94 replies to this topic

[kipland007]

With Carra retiring at the end of the season, we will need to choose a new vice-captain for the club.

 

While this may not be the most important decision we make over the summer, I think it will be interesting to see who Brendan selects. If, god forbid, Gerrard suffers a bad injury during next season, we will be looking for a new leader, and I think the vice-captain will be the one who will need to step up during that time (or eventually assume responsibility when Gerrard retires or cannot play as consistently as he does now). 

 

In the poll I included, I tried to select every player who could be a possibility, so there will be some in there (i.e. Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen) who will probably not be selected by many. I'm not trying to make a statement by who I put in the poll, I just wanted to leave as many options available so we could all get a clear idea of where our votes lie.

 

Personally I'd love for Suarez to be selected, but I think realistically it will be Lucas. 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

Good poll one thing though Reina actually already is a vice captain so doesn't really need to be there.

[Nikola13]

I voted for Suarez. Sometimes, the armband can make a player stay. Just ask Vidic.

[kipland007]

Good poll one thing though Reina actually already is a vice captain so doesn't really need to be there.

 

According to the club's website (http://www.liverpool...jamie-carragher) Carragher is still the vice-captain.

 

I know that Reina has traditionally worn the armband when neither play, but I can't remember a specific instance of that happening this season (not saying it hasn't happened, I just don't remember). 

 

However, considering there has been some speculation about Reina leaving coupled with the fact that he might not be the personification of BR's philosophy that he may like, it may be given to someone else.

 

@Nikola13 that's the exact reason I thought we should give it to Suarez as well. I'd love to see him spend the rest of his career here, as unlikely as that may seem now. 

[cardiffpete]

Lucas ...for me.

He already seems to go to the Ref a lot during games and he does it respectfully as well and he plays centrally and he's semi-guaranteed to play most games (fingers-crossed).

 

Pepe, assuming he stays, is probably the main contender. I don't usually like GK's as Captain/Vice-Captain though, as a bit too far removed from the action. No reason to assume that Gerrard will continue to be an ever-present (although I'd like to hope so) ...so the vice-captain will probably also captain the side a significant number of times.

 

I'd discount Suarez for (both) temperament and general language skills (and I'd also prefer him to focus solely on what he's good at) ....and also Agger (the other main candidate) - simply because Agger is generally very aggressive in (many of) his ground duels. He likes to get close and he usually also tackles off-his-feet. Hard to argue a case, if you're involved yourself ...so Lucas for me.

[Nikola13]

But Suarez is always in referee's ear and that armband could also reduce the number of cards he would otherwise get for dissent! And he really leads by example. Stevie isn't the most vocal of people but when you see him bury a shot, just look at his teammates' and fans' reactions.

[cardiffpete]

But Suarez is always in referee's ear and that armband could also reduce the number of cards he would otherwise get for dissent!

Luis captained Ajax from 2009 (when Vermalen left) and even racked up 49 goals and 27 assists that year ...and captained Uruguay at the London Olympics too ...so why not? Just think the language barrier could be a small issue.

 

Just nice to see that we have a few candidates to choose from. Put in that perspective, our "mentality" issues in some games might not actually be mentality issues as such ...but might be something else instead.

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

Not having a go at Gerrard, he really is Captain Fantastic, but think his Captaincy would not of been as successful without Carragher.

See Gerrard leads by example and communicates but he doesn't do the screaming his head of style leadership but luckily he has a vice captain in Carragher who does (and a third choice captain in Reina).

For me we need leaders who are going to be vocally commanding involved in the captaincy set up.

Like Johnson, Lucas and Suarez a lot and many clubs do just give the arm band to one of their best players but personal preferrence I want the Captain and the vice captains to actually be the vocal guys who lead and organise the squad through the game.

Giving Agger a little more authority does exactly that for me. Plus after Carragher, Gerrard and Reina he is our longest serving player.

[Nikola13]

Luis captained Ajax from 2009 (when Vermalen left) and even racked up 49 goals and 27 assists that year ...and captained Uruguay at the London Olympics too ...so why not? Just think the language barrier could be a small issue.

 

Just nice to see that we have a few candidates to choose from. Put in that perspective, our "mentality" issues in some games might not actually be mentality issues as such ...but might be something else instead.

 

I remember him captaining Ajax but I couldn't remember if that was his greatest year there. You are right about the language but I remember that he learned Dutch because he wanted to settle better there and now does the same with English. He could be a good option.

 

Well, realistically, him, Agger, Reina and Lucas are pretty strong candidates for captaincy but also the only ones, in my opinion. The rest of our lads don't fill me with confidence in terms of leading the team, though our youngster do have potential to do so one day (Wisdom, Henderson, Shelvey, even Kelly).

[steveee]

Lucas Agger Reina  top 3 for me.. in no particular order and I agree with everything you guys been saying so far

 

i'm not so sure about Suarez being captain for the reasons pete mentioned but who knows he could be a good one but it just seems to me the whole league is always against him so i'm not sure it would be a good thing to make him our captain for that reason alone.

 

I can see both agger and lucas as really good ones though when Gerrard is not out there.

 

they both already are vocal enough and talk to the ref a lot.. i voted for lucas though only because Agger was winning though.. 

[gasband]

It has to be Lucas. A player who is calm and leads by example, a different kind of captain. His rise from being booed to being celebrated as one of the key players showed what kind of mental strength he has and captains need to have that.

[WellRedKev]

Agger, then Lucas.

 

Reina has been too indecisive about his long term plans to get the nod. Would have been next in line otherwise.

[redbj]

question,

 

how has reina been too indecisive about his future, assuming we ignore the tabloids?

[No Men in the Box Redux]

I think an important thing about being a captain or vice-captain that most haven't mentioned yet is ability to perform at a high-level consistently. That is why captaincies usually go to your best players because they lead by example on the field and you can rely on them to always be performing. These are the sort of players that command respect from their fellow teammates. I believe this, more than anything, is important. You need someone who you're willing to fight for leading your team.

 

In this respect, I would consider Johnson, Agger, and Suarez as the best candidates. I know having Luis as a vice-captain or future captain is controversial but like Nikola said, it might be enough to convince him to stay. And perhaps with the added responsibility, Luis will cut out some of his more petulant, temperamental stuff from his game to set an example for all the other players to follow.

[WellRedKev]

question,

 

how has reina been too indecisive about his future, assuming we ignore the tabloids?

 

He was very close to be leaving for Arsenal, i think that was pretty well documented.

 

His head has not been in the right place for nearly three seasons since. Its blatantly obvious, he has come out and defended comments by his father also.

[indianscouser]

With all respect to pepe, ill hand over the armband in absence of steve to Suarez. And may be drill it into him that he is our next captain after steve hangs up. He has to be, he gives 200%, never gives up, And has even controlled his emotions. And may be if he takes the responsibility, we might be able to convince him to be here for a long time. I am sure pepe will understand.

[SUPER PORK CHOP]

Pepe is the big man in the team...and the player everyone looks to after Gerrard.

 

No brainer. Unless we sign a world class midfielder this summer who has hair on his chest, has a beard and is german.

[Dane]

Agger without question.

Lucas doesn't appear very vocal, and I've never been a fan of strikers being captains.

[gasband]

Being vocal is just but one quality of a good captain. In this aspect, of course Lucas is nowhere near Agger or even Reina but in terms of mental strength and work rate and concentration and his influence over the other players, considering the rest have seen how he overcame the bricks that came from the fans and how he now becomes a key player for us, the players would respect him as a character.

I also want to add, let Agger concentrate on his defensive duties. I believe like Big Sami, they are better left alone without additional duties to focus on.

[tamir_m]

Suarez - never stops running, even in 88th minutes and holding a 3:0 lead..he will run for the ball

 

 

thats what I want to see from a captain

[gasband]

And Suarez will be a leading light for the team even without being Captain. I see him as a free spirit. Just let him loose and let him do his thing. Putting an organizational or official title on him might stifle some of that free-spiritedness... my opinion.

[SirBillShankly]

DAgger.

[Zinedine Biscan]

He was very close to be leaving for Arsenal, i think that was pretty well documented.

 

His head has not been in the right place for nearly three seasons since. Its blatantly obvious, he has come out and defended comments by his father also.

 

Not as close as our skipper came to joining Chelsea... and Pepe has already come out and rubbished links to Barca saying he fully intends to stay here for the forseeable future. What more do you want?

 

Pepe for me, with our skipper in midfield/attack, we need a vocal, organisational presence at the back and that's one of Pepe's strengths. Don't think that Agger is vocal enough.

[Dogs@Dorans]

Luis. Lucas too timid, Agger needs more concentration, Johnson and Enrique watching game from wrong angles. Needs to be someone in a central role that commands respect. Luis.

[Hope in your heart]

Pepe for me. A key member in the dressing room and a natural leader, according to all reports. He's here since 2005, and knows the club inside out.

 

Other credible candidates would be Agger and Lucas, who are here since a long time as well, and have displayed enough professionalism, loyalty and comittment to be taken seriously for this role.

 

It's too soon for the likes of Suarez (the only time he played as a captain this season, it turned out into a fiasco btw...), although he should be considered for the long term. Henderson and Allen are newbies and thus don't come into the reckoning for the time being. As for Johnson, he isn't a natural leader imo.