I suppose he would be the obvious choice to replace JJ as he's had experience at Exeter. Who would you pick as a stand-in and why? I t's interesting what Chris Powell says about Johnnie's style - "he leads by example...he's not one of the more vocal captains.. I was thinking about how he is himself and also with the fans". Well that style has been hugely successful and I see JJ doing small things in games which have a major influence on the outcome eg well timed tackles and blocks as well as the goals and crosses. How do you think Matt Taylor's style will differ??? http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2527947,00.html
He is the vice-captain, and I think was Exeter's captain last season. Personally I've always thought Morrison was the more vocal of the 2 CBs, and therefore a better candidate for captain, but I suppose Taylor is more experienced. And the point about Jackson is a good one, too, he isn't a Roy Keane type bawler but is nonetheless a good leader. Taylor will be the same I suspect. Based on his performances so far this season I'm happy with Taylor as captain.
That's a good point Blackaddick, Taylor as vice-captain would automatically be promoted up to Captain in JJ's absence. I was thinking back to last season when Dailly was Captain and CP chose different candidates like BWP as Captain for one game. Morrison would also make a good stand-in as he is proving defensively so sound. I am not sure about others like Hollands?
Hollands isn't a bad shout either, pat. Andy Hughes is a fantastic leader and a huge vocal presence on the pitch, but even now cannot be considered a regular first-teamer so to give him the captaincy would be a mistake. Beyond that...I don't think BWP is captain material, even if he is our 'Star' player. No-one else really springs to mind as being worthy of captaining this great side.
JJ as captain reminds me of bent. He wasnt your "conventional" leader, but he would be the bright spark in training that gave the boys a lift. Taylor- he is a leader. That said, I think morro is the future, so I would soon like him to take that responsibility.
I was surprised when BWP was given the captain's armband for a game last last season but from memory think it was a game we won. Nicky Bailey made a good captain in his own unique way, JJ is still the stand out option from this squad and let's hope his absence doesn't have the same effect as it did last season.
Being captain is not what it was in the days of the maximum wage. In the old days the managers used to send their teams out with a battle plan which sometimes didn't survive beyond the first shot or tackle. From that point on the captain used to "manage" the team, at least until half-time, making tactical adjustments, sometimes even switching players' positions. Captains were often figures of authority and could be quite intimidating. For one thing society was more deferential then. For another, there were often considerable differences in ability between the stars of the team and the others. With the maximum wage in place star players tended to stay at one club longer, as there was less incentive to move to a better team, so you had players like Johnny Haynes (probably first name on the England manager's teamsheet) playing a large slice of his career in the (then) Second Division and John Atyeo in the old Third (South). Nowadays players are micro-managed before the match with a million different scenarios, almost like the "plays" in American Football, so there is less of a role for the captain to play. Some are only there for the toss-up. It is easy to be captain of a winning side like Charlton. It is when things start going wrong that a good captain can come in useful. At present we are playing with six "captains" (Hamer, Taylor, Morison, Hughes, Holland, and Jackson) all issuing orders, encouragement and calming words (though not as much of the latter as I would like). Who have been the great captains of more recent times in the style of the old-time captains? Adams, Bremner, Robson, Keane were all respected, perhaps feared, by their team-mates. Any others? I don't think we have ever had someone like that at Charlton.
I have to say eddie, that is a pretty jaw-dropping post - for me, it sums up what this board should be about.
In defence, organisation and communication are key, so it is crucial that your back 4 talk a lot, so it is a great benefit having 2 very vocal central defenders in Taylor and Morrison. Either would make a good captain, but JJ is more of a figure to the outside world, and has been at the club a bit longer, so is a decent captain. Eddie, a very interesting reply, I've always liked my captains to be vocal, so that for example I prefered Graham Stuart to Kinsella as captain, as Stuart was much more communicative on the pitch. One of Curbs more bizarre decisions was making Rufus captain, as he's far too shy and retiring!
