Going back to the captaincy suggestions, I don't think Demps or DemPele could be serious contenders. I think giving a player the captaincy in the hope that that makes them want to stay is a bit desperate and ultimately just degrades the position. It didn't do much good for Arsenal, did it? I think a captain should be the player with the most authority (or perhaps experience) on the pitch and the most organisational savvy, not just the best player.
Those are essential qualities, Bidley, but so is being someone that the rest of the team will recognise as a natural leader of the group. I think Dempsey would certainly have the respect of his team-mates in that regard, and DemPele would too. Of course, often the qualities you mention go hand in hand with gaining the respect of the group. Everyone has been banging on about how being made the proper England captain has lifted Gerrard's game. Just think what Dempsey or DemPele would be like if they got the mythical 10-15% performance boost that the captaincy, apparently, gives!
To be honest, it doesn't bother me when our old-boys go to QPR, and I suspect that it wouldn't have stopped Danny from going if he thought it to be the best move for him (and nor should it). I don't much like QPR, largely because so many of their fans on discussion boards have been so obnoxious in the last two years or so, but they pale into insignificance compared to Chelsea in terms of who I regard as our local rivals. If you establish yourselves in the Premier League (as I suspect you will), that may change, but right now you're somewhere between arch-rivals and just-another-London-club to me. Closer to just-another, truth be told. Sorry!
I can see that logic, all I was saying is giving the captaincy to one of them hoping that would make them stay with the club is a wrong move, IMO.
Bidley - agree with you that its a bit desperate giving a player the captaincy in the hope it makes them stay. Haven't we been there before ourselves with Boa Morte? However, if either or both of them stay (a big if - I know), then I think there's a strong case for Dempsey or Dembele. Dempsey's been our most influential player for a couple of seasons and has the personality to lead the team on the pitch. If Dembele stays then it will be because Jol intends to build a team around him for the next year or two, in which case I think he'd thrive on the extra responsibility. In a programme interview last season Buomesca Tu Na Banga said that Dembele always takes time to talk to and offer advice to the younger players in training, so I think he's got potential to grow into the role of captain.
All good points, and I agree. If they pledge their future (for what it's worth) then yes, they're definitely in contention
I'm disappointed that Danny has moved, but wish him well. From popping up to save us at Pompey, to so many well executed passes and tackles, guts and leadership - Good luck Captain fantastic!
Another thought on the captaincy, if he was going to be a regular starter, would be Duff. He shares Murphy's intensity, experience, quality and (I suspect) ability to drive other players on. I guess it depends on who Jol sees as his main starting side and who he sees as being potentially more in-and-out. That may depend on whether Jol sees Ruiz making an impact from right wing or from elsewhere in the team.
Looking forward to the next club captain I would have thought there was one logical choice…. Hangeland. He is captain of Norway so has the experience, he is a regular in the side and always gives 100% and (as far as I am aware) he is committed to the club. I believe he has worn the band when Murphy has been out in the past too. Unless something is going on that I don’t know about I wouldn’t look past him. Also, call me old fashioned, but I think centre backs make the best captains as their position on the field gives them a good view of the play. My vote goes to Brede. I don’t think Duff would make a suitable captain as despite showing all the qualities I don’t believe he is going to be a fist team regular. Even if he signs a new contract I don’t think Dembele show the leadership qualities to be captain. He is a superb player but I don’t think he is a natural captain. Dempsey on the other hand does show those qualities however I’d be reluctant to see him given the captaincy unless he signs a new deal, and if he doesn’t sign a new deal I suspect he will be sold anyway. Another player I would consider is Risse. I know he has only been with us a season but I think he is a solid performer (although I know a few may disagree with me) I think he has the qualities too. For me it’s Hangeland, then Dempsey (if he is still here with an extended contract) then Risse.
Yeah it has got to be Hangeland for me, it only makes sense that the vice-captain takes over when the captain leaves. I think Hughes or MS will come in as vice-captain too.
Interesting comments on potential captain. Hangeland needs to be more commanding. He has not done this a few times that he captained the team. Danny used to boss players and had strong leadership skills. We need someone similar. Probably Hangeland can step up as he is the captain of Norway.
The only criticism I've heard of Hangeland when he captains the side is that he's rather quiet. There are different types of captain, and you don't have to be a fist-pumping perma-shouting type to do the role, but if Brede has a weakness as a captain, that's it. For what it's worth, I don't think he's the type to be offended at being passed over if they did give the captaincy to someone else. Centre backs do make good captains, and I'm not a big fan of goalkeepers or strikers as captains, although there are examples of people in each of those positions who have done it and done it well. The important thing is finding the right man, rather than the right position. I agree that the weakness in Duff's candidacy is that he may well not be guarenteed a regular starting spot (and I think I implied as much in my original post on the subject).
Since he's almost certainly bowing out of International games, I guess Duff is pretty determined to fight for a regular spot and Jol has tended to play him in the second half of the season (admittedly when Ruiz was injured). He's got the mentality, attitude - did you see him in the Irish Euro games gesticulating/urging others into positions - and I would have thought the respect of the dressing room. Aaron Hughes has also carried the Captaincy for club and country well (i'm not at all sure but isn't he the current vice captain ??). With Aaron there will be the inevitable question about whether he'll be a regular, although not wishing to open up tha tdebate here, I really, really hope not. Brede still has to be the favourite though. He's obviously not quiet off the field - do you remember the video clip of him and Danny in the tunnel at half time during the Man City away game last season. Hopefully if he's given the job permanently he'll be more commanding on the field.
Ruiz is my doubt over Duff. I don't doubt for a moment that Ruiz is going to get a run in the team at the start of the season, assuming he's fit (and quite right too, in my opinion, as he has the potential to be our star man). If Jol can see him doing a job as a second striker or in the middle of the 3 in a 4-2-3-1, then Duff will probably also be a regular starter. If Ruiz is going to be a right winger in whatever formation, then Duff could have a frustrating season. Yes, he can play left wing, but I suspect that Jol will be keen to give starts to Frei and Kacaniklic on that side. Also, the last couple of years Duff has had spells where he has been our best player and other spells where he has faded and needed to be left out for a few games to build up a fresh head of steam. If that is how Jol plans to use him, then maybe he's not the best choice. I think he's possibly the most Murphy-like personality in the team.
A thought occurred to me earlier about Murphy. Generally speaking, a collective groan goes up on this board (including from me) whenever we get linked with a player the wrong side of their 30th birthday and the club now seems to have a policy of not offering more than 1 year contracts to players in their 30s. It struck me that Murphy was 30 when we signed him, and has given us 5 years outstanding service. Of course, we need young players coming through, but are we too quick to pension players off when so many are now prolonging their careers well into their fourth decade?
