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Time for a Leader to Step forward – Who should be the new captain?

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Even days after the event I still find myself stunned at Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup Semi-Final defeat at the hands of Germany. People can talk this up as a failure of a Brazilian national side that never showed any signs of being good enough, but I point to a different reason, there was no Thiago Silva. The Brazilian captain was the core of that team and more importantly the core of that defense and if you find yourself remotely skeptical about that fact all you need to do is watch the highlights of David Luiz and Marcelo running around like headless chickens without him, as the German machine scored goal after goal against them. Now how does this relate to Leeds United? Well as a Leeds United supporter I found myself feeling for the Brazilians as I watched them torn apart with no real leadership and I flashed back to the times Leeds were humiliated last season in similar fashion. With Leeds United turning a new page in its history I think the time has come for a new leader on the pitch to emerge.

The captain’s armband was passed around a lot last season and not really to the right candidates in my opinion. Rodolph Austin is an animal on the field and should be free to run wild, not be tied to organizing his teammates; Lee Peltier was a prima donna, obsessed more in my opinion with attempting to outdo the younger and more talented Sam Byram than with leading; and what can we say about our last captain? I could say Ross McCormack was more interested in kissing the badge than leading, but really McCormack did get it and he was a leader, but a leader concerned more with his own success than his team’s success. McCormack was certainly capable of leading by example, but I often get the feeling that it was the only reason he was handed the captain’s armband. Whether he was a good leader or not McCormack is gone now and Leeds United needs a new leader to step up, he doesn’t have to be the new Billy Bremner, but he does have to be a man with the capacity to lead a team as large as Leeds United. So here I would like to present a list of possible leadership candidates to the almighty Don, Cellino, since I know he values my opinion greatly and is sure to read this article with avid interest.

Matt Smith, “The Doctor” – Whilst he is short of experience in the Championship, he surely did rise to the challenge in his first season with Leeds United. He formed a pretty deadly team with McCormack up front last season plundering 12 goals in 39 appearances for the club. With his university education we also know he is intelligent and hard working and with the double hat-trick he scored against FC Gherdeina recently we know he still hasn’t lost that hungry spark. That being said, his lack of high level experience is a sticking point and he did earn himself a red card last season (though not a deserved one) for a silly mistake, he might not be ready just yet.

Michael Tonge, “The Old Warrior” – Tonge is a polarizing figure at Leeds, similar to Michael Brown before he left. At 31 years old Tonge is certainly starting to be “past it”, but he did have a fair amount to offer Leeds last season. There are days when he can be underwhelming, but he does bring a sense of midfield discipline and he has at least a decent amount of high-level experience and has had a long career. He lacks the flourish, but at the end of the day maybe all you need in a captain is a quiet sense of discipline and duty.

Stephen Warnock, “The Long Shot” – I only mention Warnock because he apparently held the position of captain in the second half of the 16-0 thrashing Leeds United handed FC Gherdeina recently. This is highly unlikely to happen however with Warnock being told he is free to find a new club, however he does have experience, but that’s about it. I’d be open to him having the chance to prove himself, but I don’t see the man as a leader.
 

Noel Hunt, “The Goalless Wonder” – No.
 

Jason Pearce, “The Rock” – The obvious choice really and the only man I would say is guaranteed along with Sam Byram to be a regular on the back line this season. Pearce had a slow start to his Leeds career but last season emerged as a valiant defender even as the rest of the back line often seemed to crumble around him and missed only a single game to witness the birth of his son. To link back to my rant at the beginning of this article, Leeds United needs a strong organizer and leader on the back line; much like Thiago Silva who was able to make a mediocre Brazil team look halfway solid in defense. Jason Pearce’s leadership may just create that rock at the back that we need. Pearce already held the position in the first half of the Whites’ defeat of FC Gherdeina and while its not exactly scientific proof, Pearce standing heroically in the middle of the poster for the new Leeds United shirt may just be an announcement of the club’s plans for him.

Massimo Cellino, “The Don” – Alternately Cellino could step onto the field as captain himself, after all he seems intent to do everything at the club, why not captain it as well?

So those are my thoughts on who The Don and Hockaday should be looking at to lead The Whites into this next season. Whoever it is will have to fill the shoes left behind by McCormack, but I think it’s a task that one or two players on the team are up to. All I ask is that we pick the right man and stick with him, rather than playing “Musical Armband” like we did last season.

What are your thoughts on who at Leeds United should step forward as captain, is there a leader among us, or should Cellino factor bringing in a new captain into his transfer plans?

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0 comments

  • Lykewakewalker says:

    It’s a no brainer, Jason Pearce is the only one with the experience and commitment, and as stated in the article, give it to him for the season.

  • Joe Namath says:

    Pearce by a mile.

  • matt86 says:

    Pearce? Really? Sorry guys but no..he is too unsure on the ball..no calmness at all culminating into regular errors..solid enough toward the back end of last season but simply not rounded enough..sorry but if you think otherwise clearly you dont go to enough games and just read up about a decent performance by an average defender in a dier squad…lets face it there is a reason cellino is dismantling this squad and piecing it back together..because the current crop are dross by and large…pearce is no leader..if I had the choice?…..none of the above we need a leader to come into the team as one does not exist within the current squad…you nearly say it yourself in this article..if a leader was a true leader of men he would take it upon himself to lead the team rather than get battered by the likes of Wednesday especially if he were defending against it like I.e brazil..you say they get battered as no leader like silva? Someone has to have it within the team to pick up the pieces and organize even if not the official captain…its supposed to be teamwork and team ethic as proved with Burnley..no special individuals as such but collectively sound..

    • Matt. I went to every game last season and I say Pearce is definitely the right man to captain our club. Do not be so arrogant as to presume that because you don’t agree with the comments, it means that people can’t have been to the games because they don’t share your opinion. Pearce – all day long.

  • stelufc says:

    Byram or Murphy. Not sure pearce will be a 1st choice with the new signings.

    Captain needs to be defender or midfield imo, strikers need to be selfish.

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