Should King or the club back down?

[bigturnip]

So, we've heard talk over the past couple of months that King is refusing to sign a pay-as-you-play contract and wants a 1 year rolling contract, but Levy seems to be playing hardball and refusing to give it to him.

I'm genuinely torn over this one.

On the one hand Ledley has been an outstanding servant to our club, surely even if he doesn't play a single game next season a 1 year deal is just a loyalty bonus for his years of service without ever wanting to go anywhere else, I mean it's not like he's cost us anything in the transfer market, so surely we can afford to give him the benefit of the doubt and award him a 1 year contract and see how it goes. The reason why I'm not that fussed if he doesn't even take to the field is that surely just having him around the team and dressing room has got to be worth something to the club, he has got so much to offer and to potentially lose him, and any future he may have at the club as a coach, over a years wages seems to me a little shortsighted from the club.

On the other hand the club did offer him a new 2 year contract in 2010, when they knew of all his knee problems, maybe that could be seen as his loyalty play off. They have stuck by him and allowed him to train and effectively play whenever he feels like it, when no other club would have taken him on. The club could easily have written him off 4 or 5 years ago, collected the insurance pay out and gone looking elsewhere for a replacement, but they stuck by him and gave him every opportunity to make his way back into the team. Then you have to look at it with your head and not your heart, take the loyalty out of the equation for a minute and is it really conceivable that a player in Ledley's condition would be offered a 1 year rolling deal at any other high level football club? His performances of late seem to have become more inconsistent, he still puts in a good shift and the odd world class performance, but his lack of pace and fitness does seem to be effecting his performances more regularly as time goes on.

I really don't know which side of the fence I fall on this one, my heart says give him the contract, repay him for his loyalty and give him another season to see if he can get back any kind of consistency in his performances. My head on the other hand says he is simply a liability and distraction we could do without.

So would you offer him the 1 year deal or stick to only offering the pay-as-you-play deal?

 

[adiepf]

king is a god to me & far from finished imo but....

he has to take a pay as you play deal & in all honest y i think he will!

 

[spursphil]

Get him on the coaching staff with a dual coaching and playing contract, i think its important we keep him at the club, all the staff look up to him.

 

[dontcallme]

I think it's important we treat the best servents to our club well. You can't expect the players to show loyalty to the club if we treat players who have been here from start to finish like a business transaction.

The question over King is simple. Does he make the 25 man squad? If yes, then he gets a one year contract. If no, then we offer him a suitable role within the club.

 

[onthetwo]

i dont buy all the loyalty crap to be honest, we need as good a squad as we can possibly afford with no passengers. For me, if we're talking about having an experienced winner around the team to help with the mental stuff when its get to squeaky bum time then surely we should go for Gallas instead of Ledley. I know that will sound harsh given his history but if we're looking to make the next step then we need proven winners in the squad not old-boys who have grown up with the mediocrity. Much as i love him i think we need to move on.

 

[Singaspursofsixspence]

i think he could do with a Mr Tottenham role like Gary Mabbutt....at the very least he deserves some sort of Spurs Ambassador role.

 

[Kingstheman]

Yes, if there is a capacity as a player coach, then get him in.

Working with the defensive side of the club’s coaching staff and playing with new players in less important matches like the League Cup (Europa, if we get it) and F.A Cup against lower league teams/during fixture pile up is a possibility (particularly given how many Centre halfs we will have to shift soon). It is the ’20 games a season’ he can’t do. I am sure he can manage a number like that spread out over a season, rather than specifically 20 league games.

Allow him to move into coaching, whilst still getting the player experience.

Amongst many other things the club needs to do, getting higher grade players who want to stay at the club for life and to go from school boy to coach and keep the club's culture going strong as an example (boot-room of sorts...?) is one way we can emulate some of the biggest of clubs in Europe.

 

[Damian99]

Sadly his knee injury and lack of being able to train regularly have taken their toll on King. This doesn't take away what a great player he has been and our best CB for, well probably ever. Again sadly i feel we must look at someone now who can give us another good few years service, probably to partner Kaboul. King must stay at the club in a coaching capacity but just because he's been loyal and a great servant, doesn't mean Tottenham have to keep playing him if his time has come. He's only going to decline over the next season, i can't see how anyone could expect any different. Too many fans make decisions based on what their heart tells them, well if that was the case i would want Hoddle, Waddle, Roberts and many others picking every week aswell.

 

[JimmyG2]

I'm afraid Ledley's recent performances have made his bargaining position hopeless
He needs to be treated well by the club but in a non-playing position.
I don't know whether he has started working for his coaching badges
but it could be in his and the club's best interest if he did.

Quit while you are ahead in the minds of the Spurs fans Ledley and start a new career at WHL.

 

[Spurvert]

He's a legend, no doubt about it.

I think the best way forward is to offer him a role in a coaching/playing capacity, pay him whatever the going rate is for a coach and then pay as you play if he does make an appearance.

One thing I do know is, regardless of his status and adoration from all of us, our reliance on him when fit really needs to be minimised next season.

 

[Spursidol]

He's a legend, no doubt about it.

I think the best way forward is to offer him a role in a coaching/playing capacity, pay him whatever the going rate is for a coach and then pay as you play if he does make an appearance.

One thing I do know is, regardless of his status and adoration from all of us, our reliance on him when fit really needs to be minimised next season.

Agreed - providing there is room in the 25 man squad.

Besides which if he can play, a pay as you go contract is not small money, almost certainly £1m+ pa for one game a week rather than two games - and he certainly shouldn't be short of a bob or two (probably paid £30,000+ for 10 years or £15m before tax - enabling him financially to never work again if he so chose : beyond the reach of 99% of other people),

 

[lillywhites61]

He has to e brought into the coaching set up at some point if of course that is what he wants? He reads the game so well that I am sure he will make a magnificent coach. He is very level headed and seems a positive type as well, he has had to be with all his injuries. These are all good traights to have as a manager or coach.

For me 1 more year but as a coach as well.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think this needs to wait until we know what is happening with the manager. A new coach may see him as surplus to requirements.

Personally I think he is losing the battle now and is pretty much finished, and should take it upon himself to retire at the end of the season. As it seems he thinks he can carry on then it may come down to the club having to push him out the door, which wouldnt be the ideal way of doing things.

 

[BPR_U16]

He is a legend - but he needs to leave with us wanting more not less. If he feels then he cannot contribute on the pitch to the same levels he has in the past then he has to stand down.

Then if he can assist with the coaching great, but generally a coach needs to get round a pitch - can he do this on a regular basis?

 

[Krafty]

If he doesn't get a contract with us his career must surely be over?

To expect the club to pay tens of thousands a week for a player who struggles to play one in two is foolish, to expect the club to pay tens of thousands a week for a player who, when he does play, doesn't perform exceptionally, is utter madness.

I want Ledley to stay, and whatever happens I hope he stays involved with Spurs either through coaching or community/match day work, but his performances in 2012 have been pretty poor. If it was Bassong we would be crying out for him to be sold.

Sorry Ledders, but the club holds all the cards.

 

[brasil_spur]

Love King. Have so much respect for him as a player. But his time has come to an end, farewell.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

So, we've heard talk over the past couple of months that King is refusing to sign a pay-as-you-play contract and wants a 1 year rolling contract, but Levy seems to be playing hardball and refusing to give it to him.

I'm genuinely torn over this one.

On the one hand Ledley has been an outstanding servant to our club, surely even if he doesn't play a single game next season a 1 year deal is just a loyalty bonus for his years of service without ever wanting to go anywhere else, I mean it's not like he's cost us anything in the transfer market, so surely we can afford to give him the benefit of the doubt and award him a 1 year contract and see how it goes. The reason why I'm not that fussed if he doesn't even take to the field is that surely just having him around the team and dressing room has got to be worth something to the club, he has got so much to offer and to potentially lose him, and any future he may have at the club as a coach, over a years wages seems to me a little shortsighted from the club.

On the other hand the club did offer him a new 2 year contract in 2010, when they knew of all his knee problems, maybe that could be seen as his loyalty play off. They have stuck by him and allowed him to train and effectively play whenever he feels like it, when no other club would have taken him on. The club could easily have written him off 4 or 5 years ago, collected the insurance pay out and gone looking elsewhere for a replacement, but they stuck by him and gave him every opportunity to make his way back into the team. Then you have to look at it with your head and not your heart, take the loyalty out of the equation for a minute and is it really conceivable that a player in Ledley's condition would be offered a 1 year rolling deal at any other high level football club? His performances of late seem to have become more inconsistent, he still puts in a good shift and the odd world class performance, but his lack of pace and fitness does seem to be effecting his performances more regularly as time goes on.

I really don't know which side of the fence I fall on this one, my heart says give him the contract, repay him for his loyalty and give him another season to see if he can get back any kind of consistency in his performances. My head on the other hand says he is simply a liability and distraction we could do without.

So would you offer him the 1 year deal or stick to only offering the pay-as-you-play deal?

Would your employer pay your £5m to sit at home on gardening leave for the last year before your retirement as a loyalty bonus. Or would they buy you a shit carriage clock and be fully occupied cooing over your bright young thing successor before you'd got out the door?

 

[danielneeds]

Whatever happens, I hope Levy is treating the guy with real respect and love. That doesn't mean he is entitled to a free contract, but he is entitled to being treated well. He has put his body on the line playing for us, he probably will be hobbling around with a walking stick when he gets older as his knee deteriorates.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Yes, if there is a capacity as a player coach, then get him in.

Working with the defensive side of the club’s coaching staff and playing with new players in less important matches like the League Cup (Europa, if we get it) and F.A Cup against lower league teams/during fixture pile up is a possibility (particularly given how many Centre halfs we will have to shift soon). It is the ’20 games a season’ he can’t do. I am sure he can manage a number like that spread out over a season, rather than specifically 20 league games.

Allow him to move into coaching, whilst still getting the player experience.

Amongst many other things the club needs to do, getting higher grade players who want to stay at the club for life and to go from school boy to coach and keep the club's culture going strong as an example (boot-room of sorts...?) is one way we can emulate some of the biggest of clubs in Europe.

I love King. But I've never seen anything in him that makes me think he'd make a coach.

Gallas, Parker and vdV yes. But King's just not got the right personality. He has always led by example, not words.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

king is a god to me & far from finished imo but....

he has to take a pay as you play deal & in all honest y i think he will!

Fucks sake adie, show come consistency! King has been crap lately, where's the 'sell him' thread?

I reckon he deserves a PAYP deal as the minimum.