Have Tottenham found the man to dethrone the King?
Second chances are at a premium in the cut-throat world of professional football, so Younes Kaboul should count himself lucky. Heavily criticised during his first spell at Tottenham Hotspur, Kaboul returned to White Hart Lane in January 2010 with Harry Redknapp expressing at the time that he had “improved since we took him to Portsmouth” adding that Kaboul’s “concentration levels are certainly getting better”.
Kaboul’s concentration levels were once again on Redknapp’s mind after Saturday’s draw against Everton, with the Tottenham manager stating to Sky Sports that, “he lacks concentration at times”. However, Redknapp then qualified this by adding that Kaboul has “got everything to be an outstanding player” citing his pace, athleticism, passing and aerial ability amongst other attributes. High praise from a man who clearly thinks a lot of the French centre-back, having signed him from Spurs for Portsmouth in August 2008 before taking him back to White Hart Lane with him earlier this year. Kaboul evidently has a lot of potential, with Redknapp acknowledging on Kaboul’s return to Tottenham that the Frenchman, “technically developed late”, but is he good enough to solve the north London clubs defensive problems?
With Spurs attempting to compete on two fronts this season, the inevitable injuries have begun to pile up, with centre-backs Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King missing for the 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday, and with Woodgate being a long-term absentee and King blighted by injury, is Kaboul the man to step up to the plate for Tottenham?
Kaboul performed ably against Everton at the weekend, and alongside William Gallas in central defence the pair rarely looked troubled by the Merseysiders. However, it was Kaboul’s foul on Yakubu that led to the Everton goal, and although the award of a free-kick by referee Mike Jones seemed harsh, Spurs were made to pay, and this is perhaps what Redknapp means when he discusses the defender’s lack of concentration.
With the north London outfit competing at the highest level this season, they can ill-afford mistakes of that nature, and although Spurs would ideally like to have King and Dawson performing week in week out for the club, this is a reality which is not easily attainable, and it is here, somewhere between idealism and realism, that Kaboul steps in.
The Frenchman has returned a far more mature player than the one that left White Hart Lane in 2008 and is an accomplished deputy to the more senior centre-backs at Spurs. Considering also that he hadn’t played first-team football in around a month, Kaboul settled nicely into the action on Saturday.
Although Kaboul will never take the crown from King in most Spurs fans eyes, the Frenchman may prove invaluable for the busy season ahead, and with youth on his side, the 24 year-old may well also prove to be a sound investment for the future of the north London club.
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“With the north London outfit competing at the highest level this season, they can ill-afford mistakes of that nature”.
I’m not sure what you can do about mistakes from the referee?!? It was a clear dive from Yakubu, it looked like one in real time watching the game and was confirmed when seeing the replay.
Kabout didn’t put a foot wrong against Everton on Saturday. The only issue we have is that we do not yet get the ‘Man Utd’ type decisions going for us.
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I saw a couple of major mistakes by Mr Kaboul, overall he did very well against a tough team with a lot of talent. I was most impressed with him dealing with crosses into the box – (usually) clearing them with ease – Dawson style. Sadly, no one is comparable to King. King reads the game well and stays focusses – Kaboul can never match that, but Kaboul is a great athlete – and has other strings to his bow. I do feel that Spurs need to bid for Cahill or Jagielka in summer. So that Dawson, Bassong and Kaboul can fight to partner them regularly.
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If the question is can he replace Ledley King, then the answer is NO.
Not sure who will be able to do that – Led’s been world class for us for about 8 years and I think everyone can acknowledge that, without his injuries, he’d still be world class.
Kaboul is a good player but we have a couple of other good promising CBs – Dawson and Bassong (and I like the look of Caulker).
The big problem we have at CB is not a lack of class; we have a lack of pairing consistency. Give any of our CB combinations a consistent run together and I think we’d start to see a massive difference.
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Kaboul himself has the answer to this question – whether he can replace King.
An ideal oppurtunity for him to grasp & prove that he can.
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I thought he was contender for MotM on Sat. Was solid throughout the match. The decision to award the free kick was ridiculous. He barely touched him, and definitely not at an angle to down a man.
If Kaboul keeps up those performances, he will certainly climb the ranks. King is one of a kind. No one will ever replace him.
COYS.
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It’s a big pet hate of mine, these big black beefy giants who go down at the touch of a feather. Puussssys…
Kaboul is looking fine and his pace alone will keep him in the team soon enough. We do have many potential combinations but Gallas/Dawson may be a little slow, no? Mainly, I’m glad that replacements for King and Woody, when needed, are for the most part, already at the club.
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For heavens sake, the guy played well on Sat but Kings done it over a decade or more. Dawson was and still is capable of the odd error of judgement as is any other player in the side. If Kaboul has a bad ‘un, dont get on his back and let him develop his own game and style, but please it’s early days to consider him a nailed on starter in the middle just yet!
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Kaboul is the one around whom we should build our defence.Yes there are mistakes and they will continue until a settled partnership emerges.King is the best but for his sake I hope he quits the game, as I don’t want him to end up like McGrath in a wheelchair.Forget Woodgate. Gallas is an old crock only good for the short term. Dawson is good and committed but doesn’t quite have the calm assurance of a top class defender. Bassong lacks height. i’ like to see Dawson and Kaboul be given achance to establish a partnership with Bassong and the new boy from S. Africa as backups. Ekotto is a cracking left back and Hutton is doing well on the right.
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