Tottenham are flying high at the moment and their form in unparalleled. Over the past 6 Premier League games, Tottenham have picked up all available 18 points. No other team in the Premier League can match that recent unbeaten streak and it has, of course, drawn plaudits. Since a condemning start to the Premier League campaign, which saw Spurs on the wrong end of a 3-0 and 5-1 loss to Manchester City and then their rivals Manchester United, Harry Redknapp’s men have only conceded a further eight goals. This means that half their total goals conceded came in those first two games. Since then, Tottenham have been unbeaten, winning 10 of their 11 since United and only Manchester City have gone unbeaten for longer this season. Rightly so then, Tottenham will go 2nd if they win their game in hand, leapfrogging Manchester United.
Missing those first two games of the season, in which Spurs let in 50% of their total conceded goals, was Ledley King. The Tottenham centre-back, a one-club man and club captain, missed his club’s pre-season tour of South Africa after yet another knee operation. Initially just a doubt for the planned season opener against Everton, King missed the first two games of the PL campaign, even though he was given an extra week due to the London Riots enforced postponement of the Everton clash. It was an all too familiar story for King and his fans. His recurrent lingering knee problems had again infringed his season, but come the third game of the season, he was back and so were Tottenham’s winning ways.
In Ledley King’s 9 starts this season, Spurs have conceded 5 goals. Comparable to conceding 13 without him in 4 games and 60 minutes of football, it is clear when Tottenham are better. When their captain is in the back four, they only concede once every 150 minutes of football; without him they let in a goal every 32.92 minutes. Their 428 minutes of playing time without King, are 428 minutes of poorer defending. His defensive ability and leadership of the back line is essential. Simply put, they’re defensively five times better when King is playing.
So does Tottenham’s skipper deserve a plane ticket to Poland & Ukraine next summer? Well, yes. Unfortunately though, his international career has arguably been even more hampered by injury than his club career. Along with his ever-present knee condition, King has suffered a fractured foot bone and a groin strain, which have both resulted in untimely departures from England camps. His regularity at the physio’s table has limited, “without doubt one of the best central defenders in England,” in Capello’s opinion, to a meagre 21 international caps.
no thanks, id much rather have ledley on a beach somewhere for 2 months in the off season and have him back a raring to go for (hopefully) our assault on the champs league next year! there are plenty of CB’s out there who can play every game, none of them are as good as ledley but who cares, its not like England have a chance of winning it anyway!
I can understand that views JMSPUR! He is definitely good enough for England though, isn’t he?
He’s the best defender in the premiership and has been for a long time , of course he is good enough. His injuries have prevented him from alot, he would be the first name on that England sheet. I kinda agree with Jmspur but if Ledley was picked and was willing I’d respect that decision. It would definatly make England better
If you were Capello there’s no way King could be in contention for any tournament footbal. I’m a Yid and I rate King as highly as anyone, but even I wouldn’t take him in a 23 man squad to a tournament with games played every 4/5 days. It’s a non starter for all the obvious reasons. 1 game per 6/7 days without any training is his upper limit. It’s been proven time and time again and he still seems to break down with groin problems and the like now and again. With my Yid hat on there’s no way I’d want to see him go and knacker himself again. He will certainly secure another contract with us if he stays fit for the next couple of months and that being the case he’s too valuable to have in the treatment room all next season like he has been in the past. Long live the King and COYS!
King has gone to two major tournaments with England, and has played two games. In Euro 2004 he played once (keeping Henry in his pocket) and then left the squad due to the birth of his baby. Six years later he gets picked (risky) for the World Cup and couldn’t even finish one game due to injury.
Fantastic player but with injuries and lack of training time just doesn’t make sense to take him.
Does he deserve it? Yes
Should he go and potentially end his career earlier than it should go? No
It’s better for his club career that he doesn’t go at all.
Have to agree with the Spurs fans here. He totally deserves to go, his quality is there for all to see. If i was a Spurs fan would i want him to go?….the answers NO. I would want him rested and fit the next season. I support my club first and would not want one of my teams best players playing in a tournament where there was a high chance he would break down.