Manchester United Need A New Captain
Manchester United’s problems on and off the pitch are well documented. The squad needs rebuilding, the money’s tight, Ferguson is being barracked and even the die-hard United fans are turning on the club’s management.
However, while players can be bought and managers replaced, it’s a totally different thing to decide on the captain for the club.
If you think the captain’s post is not as serious as our other problems, you’re probably right. Sure, we have a feather-weight squad. Sure, Ferguson can’t seem to motivate the players as he did before.
But Ferguson was never the only player doing the motivating. He had Keano to guide Man United through the glory years after Cantona. Thing is, Keano’s gone and sadly, Manchester United has no captains on the pitch.
Yes, Gary Neville is our current captain. Yes, Giggs is an able deputy and his will to fight is second to none. Scholes is there as well, and his decision to shun international football will prolong his career. But all three of them are too old to playing beyond the next couple of years.
If Manchester United are to plan for the future, they need a young captain that can lead them through this tinkering / rebuilding phase and back to the top of the Premiership and Europe in the next 5 years.
That means choosing a captain from our crop of young stars - there are many, but what criteria to use?
Players like Roy Keane, John Terry, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard and even Kevin Nolan give us a unique insight into what’s required from a captain on the pitch and in the dressing room.
- The captain doesn’t have to be the best player (Keano and Vieira never were), but he has to be the one who tries the hardest and sets an example by giving his best every single time.
- Age is a major factor - you want a captain who will be playing at the top level for another 5-6 years at least.
- This goes without saying, but you need a player who is committed heart and soul to the club. With Manchester United, that’s not hard to find, but it is still something to consider.
- Going hand in hand with the previous point, the player should also have spent a couple of years at the club before being appointed captain (bringing in a new player and immediately making him captain doesn’t do much good for the team or the fans’ moral).
With the above criteria in mind, there really aren’t many players from the Manchester United squad that you can pick as captain. Tomorrow, I’ll talk about two players that I think are best suited to Manchester United’s captaincy. The big thing here is to realise that none of the ‘home-grown’ players are capable of being captain, which means Manchester United must turn to their transfer buys in the last few years to pick out a captain.
For now, please let us know (in the comments) who you think should be the next Manchester United captain.
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Probably …….. the next captain should be Wayne Rooney….. though it may seem quite weird at first considering his aggression on the pitch but if it were channeled in the right direction and not subdued ……. then united have a worthy captain for almost 10 years during which time …….. rooney would help united lift many trophies and also he is more loyal than ronaldo and has promised to stay at united for a long time…….. Wot say??????
Rio Ferdinand would be a perfect choice, but for the contract issues of last season - i think he would become an even bigger player for us.
My second choice is David Jones. Great potential, brought through the ranks, and if given the chance with us, and if he does fulfil his potentail could be a very very good player indeed. He has alreadty captained our youth sides and our reserve side to an amazing quadruple.
Rooney could be a good choice too - always gives it 110% anyway. Temprement would be a question though.
Alan Smith seems to have all the makings of great captain.
He’s got the tenacity (I mean how many strikers do you know who are known for tackling?).
He’s strong willed, loud and doesn’t take crap from the oppositions players.
He also seems to be the demanding type of player. I remember when he was playing a match as a striker and Ronaldo didn’t pass to him when he had a great oppertunity, Smith got livid and gave him a talking too.
Now the only thing you’d have to consider is where would he find a place in the squad on the long term? I can’t really see him playing long term as a midfielder, although I can imagine him as the team’s main striker in front of Rooney, but even then it’s only if he plays exceptionally well, enough to force us not to go out and get a big name striker eventually.
Dude, UnitedRant has a point. And oh, even England have Terry as captain now - you already know who I think should be captain
Yea I do - will put up a poll tomorrow with my pick in it as well
I think that the only two legitimate candidates are wayne rooney and alan smith, who share a certain tenacity and passion which is of seminal importance in a good captain. However, as the latter is unlikely to be playing all that often (particularly with the potential new signings), rooney seems the best bet. However, this itself has its drawbacks. Does rooney have the discipline and the maturity to captain the team? How effective can a forward be as captain? The debate rages…
Wes Brown for Manchester United captain?
But I doubt Brown has the character for it, he’s too nice!!
Wes Brown is too quiet and unfortunately (IMO) not guaranteed a starting place. Rooney has what is takes and making him captain may just mean he tries to curb his temper a little and remain on the pitch more often!
The players who most meets the criteria that was explained above are Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith. I would personally go for Wayne Rooney. He is the best player on the squad, but that doesnt mean he should be captain. The fact that he leads by example, he gives it his all. His temperment is what makes him different. Keane had a temper and he was one of the best all time captains. I believe he is maturing and although might be younger than a usual captain, he can make United tick. He will tell off anybody no matter who they are, he doesnt take shit from no one. He is loyal to club and as mentioned before plays with passion. I believe that if United were to make Rooney captain it will make him a better player(not physically or technically but mentally) and united a better team.
Wayne Rooney for me is the future and so should be the next captain.He has this issue of temperament but can improve on that with age.Long Live MANCHESTER UNITED
how about gabby heinze he is consistent,tenacious,technically very good,passionate and a crowd favourite.
the two players who i favor are alan smith and wayne rooney respectively 1st and second choice captains even though i think the captain should be from the midfield were he can communicate to his defensive line as much as the attacking.
to add to my last comment i forgot to mention rio ferdinand who i did not tip to be the nexbt long term captain because of what happened in the last two seasons and especially because of his silly mistakes on the pitch (since the one of the captains roles is to lead by example) such as the mistake against blackburn last season but i would change my mind if he does keep up the form he has shown so far this season and at the world cup.
i would like carrick or rooney to be man utd captain
alan smith coz hes tough but skilfull and he worked so hard to stay at man utd after the injury and he always gives 100 percent ………. and hes english
Rio Ferdinand is fit for it. No doubt