The club has confirmed the next moves for Ryan Mason and Ledley King and in a dramatic plot twist, both men are going back to their previous appointments. Mason will be Ryan Mason will resume his post as Head of Player Development at the Academy, and Ledders will once more be the club’s meet and greet fella in his old role of club ambassador.
This is unsurprising, to put it mildly, but what is depressing, is that we were yet again treated to unhealthy does of disinformation as it was alleged that the pair were to be part of the incoming coach’s (then Fonseca) entourage.
The same story had done the rounds for Antonio Conte. Is it really too much for those with bad information to remove themselves from the field of play in order to let factual information have a chance to be propagated?
Quite what King offered us as a defensive coach is beyond me, as it is my understanding he has yet to complete his badges. As for Mason, I’ve nothing further to add.
Hasn’t he been promoted into that role? Either way I get the fact that ex pros get jobs that perhaps they are unqualified to do. All I’ve read about Mason is that at academy level he is well regarded. Again I ask from his brief tenure he improved the results of the incumbent over the short term Six games or the longer term 21 games.
The point I’m making is that high profile jobs in Pro football tend to go ex players. Just because you played the game at Pro level doesn’t mean you are more knowledgeable than someone ho’s studied the game. In fact it’s likely they know less.
The question is always asked why aren’t there more black & Asian managers. I’d ask also ask why are managers jobs pretty much only given to ex players. You can count on 1 hand how many outside football who’ve done it.
Thank fcuk both r poor
Of course alot of managers are ex pros, but I believe to be a successful manager it takes a certain personality to be the gaffer. Captains and leaders as players who have deep knowledge and understanding are ideal.. If Ledders still hasn’t got his level 1 badge then he clearly has no intention of managing now at his age. Amateur kids coaches have this.
Because I worked for the clubs academy. Ex Spurs players or just ex Pro’s always got/get the more favourable role. Mason had zero coaching experience yet lands the top job of head of player development.
In other walks of life this is more commonly known as jobs for the boys.
On what grounds do you assert that Ryan Mason is unable to do the player development role? On the basis on his six games in charge or do you have insider knowledge? He performed ok in his temporary role he was forced to cover winning 4 of his 6 games. Prior to him getting the gig we had won 1 out of last 5 games and 7 of our last 21.
There’s a belief in Pro football that if you played at Pro level you will automatically become a good coach of the game. Theory being you’ve done it at the highest level.
In the case of Ledley King it’s easy to dispel this theory. Similar to ex players who went into management and failed. These mostly become pundits and again some, are just not very good.
If we look at Ryan Mason’s case. Head of player development. Again, after a stint as first team manager we have to question whether player development is a role he’s able to do.
Meet & Greets it seems to me are something they both could do well at.
Levy keeps quoting that we have a bevy of quality youngsters waiting to burst on the scene. That then meant he wanted Mason and King to remain in and around the first team squad. So, when his potential coaches all laughed at the idea they were shown the interview door. Clearly Nuno has repeated the blindingly obvious and at last Levy has given in, at the fourth or fifth time of asking. Our youngsters, both academy and transfers always look incredibly light weight. I remember seeing Jack Clarke put on an embarrassing performance for QPR -like a first year school kid playing with the sixth form. Seems the Academy selection is based entirely on ball skill, yet this is only a fragment of the resources a pro footballer needs to become a success.
Mason’s judgement is flawed in playing his mates Dier and Winks so much, he needs to be kept away from the first team. As for King, a great player in his day but as defensive coach he had to take responsibility for our poor defensive form. I hope Nuno brings his own man in.