Following on from articles we wrote back in October in which we compared the strikers, then the goalkeepers and then the midfield pairings at the Premier League’s top six, we now take a look at the central defenders.
These partnerships are crucial to their team having a successful, (or otherwise), season and large amounts of money are now being spent on a position which was, in the past, second only to goalkeeper in unpopularity when children were organising a game of football. (more…)
(A captain, of course. What did you think I meant?)
Of the old top four only Chelsea have what I would consider to be a captain in the true sense of the word and this is possibly going to be his last season.
Vincent Kompany, at Manchester City is also topnotch, but misses too many games to be considered a great captain. His deputy is usually Yaya Toure and we all know how temperamental he can be. Sometimes a good example, sometimes a very bad one, he is more likely to shout at the referee than at his teammates.
The captaincy at Manchester United and Arsenal is a joke. Arsenal have Mikel Arteta, who can’t even get in the team and may leave soon. His deputy, the BFG Per Mertesacker, who has worn the armband for most of the season, is only inspiring in size, nothing else.
United, of course, have Wayne Rooney, who never was captaincy material. A lot of United fans are baffled as to why he is still there, never mind captain. Two goals against Newcastle do not excuse his woeful performances in general over the last couple of seasons.
So what is required of a captain? Does he need, for example, to be an ambassador for the club off the pitch? Yes, he does, but so do the rest of the players so this is not uniquely a captain’s requirement. (more…)
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 