mad norm wrote:Interesting
The goalkeeper can see all before him
Strange no one's.mentioned it
So I'll mention it
Seems a good idea
Poll UTP?

Good position for a captain, no doubt about it. Only doubt is who will be our keeper this season. Doubt Flynn will commit to making Day or Townsend skipper as neither are a shoe-in this season and will be fighting for the jersey. Provided Joe hasn't regressed would probably start with him v Oldham. Then Townsend v Ipswich. But neither to be captain.

faerun exile wrote: Good position for a captain, no doubt about it.

Which does make one wonder why goalkeepers are seldom, if ever, made captain.

My view on this is that in football the role of captain is probably less than in any other team sport. If there is a role beyond tossing the coin, it is being the referees go to person and to 'encourage' the players around him. It would therefore seem sensible that as both being the referees contact and being able to 'converse' with every player on the pitch a midfield player would be best suited.

One therefore need not wonder why virtually every team is captained by a midfield player.

Personally I would opt for Marty Dolan, a level headed individual.
Podge would be good too, but might not be an obvious starter these days.
Not sure what the obsession is with Joe Day, a fine shot stopper, but never commanded the box enough for me and as for his kicking it was dreadful, especially if we want to pass it out from the back, let’s hope that his kicking has improved.

faerun exile wrote:

mad norm wrote:Interesting
The goalkeeper can see all before him
Strange no one's.mentioned it
So I'll mention it
Seems a good idea
Poll UTP?

Good position for a captain, no doubt about it. Only doubt is who will be our keeper this season. Doubt Flynn will commit to making Day or Townsend skipper as neither are a shoe-in this season and will be fighting for the jersey. Provided Joe hasn't regressed would probably start with him v Oldham. Then Townsend v Ipswich. But neither to be captain.

A quick check of the EFL2 captains last season revealed:
Goalkeeper 3
Defender 12
Midfielder 9
Forward 0

CB being the most popular position for a captain.

faerun exile wrote:

faerun exile wrote:

mad norm wrote:Interesting
The goalkeeper can see all before him
Strange no one's.mentioned it
So I'll mention it
Seems a good idea
Poll UTP?

Good position for a captain, no doubt about it. Only doubt is who will be our keeper this season. Doubt Flynn will commit to making Day or Townsend skipper as neither are a shoe-in this season and will be fighting for the jersey. Provided Joe hasn't regressed would probably start with him v Oldham. Then Townsend v Ipswich. But neither to be captain.

A quick check of the EFL2 captains last season revealed:
Goalkeeper 3
Defender 12
Midfielder 9
Forward 0

CB being the most popular position for a captain.

On reflection I can see central defender. Not surprised no forwards, and I would be surprised if fullbacks were. Genuinely surprised at three goalkeepers.

Whoever it is the players should do the choosing, after all they are the ones who are out there playing and they need a captain they can rely on someone they have chosen themselves.

But if they took a vote between two or three nominees and the result was (inevitably) split, that may introduce some tension. Far better the manger selects his captain and the rest just get on with it.

excessbee wrote:But if they took a vote between two or three nominees and the result was (inevitably) split, that may introduce some tension. Far better the manger selects his captain and the rest just get on with it.

I don't disagree. That said when games are discussed, I've seen arguments about team selection, I've seen arguments about styles of play, I've seen arguments about substitutions, I've seen arguments about tactics, in fact any regular reader of this board will know that such is our passion for Newport County we will argue about anything we can think of.

I have never yet in 54 years of following Newport County, heard anyone criticize Les Graham, Michael Flynn or the scores of managers we've had between those two, on the basis that he chose the wrong captain.

Posted this three years ago: I'd always assumed who was captain was no big deal until reading "Journeyman" by Ben Smith, who was a Conference/League 2 midfielder and nearly joined us when Holdsworth was manager. As he describes things, players set enormous store by it.

Last season I was embarrassed by some of Labadie's antics.

My Dad, who was old school and wise in football matters, told me when I was a kid that the captain should be a mid field player or perhaps a defender. Because they were in the best position to read the game and communicate with other players and the referee. Goalkeepers are too specialised, don't move about the pitch and would find it difficult to have a word with forwards who are usually too far away. And they are not very knowledgeable about the tricks, antics and tactics of out field play. I am not surprised that so few goalkeepers are captains.

llanwern exile wrote:Whoever it is the players should do the choosing, after all they are the ones who are out there playing and they need a captain they can rely on someone they have chosen themselves.

Why not allow the squad to have a secret ballot which MF would view and make his appointment either based on the ballot....or not...

Labs has spent half his time injured or suspended so,Sheehan and others had to deputise.Did it make much of a difference,not really so,not a crucial decision really.MD is one player certain to start every week,not that many obvious nailed on starters but,didn’t he relinquish the captains duties once before.

Keith Oakes every time for me.

MD otherwise either of them in honesty but Mickey as a preference Matt as a close 2nd