Going through last season, when after the iffy start the mood was late geeky very positive, especially once Ronaldo had fecked off and during that really good form and winning the League Cup, he was the obvious choice. When things are bright and rosy Bruno takes on responsibility and carries himself well and looks and plays like a leader. There was no other choice to be made.
However. Now the proverbial is hitting the fan, his petulant childish tantrum-filled behaviour is really coming to the fore again, and is highlighted even more under the microscope of being Manchester United captain.
I don’t want him to be our captain, I don’t like the idea of him being our captain, I never have. I also think he was the correct (only) choice when that decision was made. Hun being captain is indicative of where our squad is and how rudderless we are, without a ‘proper’ leader.
Who else would/could it have been?
De Gea
I always thought the original plan was to offer him a new deal as a good will gesture, but sign a new first choice. He couldn’t have been captain for that alone, imagine Onana coming in with the pressure of not only replacing our keeper of 12 years, but that guy also being club captain and watching your every move from the bench.
He also never really struck me as captain material anyway, and he’s not here now so it’s not worth talking about anymore.
Shaw
I wouldn’t have hated it, he’s the current longest serving player now isn’t he? I’m not sure he’s an obvious captain, and as good as I think he is, he’s not spent a lot of his 9 seasons at United as a bonafide starter. He’s also injured a lot. If we were to change it now he’s probably who I’d pick, but I don’t think he could have been given it over the summer.
Maguire
ETH clearly wanted him gone in the summer, the captaincy had to be taken off him.
Varane
He’s won a lot, seen a lot, has buckets of experience, has worked with some great leaders and is clearly well respected. However, is he himself a natural leader? I’m not sure. He’s also never fit.
Martinez
I think he’s the next captain. Don’t think you could have given it to him after one season, especially when his English still isn’t great. I think there’s a leader and a captain in there, but it’s too early to give it to him now.
Casemiro
Similar to Varane. I think I see more of a leader in Casemiro, but he’s also older so not necessarily a long-term fix. He also can’t speak English. If you changed the captaincy now I wouldn’t hate him as a choice, but it’s not a perfect fix.
Rashford
I’m sure he’d love to be United captain, but I think giving it to him would split the fanbase even more than Bruno has. He blows so hot and cold already, and people (ridiculously) blame that on what he does away from football. I don’t hate the idea of him being a vice-captain and wearing the armband occasionally, but he can’t be captain.
Am I missing anyone? Nobody there has an argument big enough to warrant stripping Bruno of the captaincy 3 months in to the season. It’s not worth the upheaval, might as well park the conversation for now and come back to it in the summer.