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Player Watch - Japhet Tanganga

Ron Burgundy

SC Supporter
Jun 19, 2008
7,705
23,267
Tanganga in my opinion is more developed than King was when he first started, I hope that is a sign of things to come.

Others have already said, but I feel compelled to reply to this...behave, my man.

Yes, Tanganga is clearly strong and aggressive, but King was totally different from the word go, and from a younger age.

When he came through, outside of any of his prodigious defensive capabilities, he was unbelievably rapid and incredibly comfortable on the ball...with both feet!

If he was in the team today we'd be in the top 4 having conceded fewer goals.

Campbell (from a playing perspective anyway, the tw*t) would be the more appropriate comparison
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
I have no idea whether King was in midfield in the juniors, but he started his first team duties as a CB. It was Hoddle who played him in midfield for about half a season in his second year as a first teamer. In that hald season, King really blossomed, learning to read the game so well that when he returned to duty as CB, he could see how play develop so well that he never was caught out.

I’m pretty sure it was Pleat who played him in midfield the season he was caretaker boss as Hoddle had somehow left us with only Toda as a defensive midfielder lol (spurs in neglecting defensive midfield horror!).

Hoddle’s wet dream was playing King, Richards and Gardner in a back three.

It was so good the next season when we actually bought some midfielders are we’re actually able to put a king back where he belonged!
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,128
146,005
Not to drag this off topic too much, but I’m sure that it was George Graham that started playing Ledders in midfield, it’s where he was playing when he scored that goal against Bradford.
 

walworthyid

David Ginola
Oct 25, 2004
7,059
10,242
Comparisons with king are way over the top. King was an extraordinary talent. So quick, so strong, calm, cultured. Great instinct and awareness. Amazing player. Tanganga has looked very good so far. He seems to have that something about him. But let's calm down and see how he develops before comparing him to the king!
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,361
While Tanganga looks to have great potential, King was probably the best player I've ever seen for Spurs.
He was absolutely majestic and was actually underrated by many fans outside of Spurs.
I would go as far as to say, he was one of the best centre backs ever. He had everything. Read the game so well, could play with both feet and was quick as hell.
Still love that time he chased down and tackled Henry. Didn't Henry say he was the best defender he'd ever faced?
 

tooey

60% banana
Apr 22, 2005
5,228
7,948
While Tanganga looks to have great potential, King was probably the best player I've ever seen for Spurs.
He was absolutely majestic and was actually underrated by many fans outside of Spurs.
I would go as far as to say, he was one of the best centre backs ever. He had everything. Read the game so well, could play with both feet and was quick as hell.
Still love that time he chased down and tackled Henry. Didn't Henry say he was the best defender he'd ever faced?

Henry did say that but he wasn't the one King chased down, that was Robben during Jose's first stint as chelsea manager, he made up about 30 yards on him, insane.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,361
Henry did say that but he wasn't the one King chased down, that was Robben during Jose's first stint as chelsea manager, he made up about 30 yards on him, insane.
That one was special but I'm sure he chased down Henry too. Although my memory is shockingly shit!
 

walworthyid

David Ginola
Oct 25, 2004
7,059
10,242
Henry did say that but he wasn't the one King chased down, that was Robben during Jose's first stint as chelsea manager, he made up about 30 yards on him, insane.
He did an equally good chase down of darren huckerby. Huckerby literally couldn't believe what had happened.
 

topper

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2008
3,806
16,254
Henry did say that but he wasn't the one King chased down, that was Robben during Jose's first stint as chelsea manager, he made up about 30 yards on him, insane.
Remember it well! One of the great pieces of defending!
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
While Tanganga looks to have great potential, King was probably the best player I've ever seen for Spurs.
He was absolutely majestic and was actually underrated by many fans outside of Spurs.
I would go as far as to say, he was one of the best centre backs ever. He had everything. Read the game so well, could play with both feet and was quick as hell.
Still love that time he chased down and tackled Henry. Didn't Henry say he was the best defender he'd ever faced?

My all time favourite and I LOVED Gazza as a kid
 

si_yidarmy

£NIC OUT
Apr 17, 2005
4,717
931
Others have already said, but I feel compelled to reply to this...behave, my man.

Yes, Tanganga is clearly strong and aggressive, but King was totally different from the word go, and from a younger age.

When he came through, outside of any of his prodigious defensive capabilities, he was unbelievably rapid and incredibly comfortable on the ball...with both feet!

If he was in the team today we'd be in the top 4 having conceded fewer goals.

Campbell (from a playing perspective anyway, the tw*t) would be the more appropriate comparison
I was not comparing his physique, I was comparing the mindset comfort/discipline (which King also had at that age) and actually King was put in a team that is nowhere near the standards we have now. Tanganga has been put into a team with the most successful manager in our modern era, a massive stadium that is our home and world class players around him.

Like I said, my opinion - others may differ but I only go by what I see and have seen. Either way it is not to disregard King as he turned into one of the best defenders the World has ever seen and as I mention above he was very good on his debut games, I am merely providing confidence to everyone that Tanganga shows great promise and clearly has his head and attitude in the right place that echos the stature of King
 

si_yidarmy

£NIC OUT
Apr 17, 2005
4,717
931
He might not be that good but to say Aurier lacks energy and passion is nonsense
I said I was sick of watching Aurier.

I did not say he lacks energy and passion specifically towards him, it was a general thought of majority of the team recently.

Just so we are clear on my words
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Hate to say it but I think a little bit of revisionism is going on re. King. He was always a very good talent, comfortable in midfield or at the back, but it took him a few years to be really consistent and become that commanding centre back - not till about 04/05. Along the way it was a learning curve, two or three years in to his Spurs career you see him make a huge cock up that cost us in a cup final for instance.

As I've said before though with other youngsters, don't get the obsession with labels and fans obsessing how good they could be. Tanganga is physically very robust, ok technically, and has a good head on his shoulders it seems, so has every chance of having a decent career, but lets just sit back and keep the pressure off and watch how it unwinds. At the moment he's put in two performances, and most importantly for me gave a team badly in need of some energy, eagerness, and urgency precisely that, and so deserves his place in the team. Hopefully that continues, whether that's for five games or five hundred.
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,865
16,053
Thing is with Ledders, unless you've seen this you wouldn't realise he was lightning! The most gifted defender I've ever seen play; had it all, technical, mental, physical.
And he didn't need to foul. Ridiculously few cards for his career.
 

littlemandefoe

Conte's Blue and White Army!
May 22, 2005
4,245
4,540
Tanganga puts in two good performances and he's the next King!?

Remember, King is the best defender Spurs have ever had and top 10 best in PL history, lets give ol' Japhet some time. Like what I see but comparisons shouldn't be made just yet.
 
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