Ferdinand Named England Captain

[scousemouse]

I'm a strong believer that a centre back should be the team captain.

Fabio has named Ferdinand which says something as he must have thought long and hard about this decision , or maybe he is giving a few of the lads a shot at being captain before his first meaningful game :

Ferdinand named England captain

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been named England captain for Wednesday's friendly with France in Paris.

Chelsea defender John Terry, captain under Steve McClaren, had been expected to skipper the side on Wednesday.

Steve Gerrard led England for manager Fabio Capello's first game in charge against Switzerland last month.

There was also speculation that David Beckham could captain the side if, as expected, he wins his 100th cap.

Although Capello has named Ferdinand to lead the side against France there is no suggestion that the Manchester United star will captain England throughout their forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

"Fabio Capello has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will captain England against France in Paris," said an FA statement.

"Capello has confirmed this continues his policy of rotating the captaincy between players in the friendly matches before confirming a permanent captain for the World Cup qualifying games."

At the weekend previous skipper John Terry had said that despite being England captain under McClaren, he didn't expect to be given the nod by Capello.

"I certainly don't expect to be captain but I 'm very hopeful I am," Terry told BBC Sport.

"I wish to continue to as England captain but I respect Mr Capello's decision."

England squad: Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United - capt), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (AstonVilla), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

[mrtoad]

I think it's a pretty sensisable appointment, given that Ferdinand is a centre back. I'm not sure how good a captain he will be, as it is something that he doewsn't have a lot of experience of.

I think we can read into it that John Terry is probably out of thew reckoning for the position at present.

[dee123]

.... middle of midfield......"midfield general" when i used to captain sides,....go everywhere not limited to defence,...I think is the "ideal" but most Important is leadership wherever

[scousemouse]

.... middle of midfield......"midfield general" when i used to captain sides,....go everywhere not limited to defence,.... think is the "ideal" but most Important is leadership wherever

All the best captains have been centre backs though .

[dee123]

...I grew up watching the great Steve Perryman although later on he moved around a bit......Eerm Roy Keane weren't bad

[Jockstar]

I personally prefer defenders to be captains. Reason being they can see everything from the back and can communicate to the whole team. A goalkeeper can see more than anyone but he is usually to far back to shout out orders. IMHO, Though a strong centre midfielder with a very vocal centre back works also. Its all about talking and being a leader on and off the pitch.

[mrbojangles]

No way, no how, should he EVER be made captain. Has everyone forgotten about his ban for avoiding the dope test? Not exactly role model material, IMO.

And no, i'm not just saying that as a city fan.

[kopite]

jaja binks as england captain? nothing surprises me anymore. a great professional he is, but as mr bo pointed out a great role model he is not.

the press conferences will be interesting though, "yeah, innit. we was wicked innit" or similar to how siampaulasia types.

[chavy]

Has anybody ever listened to his interviews after games??

[Sparkles]

No way, no how, should he EVER be made captain. Has everyone forgotten about his ban for avoiding the dope test? Not exactly role model material, IMO.

And no, i'm not just saying that as a city fan.

Well if you want to trawl through every players past you will find something. John Terry has behaved appallingly at times. and remember he lied about the Graham Poll incident. Stephen Gerard failed his test as a leader over the Mascherano incident when he didnt take charge ,where do you stop. Ferdinand did his time and was stupid but time to leave off I would suggest

[mrbojangles]

No way, no how, should he EVER be made captain. Has everyone forgotten about his ban for avoiding the dope test? Not exactly role model material, IMO.

And no, i'm not just saying that as a city fan.

Well if you want to trawl through every players past you will find something. John Terry has behaved appallingly at times. and remember he lied about the Graham Poll incident. Stephen Gerard failed his test as a leader over the Mascherano incident when he didnt take charge ,where do you stop. Ferdinand did his time and was stupid but time to leave off I would suggest

You have your view, i'll have mine Sparkles. Trawl through the players files and see if you can find anyone else who got banned for 8 months. Any other sport, he would have been banned for much longer. I repeat, not role model material as England Captain. IMO

[scousemouse]

No way, no how, should he EVER be made captain. Has everyone forgotten about his ban for avoiding the dope test? Not exactly role model material, IMO.

And no, i'm not just saying that as a city fan.

Well if you want to trawl through every players past you will find something. John Terry has behaved appallingly at times. and remember he lied about the Graham Poll incident. Stephen Gerard failed his test as a leader over the Mascherano incident when he didnt take charge ,where do you stop. Ferdinand did his time and was stupid but time to leave off I would suggest

You have your view, i'll have mine Sparkles. Trawl through the players files and see if you can find anyone else who got banned for 8 months. Any other sport, he would have been banned for much longer. I repeat, not role model material as England Captain. IMO

Who would your choice be for captain then Mr b ???

[mrbojangles]

He's not old enough or wise enough yet scousemouse, if i think it is, who you think i think it is

seriously though, I'd go with Gerrard

[kopite]

He's not old enough or wise enough yet scousemouse, if i think it is, who you think i think it is

seriously though, I'd go with Gerrard

not that i care too much for england, but gerrard isnt a great liverpool captain, let alone england captain. he is a great player, one of the best. his off the field behaviour is impecable. but his onfield leadership is lacking when it comes to big games. forget the fa cup final and istanbul.

there have been too many times in his career as liverpool captain that he has gone missing. last sunday as an example. no leadership, no motivation, no nothing. and it wasnt the first time against one of the big guns in the premiership.

[oldgit]

jaja binks as england captain? nothing surprises me anymore. a great professional he is, but as mr bo pointed out a great role model he is not.

the press conferences will be interesting though, "yeah, innit. we was wicked innit" or similar to how siampaulasia types.

Most of them can't string two words together,kop I remember when Capello took the job,his surprise at the importance we English put on the captaincy of the national side.Don't hold your breath if you think Ferdinand will be there for keeps.

[scousemouse]

He's not old enough or wise enough yet scousemouse, if i think it is, who you think i think it is

seriously though, I'd go with Gerrard

not that i care too much for england, but gerrard isnt a great liverpool captain, let alone england captain. he is a great player, one of the best. his off the field behaviour is impecable. but his onfield leadership is lacking when it comes to big games. forget the fa cup final and istanbul.

.

My sentiments exactly .

IMO , the captaincy should be given to a player to help lift his game to a new level and perfom better , Gerrard doesn't need the burden of being a captain as he is already the best in the world .

Lets wait and see how Ferdinand performs tonight .

[mrbojangles]

Lets wait and see how Ferdinand performs tonight .

He may or may not perform tonight. Either way, he's still a 'dope test dodger' and therefore without a single doubt in my mind, he will never be a role model. A characteristic that should be fundamental to the role.

For those who say he has done the time for the crime, i say look at the ban Dwain Chambers got and look at the reception he has got since he came back. Hardly anybody wants him in Athletics.

[micksterbs]

Hi, BJ. Hey, I heard that the match is on Ch 3 at 3.00am. Can you confirm that? Wouldn't mind seeing it but I forgot to get a paper today and don't know for sure if it's on terrestrial. Anyone know?

[mrbojangles]

Well after Rio's performance last night (and the rest of the team for that matter), i think this thread should be moved to the joke forum

[chavy]

Well after Rio's performance last night (and the rest of the team for that matter), i think this thread should be moved to the joke forum

Sven would've got them winning

[scousemouse]

Well after Rio's performance last night (and the rest of the team for that matter), i think this thread should be moved to the joke forum

Next game next candidate ( Ferdinand ........... your fired ) .

Either going to be John Terry or a certain Mr Rooney to be given a crack I reckon in the next England match which I think is against the Yanks , so it SHOULD be an easy victory for us and a chance for who ever is captain to make a good account of themselves .

[Seapok]

The man wants it more than anyone else, he deserves it for his passion alone.

Terry wants armband back

John Terry has vowed to do everything he can to ensure that he is named as England's captain on a full-time basis.

The Chelsea defender was installed as national skipper under previous boss Steve McClaren, but uncertainty continues to rein as to whether he will keep the job under Fabio Capello.

The Italian coach has made it clear that he intends to rotate the captaincy between a number of leading candidates before making a final decision once the World Cup qualifiers get underway in September.

Despite seeing Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand lead the team out in Capello's first two games in charge, Terry insists that he is still the right man for the job and is determined to wrestle the armband back in the coming months.

"I remember when I got the job as captain. To walk out for that first game, it was unbelievable," he said.

"I want to keep that armband. I am really passionate about it.

"It means so much to me, to my family. I want to be a successful England captain.

"I've thought about what the new manager will do. I will give everything, in training, in the games. I will give it my all.

"We have some great players and some great leaders. Mr Capello is a clever man and a great manager and he'll give it to the right person.

"I will have to be patient and we'll see, but I will say here and now that I want to be the England captain."

Capello has stated that his captain must be a model professional both on and off the pitch, and Terry has been criticised of late for his tendency to confront match officials over contentious decisions.

The Chelsea skipper feels that his actions just prove how passionate he is about winning and insists that he is not about to change his ways any time soon.

"I get frustrated and I like to make my point," he told Icon magazine in the build up to England's friendly with France.

"You have to be careful not to rant and rage though.

"As captain, I think I am entitled to ask questions. If a referee explains his decision, I will walk away.

"Being passionate has got me where I am today. I think I do set an example in the way I play.

"If they don't want an England captain fighting for England in every way possible, fighting to win the ball and coming out of the tackle fighting for the cause, then that's down to them to make that decision.

"Whilst I am captain, I am not going to change the way I am on the pitch.

"When I'm off the pitch, I will be as nice as pie. I'll sign autographs, I'll smile, but as soon as I cross the white line, I am there to win the game."

[howtoescape]

I think the reason he didnt give it to Terry is because Ferdinand is first choice CB whereas it could be argued that someone such as Woodgate is more then capable of taking Terry's position.

IMO Ferdinand reads the game far better then Terry hence doent have to make the last ditch stops Terry is renowned for.

England were absolutely awful last night.

[mrtoad]

I think the reason he didnt give it to Terry is because Ferdinand is first choice CB whereas it could be argued that someone such as Woodgate is more then capable of taking Terry's position.

IMO Ferdinand reads the game far better then Terry hence doent have to make the last ditch stops Terry is renowned for.

England were absolutely awful last night.

I think you may right in some respects, but also Capello is very much a manager who looks at players for their professionalism and behaviour. Whilst Teryy is a good professional in the sense of the way he plays, there are other aspects of his game and off field antics which are not entirely keeping with the position of England captain. Whilst I rate Ferdinand as a player, I'm not convinced that he is captain material either.

[MSingh]

Bear in mind Gents that Capello has also said he will rotate the Captaincy until we start the WC Qualifiers & will then have a permanenet Captain, a sensible idea really & at least he will get to know who is & who isn't leaders or potential leaders in his squads..