All teams need a captain: a reasonably strong personality with a cool head, who has the respect of the players and the ability to convert the game plan (and contingencies) onto the field of play. The most effectives captains imo are CBs or midfielders, positions of influence. Forwards are rarely good captains as they need to be beyond the core activities looking for goal opportunities supplied by captain-types. Same with keepers. Equally remote with the main responsibility of needing to boss their area. The only players we have atm that possess most of the required attributes are Clint Hill and Anton Ferdinand. Hill's the obvious choice. His age and experience should add to to his cred and justify appointment for at least the next year until the squad is better defined. Rather disappointingly, both club and fans seem to regard his age as a disqualifier. Shame. Anton appears to be Hughes' choice and gets the armband when all else fails. Interesting that, since he's the complete opposite to Barton in character. He's definitely regarded as a safe pair of hands. Have to say he conducted himself amazingly well with all the hoo-ha around Terry's issue - and I for one have been largely happy with his performances all season. Certainly never felt the Terry stuff negatively affecting it as some have suggested on here. If anything his natural cool is very deceptive: makes him look slow and nonchalent whereas he's actually anything but. As for Flyer's observation that Anton's 'form' fluctuates dependent upon partner, I agree in that the other guy's competence affects Anton's positioning in critical situations. Hardly surprising that, is it? As for Faurlin, Taarabt, Zamora as options. All lack the leadership qualities imo.
Ferdinand's handling of the Terry affair tells you all you need to know about the man: Hes not street smart. Some might go as far as to say hes clueless (As if one dunce was not enough - Taarabt). Add to that the fact he was sh*t for most of the season means there's far better candidates for the post. Mackie, Hill or even the Goalkeeper would be better calls IMO.
