Virgil van Dijk

[Mark79]

Skipper
[ame]https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1686059526779555841[/ame]

[Charly]

Seems like the right choice.

VVD had a "****e" season but was still better than anyone else defensively. With the number of gaps hopefully reducing this season he should be back to his best

He will be a worthy captain, imho.

Hopefully it will also have a positive effect on Trent, knowing he is in line to become captain in a few years.

[Liverpool]

http://twitter.com/TrentAA/status/1686066957244645384?t=mOj2gY4n0H-Z0xZHw9QxKQ&s=19

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/lfc/status/1686070032667721730[/ame]

[danperkins]

Right choice

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/thekopwatch/status/1686074216506933259[/ame]

[BobTheCharmer]

He wasn't my first choice but on reflection the right choice.

[RedReet]

https://twitter.com/thekopwatch/stat...74216506933259

Before BootRoom links this to our record without Henderson, it's worth pointing out those stats are either wrong or well out of date.

[BootRoom]

"Succession Plan" activated!

Some obvious thoughts (to some) from The Manager, prior to the official captaincy announcement, on leadership behind the scenes in light of the alleged all-pervasive influence of "The Former Captain":

Henderson and Milner were key members of Liverpool’s ‘leadership group’ that also includes Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Klopp, however, sees no reason for a squad vote to recruit any extra members at present. “I don't think so,” he said. “I will decide. I think it's a logical group. There's no need for any kind of vote.

“These boys have to step up. They were already there before. It's not that the team was only led by Millie and Hendo. They were important characters absolutely but without the others it wouldn't have worked out. Nobody has to be the next James Milner or the next Jordan Henderson, they can just be themselves.

Linkage: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...nsfer-27419911

TLDR - Leadership: It's a team game.

[Fosterbloke]

I thought Salah would have been in with a shout for the armband but that would have meant TAA not having a leadership role until his late-twenties.

[Tatterdemalion]

I thought Salah would have been in with a shout for the armband but that would have meant TAA not having a leadership role until his late-twenties.

I've always thought that captains should be either defenders or central midfielders, occasionally full backs, but never forwards, because a captain should be able to see the pattern of play as a whole - maybe I'm a bit old fashioned but I don't think forwards can do that. Even if he was a better leader (I don't think he is) I would still choose VVD over Salah for those reasons. VVD is the obvious choice anyway. Hopefully it doesn't impact his form.

[Exiled_red]

I thought Salah would have been in with a shout for the armband but that would have meant TAA not having a leadership role until his late-twenties.

It's just a continuation of the leadership group from last season but with Henderson and Milner gone. Last year our captains were:
1 Henderson
2 Milner
3 VVD
4 TAA
5 Robertson
6 Alisson

Salah has been added to the group and everyone has presumably moved up 2 places.

[Fosterbloke]

Oh I didn't know about that group. Fair enough then!

[rudedog]

I've always thought that captains should be either defenders or central midfielders, occasionally full backs, but never forwards, because a captain should be able to see the pattern of play as a whole - maybe I'm a bit old fashioned but I don't think forwards can do that. Even if he was a better leader (I don't think he is) I would still choose VVD over Salah for those reasons. VVD is the obvious choice anyway. Hopefully it doesn't impact his form.

Why would a captain need to understand the patterns of play (anymore than other players)?

[Fosterbloke]

Why would a captain need to understand the patterns of play (anymore than other players)?

I wanted to say that -

There's been some great forward Captains in the past, I don't see how it's a disadvantage.

Pele, Raul, Charlton, Dalglish!