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Jack, very interesting to hear a view on captaincy from someone inside football, but the one aspect of the role that you haven't covered is the ambassadorial, off-field role that captains have (especially at the traditional "Big Clubs" and for International sides).

The recent stripping of the armband from John Terry would seem to prove that great experience, inspirational form and/or communication skills are not necessarily enough to be a complete captain.

The oft-spouted cliche of having eleven captains on the field would seem to be easier to achieve than finding just one man who can truly fulfil the role of captain off it.

2. Oh, I'm being moderated even though I've been registered for ages. Is this the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú or Pravda.com?

You have to look in a mirror and say, hey, this is me, i am being a captain. I think you will get this from your man on the field. His name should be Fletchr. It must be a man who is an automatic pick I don't think i am knowing if Mcamnus or Calswell will know if they are a starter. You have Berra who might play, Dorrnas could get a game then you could even say others. It's tough I know.

Must be starter. It should be a defender too, or a midfield situator. Look at your best ever captains in Scotland. You have Sounees, McStay, McGrain. etc. They have to be vocally and be a man who others trust. With John Teryr the lads have lost a trust there. This is tough. Like Fletcher you have a player who is a pick to start. He has lots of big game played. He is a vocaliser. Not a bad player too. I'm sure a youbng lad willlsiten to a guy who has won everythings.

I think the role of captain once commanded a certain amount of respect, like many things in modern society this is no longer the case. I don't feel qualified to judge if this 'trend' is a good or bad thing, it is merely my observation. Some see captaincy as an honour, others may feel weighed down by the 'burden.' So "how crucial is the captain's role?" probably depends on the individual. Good blog though.

Unless Roy Race is Scottish, I'm afraid it's going to matter relatively little who their captain is, given their current lack of available talent.

For which I have some sympathies.

Does a captain have to be a popular member of the team?

The influence of a captain depends on many things such as the quality of the player and the team. If you have a team like Chelsea, it is full of world class experienced players who can all stand up and be counted. JT as captain isn't essential to them. When you look at Liverpool, especially when their backs are against the wall, that is when Gerrard is at his best so it gives the whole team a lift. I think that the captaincy is as big as the man who sports the armband and the confidence and determination he can inspire into his teammates.

'nough respect Jack. but Gary 'whoops' Caldwell or Barry 'v is for victory' Ferguson? you're having a Rory mcgrath :)

Fletcher or perhaps Mcmanus yes

I think the people who say that a captain is no longer needed or useful support teams that don't have an exceptional captain. A great captain, a leader, makes the difference when it matters - he can help inspire every other player and every fan into believing they can win. Most teams wont have a player capable of doing this to such extreme levels, and instead simply have eleven professionals who give their most week in week out - and hence the armband seems insignificant to the people watching these teams. Yet some teams will have a captain who can make the difference, and will always make the right decision (Steven Gerrard the prime example) at the right time. These players are extremely important to every major success, and they can often be the difference between success and failure.

I think a great captain is rather underrated in modern football and the job isn't taken seriously because there are very few around.

As for Scotland, I don't believe Barry Ferguson or Gary Caldwell should be in with a shout. Darren Fletcher has always seemed a bit ligthweight for the armband in my opinion, and doesn't have the ability to inspire those around him to up their game. Stephen McManus would probably be my first choice because on the field he is as close to a leader as we have - and is usually solid for Scotland (despite a few slip ups in the last year).

I've always found John Potter a peculiar choice as captain for St. Mirren. While definitely improving this year he's always seemed to me to inspire fear more than confidence throughout the team because of his lack of technical and physical ability that often gets capatilised upon as part of a back four (when we have three centre backs this does not happen much). I know you can't really slate Potter on here, but is he really an ideal captain? Does he have greater influence upon the team that we in the stand see?

I think that the captains role in a team is very important. My main reason being that the rest of the team look to the player as a leader on the field, other players can learn a lot from a team captain. A captain can'tjust be any one player,they have to have the right characteristics to succeed as a team captain.

I've recently started my own football blog, please take time to visit and take part, thanks...

I've lamented the lack of an on field captain at United for a couple of seasons now, Neville is a great club captain but the constant passing of the band come game day to my mind lessens an honour that many players aspire to but some may never reach.
In saying that it doesn't appear to have hurt uniteds on field performance & maybe you only need a captain as a face & mouth for all the off field interviews etc.

Paul Mckenna. An example of a superb captain.

yep i've always found inspiration from steven gerrard. especially when i wish to attack a defenceless man in a bar with a group of equally mullered professional footballers.

john terry gets stripped of his captaincy for being involved with the private life of two consenting adults, gerrard captured on cctv attacking a man in a bar not only avoids prosecution but his club by their actions condone thuggery.
what i dont get is why gerrard got away with it but his accomplices were prosecuted with affray?

strange sets of values at play?

as tedious as comparisons between football and rugby are, i'm going to through one in. martin johnson has been decribed by former lion team-mate scott quinnell as the kind of guy you would run through a brick wall if he told you to as "there would be a hole in the wall where he had been". a football captain should have that same impact on his players. the other rugby comparison is that the only player that can talk to a ref is the captain. i can't see that relationship developing any time soon in football.

for me a captain should have three assets:-

1) be a benchmark for commitment to be shown by the players around
2) responsible for ensuring other players don't drop their commitment
3) enforce the managers orders on the pitch

above all though, a captain should be appointed for the players and not for the manager.

Diablo, depends on how much money your mates get to take the blame - Ask Jonathan Woodgate!

nice to hear the refs are listening now jack. if only their eye sight improved a bit more we might be game on :)

Driglufc,
yeah mr bowyer seemed to get a kick out of it too!

Interesting blog. I still think (or rather would like to think) a captain has a role in football, to be the person to try and lift the players if they're 2 goals down as well as the manager. It would also be great to adopt an attitude similar to rugby where the captain is the main line of communication between players and referee should the players have any grievences.

I know that Jack will choose his words carefully regarding the captaincy at St. Mirren (rightly so) but I think Potter isn't a bad captain. He's experienced and is reliable despite his blip at the end of last season. I can't comment on whether he's respected in the dressing room but if we assume so then he seems a fine captain to me. Although I would be more than happy if Potter, Ross, Paul Gallacher, Chris Innes or Stephen Thomson were to lead the team out.

One more thing:
"after all the team joker may be most popular but not capable of commanding the respect and attention of his team mates"

I've heard Billy Mehmet is the joker of St. Mirren and yes, I imagine it would be difficult to respect anyone with such a ridiculous goal celebration!

Jack - you alright? Your injury looked nasty and we fell apart without you. You're a very important player for us, wishing you a speedy recovery!

What about Celtic's exodus. Gordon Strachan wanted ''leaders'' for Boro and looked to his old club. Surely it takes more than one strong individual!

I always think of Phil Neville as a great captain for Everton. He is consistent and isn't afraid to get stuck in, and most of all doesn't drop his head if they go a goal down but will be motivating the rest to pull one back.

Jack imagine writing a blog on captaincy and not including a view on John Terry's saga....!! Thank god you didn't

Dont think captains have the same standing as they used to.. some clubs its almost a ceremonial position rather than an active one..