Conflict to Come?

Realistically you try to find a player who has been with the team for a while and knows most players limits. This captain position will most likely be held by marco just because he knows the team and has respect from the players.

Yet the mental captains and leaders of the team will the Earnie and Kovalenko. They know the game and are demanding and respectable players. Kov is very vocal and can take control of a line whenever it is necessary. While Earnie is just a straight up likable and respectable guy. World Cup Hero and Icon to many soccer fans, I'm sure he is the same to most of our squad.

 

I think this is an issue Ray will think about several times in his head before declaring who the captain is. I think the three most important components of a captain are:

1. Their ability as a player - If the player lacks quality, there's no way he can demand authority.

2. Their ability as a person - They have to be approachable. Has to get along with teammates and not be a loner or seperate himself from the team, he actually needs to be able to bring them together. And they need to be careful how they react with different players. An example is Peter Schmeichel last year with Aston Villa. Not sure if he was captain, but he consistently assaulted his own players verbally, using this as an inspirational method. While this can work with some, its detrimental to many and it had an adverse affect on a couple of defenders in particular. Therefore, the captain almost has a bit of responsibilty similar to that as a coach in that he can not treat every player exactly the same.

3. They need to consistently be on the field.



So IMO, the question becomes which player on the roster possesses these qualities?

 

Oh yeah and BTW, after my reasoning, I still can't imagine it being anyone other than Etch.

 

I expect the captain to be Etch, but if it's not then I'd expect it to be Ben Olsen. Stoichkov and Stewart realize they are at the end of their careers and are joining Etch's team. They will not make a fuss at not being captain. While there may be some problems with all the strong egos in the locker room (pure idle speculation) I just cannot see the captaincy being a source of conflict.

I wouldn't expect Santino and Esky to become best friends. Clearly they are competitors for the same spot on the field. Realizing that both are very confident individuals, they might become friends, but I wouldn't really expect it. Competition is good, it prevents laziness and generally minimizes moaning and anti-team behavior. One thing that they all share is a strong passion for the game. All of the players Ray has acquired are warriors. They are feerless competitors. While they tend to have tempers, they will do whatever they need to do to get onto the field.

-Tron

 

Agreed.

It has to be Etch or Olsen.

 

The 2000 Fusion also had a lot of tempers (Serna, Bishop, Rooney, etc.). If there's a coach that can deal with that side of things, it seems to be Hudson. Etcheverry will definitely be captain, and Stewart will likely be second choice. After that, personally I'd like to have Nelsen as captain.

 

Amen Anderson.

 

One big, well maybe huge, factor to consider in how well the personalities mesh will be how well we fair at the start of the season. If we can jump out to an early start, the egos will work together. I'm looking forward to Esky and Tino competing for points in so much as they both realize that if United does well, they'll both be winning out.

As for captain... I can't imagine anyone other than Marco. He's the captain. If he's not it, maybe Ben or Nick. But, I still think it is Marco's job. He may be slow, but he will stick up for anyone.

As for having too many leaders... we've got leaders at Striker, Mid, and Defense. I think that's great. Every level we've got players who know every part of the game from that view. I don't see any problem with that. Plus, those leaders will be mature enough to play together. Just think of National Teams. They're over loaded with leaders, but that just helps them out.

I think it's lookin' good to be United this year.

 

I don't think Hristo ever wore the armband in Chicago, nor did he ever seem to want to. It was always Nowak, until he went out, then usually Armas, sometimes Marsch. So I doubt you'll get much trouble from him, he is one of the more team-oriented players I've seen.

 

You can become a DC fan McCrum!!

Thanks for the input and I think you are correct. Hrsito will be happy to be getting one final season and will do anything to contribute here.

 

between call ups, injuries and suspensions there should be a lot of minutes for guys and a good competition for roster spots can be a key to developing a hard team. i'd imagine given the experience level of the senior players, the competition will remain a positive, motivating factor.

a huge problem we had the last couple years was an appalling lack of depth. when we had to go into our bench we often had a remarkable drop off in play or we had to play guys in spots they had trouble playing, etc.

given our newfound depth and the versatility of many of our players, this should be a bit less of a problem.

 

I think there's another factor here -- can being named captain be a motivor for a player who needs it. I seem to recall that when Etcheverry was originally given the armbad, it was generally thought that a part of the reason was that it would help get the best performance out of him -- more disciplined, dedicated, etc. I think Arena's been making Mathis captain on the nats lately for the same reason.

If Etch needs the affirmation to be the kind of leader on the field we need him to be, then he should remain captain. On other qualities, I'd vote for Olsen, who showed last year just how much his presence makes the whole team better.

 

Let Olsen be Olsen. I just want him out wreaking havoc. I don't want him to have to think about being a captain. Lead by hustling.

Stoichkov will (one hopes) be a teacher.

Earnie would be a good choice, but I don't think it would change his effectiveness to NOT be captain.

Giving the armband to Etch may create an incentive for him and underline how much we need him to have a level head. He's one of my biggest question marks for the season-- here's hoping the responsibility of being captain, and the abundant talent around him, will raise him to earlier levels of quality.

In no way would I view the presence of 5 potential leaders (counting Nelson) as a negative. Through last year, we had trouble finding one guy who wanted to lead. Etcheverry could lead on the field (sometimes), but we didn't seem to have an off-field leader after Harkes left. Now we've got leadership, we've got fire, we're going places.

 

When it comes to captain, I think it should be someone who has been with the squad for more than a couple weeks.


The fact they brought back Etch indicates to me they still consider him the backbone of the team, and while they have put in place a lot more support to that back bone, Etch is still the man. He should be the captain. However, the likelyhood of Etch being on the field every minute of every game is very silm, so the vice captain is going to be carrying the armband quite a bit. With Pope gone, Olsen fits the bill quite well, IMO.

 

Great point. Etch will be the captain this year out of many considerations, including deference to the all-star mvp he should be and for continuity to the hallowed history of DCU success. I think all these egos are for the good. Remember the past 3 years when we had no fire or leadership on the field and the only egos were the ones lounging on the bench (remember Amman)--save Pope, who was away often. I think this will work for a number of reasons: 1) this is Etch's last full shot at being captain and being on the field--unless he reprises with an mvp year; 2) this is Stoichkov's swan song as a player, and he wants to prove he can motivate as a coach and mesh with the team (I wouldn't mind if he kicked a few behinds along the way); 3) Stewart and Hristov can lead by example, stir (and shake?) but show the way, a la Jordan; 4) Eski and Stewart can flip between forward and the withdrawn forward position, and minutes at the forward position--among them, Q2, Ali, and any newer signees--will be awarded to those who can score and mesh; 5) Nelson and Rimando can steady the back, as Petke, Ivanov and Dema bring the fire and aggression; 6) those who welcome Harkes' return will underscore his added experience and influence in the back midfield (though I am one of the minority who worry--based on his past conflicts with Arena and negative influence on the WC 98 team--whether his addition will be positive in this blend of egos). (I hope they prove right); 7) I think this team is built to withstand call-up disruptions and injuries, though many players, Rimando, convey, Q1, Eski, Nelson, Ivanov, Stewart?, Petke? Dema? Carroll, Warren, Woodworth? Etch?? will be summoned. Call-up time will be disruptive to all the other teams with new and younger chemistries. The sum of the many new parts and addition of many wizened heads and hearts--Stoich and Stewart--can hold a team together through the disruptions of the call-ups and speed the melding of a team. I hope. I think it's all for the good.

 

It's going to take a lot more than Hristo moving to DC for a year. A lot of loose women is a good start...