Next England Captain

[carty1976]

I've heard from a reliable source that the next captain is going to be the Neviller; bookies have stopped taking bets on Neville as next captain. The source works at Umbro

[Shaggy]

I've heard from a reliable source that the next captain is going to be the Neviller; bookies have stop taking bets on Neville as next captain. The source works at Umbro

Is this a wind up?

[andyinswinton]

I can't see that myself.

McClaren would be setting himself up for a media bashing before even a squad is picked.

[G_Man]

Uh? If that is true then I'm definitely emmigrating

[carty1976]

We tried to make a bet with various online betting sites, 7/1 at one stage when we got through, all bets on Neville as Captain were off.

[Shaggy]

I can't see that myself.

McClaren would be setting himself up for a media bashing before even a squad is picked.

If this is true, it's surely a clear case of McClaren trying far too hard to be 'different'.

There's no excuse for appointing that pleb as captain. He's not even made a good fist of it for the Scum. This prick thinks to be a worthy successor to Roy Keane all he needs to do is stand in the tunnel before kick-off looking "hard", or "uber-focused".

He is a tool of the highest order. When he played in the WC, he spent most of his time receiving bollockings from Gerrard. Some captain material...

[carty1976]

All valid arguments and as a Irish Red, having Keane as national captain was never liked BUT I did appreciate that he was one of the best central midfielders in the world and we needed that. Anything was better than Holland or Carsley.

[Shaggy]

All valid arguments and as a Irish Red, having Keane as national captain was never liked BUT I did appreciate that he was one of the best central midfielders in the world and we needed that. Anything was better than Holland or Carsley.

I was trying to emphasise that Keane was a brilliant captain, yet Neville seems to think he can be a worthy successor to him by doing cheap impersonations of Keane's pre-match "tunnel warrior" routine.

[Mumsafan]

Actually him picking Neville wouldn't surprise me at all

[Shaggy]

Actually him picking Neville wouldn't surprise me at all

Why, cos of the Manc connection? Pure ****ing Manc bias?!?!

It would surprise me. I knew McClaren was a plank but I didn't realise things were this bad.

[carty1976]

"Ranked No. 1 Tool" by the Official Your a Tool Rankings committee; I get an everlasting feeling that anyone who gets told to do something by Neville, turns around and says something that has "what a f**king t**t" in the reply. Even his Manure teammates.

[univofchicago]

I've heard from a reliable source that the next captain is going to be the Neviller; bookies have stopped taking bets on Neville as next captain. The source works at Umbro

Gary Neville is 31 or 32 and now injury prone.

Can't see the rationale behind the decision (if its true).

[carty1976]

Indeed, rationale would suggest the reasoning is bizarre but then you need to consider the others:

Gerrard is gathering Media attention equilvalent of Beckham ( wife in papers, Hello magazine, TV adverts ) and England might feel a captain less in the media is what they need; I wouldnt even know Nevilles girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/etc if she walked past on Bold Street

Terry is young;
Lampard is overrated;
Owen is injury prone;

Neville will be captain until Euros, then it will be handed to Gerrard

[Shaggy]

Stevie's getting it, according to this (from The Belfast Telegraph!)...



Gerrard takes lead in England captaincy race



The formal announcement on Friday will form the core part of Steve McClaren's new England era but it seems that the likelihood is now that he will name Steven Gerrard as his captain for the Euro 2008 qualification campaign and beyond. The Liverpool captain is understood to have edged ahead of John Terry in McClaren's thinking.

Gerrard, 26, was given the full backing of his club manager Rafael Benitez yesterday to get the job, which for a long time has been perceived as a two-horse race between the Liverpool captain and Terry. Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard have all been touted as outsiders to succeed David Beckham, but the momentum appears to be on the side of Gerrard, who led his club to the European Cup in 2005.

Counting against Terry, 25, are the occasionally lurid revelations about his private life which have ranged from his tangle with bouncers outside the Wellington nightclub in London * he was cleared of affray in August 2002 * and have more recently concerned his relationships. Before the World Cup his partner, Toni Poole, gave birth to twins but the Chelsea captain is regarded as something of a liability when it comes to kiss-and-tells.

While Beckham and, indeed, McClaren are no strangers to similar allegations, it would seem that the safer bet is Gerrard, who is regarded as more adept at handling the pressures that the England captaincy now involves. From dealing with the media to maintaining a squeaky-clean image, as well as leading the team on the pitch, it would appear that Gerrard is better qualified for the enormous job that the captaincy became during Beckham's six years.

Although he has been a successful captain of Liverpool since 2003 Gerrard is perceived as an unusually introspective player who does not fit the tub-thumping profile of a traditional football leader.

Benitez said yesterday that he had asked McClaren about the identity of the new captain when the England manager visited the club's training ground this week, but was not let into the secret. Benitez's and McClaren's relationship goes back beyond the Spaniard's arrival at Liverpool as it was McClaren who arranged for him to watch Manchester United train during a brief spell Benitez had out of management.

"He [Gerrard] is more mature and he can do both jobs," Benitez said. "Maybe if he became the England captain it would help him to be really focused on football and improve even more. I talked a lot with Steve McClaren and joked with him about the new captain, but he wouldn't tell me. He smiled, but he didn't say. I don't need to campaign to Steve. He has made his decision, he has known the players for a few years and now we need to wait."

Benitez praised McClaren for being able to make quick decisions and said that they had a strong relationship. McClaren will watch Liverpool play Maccabi Haifa tonight, Tottenham play Real Sociedad on Saturday and the Community Shield between Chelsea and Liverpool on Sunday.

"He [Gerrard] is learning and thinking more about the game. As a manager you always want to see your players improve and Stevie has the potential to improve even more," Benitez said. "Each year I hope to see him understand the game and analyse every situation better * and he is. [As captain] he must be an example on the pitch and off it. Stevie knows this and the main quality he has is the passion he gives on the pitch."

While the identity of the third new man in McClaren's coaching team, alongside the manager and technical adviser, Terry Venables, is as yet unknown, the way was cleared yesterday with the departure of Sammy Lee. The former England international had been a part-time coach under Sven Goran Eriksson but turned down the job of managing the England Under-21s on a full-time basis and will remain as the assistant at Bolton.

McClaren is understood not to have wanted Lee in his set-up and by offering him the Under-21s job, which would have meant Lee leaving Bolton, was able to ease him out. A full-time Under-21s coach will be appointed to work with the current coach, the Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor, whose England role will then diminish.

[carty1976]

If Gerrard gets the captaincy ,great, as alot of work colleagues ( as well as Blue Noses ) have made £50 bets for Neville to get the role - great stuff.