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We need to talk about Ledley

2 min read
by The Fighting Cock
This is going to be painful to type. For all Spurs fans there are a number of difficult issues to confront at the end of a rollercoaster season: was fourth place an under or overachievement? Will Levy get the cheque book out? Can the club afford to allow another Modric saga to drag on throughout […]

This is going to be painful to type. For all Spurs fans there are a number of difficult issues to confront at the end of a rollercoaster season: was fourth place an under or overachievement? Will Levy get the cheque book out? Can the club afford to allow another Modric saga to drag on throughout the summer? Some are even debating whether Harry deserves another season to push the team forward.

However, for me one issue looms over all others: what to do about Ledders.

On the one hand, the club captain’s dedication and heroic performances in the shirt since his debut against Liverpool in 1999 (as a left-back… replacing Stephen Clemence!) grant him more leeway than any other recent player when it comes to making his own decision about his future. He rightly holds iconic status at Spurs. A top-class player from the youth set-up who didn’t become Judas.

[typography font=”PT Sans” size=”20″ size_format=”px” color=”#222222[/linequote]For five seasons he has miraculously managed the situation with his knee. Ledley is a thoroughbred, but if he was racehorse then he’d have been put out to stud by now.[/typography]

On the other hand, his waning contributions to the side have been all too apparent this season. It would be crass to present a litany of examples of this. Suffice to say it is inconceivable that the Ledley King of previous seasons would have been turned by an opposing player the way he was (decisively) by Balotelli at the end of the 3-2 defeat to Man City in January. Like I said, this is painful to type.

For five seasons he has miraculously managed the situation with his knee. Ledley is a thoroughbred, but if he was racehorse then he’d have been put out to stud by now. He has just undergone another round of knee surgery to prolong his career. This by no means suggests though that another season is guaranteed. Talks over a new contract have yet to take place and Levy is currently busy negotiating with Ajax over the transfer of another central defender: Jan Vertonghen.

As you can now tell, I am leaning towards gently ushering the out-of-contract 31 year old towards retirement. An argument can be made that it’s the humane thing to do for all concerned. For Ledley himself, another season or two placing his body under the rigours of top-level football could do serious damage to his long-term mobility. For the fans, it is better to remember the Rolls-Royce version of our Dear Leader before those memories are displaced by less rosy images.

Too few sportsmen and women quit while they’re ahead. In the world of boxing Joe Calzaghe will be remembered as a true great who bowed out at the top of his game. This list of boxers who hung on past their prime is depressingly long.

Give Ledley a coaching role so he can instil his defensive tactical acumen on the next generation. Organise a testimonial against a European heavyweight. Most of all, allow him to present it as his decision to call it a day, he deserves as much.

garpattAuthor: garpat
Twitter: @garpatt

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10 Comments

  1. dvc
    21/05/2012 @ 10:23 am

    Before you write Ledley off I suggest you look at the stats when he has played. Also Baloteeli’s penalty was due to Kaboul not marking him, Ledley was trying to make a recovery tackle.

  2. LarryYid
    21/05/2012 @ 10:26 am

    I disagree – He made a very significant contribution the season, Although he did suffer a rare dip in form towards the end, otherwise he was very impressive! He is 3 years younger than Gallas too!! Keep him on a pay per play deal. if he gives us 10/15 games, its well worth it imo

  3. abe
    21/05/2012 @ 10:29 am

    sorry dvc. Ledley was marking Balotelli and he lost the first challenge, Balotelli got into a shooting position and ledley brough him down. I think we all realise that King has reached the end of the road. Something happened around jan/feb that just pushed him over. Yes, he was fantastic in the first half but his performances against Arsenal and more importantly Norwich was really poor. I supported Ledley after the Man City game, and even after Arsenal (where I reckon Harry got his tactics really wrong) but Ledley’s performances after that was not great. Kaboul and Gallas ended up being our preferred option

  4. Matt
    21/05/2012 @ 10:44 am

    Guys – get off Ledley’s back. He has earnt the benefit of our doubt for a while yet.

    Yes – He was at fault for the Balotelli Pen. One of very few faults in his career and he only found himself in that position due to a push in the back when going for the initial header. Wouldnt have had to try to make the recovery tackle from which the penalty was given if it wasn’t for that.

    Yes – towards the end of the season he put in a few very poor performances. I said after watching the games, “there is something not right with Ledley” this is not how he plays, no matter how low his form has dipped…….

    So I was not shocked at all when a week or 2 later it came out that he had been playing with an injury on top of his usual knee issues. So Ade – that is your answer, something DID happen around Feb and yet he carried on trying to play when most probably would have refused. If Gallas / Dawson were fit then he wouldnt have needed to, he could have had a few games rest.

    He was great earlier in the season and it was being mentioned how much better we were looking as a team now that Ledley was getting a run in the team…

  5. BartSpur
    21/05/2012 @ 10:46 am

    Ledders will always be a legend at Spurs but it’s time to stop or ‘pay as you play’. He’s the greatest centre back never to regularly represent his country. A brilliant defender, & his time is up way too soon. But nothing is going to get his knees better or make him fit enough to take on the young, speedy, agile strikers. He can’t be first choice any more. Vertonghen to take his place for me.

  6. TheNess
    21/05/2012 @ 11:56 am

    This topic depresses me more than any other. I’ve watched the King since his youth and now I’m torn between head and heart. Pay per play seems an obvious route, if he accepts it. Maybe though it’s time to pass on his knowledge to the up-and-coming Ledleys. Thank god it’s not my decision. The man is a legend and deserves to be treated as such by the club. Have to say I look forward to his testimonial though!

  7. 2P8G
    21/05/2012 @ 1:10 pm

    He should stroll into a coaching role at the club. But I don’t see why this has to be the end of his playing career full stop. Offer him a player-coach contract on the understanding that he can no longer be a first choice centre back but a very useful backup.

    Who would rather have as a squad player to cover the first team?
    a. Ryan Nelson
    b. Sebastian Bassong
    c. Ledley King

  8. Matt
    21/05/2012 @ 1:53 pm

    Totally aqgree 2P8G.

    If we do sign Vertonghen, then along with Caulker & Kaboul, it should mean we have a solid, young core of CBs, all of which will learn from being around Ledley and even Gallas. Dawson, King and Gallas can cover, although wouldnt expect Gallas to last much longer either. Nelson can go and Bassong should be sold too.

  9. abe
    21/05/2012 @ 2:39 pm

    I, like probably most Spurs fans, love Ledley. He will also be the king and a legend. But the time comes for a change.
    2p8g – I would choose none. We need to find someone better. Bassong made Wolves looked even worse, and nelson is over the hill.

  10. Matt
    21/05/2012 @ 5:50 pm

    Abe – Someone better than Ledley King as a back up? How many of them are there, let alone ones that will want to join to sit on the bench?

    If not playing every game, Ledley should be able to consistantly keep fit enough to play. May even manage to turn out on the training ground too..

    Sign up Vertonghen and then we have plenty of options at the back.

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