That's what Captain Mark Hudson has done consistenly this season. With Huds serving out his suspension for the Peterboro game, the question is, who has the leadershp skills and experience to continue in the intrim? The arm band should pass to a leader by example. Who do you consider to be that player? For me it's Bellars.
Bellers for me too. The bigger question though is what to do about Hudson's absence. Will Malky move Connolly inside and bring back Kev, or bring Nugent into the middle?
Tough call scully! All depends on Kev's fitness in training, but he seems the natural choice with Connolly inside. Saying that I wouldn't be disheartened to see the youngster given another shot, though there is no Huds to shepherd his every move this time.
Keep up Scull - it's all on this forum. We tell Malky what to do. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/183441-Changing-Opinions/page2
Wouldn't argue with Bellers as skipper although Big Ben Turner is very vocal and may well relish the opportunity of leading the side. For experience and balance I prefer McNuggs to come in and Connolly to cb although there is a good argument for Baby (if he's a baby it must have been a very difficult birth) Ben to start as he has done well so far. It shows how far we have come that there are doubts about bringing in McNuggs when a defensive change is needed.
Bellamy will be a mouthy so and so and boss the troops around whether he's got the armband or not as he does every week. With that in mind, it may be worth giving the captaincy to A N Other. Marshall is another that is vocal as his role necessitates, so for me it's either Big Ben or Whitts, maybe even HH. Outside that I'd rather the players concentrate on their own game as they are comparatively inexperienced (as is Big Ben). I suppose if you move Connolly inside you could give it to him, he's been there done that. OK, Connolly or Whits for me. EDIT - as the commedy option, lets give it to KimBo. The aftermatch interview should be fun!
Bellamy will get it as the senior pro as well as on merit. As mentioned above, Whitts could do it but it's not his style - best leave him to do what he's so good at. Nobody else in front of the back 4, but Turner or Connelly could step in for the one game - it doesn't mean much in the real scheme of things to be honest. Shake hands, call the coin toss and select the end to defend first half if the coin comes down the right way. What will matter on the pitch is whether the lack of club captain Hudson has a bigger effect on the stability of the side, rather than who will wear the armband.
Why not just play 3 at the back? Leeds have been doing it since they signed Tate Nothing against Nugent but I'm hoping Malky will go with experience. Bring Kev in and move Connolly inside. With that logic the captaincy for the day should go to CB39. As well as he did, Nugent stepped up when called on due to injuries, gained great experience and will gain more in future. Right now I want the keep the momentum going, maintain the gap at the top and extend the home record....not too much to ask Santa for?
Interesting words from MM. The only one who hasn't seen that demonstrated is Eti. Mackay said he now has faith in every member of his squad whilst admitting things were different last season when he inherited players from former manager Dave Jones. “There were players I didn’t count as part of my main squad,” he said. “It’s great to say that I don’t have a member of my first team squad right now who is not part of plans. That’s lovely to say. “It wasn’t the case last season, but it is now. “We have a squad which is a similar size in terms of numbers, but there were at least five in last season that I didn’t see as part of the main group. “That has changed completely, every professional here is a trusted member of our squad. There is nobody here that I am telling they should go and try to find a match elsewhere.” Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...-david-marshall-91466-32401936/#ixzz2Ejd3Jkgc
I still think Veronica could be Malky's secret weapon to be unleashed in January. He's just holding back all that pent up energy and enthusiasm.
good stuff CCFC, rarely do you get a player who you worry will be run ragged or not be up to the task on the day, even nugent and ralls came in and did well, ralls out of position tpp
we can take a player off with 20 mins to go to save some gas without a drop in performance of the team on the day, KimBo and Mason as examples. Not a position we've been in before.
can't remember that far back Blue. More likely to have the opposite problem. What do they say, you know when you are getting old when it takes all night to do what you used to do all night. I was careful with my wording in response to swamp (or whatever he's calling himself these days) as well, I was going to say we could pull someone off with 20 minutes to go.
WoL says Whitts to captain on Saturday. Extract from article: - "Peter Whittingham will get the nod to captain Cardiff City on Saturday. With club skipper Mark Hudson suspended for the visit of rock-bottom Peterborough, boss Malky Mackay will turn to the midfield playmaker regarded by many as the best player outside the Premier League to take the armband. And Whittingham will be hoping to oversee club history as Cardiff aim to make it 11 consecutive home league wins for the first time. The captaincy honour will see Mackay repay the faith the 28-year-old has shown in sticking with the Bluebirds despite interest from Premier League clubs in the summer. It had been felt by some that Hudson’s suspension might allow home-town hero Craig Bellamy to take the captain’s armband again. Bellamy was appointed team captain by previous boss Dave Jones during his loan spell at the Bluebirds during the 2010-11 season, with Hudson being the club captain. But Bellamy will this time be allowed to focus on his football alone, his attacking play back to its riveting best in the 4-1 win at Blackburn Rovers last Friday. Whittingham also has been in excellent form this season as Cardiff have stormed to the top of the Championship, firing seven goals from what has often been a deep-lying position." Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...er-cardiff-city-91466-32408823/#ixzz2EvU608zs
Bellers will have had an 8 day recovery time from Blackburn and at the moment will walk over hot coals to play. The only possible drawback could be what is going on in his personal life but then again involvement in a successful team can only be good in helping him get through that.
I read that his divorce had gone through and you can't help thinking it 'contributed to his ankle problem'. It would be good to give him a rest when we can and use him for the 'big games'. It would also give Mason a run out. I'd be happy to rest him against Posh and use him for all the Christmas period games, giving him another rest for the FA cup weekend. I know anyone can beat anyone, but we have to have confidence in the squad and we have won enough games when he hasn't played, and lost when he has.
