Tottenham’s Replacement for Ledley King

Ledley King’s announcement of his retirement, aged 31 years, due to his persistent injury problems has presented Tottenham’s Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, with a number of issues to resolve ahead of the start of the season.

Who will Replaces King?
Ledley King has brought a calm and assurance to the Tottenham defence for the past decade. In 2001 after Sol Campbell’s departure and with Stephen Carr’s injury, he was propelled in to the first team as a regular, having played only twenty first team games, many in midfield. Ledley King accepted the challenge and developed into the ‘rock’ on which Tottenham’s defence was founded.

Now, with his retirement, there is an opportunity for someone to step up and take over the responsibility and bring their authority and assurance to the defence.

The Candidates:

• Steven Caulker – a highly regarded young player who has come through the Academy and progressed on loan at lower League clubs before impressing with his defensive displays for Swansea in the Premier League last year. It may be too early yet, for Caulker, to expect him to fill Ledley’s boots in central defence. Ledley in his first seasons as a regular in the team was introduced at full back.

• Michael Dawson – a totally committed defender who plays with his heart and gives everything for the team in every match. His enthusiasm can, at times, pull him out of  position leaving the defence vulnerable. He always played better beside King as the controlling and organising influence in defence.

• Younes Kaboul – he showed great improvement last season and was much more consistent, eliminating the loss of concentration which often led to basic errors. Still plays with great enthusiasm but as King said recently he’s learning to be a defender rather than wanting to play everywhere. An important player for seasons ahead.

"“Younes Kaboul is finally fulfilling his potential, becoming the main man in the rearguard after learning to simply ‘be a defender’.”"

• William Gallas – has used all his experience to give some excellent performances for Spurs but, like King, age and injury are catching up on him. He can’t be relied upon to play a full season being constantly susceptible to niggling injuries which take longer to clear up each time.

• Sebastien Bassong – had a good first season with Tottenham but in the past two years has looked very nervous and uncertain in his play. He seems to have had a complete loss of confidence which has greatly affected his play, even in Cup and Europa League matches, so unless there is a total turn around, Bassong may be surplus to requirement.

• Jan Vertonghen – it is a difficult call to expect a new signing to step into the boots of a true ‘Legend’. Vertonghen has, however, vast experience in the Dutch League and in European competitions with Ajax and is a Belgium international. He captained Ajax last year as they retained the title and he was named at the ‘Player of the Year’ in Holland and for his club. In his play, Vertonghen is skillful and composed in defence, comfortable on the ball and has the ability to play it out of defence. If he can adapt to the added pressure of Premier League football he has all the right credentials to replace Ledley King in central defence and would appear to have been bought by Spurs with this in mind knowing that Ledley was planning to retire.

The Central Defensive Partnership

For the past number of seasons, Tottenham’s best partnership in central defence has been Ledley King and one other. Dawson, Kaboul, Gallas and Bassong were always better players with King beside them. Even when new defenders were signed, they came to Spurs in the knowledge that they were in competition for only one of the central defensive positions. It was taken as written that, if fit, Ledley King played for the better of the team and Spurs. So he frequently made unexpected appearances in ‘big’ matches, helping Tottenham to win the 2008 Carling Cup and, as captain, was there to lift the trophy.

If Jan Vertonghen copes with an immediate introduction to the Premier League and his play matches the high level of expectation that supporters have of him, he could prove to be the cornerstone of Tottenham’s defence for years to come. Who then will be most suited to be his partner? My expectation would be that Younes Kaboul with the improvement he made last season, will start out as the second central defender. He has pace and strength in his game and is totally committed and enjoys the physical side of defending. Over the opening weeks of the season, I would expect Vertonghen and Kaboul to be given the opportunity to stake a claim to the centre back positions with Dawson, Caulker, Gallas and Bassong as very capable deputies. Before the end of the transfer window in August, however, some of the backup players could move on for the guarantee of match time.

Who do you expect to take on the important central defensive role to bring stability to the defence and give confidence to the goalkeeper and the other defenders?