I think we can add Tommy Docherty and Derek Hales to that list. By the way, if you twist my arm and ask me to name the most talented player ever to have played for us in my lifetime I would say, Charlie George.

"Good" news for you VC, Tom Lawrence has been made skipper.

I bull5hit you not.

God help us.

April fools was a few months ago.

Gotta be a joke? one of the worst work ethics in the team, ALWAYS goes missing when it matters, the complete opposite of a role model of off the field, and a player who clearly can't handle the pressure.

Can't think of a worse choice?

Predictable reactions from the faithful! Captaincy can bring out the best in players who aren’t obvious leaders. Grealish at Villa for example. At the very least, it will provide an additional stick for our loyal supporters to beat him with, since now whenever he lose it will all be his fault for not having provided the necessary leadership qualities.

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
Predictable reactions from the faithful! Captaincy can bring out the best in players who aren’t obvious leaders. Grealish at Villa for example. At the very least, it will provide an additional stick for our loyal supporters to beat him with, since now whenever he lose it will all be his fault for not having provided the necessary leadership qualities.
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Best of luck to the lad, he's certainly going to need it with our eclectic squad.

Not the natural choice, I think majority would have gone for Shinnie due to his natural leadership skills on the pitch.

Using the example of David Beckham as captain, a very left-field appointment, it certainly brought out more in terms of work rate and drive on the international stage as leader.

Rooney has also stated being captain of Man Utd gave him more responsibility and perhaps at 27, this is what Lawrence requires. It was said his performances will be integral (on return from injury) to our survival bid last season and so it proved.

I have more of an issue with how Rooney addressed the squad, when confirming Lawrence as captain (if you've seen the video) He just comes across as lacking authority you expect with a manager, he didn't strike me with confidence in his delivery to the squad. I really want him to do well but need to see those strong management traits coming through too.


Also, given the Chicago love in above welcome to the forum. You mentioned some other forums you used in the past, you've finally found the one that's going to be suitable to you, intelligent, humorous, to the point conversations.

I can't find the video, Desi although I did watch the separate Lawrence and Rooney interviews about the appointment.
I have to say I was surprised and thought Shinnie would get it but it's done and we have to hope TL rises to the occasion as I believe Rooney himself did when he became captain of Man U. That did seem to calm him down but of course he was a much better player than TL. Whatever the merits of the case I think we have to give the lad a chance.

Hope these links work

Video of Rooney briefing the squad

https://twitter.com/dcfcofficial/status/1415023225852018695

Simon Jordan really is NOT a fan of Rooney

https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1415284945464045569

I am beginning to wonder if Jordan is right.
This appointment beggars belief.
In order of rating he comes after all the stiffs.
I hope I am' wrong but I cant see this working at all.

Lawrence being made captain just sums up where the club is going...down the plughole. When I saw it I thought it was a joke...can you imagine little Tommy telling Ravel Useless to pull his socks up? What a shambles our beloved club is in.

Can't see what difference it makes as to who is captain. It's not like cricket where the captain has to make all the decisions. All the captain has to do is act as the manager's mouthpiece on the pitch, glorified messenger boy.

Comment deleted by Article Creator

The captain is supposed to lead by example, so you can expect the squad to be in training to do the Ashbourne road mile

If we were inclined to try to see the tiniest bit of good in a player we might say that it shows a touch of courage to step up and agree to take on the responsibility of being captain, given the current state of the club. It's hardly "hiding" after all. Wouldn't it be easier to avoid the additional scrutiny that comes with captaincy?

He's far from the obvious choice, I agree, but at present this looks like it could be shaping up to be one of grimest seasons in living memory. You would think that it couldn't do any harm for we supporters to be, well, supportive.

Couldn't do any harm.

I actually think this comes off more as vindictive than sensible.

Keogh wins one over the club, gets his payment, the club give the person responsible (who shouldn't even be at the club) his former job just to show how little respect we have for him.

I can't see a shred of logic behind it, unless Rooney wants an easy way out before Christmas (long before Christmas)

Weird logic there. Do you really think that Keogh cares who Wayne Rooney decides should be Derby captain? And why would Rooney want to be vindictive towards Keogh?

Managers generally know more about the players that they work with every day than we do as fans. Every single manager that we have had since Lawrence arrived at the club has shown faith in him as a player. They could all be off their heads of course, but it doesn't seem all that likely. Clearly they have seen something in him that merits this faith.

What's beyond doubt is that scapegoating Lawrence for any and all bad things that befall our club will reach ever greater heights from now on. So at least we can all look forward to that.

Well at least there's something to moan about given the lack of transfer activity!

Thanks Desi. Yes, a pretty uninspiring announcement by Rooney but then he never comes across very well in public utterances.
What has Jordan got against Rooney? Is there a back story somewhere?