Article: Bradley in Line to be the next USA captain

Ives speaks, Big Soccer listens

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/11...adleys-captaincy-a-matter-of-when-not-if.html

Some valid points:

1. Bocanegra is in the twilight of his career.
2. MB has become the man.
3. He has delivered in important matches.
4. He continues to step up his play.

Currently Howard is Boca's backup for the role, though I vaguely recall Klinsmann himself acknowledging that goalkeepers aren't ideal captains. However, Klinsmann tends to be an unreliable source on Klinsmann's actions.

Anyway, I support Bradley for captain and do think it'll happen sooner or later, and I would favor sooner. Playing devil's advocate, it might finally be time to consider Donovan. Recently he said he always wanted to be captain. Perhaps that carrot would get him off the fence and keep him committed to 2014.

If it's not Howard.....................it'll be Bradley.

The captain of a football team is rarely the best player on the team. It all comes down to the personality and leadership skills of the group. That's why Boca's been captain so long. Donovan struggled in the role.

Hell, if Dolo remains in the team...................it could be Dolo. He's been captain at Hannover for quite a while.

I think Bradley will be the Captain as soon as the 2014 World Cup ends. He's the natural choice for the 2018 cycle.

However, I think his chances in 2013 and 2014 are still less than 50%. I suspect we will see one of the "old guard" take the armband to close out this cycle, once it becomes clear that Boca isn't a starter any longer -- Howard, Donovan, 'Dolo, or maybe Dempsey.

Although I don't think he's ever been captain for an extended period of time, Donovan has worn the captain's armband in a number of different matches.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I tweeted the bolded, so true!!

As for MB, he also seems 1524234% committed to the US games, no matter the location or hectic game schedule.

??? I thought that honor went to ... refinancing with no closing costs!!!

But MB for captain might be a close second.

mainly on a match by match. During Arena, if Reyna was there, he was captain. Since 2007, if Boca has been there it was his. Donovan basically served if it was a domestic team only.

If Dolo is to last until after 2014 then I think he should be given the armband. Bradley is easily the #2 in line for me. I think Jermaine Jones would be #3.

It is disrespectful to give it to Bradley with so many experienced players around!!

bradley has been with this team for awhile now, he is the anchor of our midfield and really has been the most important player for our team for the last 6 or 7 months. I think he honestly deserves it. And I don't honestly believe dempsey, howard, donovan, bocanegra, cherundolo, etc would even have a problem with it.

I think Howard and Dolo would be the only one that would want it. I think Howard would have the most legitimate claim to it, aside from being a keeper. If Dolo is going to be here in 2014 then I see no reason why it shouldn't be his.

Dolo all the way...then Bradley. He's still very young (25). Only a few countries have such a young captain. Quite a few euro teams have their goalie as captain.

Spain - Casillas
Italy - Buffon
England - Gerrard
France - Lloris (25 years old)
Netherlands - Wesley Sneijder
Germany - Lahm
Portugal - Ronaldo
Argentina - Messi (25)
Brazil - Lucio (through 2011)
Mexico - Marquez when healthy
Uruguay - Diego Lugano
Ghana - Asamoah Gyan

For my money, no one beats Gerrard as captain - the man is a lion.

Lloris seems a bit under-sized for my taste, but a solid list otherwise.

I don't care about his age. I don't care about Euro teams.

The vignette that does it for me... When Dempsey finished off MB's almost-there chip against Guatemala. Dempsey apologized for what could've been viewed as poaching the goal, and Michael very clearly told him the goal stat was meaningless.



He is already our field general. Only question is whether the armband is on Howard's arm or on MB's before World Cup '14 rolls around. And you know what? MB probably doesn't GAF about that, either.

I think I can hear John Terry crying lol

I like Bradley with the armband. I think he's earned it. Otherwise probably Howard.

I think Michael should eventually be captain and will make a fantastic captain one day. But I personally believe that LD should get a good run of games as captain (before he retires), given how much the guy has done for team, how important he's been to its success for so long. Granted, he actually needs to be playing in order to captain the team...

The captaincy is not a retirement gift

In all honesty it should go to Howard. He is our most important player and if he flops we are finished no matter what.

He's one of our most experienced players.

I don't give a rat's ass who deserves it most or who has the most experience, I care about who would be best at it and that's Bradley, no doubt. Kid's a stone-cold badass. The boys would run through a wall for the bald one.

I agree that it's not a retirement gift, but I also think that LD has earned the armband. I don't think it's as simple as being a "badass", I think you need the respect of the team and LD would have that in spades. I don't actually think Bradley would be "best" at it just yet, I think a couple more years of seasoning would make Bradley a better captain.

He does, or might, deserve it.

But if he gets the assignment, it will be because of nepotism, no doubt.

I used to feel this way but not any more. Guzan is playing very, very well for Aston Villa.

On a lower quality team than Everton, Guzan has helped Villa to 4 clean sheets in 12 games. Howard has helped Everton to only 2 clean sheets in 14 games.

There may be a drop off from Howard to Guzan but no where near as big as you are intimating.