Rio Ferdinand

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Manchester United captain? Yes or No?

I noticed he donned the armband yesterday and in the continued absence of Giggs and Neville - both of whom, it is safe to say, are winding down their careers.

I really don't see another outstanding candidate in the squad to be honest. Wayne Rooney is probably the other player who could comfortably take the mantle. What about Cristiano Ronaldo as a long shot?

Overall though, I think Ferdinand has proved his worth to the side over and over again and despite his numerous brain-freeze moments he is the most outstanding candidate for me. I'd give him it over Giggs to be honest, because Giggs only really ever takes the captaincy on the basis of seniority - not necessarily because of his leadership qualities. I also think that generally, centre backs make the best captains as they are not embroiled in the helter skelter of the midfield battle and can see the whole game in front of them.

What say you, Caftards?
 
In spite of the failure to piss in a bottle, choice meetings with Blue Peter and his excellent organisation of stellar Crimbo bashes?

What do people think of Ronaldo as a captain?
 
Feed Me said:
In spite of the failure to piss in a bottle, choice meetings with Blue Peter and his excellent organisation of stellar Crimbo bashes?

What do people think of Ronaldo as a captain?
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Certainly not.

No need to burden a player like Ronaldo with those responsibilities. I'd rather he concentrates on playing brilliantly, rather then having to worry about being captain.
 
Sam#1 said:
Certainly not.

No need to burden a player like Ronaldo with those responsibilities. I'd rather he concentrates on playing brilliantly, rather then having to worry about being captain.
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The bloke has a massive ego. All the great players do. He already has captain's responsibilities with Portugal and I think he thrives on it. The armband would be like a fashion statement for the lad.

I think he's the sort of captain who takes the lead through performance and he is already an inspiration to other players in our team. He also does the media thing pretty well.

Same reasons put forward for Rooney.
 
Feed Me said:
The bloke has a massive ego. All the great players do. He already has captain's responsibilities with Portugal and I think he thrives on it. The armband would be like a fashion statement for the lad.

I think he's the sort of captain who takes the lead through performance and he is already an inspiration to other players in our team. He also does the media thing pretty well.

Same reasons put forward for Rooney.
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I just look at Flintoff and Botham for England cricket team. I know it's a completely different type of responsibility being captain in cricket, but they were both fantastic players, but when made captain, suddenly they had to take focus off their own game, so they could concentrate on others, and as a result, their own performances dive bombed, I wouldn't want to run that risk with Ronaldo.
 
Sam#1 said:
I just look at Flintoff and Botham for England cricket team. I know it's a completely different type of responsibility being captain in cricket, but they were both fantastic players, but when made captain, suddenly they had to take focus off their own game, so they could concentrate on others, and as a result, their own performances dive bombed, I wouldn't want to run that risk with Ronaldo.
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I think cricket and football captaincy (as you say) is completely different. I think a football captain is more of a status thing. There is not so much in terms of technicalities (like field settings etc) but you need to be able to rouse your teammates in games - especially when it is going badly (that's why SAF has always chosen strong characters like Bruce, Cantona, Keane and Neville). The selection of Cantona as captain shows that you can have an inspirational flair player, who leads by example and it can work well.
 
redender said:
*cough* Hargreaves *cough*
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He certainly has the right leadership qualities to be a good captain.

There is, however, one major flaw in him being United captain....He's not even a certain starter for us, and never will be (And no, this isn't a dig at him, it's just that he won't be because we don't need him in certain games)

So no, not Hargreaves.
 
Feed Me said:
I think cricket and football captaincy (as you say) is completely different. I think a football captain is more of a status thing. There is not so much in terms of technicalities (like field settings etc) but you need to be able to rouse your teammates in games - especially when it is going badly (that's why SAF has always chosen strong characters like Bruce, Cantona, Keane and Neville). The selection of Cantona as captain shows that you can have an inspirational flair player, who leads by example and it can work well.
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Well yeah, I do see where your coming from, it's just that I personally think Ronaldo's ego could become a slight problem if he became captain, and I'd rather he is able to just focus on his game, rather then burden him with extra responsibility.

Plus, he's said he will leave sometime in the future, which isn't really what you need from your captain.
 
I guess we'll see about Ferdinand's captaincy credentials over the coming months, with his contract discussions planned.

I dare say if he fecks and farts about, he'll have no chance. Rooney would be a great United captain IMO.
 
Rio is the best option.. You can see that the only player Rooney and Ronaldo really listen and look up to is Rio.. He's got toughness, experience and skill to become a great leader.
 
Instant Karma said:
Yes... based on the experience so far, Ronaldo's ego is obviously a bigger problem than Rooney's temperament or abusing the ref :rolleyes:

Great role model for young kids around and captaincy material - abuse the ref every time a decision goes against you.
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WTF ?

I haven't even mentioned Rooney in this thread!
 
Rio, followed by Rooney.
If you said to me that i'd say that two years ago, i'd of laughed my head off.
 
I say we take a camera along to Carrington and pretend to be a messenger from Fergie telling him that he's the new captain. Just to film his reaction when we tell him he's been merked...
 
Ferdinand should be captain on the field. He plays almost every game, being a guaranteed starter who is rarely injured or rested. And he seems to play with so much in reserve that the extra role doesn't lessen his performance.
 
Rooney - He wants it, and I think he already is a leader both by example and voice in the team. The only thing stopping him is his age. When he is old enough then I have no doubt he'll get the armband.

Rooney has shown more maturity of late. He isn't guilty of petulant outbursts in the way he used to be. He clearly has no ego problems considering how willing he is to call Ronaldo the best player in the world and how unselfish he has been passing to his teammates when he could use a goal himself. Furthermore Rooney has learned the trade of leading the line giving Tevez the more withdrawn role in which Rooney excels. That shows Rooney's willingness to play the role that benefits the team most, not himself. According to Sir Alex, Rooney is the first to the training ground and the last to leave, and Rooney plays more games when fit than anyone else except Rio probably. Name another player in the side who embodies the competitive fire of Roy Keane more than Wayne Rooney. Rooney will talk to the referee anyway, so giving him the role of captain will help keep him out of trouble for talking when he isn't supposed to.

Right now I think the captain's armband is being given simply based on seniority, but when Gaz finally moves on(in three or four years?) then Rooney will be ready to take it on.
 
Rio should get it.

Having said that, if from next season only the captain can talk to the referee, maybe we should make it Rooney, seeing as he'll swear at them regardless.
 
Ferguson said:
Rooney - He wants it, and I think he already is a leader both by example and voice in the team. The only thing stopping him is his age. When he is old enough then I have no doubt he'll get the armband.

Rooney has shown more maturity of late. He isn't guilty of petulant outbursts in the way he used to be. He clearly has no ego problems considering how willing he is to call Ronaldo the best player in the world and how unselfish he has been passing to his teammates when he could use a goal himself. Furthermore Rooney has learned the trade of leading the line giving Tevez the more withdrawn role in which Rooney excels. That shows Rooney's willingness to play the role that benefits the team most, not himself. According to Sir Alex, Rooney is the first to the training ground and the last to leave, and Rooney plays more games when fit than anyone else except Rio probably. Name another player in the side who embodies the competitive fire of Roy Keane more than Wayne Rooney. Rooney will talk to the referee anyway, so giving him the role of captain will help keep him out of trouble for talking when he isn't supposed to.

Right now I think the captain's armband is being given simply based on seniority, but when Gaz finally moves on(in three or four years?) then Rooney will be ready to take it on.
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Good post.

It'll be between Rio and Rooney. I'd be happy with either.

My heart says Rooney, my head says Rio.
 
Give it to Anderson.

Anytime something was going badly, he'd say "feck feck feck"
 
Rio then Rooney for me aswell.

Also, as someone noticed, it seems to be based on senority right now, in which case, how come Scholes never has it? It is cause he simply does not want it or what?

Oh and I'd just like to add, for some reason it always seems more logical to me that a defender gets it, rather than a striker.
 
Feed Me said:
In spite of the failure to piss in a bottle, choice meetings with Blue Peter and his excellent organisation of stellar Crimbo bashes?

What do people think of Ronaldo as a captain?
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I'm not sure he needs to be put under the spotlight anymore than he already has been.
Rooney will get his chance, but for now i think Rio is the only obvious candidate, despite his past.
 
I must stress though that issues over captaincy are vastly overblown.
You don't need a piece of rubber to be inspirational on a football pitch. Regardless of who is appointed, the players will know who to look towards when it's going tits up.
 
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