No worries, it's just the internet, I don't take comments from strangers to heart. I should really leave this alone because I don't want to prolong the argument, but I can't. I love Arsenal, but that doesn't mean that I think the team, players, organization and whatnot are beyond criticism. It's not talking crap if it has been observed and noted by many people over a long period of time. I've given examples of my opinion and pointed you in the direction of others who share(d) it. Talking crap would be if I said "Henry can't be a good captain because he's a big jerk. End of story." If you always react this dramatically to people giving honest and thoughtful criticism you should avoid bigsoccer because you'll die of a heart attack during the CL! No worries, we all love the arse and are hoping Henry's heading and captaining skills reach world-class levels. Funny, I could've sworn you were pinching out of Jens' pillbox!
Ive said it before and ill say it again. Arguing on the internet is like competing in the special olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.
Laughed so hard when I saw this that I had to spit a mouthful of cereal back into the bowl. Nice work.
Wow... interesting thread... I'll say this... Henry has what it takes to be a good captain, the question is all application. Essentially, if you lead by example and you have the respect of your team you can be a good captain, u might not be an ideal captain, but you can do the job well, I don't think TH will become a great captain mind you, but he won't be a bad one. I will back up fpf by saying that I do recall the statements of concern about Henry and Reyes not getting along too well, if only because it was similar to our problem w/ Rooney and Ronaldo not getting along too well. As for captains not singling players out... BS... you don't reprimand the team when one player screws up, you reprimand him. Keane does this all the time... Keane might not scream at Giggs and Scholes or Gary the way he might at Rio, Silvestre or Ronaldo, but that's because Gary, Scholes and Giggs are 1, model professionals and 2, leaders on the team whose positions of leadership and respect from the other players would be under threat if they got chewed out. 3, Keane has an understanding with them having worked alongside them for a decade, and the chewing out comes in the form of discussions in private. As for the Henry/Jordan comparisons... nope, sorry... MJ falls into a special category by himself, he was at once, one of the most self-centered players in the league only to become one of the best team-players and leaders the world has seen while being the greatest at his sport. Putting up anyone next to MJ is pointless, he's peerless in sport (and I don't mean simply talent/impact - i mean personality global appeal, image and his transformation too).
whta about the one he scored against lyon in the champions league about two or three seasons ago? that was very classy..
fair enuff point but vieira was never much of a talker. henry stares more then he talks. cantona never talked much either and alan shearer cried at world cup 98. u can c where i am going.
do you really think it matters who wears the capt. armband? also, how in the world do you judge if a player is a good captain. by how much he yells? how much he bitches at the ref? how much he glares at opposing players? these guys are all professional athletes and obviously all possess determination and mental toughness. i argue that you could put the band around nearly anyone's arm (save for the very young - cesc, clichy, senderos, etc.) and it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference as to the outcome of games. bergy, sol, gilberto, pires, etc. could all be 'good' captains (whatever that is).
So you're saying that since you don't have a basic understanding of what the thing is then it must be irrelevant? Arrrgh, mods please ban me from this thread, I just can't stop myself...
of course i have an understanding of what a captain is and should do for a team. i've played the game for nearly 25 years and have served as a captain. what i'm saying is that at that level of play (professional/premiership) i think that almost anyone on the squad could serve as captain without it affecting the outcome of matches. regardless of who wears the band, the same personalities are going to be in the dressing room prior to and after each match. the captain is supposed to serve as the mouthpiece of the team on the field. other than the honor of wearing the armband, the captain is pretty much nothing more than a figurehead. therefore, it doesn't matter.
You evidently have not had a good captain. I'm not sure how long you have followed Arsenal (that is a fact, not an attempt at insult), but if you followed them then do you really not think that the toughness and grit of Adams never made a difference in the way the team played? He stamped his personality on that team. I hate Roy Keane, but ManU is a different team when he steps up and plays his heart out in a match. It's about leadership. You're right that the EPL players are all talented and skillful and motivated, but that does not mean that leadership is any less valuable. They still need that one person like Steven Gerrard who when you're down 3-0 to a highly favored side in a cup final is the guy who says "we've got them right where we want them" or the equivalent. The example he personally set in that game is a huge part of why they came back. That is the job of a captain- to be that leader. Not just a cheerleader, a real leader. Someone has to do the organizing. Someone has to say the right things at the right time. Someone has to do the motivating on the field. Someone has to be there for the coin toss!!