Hi!
Today's the day I feel like weighing in on the England Captaincy debate. Enjoy!
Mark A.
Banned from football for 8 months for failing to attend a drugs test, driving bans in 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2005, never been to a European Championships and currently suspended from adding to his six Premiership appearances so far this season- ladies and gentleman I give you the new England captain.
Rio Ferdinand splits many people down the middle- English defender’s version of marmite if you will- but surely now at a time when the England captaincy is being changed due to unprofessional conduct off the field, the Manchester United centre-back is at the back of the cue.
Now 31, there are also plenty of footballing reasons for the captaincy to turn elsewhere.
Looking at those in the frame for International recognition, you would discount those like David Beckham and Gary Neville because despite their experience they are not playing regular first team football, and arguably lack the pace and fitness required.
But why is this not true for Ferdinand? As mentioned he has made only 6 of his 320 appearances for Manchester United in the 09/10 season and despite helping to keep a clean sheet against Belarus the last time he did play in the White shirt, the previous game saw his error lead to Rob Green being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Ukraine.
My point is if he is not an automatic choice in the first team how can he be a candidate for the captaincy?
Furthermore has Fabio Capello made a rod for his own back by making Ferdinand captain and thereby increasing the pressure to play the former Leeds defender?
Today’s news that he has dropped his appeal over an extra match extension on his ban for violent conduct is a clear sign he is making a move to become more respectable but critics will say this is a fairly blatant move to improve his position.
The secondary debate over the leadership of the side has been whether or not the captaincy is actually important, and for the record I believe it is vital.
History suggests when teams have a good leader their chances of success increase- and I ask if captaincy isn’t important then why hasn’t John Terry also lost the Chelsea armband?
I am not of course suggesting mistakes made in the past should taint a man, let alone a footballer, for the rest of his life.
It is just interesting that these incidents keep appearing in Mr. Ferdinand’s life, and currently I do not see him as the best man to lead the side forward.
I would normally suggest Steven Gerrard but his court appearance and history of red cards would probably be mentioned, I feel he is a suitable deputy in his current role as vice-captain though.
Honestly, and I couldn’t see myself saying this in the past, but I believe the most deserving is Frank Lampard.
He had a terrible run of form with the national side to the extent of being booed by his own fans at Wembley not so long ago.
But he has come through that spell- and severe personal tragedies- to emerge a better person and player, and a suitable candidate to lead the three lions.
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