I don't know if any of you have read "The Captain Class" by Sam Walker? It's a fascinating read, which analyses the greatest teams ever in world sport, spanning across Football, Rugby, American Football, Basketball, Baseball, Ice Hockey etc and includes women's sports. It concludes that the greatest teams ever (defined as "serial winners" or successful dynasties) share one thing in common - an exceptional on field leader, usually the captain.
This leader has certain qualities - they are usually not the star player; they have unbelievable hunger/desire; they put the team before self, they are the "glue"; they do the "water carrier" jobs to help everyone else; they play close to the edge of the rules; they have the total respect of everyone else in the team and they can communicate with them all individually; they shun the limelight and sometimes dislike authority. In the football world it cites Carlos Puyol, Puskas, Phillip Lahm and Roy Keane.
My history with our great club goes back to the 60's and if I think about our most successful periods (not dynasties sadly) I think we had one of those at each time - Mackay, Perryman, Roberts, Mabbutt.
I don't see one now in our team or anywhere in our squad.
Interestingly the book makes a strong case that the Coach or Manager, whilst very influential, is not the defining factor, though the selfless Captain/Leader has to have a top relationship with the Coach in order to carry out his/her plans and make timely decisions on the field. This suggests that Poch is probably not at the heart of our current problems.
Anyone have any views, for or against this theory?
On field leadership
posted on 17/9/18
davinson sanchez for captain
posted on 17/9/18
I think a big part is the fact that there is more tactics and intense coaching than ever before. ‘Man manager’ managers can afford a real leader/captain to have more of a power on the pitch than the ‘micro-managers’ like Pep/Tuchel who will literally sub you off if you don’t do as they say
posted on 17/9/18
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posted on 17/9/18
Some of these comments....
Maybe we haven’t got enough leaders as such, but this notion that Lloris shouldn’t be captain because he’s not vocal enough is absolute nonsense. Look at this bunch here...
https://youtu.be/Yr__-KqnfQM
Only one man has the captaincy there. Do you honestly expect me to believe that Pearce, Ince, Shearer, Seaman and Southgate remained silent throughout the games like thieves in the night because they weren’t captain?
If you do, how does a player possibly stand out as captain material before he’s captain if he’s not supposed to show any leadership until he’s appointed? Pretty sure managers don’t draw a name out of a hat when naming a new one so this whole ‘Lloris is a crap captain’ notion is ridiculously flawed.
posted on 18/9/18
Yes, Lloris captained Wold Champions France.
The only other players in our team that might be considered for the job would be Vertonghen or Eriksen.
The question there is whether either of them would want the job.
I would not choose Kane. He's having a down turn in form ATM and that's enough to deal with.
Lloris fills the role well enough, but his recent drink driving conviction has lowered his stock somewhat.
posted on 18/9/18
Talking of Spurs captains, the great Ledley King was exactly what is needed.
posted on 18/9/18
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posted on 18/9/18
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posted on 18/9/18
Spurs do perhaps lack genuine leaders on the pitch.
Poch has to take some responsibility though. Asking his players to talk to cows about train timetables will be confusing for them
posted on 18/9/18
comment by wearethefamousTHFC (U19211)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
How the fk is Eriksen captain material
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He'd literally be my LAST choice for the armband...