely to retire and find something else to do at Spurs! Gallas has a year left, so I think he will be at the Lane next season as well.
HappySpur
You Can't Unfry Things Jerri
- Jan 7, 2012
- 7,666
- 19,601
I would think with a year on his contract that keeping Gallas (who is starting to show his class after that long injury) is pretty much a good decision.
King is tricky though. And first and foremost.....I love Ledley. I don't go for this Modric or Berbatov or Ginola bias. Ledley King is the best player to put on our kit since Gazza. That makes him our best player during the Prem era. And while others might disagree, I doubt they would have Ledley too far off the top spot, just like I wouldn't have the 3 mentioned above too far off either. Plus he's an institution here. We don't get a lot of players that earn a testimonial in this era. It's important to respect and appreciate those that stick around this long and at such a high level. And while his knee has made him poor prematurely, it's that knee that allowed us to have one of the best defenders in the league for so long. He's truly a legend.
But he's losing it. Can he accept being a backup? Can he accept not being the highest paid? Does he have interest in coaching. I'd love to see him doing some coaching for us. Or maybe there are other roles. And if he could play on occasion during the transition from player to coach/other, then that would be excellent. But if he expects big pay and a starting place, then we have to respectfully let him go elsewhere. Kaboul is our #1. Caulker is ready. Hopefully Dawson returns. And if some young classy center-half wanted to join, I wouldn't be averse. So can we find a compromise (doesn't look likely) or do we need to find a respectful way to help him finish out his career for another club? If we do so properly, he'll come back one day in some role, I think. And he needs his testimonial.
I guess, I think the latter is more likely and it will hurt to see him wear another kit. But let's not burn the bridge if this is the ultimate outcome. And hopefully we can find someone close to his ability now that we are consistently top 6.
King is tricky though. And first and foremost.....I love Ledley. I don't go for this Modric or Berbatov or Ginola bias. Ledley King is the best player to put on our kit since Gazza. That makes him our best player during the Prem era. And while others might disagree, I doubt they would have Ledley too far off the top spot, just like I wouldn't have the 3 mentioned above too far off either. Plus he's an institution here. We don't get a lot of players that earn a testimonial in this era. It's important to respect and appreciate those that stick around this long and at such a high level. And while his knee has made him poor prematurely, it's that knee that allowed us to have one of the best defenders in the league for so long. He's truly a legend.
But he's losing it. Can he accept being a backup? Can he accept not being the highest paid? Does he have interest in coaching. I'd love to see him doing some coaching for us. Or maybe there are other roles. And if he could play on occasion during the transition from player to coach/other, then that would be excellent. But if he expects big pay and a starting place, then we have to respectfully let him go elsewhere. Kaboul is our #1. Caulker is ready. Hopefully Dawson returns. And if some young classy center-half wanted to join, I wouldn't be averse. So can we find a compromise (doesn't look likely) or do we need to find a respectful way to help him finish out his career for another club? If we do so properly, he'll come back one day in some role, I think. And he needs his testimonial.
I guess, I think the latter is more likely and it will hurt to see him wear another kit. But let's not burn the bridge if this is the ultimate outcome. And hopefully we can find someone close to his ability now that we are consistently top 6.
Spurger King
can't smile without glue
- Jul 22, 2008
- 43,881
- 95,149
Nelsen.
Kingstheman
No longer BSoDL
- Mar 13, 2006
- 5,831
- 2,991
Sad to say it but...
Gallas.
And I love King.
Gallas.
And I love King.
Spurs_Bear
Well-Known Member
- Jan 7, 2009
- 17,094
- 22,286
King's age has now caught up with him and his lack of training. That was truly awful to watch today, almost in a heartbreaking kind of way. He didn't even try to defend against Holt, he just turned it into a wrestling match, of which there was only going to be one winner. He now appears unable to turn up and play his wonder performances off the back of no training.
Sad case of affairs.
Sad case of affairs.
TheBlueRooster
Well-Known Member
- May 10, 2005
- 3,818
- 4,707
On recent form King looks as if he's past it. A true legend of the lane but you can't play someone out of respect. Id on't know how much Gallas has in the tank but out of the two I'd keep him.
Kingstheman
No longer BSoDL
- Mar 13, 2006
- 5,831
- 2,991
I agree wholeheartedly.
HappySpur
You Can't Unfry Things Jerri
- Jan 7, 2012
- 7,666
- 19,601
Maybe we should be rid of King, Nelson and Gallas and let the new man bring in some players he wants rather being forced to deal with Harry's plethora of winded geezers.
Kaboul and Caulker are a good start (plus Dawson if he heals). Let them build off that and save the wages that old players cost.
Kaboul and Caulker are a good start (plus Dawson if he heals). Let them build off that and save the wages that old players cost.
TEESSIDE1
Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
- Jul 3, 2006
- 15,293
- 19,123
Centre back is a major concern for us, King's finished, Gallas is a leader but constantly injured, Nelsen is only a short term fix, Kaboul looks lost without a leader next to him, Dawson is injury prone, Caulker although extremely talented, is only a young lad.
Next season we either need to keep Gallas fit or bring in another experienced centre back. Ideally and if we sign him, our 1st choice pairing should be Vertonghen and Kaboul, with Caulker, Dawson if he can stay fit and Gallas/a new experienced centre back.
seanwhite1961
Well-Known Member
- Nov 8, 2011
- 1,089
- 678
That was utterly shocking from King today. He looked completely out of his depth. It will be a miracle if he could recover from that for another season. His recent performances have been noticeably weak, and today he fell off a cliff. He looked like a player who knew exactly what to do, but didn't have the resources to do it.
HappySpur
You Can't Unfry Things Jerri
- Jan 7, 2012
- 7,666
- 19,601
Kaboul has been awesome this season and is a natural leader. The idea that he has ever looked lost without someone to guide him is laughable. He's actually carried the old players this year. And the idea that experience is some justifiable and measurable number that can be used to make your squad better is antiquated. It has been thoroughly disproven by the way all of Harry's experienced players have folded like wilted lettuce this year. The qualities you want: determinism, leadership, confidence, are attributes of individuals and not attributes of age.
TheGreenLily
"I am Shodan"
- Aug 5, 2009
- 12,023
- 8,699
It hurts to read these comments about King.
It hurts even more to agree with them.
Yup, been saying it for a long time and today I think was the final nail in his coffin.
Been truly amazing the fight he has shown for us and the love of the club, but it is football and has to come to end one day. Although, the youth team are going to get a good coach if he decides to go down that route
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
- Jun 13, 2008
- 21,900
- 32,611
I dont want to say anything bad about the guy, and yes none of our players played well today and in the back four Walker, Kaboul and Ekotto looked shaky and made countless mistakes but... King stood out a mile as being the poorest and it was sad to watch. I was kinda glad that we didnt have any more subs left because to sub him off for poor performance (which may well have happened) I think would have been almost heartbreaking to witness.
jonathanhotspur
Loose Cannon
- Jun 28, 2009
- 10,292
- 8,250
He won't step down though, will he?
BringBack_leGin
Well-Known Member
- Jul 28, 2004
- 27,719
- 54,929
We're fans, we're allowed to be sentimental. A football club who needs to move on cannot be sentimental. King has been poor all season I'm afraid and today was as poor a performance as I can ever remember from him. It isn't his fault, I'll always love him, but we can't keep him. He's just not able to anymore I'm afraid. Do like we did with Walker and accelerate Caulker towards the first team via testing him with Kaboul in pre season. No more King I'm afraid, he just can't give us what he needs anymore. As for Gallas, I wouldn't want him to be first choice owing to his age and injury problems, but I see no harm in one more season from him. King's use to us has sadly come to an end though, and I don't want to end up seeing his time with us tarnished by him lingering too long in a first team in which he does not belong.
Gary Neville retired in the middle of a season after realising he couldn't hack it anymore, when he was lucky not to be sent off in two consecutive matches for challenges where his body just wouldn't let him time it properly. King might not be retirement age, but he is in retirement condition.
Gary Neville retired in the middle of a season after realising he couldn't hack it anymore, when he was lucky not to be sent off in two consecutive matches for challenges where his body just wouldn't let him time it properly. King might not be retirement age, but he is in retirement condition.
