Gallas is almost certain to leave us this summer so the position of Vice-Captain is certainly up for grabs. There were also question marks over Dawson's future last summer and I'm expecting him to leave this summer, so we may need to re-assess the captaincy situation. Vertonghen - My choice - Multi-lingual, experience of captaining Ajax, winning leagues and cups, playing Champions League. Bale - Certainly our one talismanic figure, but if there are any doubts about his future after next season would we want to get stuck in the Arsenal cycle of our captains leaving every year? Kaboul - Has been out of the picture for a year but certainly a leader and one who sets an example to other players. Dawson - Currently our club captain but question marks over whether he is good enough to play for us on a regular basis, wouldn't get in many people's first choice XI. I would sell him in the summer if a decent offer came in. Parker - Again, has captained sides before but only really got a run in the team this year due to Sandro's injury. Many fans get frustrated with him and would be willing to let him go. Also, thoughts on the importance of the role of captain? Is it really that important? I get the impression people often make a bigger deal out of it than it actually is, especially when it comes to England...
I can see Dawson retaining the club captain role and wearing the armband in cup games with Verts the captain in the league. When Kaboul returns to the team I can't see Daws starting too many league games ahead of verts & Kaboul.
Personally think that Daws will be staying around, so if thats the case then an ideal 'Club Captain'. However, with YK back and Verts alongside, they will be getting most of the gametime and I reckon that either would be a good shout for skipper on the pitch. Definitely not in favour of Bale getting it - we need him to focus on other things. Parker probably won't be featuring much either when Sandro returns, so while he has good leadership-by-example qualities, I dont see him as a good candidate.
Yeah, keep Dawson as captain but not necessarily first choice and let Jan or Kaboul or Lloris or someone have it when he doesn't play. Lennon got the captains armband a couple of times at the start of this season didn't he? He's not the sharpest tool but he did okay with the captaincy.
I wondered if someone would mention Lloris, as he is the captain of France. I have to say I have seen nothing about him whatsoever to suggest he is suitable captaincy material. I don't know what the situation is regarding the French national side, but I do find Lloris being captain quite puzzling.
Yeah, I'd go with Vertonghen picking up the Vice Captaincy, too. Lloris is France's captain though, so he might be in with a shout.
I nearly put Lloris as an option purely because he is France captain, but decided not to because as you say, I don't really see him as captain material. It's very strange that he captains France, perhaps he is just chummy with the coaching set-up.
Daws is an amazing role model, but I don't see him playing every week next season. He'd be my club captain, but my other choices for a large majority of games would be Verts or Bale. Verts wears hit heart on his sleeve and is another brilliant role model as he gives his all in every game and is a true professional. Bale is another player who oozes passion and a captains role for him could also be a good way of showing him how much he means to the club. He is someone that youngsters look up to and giving him the role might also go a long way in keeping him with us.
I'd forgotten he was France captain, I just picked him because he's always talking to the defence and trying to direct their positioning. Bossy people make good captains so long as they know what they're doing. Kaboul was a bit of a stab in the dark too, I can barely remember what it was even like saying him play! I'm not sure we have anyone that stands out the way King and Dawson do/did but I don't think it matters as much as it used to.
Of all the things that he will weigh up in deciding whether to stay or go, I think the club captaincy would be pretty low on his list. At Arsenal it's the surest sign you are leaving, don't want that precedent started here. I hope Dawson stays. We need a lot more than first choice in all positions, with Kaboul and Verts as first choice, then Caulker and Dawson are the top end of the calibre we need for backup.
Verts would be a good choice I think, captained Ajax as well didn't he. I think we have quite a few leaders in the squad which is always a bonus - Parker, Lloris, Dawson, Lennon, Bale etc. The idea of having Daws as 'club captain' but then someone like Verts who is likely to play in most of our games as the effective captain sits well with me, much like the situation we had with King for a while, except while King was injured Daws would just be sitting out for better players the majority of the time. I don't think Bale should be captaining us, he needs to focus on performing to his maximum (AVBspeak there!). You can be a leader without the armband and he certainly seems to be vocal and obviously leading by example anyway.
Vertonghen is the only candidate after Daws for me, and tbh I'd put him over Daws, as I feel JV is a better reader of the overall game. The others fail dramatically in this sense for me, how Lennon was ever given it is baffling, he doesn't say boo to a goose, Bale would be terrible too, not the best communicator either. A captain to me is an organizer, someone who is very vocal, encourages the others and rallies when things are against us.
I agree Vertonghen is the stand out player as Captain material for me. Eloquent, considered, calm, has an air of authority about him and needs to bow to no-one on the pitch. He is also a defender a position I always think lends itself to a captains role simply beacause he has a better view of the game overall.
Have to agree on the comments about Daws; He is caught out too often, but his commitment is beyond question. Vertonghen for me. I have felt he would make a good skipper from the first time I saw him play for us. He is a little like John Terry (well except for the fact he isn't a scumbag and can play football)
Similarities with Terry? They are both professional footballers playing in the PL. The End!!! (Edit: should read 'were' - Terry unlikely to remain there for long......)
I think Daws will stay and remain club captain. As for vice, it's a fight between Vertonghen and Kaboul I think. If both them two are fit then Daws won't be on the pitch so for me, it has to be one of them two. Both have leadership qualities in their own right. Vertonghen reads the game superbly, he has a sort of Ledley touch about him, not a vocal type of guy but the fact he reads the game so well and is able to both attack and defend with great quality with a touch of calmness, he has that aura where players around him will tend to feel more comfortable and as a result, have a better performance. Kaboul is your battler, he's nigh on unbeatable in the air and he's no slouch on the ground. Although not as technical as Vertonghen, Kaboul too likes getting up and down the pitch and last year, as well as being our best CB he was marshalling the defence well in Ledley's absence, a number of times I remember him shouting instructions across to Walker and Kyle was taking note. At times it was as if it were Kaboul vs opposition attack, and generally he came out on top. The determination Younes has in games will no doubt rub off on other players.
