ealingfox Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Always pangs a little bit to see King's name on the bench every week, when he is out of the side. He's gotten minutes in the last couple, but you have to feel that when the teamsheet drops on Friday it will be James who gets the nod. They strike me as quite similar players, yet with notable differences. We all know King has got goals in the locker, and plenty of them, but have we missed them? I remember watching James the first few times after we signed him and thinking, 'what does this guy actually do?'. However, he has come on leaps and bounds over the last 18 months, he can break up play and distribute nicely. He might not have the goals of Andy King but he's assured, mobile, a good tackler, and probably does justify his selection. It's a real testament to the quality of Danny D (arguably the best CM in the Championship for me) that his place is safe, whilst two players as good as King and James are reduced to wrestling for one spot alongside him in the middle. So who do you think is the better player? And who provides the better foil for Drinkwater? I actually think King is the better footballer, but James is a better partner for DD.
jmono84 Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Voted James... The amount of headers and 2nd balls the guy competes for is essential to our game I think
Banks Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 James. More physical, very good partnership next to Drinkwater. King is a good squad player to have though.
MPH Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Kings best asset to me was always his ability to arrive in to the box and score We are either playing very differently now to the formation/style that relied on king bursting Into the box and scoring or he has been sussed out. Probably a bit of both. He's still a good player but how we play now seems to suit James more...
Ross 'LCFC' Turner Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Matty James by a mile. Calm on the ball in tight situations,unbelievable feet, great understanding with Drinkwater and does the dog work to allow Drinkwater to get forward and influence the game.
Simonb Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 had to go for James at the minute... him and drinky seem to know each others game inside out, and seem stronger and more fluid... It's good though to be able to have a player like King on the bench as he's a brillaint midfielder too, so I'm not too worried if we need to rest either DD or MJ and put King in, so it's a good dilemma to have
Poznan34 Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Love King, but in this situation it has to be James.
Corky Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 James has the drive and physicality that King doesn't, which fits well next to Drinkwater. King is good for keeping calm and keeping the ball and can offer goals, although sadly they've been less regular in recent years.
An Away Move Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Didn't Drinkwater and James come through together at Man Utd? Or was it one after another? I'm guessing the former with the understanding they share. Might that be a factor that is also keeping King on the bench?
FoxDownSouth Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Kingy drops off around chrismas. Every year. Other than that, good player. Matty James by a mile though
lgfualol Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 I love King, he's probably my favourite of the CMs but like everyone else has said, he isnt playing as well as James. The role probably doesnt suit him that well. It's a shame James' shooting seems so bad.
kingfox Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 James is the most talented footballer we have, what he does is incredible, works hard, and like Jmono said, the amount of second balls he wins and headers is essential part of our game. Great on the ball as well, and his passing range is decent. When on it, he is the best player in our side.
Dan Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Was considering doing pretty much this exact thread recently, intrigued. James probably edges it but I think it's sort of sinking in why we're top - King would walk into most teams in this league yet he's become third choice here.
Guest Sharpe's Fox Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Right now James, but he could easily play poorly and King would get my vote.
Haydos Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 We just seem to have a different style to when King used to be most effective. In a 3 man mid where he's given the opportunity to float and get forward he's clinical and a real threat but he's just not versatile enough. Defensively he has the mind and the ability but lacks the pace and strength to do much more than float in front of the back four. I'd have to go for James right now but the King of 2/3 years ago would win easily.
Kitchandro Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 I like King, but I feel James is the better all round player. They're both good passers, King offers more of a goal threat but I think James edges it on the other things. I think he's more capable of influencing the game in the middle of the park, he's stronger than King and more skilful. I think he's very versatile and capable of sitting or charging forward. I always feel the defensive side of King's game is overrated, James does more off the ball IMO.
Babylon Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 James hasn't progressed on as much as I would have liked this year. But I think he has the potential to be much better than King. They can both have stinkers, but I just feel a bit more comfortable at the minute with James as he is much more physical than King. Nice to have the options.
yorkie1999 Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Just wondering,how long was king out for last season?
The Horse's Mouth Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Don't know how anybody could go for King, unless James shagged their missus. No disrespect to King, but James is just twice the footballer he will ever be.
Unabomber Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Don't know how anybody could go for James, unless he shagged their missus. No disrespect to King, but James is just twice the footballer he will ever be. This makes sense.
yorkie1999 Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Don't know how anybody could go for King, unless James shagged their missus. No disrespect to King, but James is just twice the footballer he will ever be. Eh!
Haydos Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Don't know how anybody could go for King, unless James shagged their missus. No disrespect to King, but James is just twice the footballer he will ever be. Complete hyperbole.
Guest MattP Posted 8 January 2014 Posted 8 January 2014 Matty James. I'm someone who rates Kingy but he certainly doesnt have the overall impact on a game that James does, James might not have his goals but our midfield seems far more active and stronger with DD and James.
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