Next England Captain?

[readingbedding]

Won't be Gerrard.

[Silver Fox]

If the idiot Beckham had remained ON the pitch we might have won our first World Cup since 1966-irresponsible or what.

Was Beckham captain in '98? (that is the incident you're referring to isn't it?)

[TBM]

If the idiot Beckham had remained ON the pitch we might have won our first World Cup since 1966-irresponsible or what.

Was Beckham captain in '98? (that is the incident you're referring to isn't it?)

Dont bother Silver......i've given up on this argument now as everyone has been telling me why Beckham was such a bad captain yet not given a valid reason why?.........going back 2+ years before he was given the armband is lame. Next they'll be using the "he wears womens clothes" as a reason

[Sun Tzu]

1. Terry should be sacked, his behaviour ( and by all accounts not everything is in the public domain yet) means he will inevitably split the squad
2. I agree that the role of the captain is over rated at most levels, leaders will be leaders with or without an armband
3. It would on the other hand be untinkable for an international team to NOT have a captain as he has a big ambassadorial role to play, especially for a country currently fighting to host a future competition
4. Wayne Rooney is IMHO the only candidate. Gerrard has already been rejected by Cappello, Ferdinand isn't sure of a place, Laampard has the wrong personality, no one else really comes into the picture. Rooney would lead by example, his behaviour has improved massively this season and he has matured. He is th eplayer most other countries would see as our number 1 and he would be respected by the players.

However I suspect Terry will keep his job, in which case let's hope those who boo Lampard and Bentley at Wembley switch their attentions to the 'captain'.

[Hoop Blah]

Dont bother Silver......i've given up on this argument now as everyone has been telling me why Beckham was such a bad captain yet not given a valid reason why?.........going back 2+ years before he was given the armband is lame. Next they'll be using the "he wears womens clothes" as a reason

I gave your perfectly good reasons why he wasn't an ideal captain!! I do think he was pretty good though, just that he exploited it in much the way that Terry has been criticised.

Leaders will be leaders, but too many COOKs spoil the broth and all that, so it does need those not with the armband to be a little less dominant than the appointed skipper.

On the pitch I think it's slightly less important than off the pitch and in and around the squad, and obviously these days around the media etc.

[readingbedding]

If Terry's antics hasn't upset the squad and the players are happy for him to lead them, then he should continue.
Asking the stupid fans to boo the Captain is a bit daft, they'll do it anyway.
They'll have no real idea why, but they'll still boo...

[Sun Tzu]

If Terry's antics hasn't upset the squad and the players are happy for him to lead them, then he should continue.
Asking the stupid fans to boo the Captain is a bit daft, they'll do it anyway.
They'll have no real idea why, but they'll still boo...

His antics have quite obviously upset at least one squad member and inevitably some will side with Bridge and some with Terry.

And equally obviously everyone will know exactly why they are booing Terry you idiot ! If you'd have chosen Lampard or Bentley you might have had a point but no one is unaware aof Terry's crime (s). I suspect most have forgotten his drunken insults to American tourists after 9/11 though.

[leww_rfc]

Rooney, only person apart from Terry 100% to start seen as Milner and Barry are playing good themselves also, bloody hell he doesn't half work

[readingbedding]

If Terry's antics hasn't upset the squad and the players are happy for him to lead them, then he should continue.
Asking the stupid fans to boo the Captain is a bit daft, they'll do it anyway.
They'll have no real idea why, but they'll still boo...

His antics have quite obviously upset at least one squad member and inevitably some will side with Bridge and some with Terry.

And equally obviously everyone will know exactly why they are booing Terry you idiot ! If you'd have chosen Lampard or Bentley you might have had a point but no one is unaware aof Terry's crime (s). I suspect most have forgotten his drunken insults to American tourists after 9/11 though.

Blimey, idiot eh, thanks very much!

If Capello keeps him as Captain, then that will mean that he'll be satisfied that there will be no split, if he doesn't then that also answers your question for you.
I'd have Rooney anyway.
In regards to Terry's crimes, it pales into significance to what other footballers have done, affairs happen, the people booing, yes even them may have committed an affair sometime.
So let the stupid fans boo, it will all be forgotten if England perform well in South Africa.

I'm looking forward to the Coronation of our next King - booing-a-go-go!

[Terminal Boardom]

I fail to see what the relevance and importance of a football captain is. He is not the focal point of the side like a cricket captain. He does not dictate changes of strategy during the game. What is all the fuss? Maybe, as posted on the JT shagging thread we adopt the Italian approach of giving the symbolic title to the player with most caps.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me and explain the importance of a captain in a football team. I won't hold my breath.

[TBM]

I fail to see what the relevance and importance of a football captain is. He is not the focal point of the side like a cricket captain. He does not dictate changes of strategy during the game. What is all the fuss? Maybe, as posted on the JT shagging thread we adopt the Italian approach of giving the symbolic title to the player with most caps.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me and explain the importance of a captain in a football team. I won't hold my breath.

The captain is your "manager" on the pitch....its up to him to influence the other players to play the way they should be. A good captain will work with his manager/coaches to understand how they want the team to play. When out on the pitch managers on the sidelines are a lost voice so its the captains duty to keep everyone in line. He should also be respected and have something about them that helps raises the players around him.

People who have actually played football at a decent level will understand this.

[No Fixed Abode]

Won't be Gerrard.

This seasons performances....

Huddlestone>Gerrard

[papereyes]

It's not that vital but it can be.

My last season at uni, we had a captain who sorted out the teams and got everyone there on time but there were two older players in the squad who he basically said at the start of the season "You're the captains on the pitch" and let us do the talking and organising and geeing up there.

Worked well.

[Hoop Blah]

I think, especially these days, that it's more the off field side of things that a good captain makes a difference though.

I agree with TBM that you need an authoritive voice on the pitch, but it's as the leader of the group and the managers voice in and around the players off the pitch that I think they have a bigger impact. They become the go between from squad to manager, they can help set the tone in the 'camp' and have to help manage the group dynamics. When they're away for so long for a tournament I think that takes on quite an important role.

They are like an on-field manager.

It should also come down to the senior pro's within any squad to pick up that role, but as in any organisation or group of individuals, you still need a point of authority and leadership to focus things effectively.

I'm not sure I believe this Italian captain based on caps myth. I've seen it said they they 'usually' do it by caps, but I do wonder if that's just a bit of a smokescreen, and it just so happens that usally the player with the most caps is that leader. Canavaro strikes me as a natural Captain, and Maldini and Barasi before him.

[Hoop Blah]

It's not that vital but it can be.

My last season at uni, we had a captain who sorted out the teams and got everyone there on time but there were two older players in the squad who he basically said at the start of the season "You're the captains on the pitch" and let us do the talking and organising and geeing up there.

Worked well.

In Uni football the 'Captain' is really just the manager though (or was in my time and at other Uni's I was aware of).

You need leaders, and the arm band or lack of it shouldn't change those character too much, but as I said, at times you need one voice to be the one that counts.

[Terminal Boardom]

I fail to see what the relevance and importance of a football captain is. He is not the focal point of the side like a cricket captain. He does not dictate changes of strategy during the game. What is all the fuss? Maybe, as posted on the JT shagging thread we adopt the Italian approach of giving the symbolic title to the player with most caps.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me and explain the importance of a captain in a football team. I won't hold my breath.

A good captain will work with his manager/coaches to understand how they want the team to play.

Much of the work would be done on the training ground and in meetings. This would involve all players wouldn't it?

When out on the pitch managers on the sidelines are a lost voice so its the captains duty to keep everyone in line.

Isn't it a case that the coaching staff at pitchside will tell the nearest player something who then passes on the information to those concerned? Additionally, notes on pieces of paper can be handed to a player and digested.

The captain is your "manager" on the pitch....its up to him to influence the other players to play the way they should be.

We re talking professionals here. At international level if they don't know what they are supposed to be doing then what are they doing there?

People who have actually played football at a decent level will understand this

He should also be respected and have something about them that helps raises the players around him.

Fair enough. But I like to think that everyone should take responsibility for this.

People who have actually played football at a decent level will understand this.

[PistolPete]

Expect a good few weeks of JT revelations. The next Tiger Woods

[Hoop Blah]

TB, it doesn't matter what level it is, players with different abilities and skills have different characters. You still need your relatively strong characters to be able to lead to the others and help get the most out of them in exactly the same way that you need you more creative players to set up chances and your defenders to keep them out.

You only have to watch a bit of a few different players or managers on TV to see how different players (of similar abilities) have different views or natural instincts on whats happening in a game.

If it was as easy as you suggest you wouldn't have the disparity between a good and bad manager.

[TBM]

Much of the work would be done on the training ground and in meetings. This would involve all players wouldn't it?

Yes but the captain is the person who makes sure others around him are doing what is asked of them. If a player isn't doing what the manager asked of him then the captain should be the one to get him doing it, being as that he's on the pitch and not the sideline (manager)

Isn't it a case that the coaching staff at pitchside will tell the nearest player something who then passes on the information to those concerned? Additionally, notes on pieces of paper can be handed to a player and digested.

Yes they do that but the captain should also spot these things and get the message across without the need to play chinese whispers

We re talking professionals here. At international level if they don't know what they are supposed to be doing then what are they doing there?

So you've never seen an international player have a poor game and not do what is asked of them?

Fair enough. But I like to think that everyone should take responsibility for this.

They do but you still need a leader, to set an example and keep his team mates in line. Also players see their captains as being a go between to the manager

You roll your eyes but its true - people who haven't actually experienced what a captain does, obviously haven't actually played football before.

[Terminal Boardom]

I really think too much is being made of the whole captaincy thing.

I readily accept that off the field there is a need for a link between the "players" and "management". That goes without saying. To get to the international level of playing, I would imagine that the majority involved would have fairly strong charactrs and personalities to have made it that far in the game. This is what I am trying to get across. Sure, there will be some stronger characters and personalities than others but all in all they should all be there or thereabouts. When looking at the current England set up names like Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard and Rooney all have the ability to lead and are more than capable in getting a point across.

As for playing, all I have managed is about 12 seasons in the Sunday Leagues. Make of that as you wish but captaincy at that level was an irrelevance as it was usually given to the manager's son!