Who should wear the armband?
Thursday, 21 June 07, 04:00 AM · Comments (18)
I know I'm going to hell now. Forgive me if you can, but when the U21's finally succumbed to the Dutch last night, I felt a frisson of delight.
I was actually, darkly and secretly, delighted. Why? Because it means that we can finally complete the signing of Nigel Reo-Coker - in my view a necessary and brilliant piece of business.
Villa are moving forward, but the replacement of Smiler McCann with a top-rate box-to-box midfielder was always going to be a priority. Reo-Coker has a reputation for being noisy and aggressive: that may not sit well with Alan Curbishley, but I'm damned sure it suits Martin O'Neill and John Robertson.
Why? Let's face it, Villa have been tame in recent seasons. I sit close to the touchline at Villa Park, and every visiting side calls more, shouts more and cajoles more than our boys. Not only will NRC restore the engine to Villa's midfield, but he will make us nastier. And that has to be a good thing. We need a horridly aggressive spine to our team for next season: think Schmeichel, Bruce, Keane, Hughes for example. We can leave the pretty, skillful stuff on the flanks: the spine has to scare other teams.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not pushing for us to become a recreation of the 80's Wimbledon. Quite the opposite: a firm spine to the team will allow us to get Stan Petrov forward into his natural Lampardesque role (he spent the latter half of last season deputising for an ailing McCann).
It will also allow us the luxury of using Young, Maloney and whatever talent MON brings in to make the play from wide, hopefully with passion and skill.
But one question looms large in my mind. I think the Reo-Coker transfer is nailed on. But who would you have captaining the Villa next season?
Barry is known to have signed up until 2010 partly because of the offer of the armband. But he's been a quiet, modest and unassuming captain. Reo-Coker is the captain of the England U21's and of West Ham - a born leader and, if you listen to Ray Wilkins and Peter Taylor, an indispensable force as captain.
So my question is this, quite simply: risk losing Barry by making Reo-Coker captain of the Villa? Or let Barry keep the armband, and promise the world to NRC in the future?
If it were me, I'd get GB to concentrate on his game, and offer the armband to NRC. But then I'm just the Doc ...
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18 Comments · Add yours
to spice this up i've added it as the quick question to the right ... for the record i'm with Doc on this ... Barry isn't as vocal as I would like
Gareth Barry has been a great servant to the club , his a player that all the others in the club look up to as he is loyal and dependable , i think that taking the captin's arm band away from him may cause unrest in the camp. NRC could be a great captain for the club in years to come but for now i think GB should lead the club forward
Hmm, if only we knew who the Doc was...I have my suspicions it's Kevin Macdonald or Eric Steele,maybe even Gordon Cowans. :D
I reckon we'll keep Barry as captain for another season, if NRC shows more influence on the pitch, give him the armband.
Barry leads by performance, giving NRC the armband could upset Barry, sometimes people don't like younger less experienced players telling them what to do. When they already know.
barry will captain villa for years to come.
Can we sign him first please?? we're becoming a joke!
Once the best person for it becomes obvious MON will give them the armband. I don't think it should be changed until the new people have proved they've got what it takes.
To VijayD: We won't be a joke, unless we don't sign quality prior to the season actually starting - have faith, only a handful of prem clubs have dipped into the market properly so far!!
As for captaincy, GB should keep hold of it for now!! NRC, amongst others, will need to prove themselves if/when they arrive at Villa Park!
I would have preferred if England stayed in it and Holland got knocked out!! That way we could have tried to sign some of their players!! It seems as though O'Neill has known about Drenthe for a long time now, but the U-21s tournament has probably ruined our chances of signing him! I read today that Chelsea are now after him, need i say more......
in addition to my last comment, Yes I would be happy for Reo-Coker to join but He is way over priced, we will probably have to pay £10m for him, whereas Drenthe will cost Chelsea £4m!!!! Does it make sense? Now dont get me wrong, Reo-Coker would improve our general quality but we are being ripped off, and I hope O'Neill sticks to looking at La Liga, and the Dutch premier. Reo Coker for 10 or Sneijder for 15, eh sneijder please.....
I'd give the armband to Barry for another season. Possibly our best player last season along with Gabby, he deserves another shot at leading the team. He has also been a great servant to the club for the last decade and has shown a lot of character during that time, changing his position several times to ensure his future at the club. I would agree with you that the NRC transfer is imminent and I will be delighted when he finally signs. Your right in saying that Villa have become tame in recent years and this is one part of Villa's game that has really infuriated me in recent years. Reo-Coker is most certainly a born leader and will certainly inject more passion and aggression into the side but I think handing him the captaincy upon his arrival would be a mistake. I don't think the Villa players who have been here for a number of years would approve of such an act none more so than Barry who would have to be stripped of the captaincy. I believe if this happened Barry may decide to move on with Spurs, Pompey and others no doubt waiting to pounce. We are lucky to have Barry who was very close to leaving us last season and then went on to have his best season for us by a long shot. I think it would be quite disrespectful to offer the armband to R-C straight away. Okay, if Reo-Coker proves to be Villa's true leader for Villa next season and has a better season than Barry than we will ahve this discussion again this time next year but at the moment I believe MO'N should give Barry another shot.
I think despite whatever talents an possible incoming Reo cocoa may have, we shouldn't upset the balance of the team by passing our team's best performing armband to him just yet. If he comes in and it looks like barry can still play minus that motivating aspect to his game, then by all means give him a shot. You can't just introduce someone like Reo-C, at his age and expect other players to like him being made captain.
IF we sign NRC it will be interesting... another leader on the pitch would be great, but Barry was made the club captain and had his best season yet.
Barry has stood by us all the way and played his heart out - he is true claret and blue and has earnt the right to lead our club. It is a disgrace how he can be constantly overlooked for england considering some of the trash that have put the shirt on in the last 5 years.
Im hoping we get coker and i think he will be a good signing but he needs to earn respect and settle before he steps up to captain - which he no doubt will.
Lets sign the players first before we start talking about whether they should get the armband!
IMO we shouldn't even try and sign him, look at the yellow card he got last night - 90th minute gave the ball away and hacked the guy down. He's lazy and over confident, and at 10mil a waste of money. We should look at Wes S from ajax (that 18mil double swoop for him and babel would be too good to come true)or try and pinch that kaboul before spur get him
Barry should remain captain. Reo-coker if he comes hould be vice captain untill he proves himself as a good leader.
Over rated, slow, lack of desire and passion=Gareth Barry. Nice guy: yes, good at his job: yes but even the likes of Gareth Barry aren't good enough to take us were we want to be. I am not a blues fan, but however, i think a few good peformances last season for the villa have pulled the wool over many's eyes. He is not captain material atall and hugely, hugely over rated. Is he ever going to show Roy Kean like passion: NO...is he going to beat a full back: NO...he just represents the former and average regime..he's just...errr just...errr Gareth Barry....in my opinion of course U.T.V.