Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[tomd2103]

King could have been awesome if he didn't get injured so much. Shame really.

The best English centre back of his generation. A shame.

Really disagree with that. He was a good player, but Campbell, Terry and Rio (in that order) were all superior players.

And if we removed injury problems then I think Woodgate was more talented too.

I'm sorry, but I think King is yet another example of good player who has been "bigged up" by the London media simply because he plays for one of "their" clubs.  It is the same mentality that saw them vote Scott Parker player of the year despite the fact that he played in a relegated West Ham team.  Had Parker played for a club outside London that happened to have been relegated, there is no way he would have got that award.   

[hartman_1982]

King could have been awesome if he didn't get injured so much. Shame really.

The best English centre back of his generation. A shame.

Really disagree with that. He was a good player, but Campbell, Terry and Rio (in that order) were all superior players.

And if we removed injury problems then I think Woodgate was more talented too.

I'm sorry, but I think King is yet another example of good player who has been "bigged up" by the London media simply because he plays for one of "their" clubs.  It is the same mentality that saw them vote Scott Parker player of the year despite the fact that he played in a relegated West Ham team.  Had Parker played for a club outside London that happened to have been relegated, there is no way he would have got that award.   

The man just oozed class. For me he was far better than John Terry and on a level with Rio and Campbell as the best English centre backs in the league. I remember Thierry Henry calling him "the best defender in europe" while he played for Arsenal. That just about sums it up for me.

[Matt Collins]

Excellent player. Spurs defensive record was always better when he played. Don't think it was anything to do with the London media, tho I agree spurs get more than their fair share of hype.

[willywombat]

I thought he was an outstanding player, always seemed to be in the right place and comfortable on the ball

[Hookeysmith]

I think its a bit of both

Undoubtably a very good player during his injury hit career but definately made to be better than what he was by the London biased media

When he was considered as the new McGrath then you knew it was hype - the only similarities was their lack of mid week training other than that King could not have laced Gods boots

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Take the Villa sunglasses off - King was very nearly as good as God and was the best English centre back of the last few years. Read the game fantastically well, speed and ability on the ball. He should have been England centre back ahead of Terry and probably alongside Rio.

As has already been mentioned, when Henry says he was the best centre back in Europe at the time, you have to listen.

He had the knack of jockeying forwards, sheparding them away from goal and then pinching the ball at the right time. Fantastic player and big shame about the injuries.

[VillaAlways]

Good news

@MatKendrick: Culverhouse and Karsa set to link up with Lambert at #avfc in time for the start of pre-season later this week #ncfc http://t.co/rWUESCRk

[Mazrim]

King was probably the most complete centre half in the country when fit and for his sake (I couldnt care less about Spurs) its a shame injuries have limited him to sporadic spells. Had he not had such an injury record he'd probably be playing for a really big club now. But he's not even close to "very nearly as good as God".

[Phil from the upper holte]

He's not fit to lace God's boots

[Mazrim]

He's not fit to lace God's boots

That's the problem, he probably isn't.

[N'ZMAV]

Clint Dempsey next in please.

[SteveN]

He's not fit to lace God's boots

That's the problem, he probably isn't.

I'm struggling to name a central defender who is.

[Clark W Griswold]

Yep, King is an outstanding player when fit. It's one of those situations where you really notice how good they are when you see them live at the game rather than on TV, a bit like Beckham and Viera. I would agree with the comparison with McGrath although McGrath was of course even better. The only English centre half i would say that was better in my time watching football was Des Walker before his move to Italy, although Sol Campbell was probably on a par.

[Mazrim]

He's not fit to lace God's boots

That's the problem, he probably isn't.

I'm struggling to name a central defender who is.

It was a fitness joke.

[Concrete John]

Thing with King is we'll never know how good he was/could have been due to the injuries.  Potentially better than Terry and Rio, but had nowhere near their careers due to not playing enough football.  A real shame.