Tottenham Hotspur Official Topic

[The Somalian]

Ledley King has retired from football with 21 England caps and a single League Cup winner's medal. John Terry has 77 England caps (he will probably reach a century) and has three Premier League, one Champions League, five FA Cup and two League Cup winner's medals. Those two sentences should suffice as a lesson to anyone who judges a footballer's worth by his medal haul.

Only Terry and that bloke who stood outside the magistrate's court could possibly argue that the Blues captain is a better defender than a fit King (watch this and attempt to argue otherwise), and yet a combination of injuries and his status as a one-club man for an under-achieving team means that he retires with a fraction of Terry's medals and England caps. We're pretty sure that the majority of people in England would rather go for a pint with Ledley, but that's not the sort of accolade you can keep on your mantelpiece.

When Fabio Capello took over as England manager in early 2008, he called up Ledley King for his first squad. King withdrew through injury. A year later he was handed a recall and was promptly sent back to his club because of his knee-knack. When in 2010, Capello looked at his list of available centre-halves ahead of the World Cup and started to panic, it was King he called. History shows that he lasted just 45 minutes against the US and Capello's desperate decision looked ridiculous.

So why did he keep turning to King despite the fact that he had last played a full season back in 2005-06? Because - in the Italian's own words - "without doubt, King is one of the best central defenders in England". Tottenham fans would be right to argue that 'one of the best' is underplaying King's talents somewhat. Should he instead be lauded as the best English centre-half of his generation? Only Rio Ferdinand could provide any real challenge. Terry would be unwelcome in that company on so many levels.

King speaks movingly about his relationship with Tottenham and being a one-club man undoubtedly endears him to Spurs fans and neutrals alike, but even White Hart Lane regulars will admit that his talents deserved a bigger stage and rather more silverware. His injuries kept him limping along at Spurs when a fit King would have sprinted into Europe's elite teams. And if anybody is guffawing at the idea of King sprinting, watch that clip of him eating up the ground to tackle Arjen Robben and think again.

King was brilliant before injury made him a bit-part player, and he was considerably better even in cameo than many of his England counterparts. He retires with the same number of caps as Matthew Upson. If that doesn't make you feel a little bit sad, then you're probably Matthew Upson.

Sarah Winterburn

[Thizz]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2422215/Ledley-King-called-bouncer-he-allegedly-punched-a-fat-P.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> KING

[O Fenomeno]

Best defender england never had.

[big_barz]

don't know about the best and such, but actually, show me some CB's with half his anticipation, technique, timely decision making, calm and elegance.

SAFE.

*and that's coming from an Arsenal fan*

[Rsonist]

Where's the Henry quote?

[Fighting Weight]

On Kingly St. in w1, just saw him myself

Looks to be discussing official sh*t

I'm not sure if this warrants a thread, probably not

[O Fenomeno]

Happy Birthday mate

[O Fenomeno]

Pics?

[Salamanca]

cool title bro

[Fighting Weight]

Cool pics coming up phone is a bit mashup, booted it untethered the other day. Walked past him to try take a photo and he gave me some daggers

[JOHN DOE]

loooool

[Fighting Weight]

Pic is a bit blurry - also huge

http://i47.tinypic.com/13yplbc.jpg

[Fighting Weight]

http://i46.tinypic.com/14njpy9.jpg

[Captain Planet]

Sent that ish to the newspapers man

[Fighting Weight]

Lol not sure they'd be interested.

[LS]

Posted.

They'll be all over the internet within 30 mins.

Cheers

[Kurtis]

put the vip2 logo and url on the pic man

[Fighting Weight]

Yeah do

[HangTheDJ]

post it again with vip2 watermark

anyone with photoshop

[The Flyest]

what camera is that

[JOHN DOE]

maybe don is just out with his family/mates

[Fighting Weight]

Nah def not.

One of them is a 50 year old man in a suit, another guy is suited and the others are casual

Hold on I'll photoshop it