<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ledleyking.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2010/06/ledleyking-324x324.webp" alt="ledleyking" width="324" height="324" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-147143" sizes="(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>For some, the end of Rio Ferdinand’s World Cup also sent a blast across the bows of English hopes of winning the trophy. One of the squads truly great players being forced out simply weakens the side is the consensus, but me I’m not so disillusioned by the news. Yes it’s a blow and I feel dreadfully sorry for Ferdinand, but thankfully, England have something as good as to fall back on. Ledley King.</p>
<p>None of the waling from this England fan, no panic, no fear, no lack of conviction because I have the pleasure of watching King on a regular basis. He is my favourite Tottenham player in recent memory, a product of the Tottenham Hotspur youth system, a footballing diamond. Don’t give me the nonsense about his knee. King on one leg is better than most central defenders in Europe. Capello knows this, it’s why he’s wanted him as part of the squad since he took over as England manager. He knows how good Ledley King is and he knows he makes England stronger.  </p>
<p>King is a freak of nature, the likes of which I’ve only ever come across once before in the form of the Irish colossus, Paul McGrath. Yet what a player he is, comfortable on the ball, strong in the air, dangerous at set pieces. Like McGrath before him, chronic knee problems curtail his training to a bare minimum. Yet there is, playing at the back for Spurs, slotting seamlessly back in. The club have had to tailor the tactics to suit him, fit the team around him, when his knee allows it, he plays. In a World Cup competition, the break between games gives him ample recovery time.</p>
<p>Yet, for all Kings problems, he looks after himself far better off the pitch than McGrath did. If I could ever recommend a book about football, Paul McGrath’s <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Brink-Autobiography-Paul-McGrath/dp/1846050766" target="_blank">autobiography would be it</a>. It’s frightening he was able to play with damaged knees, never mind as a chronic alcoholic as well. King, Carling Cup winning celebrations apart, tends to keep himself in good condition. He has to, he needs to, his body can’t be allowed to slip away from the conditioning he uses in his training.</p>
<p>People forget back in Euro 2004, King came in for the injured John Terry for his competitive England debut against France and was immense. He then played as a substitute in midfield against Croatia and calmed the team down.&nbsp; He was a shoe in for the 2006 World Cup until a metatasal injury ruled him out of the tournament. Then his injury problems began and here we are 4 years later facing the fact that King will be playing.</p>
<p>With only 68 league appearances since 2006, it is nothing short of amazing that he is here, ready to put his body on the line for his country when it needs him.  Do not underestimate Ledley King or suspect him to be a weak spot in the English defence. He only needs to play against USA and Algeria and help England try and gain maximum points. 6 points there will be enough to see him rested against Slovakia and saved for the second round game. The way the tournament has fallen, he could effectively play one game every 5 or 6 days, just enough recovery time and play every match bar the 3rd group game.</p>
<p>Yet, in Tottenham’s final 3 matches, he started all 3 in 8 days. The first time he had done so in nearly 3 years and that alone stands as a testament to the man. No training, no tactical practice, he simply keeps fit and plays, it’s an astounding achievement.England have only lost one competitive game when he’s played out of 12 and he can partner John Terry without breaking a sweat. That kind of record speaks for itself, great players can slot in as when required and there is no doubt that King is indeed a great player.</p>

King Can Rise To The Challenge

King Can Rise To The Challenge - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=paul mcgrath&amp;iid=8104387" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/f/4/f/e/Id_Hold_My_32ae.jpg?adImageId=12991294&amp;imageId=8104387" border="0" alt="I&apos;d Hold My Breath In Games So They Could Not Smell The Drink" width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>The cult hero, every club has them.  They are not always the best player to turn out for your team, indeed sometimes they can be among the worst. But they had that little something that meant they were held in the highest regard by the fans.  Sometimes there is a personal reason why a supporter has a particular affection for a player. Maybe they scored in the first game you attended or perhaps you bumped into them in the street and they made a lasting impression on you?  Below are five well known cult heroes, all for differing reasons.  There are plenty more of course, and would love to hear your cult heroes and comments below.   <strong>1) Shaun Goater – Manchester City</strong></p>
<p>“Feed the goat and he will score!” Was the chant that echoed from the Maine Road terraces, though not too many people know that Bermudan striker Shaun Goater actually began his career at Manchester United. He left the club without making an appearance but carved out a successful lower league career at Rotherham and Bristol City before moving to Man City in 1998. He hit 40 goals in his first two seasons as City won back to back promotions to the Premier League. Goater then finished top scorer for the third successive season with 11 goals, though it wasn’t enough to prevent relegation. The following season though Goater hit 30 goals as City returned to the Premier League as Champions. Kevin Keegan’s men spent big in an attempt to stay in the top flight but despite the high profile signings of Jon Macken and Nicolas Anelka, ‘The Goat’ still managed to score seven times in 14 appearances – including two against City rivals United.</p>
<p><strong> 2) Paul McGrath –Aston Villa </strong></p>
<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=Paul McGrath&amp;iid=1009907" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/9/7/3/4/HOLLAND_V_IRELAND_2066.jpg?adImageId=12990246&amp;imageId=1009907" border="0" alt="HOLLAND V IRELAND" width="380" height="541"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Despite leaving Aston Villa 14 years ago Paul McGrath’s name is still sung from the stands today, which shows the high regard in which he is held by the Villa faithful. McGrath’s first club was St Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland before signing for Manchester United in 1982. Often regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, several knee injuries stopped the Republic Of Ireland international from becoming a regular at Old Trafford and he was eventually transfer listed by Alex Ferguson in 1989.  Moving to Villa, McGrath played some of the best football of his life despite recurrent problems in his knees which meant he barely trained between games, as well as his recurrent alcoholism. Villa came close to winning the title in McGrath’s first season, finishing second to Liverpool. Four years later he won the PFA Player of the Year as well as being a member of the side that beat Man United in the League cup final. He left in 1996 with his legendary status firmly secured.</p>
<p><strong> 3) John Jensen – Arsenal </strong></p>
<p>When new Arsenal signing John Jensen scored a spectacular goal for Denmark from 25 yards in the 1992 European Championship Final, many Gunners fans thought they would soon be celebrating similar strikes at Highbury.  However, the reality proved a little different as Jensen’s chronic inability to hit the net became stuff of legend. Arsenal fans would scream ‘shoot’ when he picked up the ball, in the hope he would finally break his agonising duck. Finally, after 98 attempts, Jensen curled home a 25 yarder against QPR in December 1994 before understandably celebrating wildly with the supporters. It would be his only goal in his 132 game Arsenal career, though he did pick up an FA Cup, League Cup and Cup winners Cup medals in his time at Highbury to cement his cult hero status.</p>
<p><strong>4) Jimmy Bullard – Wigan, Fulham and Hull.</strong></p>
<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=jimmy bullard&amp;iid=8351781" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/e/1/3/9/Football__Hull_8e93.jpg?adImageId=12990265&amp;imageId=8351781" border="0" alt="Football - Hull City v Fulham Barclays Premier League" width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Known as much for his off-field antics than those on it, Jimmy Bullard has quickly become a popular figure among supporters of all clubs in the Premier League. He started his league career at boyhood club West Ham but was released in 2001 and joined Peterborough. A successful two year spell at London Road earned him a move to Wigan in January 2003 where he helped them climb two divisions into the top flight for the first time in their history. Moves to Fulham and Hull followed, though Bullard has never really recovered from a serious knee injury that initially kept him out of action for over a year back in 2006. Thankfully for a player who has missed so much football Bullard doesn’t take himself too seriously and always has a smile on his face. He quickly become cult hero for infamous on field antics that included throwing an inflatable ball into play instead of the actual ball and pulling Freddy Ljungberg’s shorts down when the floodlights went out in a league cup match with Arsenal. He also mimicked Hull boss Phil Brown’s infamous on-the-pitch half time lecture when he scored a penalty for The Tigers against Man City in the Premier League. He is a reminder for everyone to not always take life so seriously.</p>
<p><strong>5) Barry Horne – Everton</strong></p>
<p>Barry Hooooorne! Is the chant you may hear from the Everton fans from time to time, despite the player in question last playing for the Toffees in 1996. Why? Well let me tell you. The Boyhood Blue was already 30 when joined Everton from Southampton for £700,000 in August 1992, but enjoyed something of an Indian summer to his career during his time with the club, winning the FA Cup in 1995.  Known for his tough tackling and fierce determination, his battling qualities meant he became popular with the fans, who watched a side that consistently battled against relegation. Horne wrote his name in the history books though and became a cult hero in the process when he scored the most important goal of his career. It was the final day of the 1993/94 season and Everton needed a win at home to Wimbledon to avoid going down for only the third time in their history. Midway through the second half, with the Toffees trailing 2-1 Horne chested down a high ball and unleashed a swerving, dipping 30 yard volley that thundered off the post before nestling in the net. Everton fans were delirious and although Graham Stuart’s late winner was the goal that kept Everton up, the importance of Horne’s equaliser cannot by understated – especially by the fans who later sung: “Who needs Cantona when we’ve got Barry Horne!”</p>
<p>Hmmm.</p>

Who is Your Premier League Cult Hero?

Who is Your Premier League Cult Hero? - World Soccer Talk

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