Team Captain

[Good Doctor M]

Age doesn't matter for captains

Terry and Adams were both captains at 20, pretty sure Gerrard was too

There's a difference between being captain and being made club captain - Danny Rose has captained us on occasion, it's not the same thing. Terry capatined Chelsea at twenty one but he wasn't club captain until Mourhino arrived 2/3 years later. Same thing with Gerrard - he was made club captain when he was 23/24, but he'd captained the side on previous occassions. It took a few years for both those guys to prove themselves, as it will with Eric. It took Gerard 5 years to become club captain.

And of course age matters, as does experience, as does personality. But the reason I mentioned age in the first place was because Dier is still learning the league - he's still going to be looking up to players in the squad. The captain, for my money should always be the player that garners the most respect - that's the first thing you need in a leader and that is Hugo, all day long.

Eric is a future captain, without a doubt, possibly in the next two years, but as long as Hugo is here, I can't see any reason to put someone else in.

Eric can earn that role and he can do it by showing he has what it takes. Our "captain" certainly shouldn't act how he did in the last 5 minutes at Chelsea. But that's what he's learning and in a few years, I've not doubt he'll be club captain. And I think he'll be the best and most obvious choice.

 

[bubble07]

Why can't any of our outfield players take the role as captain? So they need an armband with the word captain on it?

Hugo is world class and seems to have the respect. If you take it off him it will not look good

 

[Flynn]

I love Hugo but he needed to stand up and be counted in the Chelsea game. He was the one that should of been a calming influence on the younger players.

 

[nicdic]

The fascination with the armband is overstated to be honest. We need a team of hungry winners and leaders. Players with that kind of mentality don't need an armband to display that kind of character. For the first time in a long time I don't think we have a problem with a lack of those kind of characters. Hugo is the captain and will remain so I'd expect until he moves on. There's literally no need for it to change.


With a keeper as captain the vice captain is allowed to approach the ref, which is generally what happens.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Lloris should stay as captain. If other players are going to lead on the pitch they will do it regardless. Having a armband makes no difference. I think fans overstate the influence a captain has in the modern game.

 

[mark87]

No problems with Lloris being captain but we definitely do need someone being more vocal out on the pitch, whether that's someone from our current crop of players or someone who has more natural leadership qualities that we can bring into the club this summer I'm not sure.

I will say however I am a bit disappointed that Hugo, being our captain, didn't come out and say anything after the Newcastle game like Harry did, I would have expected him to say something.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

It's a tough call because Alderweireld seems like the most natural choice for captain, whereas Kane would make sense as our talisman (who is also very vocal and passionate). Dier is an obvious captain for the future too.

However, it would be very harsh to take the captaincy off Lloris. When he speaks to the press he represents us superbly, and despite getting a bit sloppy in the later stages of the season he's generally led by example with some stunning performances. I'm proud to have him as our captain, and as a senior (but not exactly old) player in a very young squad, I believe our players look up to him too.

Excellent post, couldn't agree more! I think your post sort of emphasises the fact that a Carrick type of player 'could' be exactly what the doctor ordered.

I fully expect to be ridiculed, but I'd take Carrick back in a heartbeat. He, in my opinion, would be amazing next to Dier. He could not only mentor Dier, totally rounding off & improving his game, but could/would be a great role model to the leagues youngest squad. The experience of winning things, along with his natural calmness & unflappable personality, is exactly what our squad lacks.

As you say, Hugo is a man who leads by example. He's not the most vocal of skippers, yet most of our squad has openly stated just how good a leader he is. So, if we could get Carrick, or a Carrick type player, Hugo could continue doing exactly as he's done, whilst Carrick could do what he's always done, ie sit in front of the back 4, organising those around him whilst allowing everyone else to freely express themselves. It would allow the likes of Alderweireld, Dier & Lloris to concentrate solely on their own games, which would surely only benefit us as a team?

 

[thinktank]

Kane.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

An article i found from March showed we had actually won the most amount of points from losing positions at that time - 18 - 6 more than our closest rivals.

To say we have "no leaders" and no vocal winners is a tad harsh and is choosing to ignore all but a handful of games that have pissed you off.

That being said I do think we need an older head to calm things down when things get hectic and to be a calming voice out on the pitch.... if anything to bring the winners in our players out.

You dont win 18 points from losing positions (in march) without having some potential winners in the side...... they just need to be shown the way sometimes.

Did that same article also state that we'd thrown away more points from a leading position, than any other PL team?

You may not win 18 points from losing positions (in March) without having some potential winners in the side, but you also shouldn't be throwing away a league high amount of points if you have some potential winners in the side. Both of those things shouldn't happen together!

 

[nicdic]

Excellent post, couldn't agree more! I think your post sort of emphasises the fact that a Carrick type of player 'could' be exactly what the doctor ordered.

I fully expect to be ridiculed, but I'd take Carrick back in a heartbeat. He, in my opinion, would be amazing next to Dier. He could not only mentor Dier, totally rounding off & improving his game, but could/would be a great role model to the leagues youngest squad. The experience of winning things, along with his natural calmness & unflappable personality, is exactly what our squad lacks.

As you say, Hugo is a man who leads by example. He's not the most vocal of skippers, yet most of our squad has openly stated just how good a leader he is. So, if we could get Carrick, or a Carrick type player, Hugo could continue doing exactly as he's done, whilst Carrick could do what he's always done, ie sit in front of the back 4, organising those around him whilst allowing everyone else to freely express themselves. It would allow the likes of Alderweireld, Dier & Lloris to concentrate solely on their own games, which would surely only benefit us as a team?

I wish people would drop this Carrick thing. He just doesn't fit in any way.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I wish people would drop this Carrick thing. He just doesn't fit in any way.

I was only voicing my opinion.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I don't think Lloris should have been made captain in the first place. It should have been Vertonghen. Like the OP, I'd keep Lloris as club captain now, it would seem like a slap in the face otherwise, but appoint a pitch captain.

I think Dier will captain us one day, but for now I'd go with Vertonghen or Alderweireld, whoever is the most likely to actually read the game and talk to the other players on the pitch.

 

[Japhet]

Lloris should stay as captain. If other players are going to lead on the pitch they will do it regardless. Having a armband makes no difference. I think fans overstate the influence a captain has in the modern game.

If there are differences of opinion on the pitch the Captain is the one who should sort it out. He should be telling other players what they should be doing and wearing the armband gives him that right and authority. Without the armband situations don't get resolved and players carry on doing what they think is right. The Captain is the bridge between the Manager and the players and I don't think it's at all easy or effective for a goalkeeper to be that player. A lot of the time there is a 45 yard gap between Lloris and the nearest Spurs player. How is that supposed to work? He should be club Captain but (IMO) Alderweireld should have the job on the pitch.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I don't think Lloris should have been made captain in the first place. It should have been Vertonghen. Like the OP, I'd keep Lloris as club captain now, it would seem like a slap in the face otherwise, but appoint a pitch captain.

I think Dier will captain us one day, but for now I'd go with Vertonghen or Alderweireld, whoever is the most likely to actually read the game and talk to the other players on the pitch.

I don't agree about Vertonghen. He isn't a leader, in my opinion. He's a sulky bugger when things aren't going his way and, with the tweaking/overhaul of rules next season, I can see his constant 'grappling' with opponents every time they get in our box, being extremely costly for us. He really needs to cut that shit out!

 

[nicdic]

I was only voicing my opinion.

I know, just seeing the "Carrick for Spurs" thing a lot all over the place at the moment. Just really don't think he'd fit.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I know, just seeing the "Carrick for Spurs" thing a lot all over the place at the moment. Just really don't think he'd fit.

I can actually understand that, as he's not a 'busy' type of player, not blessed with pace & isn't, or doesn't look hard working. However, it's his intelligence that makes none of those things affect his game. I just think he has what we seem to lack, ie calmness, intelligence, both with and without the ball, the ability to organise the players around him and, most importantly, he knows what it takes to win things.

As I said in the original post I mentioned him in, it really is just my own opinion. I think he'd make Dier twice the player he is now, whilst he'd be a great role model to the excellent youngsters we have in our club.

He's just the type of professional that I personally admire

EDIT: But it's probably a moot point, as it is extremely unlikely he's going to be targeted by us. I didn't realise other people/places we're also saying about him coming to Spurs? Nice to know I'm not the only nutjob out there.

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

I really don't think it's all that important. Lloris represents us well, and taking away his captaincy would look strange from the outside.

Guys like Dier, Alderweireld, Lamela (due to his attitude and fearlessness in the big games), Kane and Dembele (experience and calming presence) are all visible leaders in this team and wont need an armband to be that.

The only times I think that an armband makes a difference are in cases such as Moussa Sissoko, where you have a total bellend of a player that only shows up in glamour fixtures, and you have to coax out something resembling a decent attitude by making them captain.

That's pretty much what Poch did when he arrived, making Kaboul and Adebayor his VCs, but nothing resembling a decent attitude was coaxed. However, he'd do well to appoint current CB and forward in Alderweireld and Kane, keeping Lloris as club captain because he's settled, presents well and is incumbent.

 

[y1dk1d]

I think it'd be really harsh to take it away from Lloris, might disrupt him too and we don't want that. Having said that I would love to see Dier as skipper and he certainly as the qualities for it, maybe VC this year and captain next year?

On this topic I really want to see Kane step up a bit this year in terms of being a "leader". Not saying he doesn't lead already, but I want him to have that Drogba-esque personality, taking free kicks, having a real say in matters etc. Clearly he does already have this but on a smaller scale, and it's something that comes with age, but I would like to see him leading and commanding a bit more this year now that he's established

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If there are differences of opinion on the pitch the Captain is the one who should sort it out. He should be telling other players what they should be doing and wearing the armband gives him that right and authority. Without the armband situations don't get resolved and players carry on doing what they think is right. The Captain is the bridge between the Manager and the players and I don't think it's at all easy or effective for a goalkeeper to be that player. A lot of the time there is a 45 yard gap between Lloris and the nearest Spurs player. How is that supposed to work? He should be club Captain but (IMO) Alderweireld should have the job on the pitch.

Having Buffon as captain hasn't stopped Juve winning titles and reaching CL finals in the last few years

 

[Gbspurs]

Kane or Dier for me. Both seem to be constantly talking to others in the tunnel, on the pitch, both give everything even when things aren't going well and they both seem to be able to do the ugly side of the game well too without pushing things too much.