OohAahMartial
Full Member
One thing we lack which can lift the whole team is a Captain. Rooney may well be a great off-field Captain in the dressing room but he's not been able to lift the team, demand high standards (partly because his own have been so low in recent years generally), and spends too much of his energy whinging to the ref instead of cajoling his team-mates. He is also presumably on his way out sooner rather than later.
Carrick showed in our last game that he cant steady a panicking team and is on his last legs. Valencia may sometimes lead by example but is not the most communicative. Smalling may not even be first choice CB next year and can't even organise his defense. Zlatan won't be here long enough. Pogba panics and is erratic. Herrera also loses his head gives away needless free kicks or goes missing. Mata leads by example but again not a communicator. Admittedly I was spoiled growing up with Robson, Keane and Ince, all very communicative, high standard demanding and consistent performers in Central Midfield which is the perfect position for a Captain.
In short I think we need to buy a Captain in. So the question is who can we ideally get and who can we realistically get and when?
Carrick showed in our last game that he cant steady a panicking team and is on his last legs. Valencia may sometimes lead by example but is not the most communicative. Smalling may not even be first choice CB next year and can't even organise his defense. Zlatan won't be here long enough. Pogba panics and is erratic. Herrera also loses his head gives away needless free kicks or goes missing. Mata leads by example but again not a communicator. Admittedly I was spoiled growing up with Robson, Keane and Ince, all very communicative, high standard demanding and consistent performers in Central Midfield which is the perfect position for a Captain.
In short I think we need to buy a Captain in. So the question is who can we ideally get and who can we realistically get and when?