Rafa; 'Make Stevie G England Captain'

[Ryan]

From the BBC...

Benitez suggests Gerrard for role

Rafael Benitez has recommended his club skipper Steven Gerrard for the England captaincy - but Steve McClaren is keeping his choice for the job secret.
New England boss McClaren is set to name the new captain of the national team on Friday.

"I asked McClaren who would be the next England captain, but was told nothing, he just smiled at me," said Benitez.

"I think Steven would do it well, it would be very good for him. But now he must think about our next game."

That next match for Liverpool is the Champions League third qualifying round first-leg tie against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday.

Two days after that first competitive game of the new season, Gerrard or one of his rivals John Terry or Gary Neville will be named England captain.

"It will be good for Gerrard even if it is more work for him. We will have to wait for a decision," Benitez said.

"He can certainly do the England job, but in the end it is not our decision and he should just be focused on what Liverpool are doing."

The Spaniard also revealed he was impressed by McClaren's plan for England.

"Steve and me talked about the future for England, the team, it was a good conversation between two friends about football," said Benitez.

"What was interesting was that he had a clear idea, a plan, and he knows what he wants to do. He is clever and knows how to handle this."



I really hope he doesn't get it.

[Le Chacal]

It will be Terry. And other players will accept the decision without any problem.

[Mumsafan]

I think it will be Terry but if Stevie wants it, they offer it and he accepts it then Ill be happy for him. After all, it's about what he wants not what we want. Not many folk would turn down the chance to captain their country.

[Icon]

It will be Terry. And other players will accept the decision without any problem.

And it will be a bad choice if it is.

[Shaggy]

It'd be a great honour for the lad and also the club. Don't see the problem with it to be honest. He's big enough to handle both roles and he cares too much about LFC to take his eye off the ball, so to speak.

[Le Chacal]

And it will be a bad choice if it is.

care to say why?
He's already a captain at Chelski and was one of the best at the World Cup. Not a bad choice at all.

[Don Quixote]

The Spaniard also revealed he was impressed by McClaren's plan for England.

"Steve and me talked about the future for England, the team, it was a good conversation between two friends about football," said Benitez.

"What was interesting was that he had a clear idea, a plan, and he knows what he wants to do. He is clever and knows how to handle this."

"He is clever and he knows how to handle this", says Rafa. Are you on the wind up, Rafa? I imagine he's a complete idiot. Anyway, we'll see.

P.S.I hope Gerrard does get it. I think he'd handle it well, set a good example and it wouldn't affect his job for Liverpool.

[slartibartfast]

I actually think it would give him an extra spring in his step, so to speak.

[Maestro]

Terry would be a good choice of captain, no doubt. But if McClaren has any sense he'll give it Stevie because it might just squeeze an extra 5% of a performance out of him - I think Stevie loves to be the main man, and it helps his game when he has the armband.
I think Terry is similar to Carragher in that he is a natural leader on the pitch but having the armband doesn't make any difference to his performance.

[univofchicago]

And it will be a bad choice if it is.

Don't think it is a bad choice at all. We have two candidates in Gerrard and Terry, both of whom will make a great England captain. Lets put aside our obvious bias, you have to admit that John Terry is not only a great player but a quality captain as well. Everytime I have watched him play, he has shown passion and qualities that enable him to lead the defence and control the team. Steven Gerrard would be a great choice as well, but Terry, in my opinion, would be just as good a captain as our Stevie. McClaren is spoilt for choice...

[Shaggy]

Terry would be a good choice of captain, no doubt. But if McClaren has any sense he'll give it Stevie because it might just squeeze an extra 5% of a performance out of him - I think Stevie loves to be the main man, and it helps his game when he has the armband.
I think Terry is similar to Carragher in that he is a natural leader on the pitch but having the armband doesn't make any difference to his performance.

Good point well made, as usual.