During the European championship I was situated for some time in Brittany where a friend has a house. This was not far from the Welsh camp and I met often with the Welsh fans who were very aware of our triumphs last season and the Andy King connection.
They saw him as a bit player regarding the Welsh squad –useful as a squad member but basically a fringe player. He had only really figured during qualification off the bench and again during the finals.
As one fan put it succinctly – we hear we might get a goal from him – but we certainly won’t get a tackle. It was not coincidence that the game that they lost –King had to start because of suspension –and he contributed little.
Now we have a situation where we have lost a terrier - Kante in midfield and somehow Ranieri has opted to play King as replacement – a poodle.
He is one –paced- slow- cannot tackle- cannot pass forward under pressure – and will never be Premier League player. At the time he should be being pensioned off to the Championship –we have just given him a new 4 year contract – good servant he might have been – with has been the operative- but I cannot conceive that this is sensible –or his current selection as a starter in the team.
He may well be a favourite of Rudkin – but come on Mr Ranieri – time to move on. We will never get the best from Drinkwater whilst he is having to cover for King’s deficiencies.
Andy King -your time is up.....
posted on 13/8/16
Nuneaton I'm not singling out King I'm agreeing with the article that King isn't good enough to be starting in that central midfield role
There were a number of dreadful performances today and I actually singled out Hernandez in my match thread. But JG has a point. We need quality in the starting line up and I'm not sure what job andy King does that you refer to
He's useful as a player to get into the box and has an eye for goal but he's now filling the position of Ngolo Kante. Can you not see that's a problem? What job was he doing today? What job was he doing last week and what was the excuse for his disappearing act against Man Utd when other players were better
7 games is not a significant contribution to our title win, he's a fringe player who is not cut out for the role of partnering Drinkwater in the starting 11
To think we are selling Schlupp and keeping him beggars belief
I remember arguing with posters on this board about RDL. Thank God Ranieri actually agrees with me on that one....
posted on 13/8/16
.....we all have our favourites on here but sooner or later you have to put your bias to one side and be honest
I have no issue with King and I think he makes sense as a squad option for cup games maybe. But I have to be honest that he woefully unequipped to be playing in such a key position in the premier league
His 7 games last season would indicate Ranieri feels the same
posted on 13/8/16
I agree that King is not good enough to be a starter in centre mid, but he's a versatile and good squad player.
He was also not the worst player on the pitch today.
Fuchs, Simpson, Hernadez, Morgan, Mahrez, Vardy, Schmeichel can all be given as much criticism as King. I thought Musa was poor personally.
Nobody comes out with any credit. King should not be singled out, but I agree he can't be a starter for us.
posted on 13/8/16
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree that King is not good enough to be a starter in centre mid, but he's a versatile and good squad player.
He was also not the worst player on the pitch today.
Fuchs, Simpson, Hernadez, Morgan, Mahrez, Vardy, Schmeichel can all be given as much criticism as King. I thought Musa was poor personally.
Nobody comes out with any credit. King should not be singled out, but I agree he can't be a starter for us.
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posted on 13/8/16
BS - if you're expecting anybody to fill the boots of Kante I think you may be in for a disappointing season.
The 7 games he started contributed 14 points. Last time I looked we won the title by 10 so I don't agree those 7 games were not a significant contribution to our title win.
King gets about more than people give him credit for, that's always been the case. Also did you not see his goal saving header?
Personally I would have been happier seeing Musa and Gray on the bench with Albrighton and Okazaki starting. I don't think our midfield would have been as exposed then, and Musa coming on against a tiring defence would have been a frightening prospect.
posted on 13/8/16
Nuneaton I'm not expecting anyone to replace Kante adequately but that's no excuse for expecting a fringe player like King to do it
7 games, when players like Vardy and Mahrez were scoring the vital goals is not significant enough for me to make a telling contribution. He didn't play anywhere near as much as Okazaki or Albrighton. He is a squad player and you know that
Did you not see his performance last week? I was at the match. He's not good enough to be starting in central midfield and he was simply dreadful today. He was invisible last week when others played well.
posted on 13/8/16
I have to wonder if today was a bit of over confidence, not only from the players but also Ranieri?
King may have been chosen to start while others in midfield get up to speed, I certainly don't think that there can be any more blame on King today than any other player, in fact a lot played a lot lot worse than we've come to expect.
Long term I can't believe King has any real future with us despite his new contract but then again many players we have are only good enough for the squad but have a role to play.
Ranieri's first real negative test after today to get us going again, what will he do and how will he react is the question?
posted on 13/8/16
I think our finishing eleven started the game. knowing Mendes was not going to start we needed Ozi to link the and cover the midfield. Kante is a massive hole in our team and they know it. Kasper (you would not expect anything else from me) needs replacing to give the defence confidence .
We had one strategy to loop the ball over there back four who sat back and headed it back over our players. Our worse mistakes today where continuity giving the ball away.
But its the first game and they are still jet lagged and knackered.
Dung i have written off King on may an occasion and been proved wrong but this time i think his day is done.
posted on 13/8/16
Ranieri had his first bad game. Under estimated hull and made a poor selection in Hernandez to partner Morgan
You've got to understand how teams like Hull are going to play and prepare accordingly and I'm not sure that was done
posted on 13/8/16
comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 27 minutes ago
Nuneaton I'm not expecting anyone to replace Kante adequately but that's no excuse for expecting a fringe player like King to do it
7 games, when players like Vardy and Mahrez were scoring the vital goals is not significant enough for me to make a telling contribution. He didn't play anywhere near as much as Okazaki or Albrighton. He is a squad player and you know that
Did you not see his performance last week? I was at the match. He's not good enough to be starting in central midfield and he was simply dreadful today. He was invisible last week when others played well.
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I still don't agree. You're not even giving him credit for the 7 games he did start.
It's a team game and he's part of it. It's wrong to pick on him when the whole team were at fault.
I was at the match last week and the team did not play well, letting Lingard run through to score was poor to say the least. Or are you going to blames him solely for that too?