No offence mate, but you arent half coming across as a bit obsessed with undermining Neil. Your view on his captaincy is well trodden. He wasn't a good choice of captain imo. You have been a regular doubter of him from a very early stage it seems to me. That is all fair. But here you are, digging him out as a poor captain, whilst at the same time hosting a thread about the next captain. Shouldn't we discuss the captaincy, we have a new PL season starting and the captain isn't being picked, or even considered, by the look of things.
The suggestion of Xhaka ruling the roost seems nonsense to me. I absolutely didn't say Xhaka was ruling the roost, you've totally misread that. He seems quite humble and discreet. But I have seen comments about Rigg being shy, Ballard being in awe, Luke looking awestruck. None of that looks real to me. Other people have made those comments, not just me. But I am not trying to forensically interrogate these things, I have no reason to do so, nor am I qualified to make such judgements.
Folk seem to be looking for things and seeing them. Xhaka is not the sort that would want the pedastal some are putting him on in my opinion. I'd say that's exactly the type of character he is, exactly what the club needs and why we bought him.
He isnt like a Keane character who would want it all about him. I disagree entirely. The keenness to link Dan Neil to Xhaka is bonkers. Unless we know Dan was willfully ignoring him, or he hasnt already said his hellos, or hasnt already been told he isnt captain etc etc all you are doing is guessing and making stuff up. I made it quite clear I was guessing which is why I asked other people for their opinion. Bringing up Hurley, a captain 60 odd years ago, is odd. By some media suggestion KLD promised Xhaka captaincy if he came, if true it seems naieve to think Dan should be fulfilling the role you seem to expect. I didn't say Xhaka was promised the captaincy, what the media say has nothing to do with me.
The bare reality is Neil seems likely to leave. He certainly doesnt seem to the first team at this stage. He hasnt been part of the so called starting 11. We appear to have moved on from him, or outgrown him. With everything in front of our noses expecting him to be doing what you expect seems plain daft to be honest. He's currently the captain, of the club, so I'm expecting him to fulfil that role until I'm told anything different. It would be daft to guess at what role he has, so it's you making the assumptions.
It is this sort of post that makes me hope he goes to be honest. We dont need to be so divided over players in the prem.
It's not a case of being divided, I have my opinion on the player in just the same way you do. I've not insulted him or derided him in any way but I do think I'm entitled to my opinion just as you are.