Andy King - Some Brutal Home Truths

[Koke]

When this lad first broke through and he scored that wonder goal against Southampton, I thought we had a gem on our hands. He was decent in his debut against Wolves, but he didn't really win me over in the Championship, but I put that down to a) playing in a losing side and b) thrown into the deep end. And plus he was only 19.

In League One, I sort of expected him to shine ala Lloyd Dyer in the early parts of the season. But he didn't. He's done a steady job so far, but steady wasn't what I expected from him. Maybe my expectation was a tad bit too high, I don't know. But as the games go on, he frustrates me more and more.

The positives on King are that he's a decent header of the ball and he's got a good vision and is a superb passer on the ball when he get time and space. But the boy needs to realize he's not playing in sunny Tenerife - he's playing in the 3rd tier of English football at places like The Withdean. He won't get time and space. Another thing that I've noticed is that he disappears in large spells of matches. He's playing in one of the most vital positions in the game, so we can't really afford his disappearances.

His tackling are not very good, he gets out-muscled too easily at times and the most criminal thing he does is give possession away too easily. If King wants to better himself, I suggest he takes a look at Aaron Ramsay and learns from him. OK, Ramsay is quite frankly a level or two higher than King, so a more suitable bloke to look up to in terms of game style and goals is a certain boy called John-Joe O'Toole. Scores goals, wins headers and gets stuck in when needed. And Watford are hardly world beaters.

Verdict: The jury is still out on him. I have not given up hope on him, but I'm yet to be convinced. If he goes on to have a storming season, then I'll gladly hold my hands up and admit I was wrong about him. King, and Oakley as well, are in a nice comfort zone. I'm willing to have King dropped and Adams in his place, but I know that won't go down well with Thracian and his pals.

[Tevez]

Loan him, still premature to be playing regular Football for Leicester. We've found that out since day one of the 08/09 League Season. Something which Leicester doesnt have such a very good knowledge base at, Central Midfield.

[Salieri]

Loan him, still premature to be playing regular Football for Leicester. We've found that out since day one of the 08/09 League Season. Something which Leicester doesnt have such a very good knowledge base at, Central Midfield.

Loan him?

We need more midfielders, not less! I'd like to see us bring in at least one new central midfielder purely for competition as i do think Oakley and King are in a comfort zone at the moment. Not to mention fatigue as both have played pretty much every game this season.

[Koke]

Loan him?

We need more midfielders, not less! I'd like to see us bring in at least one new central midfielder purely for competition as i do think Oakley and King are in a comfort zone at the moment. Not to mention fatigue as both have played pretty much every game this season.

It's probably fatigue then.

I'm led to believe Nicky Adams can play center mid. Or maybe that's just a myth.

[Salieri]

It's probably fatigue then.

I'm led to believe Nicky Adams can play center mid. Or maybe that's just a myth.

He can as far as im aware! I've no idea as to why Pearson hasnt really explored any other options other than Oakley/King?!

[J.Lisemore]

i just cant wait till Clemence comes back...IF he comes back. <_<

[Tilley]

Oakley has been far worse than King this season.

[Koke]

Oakley has been far worse than King this season.

Oakley is 32. King is 20 - I'm talking about long term here.

King is the one I'm hoping will have a long successful career. He's our lad, a local boy and besides, Oakley has been there and done it. Spent most of his career in the Premiership.

But you right, Oakley hasn't been that good either, but due to him being captain I really doubt he'll get benched.

[Milky]

Oakley is 32. King is 20 - I'm talking about long term here.

King is the one I'm hoping will have a long successful career. He's our lad, a local boy and besides, Oakley has been there and done it. Spent most of his career in the Premiership.

But you right, Oakley hasn't been that good either, but due to him being captain I really doubt he'll get benched.

[BoneHead.]

Loan him, still premature to be playing regular Football for Leicester. We've found that out since day one of the 08/09 League Season. Something which Leicester doesnt have such a very good knowledge base at, Central Midfield.

[Tilley]

Before we loan King, we need to sign two central midfielders ourselves.

[Koke]

Ok, I forgot he's Welsh and his spent his youth at Chelsea.

My point is he came through our Academy and made a name here.

[Munzie]

Andy King is the type of player that will play the simple game.

What I mean by that is he will look to play the simple pass, keeping things as uncomplicated as possible. He will look to receive the ball and distribute it quickly without fuss.

Given this, a lot of his work will go unnoticed. Without the flamboyance of a premiership style pass or a prolonged run, taking on three defenders (that some of our team want to muster), he appears to 'go missing' for parts of a match.

In relation to his tackling, he does not have the physique to muscle men off the ball. Instead he will stay with his man and avoid the last gasp attempt to dive in, in the hope of coming out on top.

That said, I am in no means defending him. He can, at times, be very inconsistant. This will get better with experience. At his age and time in his career, he should not be commanding a regular start each week. He should be the apprentice learning from a master. Problem is, we are need of said master.

[Joe.]

In ways I agree, however I still do rate him in general, he just doesn't show what he can do enough.

I definitely agree with you about his absence from games, and it happens far too often for my liking. There have been times recently when we've needed the midfield to take control of the team, and him and Oakley haven't done it together. King's not a player who likes a tackle, and therefore we've already lost bite in the middle.

His best attributes are going forward. He can cross a ball, and he can pass a ball certainly. He just doesn't seem to get himself in enough positions to do all these things effectively though, and this is what's really letting him down. Thracian will now make a post about how he's near the top of the shootign charts, but let's face it, his shooting's ben piss poor of recent and few of his shots have troubled the opposition goal.

[davieG]

In the modern game tackling is fast being replaced by closing down and I think King does that adequately enough but it also means it goes unnoticed.

Desperation leads to the need to tackle and more often than not these days results in a free kick.

I'm not promoting this I love a good sliding tackle, we used to have the King (no pun intended) of them in Graham Cross it's just that that's the way it is these days.

People also seem to forget that this is pretty much his first 15 games or so at a professional level he's been thrown in at the deep end, well 3rd division with no respite or rest. Ideally he should have been gradually introduce into the game but with Clemence unavailable and frankly based on last season not much better, with Weso recovering and also lacking any great experience we've been forced to play him.

I've said before and I'll say it again this idea that we have strength in depth is a myth.

[Munzie]

In the modern game tackling is fast being replaced by closing down and I think King does that adequately enough but it also means it goes unnoticed.

Desperation leads to the need to tackle and more often than not these days results in a free kick.

I'm not promoting this I love a good sliding tackle, we used to have the King (no pun intended) of them in Graham Cross it's just that that's the way it is these days.

People also seem to forget that this is pretty much his first 15 games or so at a professional level he's been thrown in at the deep end, well 3rd division with no respite or rest. Ideally he should have been gradually introduce into the game but with Clemence unavailable and frankly based on last season not much better, with Weso recovering and also lacking any great experience we've been forced to play him.

I've said before and I'll say it again this idea that we have strength in depth is a myth.

It's times like these (poor run of form and injuries) that you realise how exposed we really are.

We are far enough into the season for our scouting network to assess who would potentially be available for loan. Also, Pearson has had time and games to look at his squad.

Bring on the changes...

[Koke]

davieG, in regards to him being his first 15-20 pro games or so and him being thrown into the deep end, isn't that pretty much the same with John-Joe O'Toole and other rookie midfielders. I do accept though not all youngsters are the same and it varies from player to player.

The reason I keep bringing up O'Toole is because I watched him against Ipswich earlier in the season and again against Cardiff few weeks ago, and he looked far from being a rookie, so mature and calm for his age. I think he's a superb player.

But you may be right, that and plus early season fatigue (if there's such thing) has probably played a big part of it of his not so good performances. I'm not writing King off yet, but I'm expecting more of him.

[Benji]

Mr Kareem you have a death wish don't you?

Either that or you just want an essay fight!

Can we have a 'guess the word count of Thracian's reply' game?

I'll take 1,750

[davieG]

davieG, in regards to him being his first 15-20 pro games or so and him being thrown into the deep end, isn't that pretty much the same with John-Joe O'Toole and other rookie midfielders. I do accept though not all youngsters are the same and it varies from player to player.

The reason I keep bringing up O'Toole is because I watched him against Ipswich earlier in the season and again against Cardiff few weeks ago, and he looked far from being a rookie, so mature and calm for his age. I think he's a superb player.

But you may be right, that and plus early season fatigue (if there's such thing) has probably played a big part of it of his not so good performances. I'm not writing King off yet, but I'm expecting more of him.

And it's perhaps that expectation that is hanging heavily on his shoulders. We should also remember that the players around him aren't exactly raising the roof with scintillating performances. A competent midfielder needs competent players around them. Well we've got Oakley, Gradel, Dyer, Adams, Howard and Fryatt who according to large sections of supporters are seriously under performing or at the best totally inconsistent from one game to another.

We are doing badly at the moment and everyone is looking for a scapegoat, me included, all those players mentioned have had an 'He's to blame' thread, perhaps with the exception of Adams who by some people's reckoning was awful last night - and yet they've all played more professional level football than King. In that situation it's hardly surprising that King is under performing as well.

[Koke]

I don't think King is solely to blame for our poor form of late, apart from maybe the giving possession away and his carelessness at times.

The reason we were flying early season was mainly down to two men - Lloyd Dyer and Matty Fryatt. The former is off-form and the latter is still contributing with goals, but we need more people contributing with goals, and I'm looking at Howard, Oakley, Gradel and yes King.

I agree though, when people around you aren't performing it becomes a tad bit more difficult for you as a teenager to perform as well.

PS: This isn't a thread to slate the boy, but just to find out if many others do share the same frustration as I do when it comes to Andy King.

[carterfox90]

i just cant wait till Clemence comes back...IF he comes back. <_<

clemence is definatley NOT the answer he fecking useless last year ....ok alright for passing back to the goalie he was very poor!!!!!!!!!!!1

[davieG]

I don't think King is solely to blame for our poor form of late, apart from maybe the giving possession away and his carelessness at times.

The reason we were flying early season was mainly down to two men - Lloyd Dyer and Matty Fryatt. The former is off-form and the latter is still contributing with goals, but we need more people contributing with goals, and I'm looking at Howard, Oakley, Gradel and yes King.

I agree though, when people around you aren't performing it becomes a tad bit more difficult for you as a teenager to perform as well.

PS: This isn't a thread to slate the boy, but just to find out if many others do share the same frustration as I do when it comes to Andy King.

No problem I can see that, I'm as frustrated as anyone having seen him play entirely differently for the academy but there will be plenty who will take great delight in slating him.

[Benji]

No problem I can see that, I'm as frustrated as anyone having seen him play entirely differently for the academy but there will be plenty who will take great delight in slating him.

blue square premier at best

[davieG]

blue square premier at best

Yeah, Yeah....

[lildave3]

clemence is definatley NOT the answer he fecking useless last year ....ok alright for passing back to the goalie he was very poor!!!!!!!!!!!1

I love the way you end all of your posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111111111111111111.