Ander Herrera for the Captaincy

This topic contains 22 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by  happyhurling 6 years, 8 months ago.

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  • #1502205
    hatters
    hatters
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    • :

    We all seem to be concerned with the transfers that come in and out as opposed to maybe looking a bit into the squad leadership requirement that the club desperately needs. We had great captains in the past like Robson, Bruce, Cantona, Keane, Vidic, Ferdinand (filling in for Nemanja), and Gary Neville.

    Then suddenly we had Rooney as a club captain after he angled for a move twice. For me this is part of the problem. Where is our next captain? Why does the armband seem to be so easily passed along from game to game? The armband has lost its meaning in the way that it is passed around to players like Mata, Smalling, Valencia etc. We do not have a club captain.

    I look at our squad now and these are my candidates for a proper club captain who understands what the club is all about:

    – De Gea (his angling for a move back to Madrid is a clear red flag but he is the among the most experienced Manchester United players of note in our squad)
    – Valencia (not the most popular among fans but a beast on the field, how long can he last and what is the extent of his impact in the dressing room?)
    – Pogba (he’s come back with a great deal to prove and will not be moving soon, he’s got influence and respect but is childish with the emojis and all the rest of that nonesense)
    – Mata (strong candidate on the mental side but can’t hold down a “key player” position, also he is perhaps “too nice”)
    – Herrera (most recent player of the year, shows leadership and sacrifice, a trusted lieutenant for van Gaal’s first season and for Mourinho’s first season)
    – Carrick (should be given the club captaincy based on experience but cannot be on the pitch consistently, too old)

    We have no on-pitch leadership. Who must take on the responsibility of being the club captain? I am ruling out Carrick, Valencia, and Mata because they either don’t have enough importance to the first team or are too old.

    We then have to choose from Pogba, Herrera, or De Gea. In my opinion, we have to give Ander Herrera the captaincy because he personifies what a captain is. He is tactically astute, he follows instruction to a T, he breaks his balls to make sure that every position on the field is covered, and he is a long standing contributor to the team during our malaise.

    We have a bad selection of possible club captains. Who will be our club captain next season? What do you fellas think?

    #1502228

    homerjay540
    Participant
    • :

    I’d give Carrick the official captaincy with Herrera as vice captain. Carrick won’t play many games so Herrera will effectively be captaining most games. It’s almost like a way of easing him into the position.
    I’d be a bit hesitant about selecting Valencia. He is a very quiet lad who struggled under the weight of the no. 7 jersey when he first arrived (I know he has developed a lot since then). Valencia leads by example and I think he’d be more influential without the pressure of being club captain. That said, he is very experienced and would be my next choice should Carrick and Herrera be absent.
    Pogba – I can see him being a future club captain but there is no rush. He has only just returned to the club. Firstly let him earn his standing at the club. Secondly, I want him to be free to play his game withough any added pressure.
    Mata is an experienced player but I think he’s too nice to be captain.

    #1502243
    killyboye
    killyboye
    Participant
    • :

    Valencia has barely a word of English so that rules him out.
    Making de Gea capt would seem like a desperate attempt to make him stay.
    Mata seems v quiet, can’t see him as capt.
    Apart from Pogba the only player with a future is Herrera.
    Herrera bleeds Man U to be fair. When we don’t win there’s no excuses and he looks genuinely sickened as well. He talks about Man U being the best club in the world and means it. He’s an example to young players, works hard, plays hard, does what he’s told. There’s a reason Valverde wants him at Barca, he’s a soldier. Carrick shouldn’t even get a years grace imo, Herrera should be capt period.

    #1502254

    homerjay540
    Participant
    • :

    Can’t wait to see how Bailly and Lindelof develop. Even though I can’t see either ever becomming captain (because Pogba is ahead of them and is just as young), we need leaders all over the pitch and hopefully in time one or both of them will step up and take responsibility.

    #1502260

    libanski
    Participant
    • :

    looking at our squad i wouldn’t go further than Herrera, a captain always sets an example off and on the field, as for the game we know how he plays and he’s def Mourinho type of player and his off field is even better, i wouldn’t put that armband anywhere near Pogba lol i feel like he still has a lot of improving to do in terms of maturity and as for Mata like Homerjay said “he’s too nice”

    #1502268
    MacGuffin
    MacGuffin
    Participant
    • :

    It’s a symptomatic of our malaise that there are no qualified candidates for captain. Ideally the captain should be:

    1) Senior player ie age 25+
    2) Automatic starter able to play most games
    3) Likely to be able to hold the captaincy for several years
    4) Have been at the club several years
    5) Command respect of players (and fans)
    6) Demonstrate leadership
    7) Preferably speak sufficient English to communicate with players and match officials
    8) Have a commitment to United and love of the club
    9) An outfield player preferably in the center

    Once again we are snookered by SAFs legacy in that there are no senior players in their prime from the team he left. Carrick, Young, Valencia, Smalling cannot be considered automatic starters. Neither are Herrera Mata. DDG is perhaps candidate but his future not yet secure and goal is not the place to command from. Its possible I guess to make a new signing captain, especially when fans argue they are being brought in for their experience but that is far from ideal.

    Perhaps the best solution is to wait until the season starts and let the players themselves pick who their captain will be. And let the manager pick a vice captain who he expects to play most games and be around for a few years.

    IF I had to bet my money would be on Rooney not leaving !

    #1502280
    killyboye
    killyboye
    Participant
    • :

    @mac, at present Herrera is an automatic starter when fit and able. The only one of your criteria he doesn’t meet at the moment is how long he’s been at the club. Although not the most gifted player, though that’s not necessarily a prerequisite for capt, he has the respect of players and most fans too.

    #1502337

    hookeddevil
    Participant
    • :

    Actually think that Mourinho has been giving the captaincy to the most senior starting pro hence the passing around of the armband towards the end of last season.
    Personally I don’t like Goalies or Strikers being the captain. Always liked a central defender or midfielder for the role as, in my opinion, they can have a greater tactical influence on the match due to their view of the pitch.
    Doesn’t leave many options currently at the club. Probably, Herrera assuming Mourinho considers him a starter or carry on giving it to the senior pro until a captain emerges. Better no captain than a poor choice I think.

    #1502384

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    Think it’s been confirmed that Carrick is the new captain and Herrera vice captain?

    #1503550

    homerjay540
    Participant
    • :

    It’s official, Carrick is the new captain.
    I think that’s a sensible move. He is very experienced. Also, it is obvious he won’t be first choice next season. If it was given to say Herrera, and he had a dip in form, there would be much more scrutiny over him being dropped.

    #1503553

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    So the vice captain will be an interesting choice, they’ll play more games and will be effectively the captain on the pitch. Carrick will be the captain off the pitch. The vice captain is probably the captain of the future.

    #1503686
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
    • :

    Fair enough, Carrick can be club captain and a good leader in the dressing room but I am still holding thumbs for Herrera to take the vice-captaincy (effectively becoming the on-field captain).

    #1504167
    MMI
    MMI
    Participant
    • :

    Herrera as captain will be an insult to those who’ve worn the armband for this great club in the past.

    #1504244

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    Why?

    #1504248
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Participant
    • :

    Because somebody is a miserable old fuddy duddy

    #1504340
    MMI
    MMI
    Participant
    • :

    Maybe because he ain’t all that, HH, since you asked. We’ll defo need a captain who can pass the ball forward and not backwards. Having passion alone isn’t enough. He’s not good enough for United’s midfield let alone wear the armband. Or are you really comparing him to past United captains?

    #1504382
    MacGuffin
    MacGuffin
    Participant
    • :

    @happyhurling – For Your Information, following is list of recent captains with approximate age. You can judge how Herrera compares.

    1968–1973 Bobby Charlton [31]
    1973–1973 George Graham [29]
    1973–1975 Willie Morgan [29]
    1975–1982 Martin Buchan [26]
    1982-1982 Ray Wilkins [26]
    1982–1994 Bryan Robson [25]
    1992–1996 Steve Bruce [32]
    1996–1997 Eric Cantona [30]
    1997–2005 Roy Keane [26]
    2005–2011 Gary Neville [25]
    2011–2014 Nemanja Vidić [30]
    2014–2017 Wayne Rooney [29]
    2017– ???? Michael Carrick [36]

    Carrick is the only one, who at the time of appointment, was not likely to be an automatic starter.

    #1504389

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    MMI – presume you missed Herrera passing it forwards like an absolute pro for Miki and Rashford last season?

    Mac – thanks for that mate. I’m guessing Carrick is captain because of his experience. We have pretty much sold off all our players who’ve experienced winning in the past. I think it also grooms Herrera for the role next season. YES that’s right the same Herrera who out performed the POTY in every single department. Cheers

    #1504398

    hookeddevil
    Participant
    • :

    Neville was 30 at appointment to the captaincy. To be honest I don’t think either Neville or Rooney were good choices as captain either. Injuries were starting to get at Neville so his on pitch influence was on the wain and Rooney is not captain material in my eyes.

    Based on who is currently at the club then Carrick makes the most sense to be appointed club captain although he’s distinctly in the Neville category of declining influence so is more a figurehead.

    After what Jose said about Herrera and his footballing brain then he seems to be the next logical choice based on the players at the club.

    If not Herrera, then who else is there at the club that is suitable for the captaincy?

    #1504497
    killyboye
    killyboye
    Participant
    • :

    @mmi, passion for the club should be one of the prerequisites for being club captain, a desire to do well and work hard, being an example to younger players. Remember Herrera basically retrained himself in his midfield role when Jose asked him to. If all our players had his work ethic and dedication we’d have been nailed on for top 4 last season. I’ll admit he’s not the most talented player in our ranks but when there were rumours of Valverde wanting him at Barca and Emery wanting him at PSG then maybe we miss something as spectators.

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