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You have been living under a rock if you haven’t heard about John Terry’s recent affair with underwear model Vanessa Perroncel. But his actions off the pitch has lead Fabio Capello to take action and remove his captaincy on the pitch. Captains can be an important motivator, a player to be respected and to lead a side to victory. So should you take the same action as Capello in the virtual world? Lets look into why John Terry is the perfect Football Manager captain
The Role of the Captain
The English captain has always been a role of great importance. Captains are the driving force on the pitch, the key of any communication, using his experience and authority to tell other players where they are going wrong. Captains are passionate and lead by example.
The English look up to great captains such as Emlyen Hughes and Bobby Moore, but the captaincy isn’t held in such high authority in all Countries. Italy will automatically give it to their highest capped player, other countries hand it to the man who wears the number 10 shirt.
I’d be interested to know how your country or club picks their captain. But Football Manager being English, you will be sure that a good captain can improve your sides form, ambition and ability to see out long seasons. But what makes John Terry the perfect captain?
When considering the perfect captain you should look at:
- Influence
- Determination
- Personality
- Work Rate and Team Work
Influence
Influence determines what the player will be like on the pitch, will the people around him listen to what he says or will younger players look up to your captain? Influence is a key attribute when picking a captain, although it isn’t the only thing that you should consider. It is not an attribute that can be learned, but one that will grow with age given high work rate, determination and professionalism. John Terry takes a full 20 points in the influence department, no one will be arguing with him when he has a rant on the pitch.
Influence is key, but only when the rest of his characteristics will ensure he influences in a positive way. If you have a player who is fiery, argues with the referee or is unprofessional this will cause frictions in the dressing room. It is important that you keep a happy squad.
Determination
Determination is such a huge factor mentally when it comes to squad performances, if your captain is determination he will have a major affect on those last few games in a title race or to take the team but your side by the scruff of the neck and get them out of a poor form, even when all around him are losing their heads. Steven Gerrard’s determination has been key to Liverpool’s success, never let die attitude has seen him and Liverpool life the Champions League and the FA cup both times winning from behind. John Terry once again can’t be beaten in this area and will be on the team sheet no matter what.
Personality
Personality is always a good indicator of a good captain. It is a major hint when you read John Terry’s personality, Born leader. Suggesting that it is in the blood for John to take the reigns and drive the squad all the way. Other personalities such as determined, driven, resilient are many qualities that a good captain should hold. But consider your own squads personality, if you have a highly determined squad, then a determined captain could fit well.
Work rate and team work
It would be pointless if your captain couldn’t play with the team around him, wasn’t doing everything for the best of the team on the pitch or was lazying around. Your leader will show an example, he will probably die trying to push the squad higher up the league or chasing every ball. You will also be looking for a player like John Terry to work tirelessly to score and not just in the bedroom. He throw himself in front of every shot he, start attacks. Within Football Manager work rate and teamwork work just the same, determining how far your captain will be willing to go for you.
Fabio Capello was surprised by the importance that the English put on their captains, believing that it is the squads duty to carry the responsibility of driving the team and not just one man. So although John Terry won’t be wearing the captains armband we should expect this born leader to still drive the squad forward and doing his duty. Something that to a point is already emulated in Football Manager now. Having a squad of determined, ambitious and professional players will have much more of an effect then having one John Terry at the back.
What do you think about the captains armband? Does it have to much importance in English football and in Football Manager? and what else do you consider makes a good captain for your Football Manager side?
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Terry is definitely a great captain, but I prefer, a younger captain, as I have seen they bring enthusiasm to the shower room…
.-= Samir´s last blog ..Oh, what have I gotten into?! =-.
I think that age is a pretty big consideration for a captain, as the experience will bring alot of mental attributes that players need to be a captain. He would have to be great in every other department before I would consider a younger player as captain. At 29 John Terry isn’t really that old he is in the peak of his years I would say.
That is also true Thomas, but, I noticed, three or four times already, that when the shower room has a low morale, and the captain seems no help, I have changed to a younger captain, with a high influence and personality of course, and it has helped my team out of relegation tunnels in that times!
.-= Samir´s last blog ..Oh, what have I gotten into?! =-.
personally, I believe his personal life should not come into his football life, when he hits that field, everything that happens off the field, should REMAIN off the field. Stuff like this has been happening for years, just these days, the press have no life of their own and see fit to interfere with other people’s!
Hmm and as for the replacement, Ferdinand, missing a drugs test? Been involved with the police plenty enough, surely not a worthy replacement, it was only a few months back there was talk of him being dropped from both United and England for his shoddy displays!
I think that when a player is getting paid £120,000 p/w and is meant to be a role model and to looked up to. A player that will love the papers when everything is going right, but being paid that much money he has a responsibility to be a morale reader off the pitch as well as on the pitch. Not that I agree with the amount of coverage it has got, but I don’t think it is something that is a should be kept secret.
His replacement, well Rio when he is at the top of his game he is one of the best in the world, his work rate though is questionable. Missing the drugs test was some time ago now and I think it is something that we shouldn’t really take into consideration, it not as if he was positive for drugs. Gerrard would be my choice, his drive and determination can carry the team and inspire performances, just like what he does for Liverpoool.
In the game, John Terry is a great captain. In real life, he’s proved that too. The issue in real life seems to be that a number of England players had already expressed concerns over him remaining captain. The fact that’s he’s taking some time off as well now, means that the current situation does seem to be affecting him. Although in an ideal world, personal problems should not affect them in their working life. I share the concerns over Ferdinand, especially after his behaviour in his most recent match for Man United, for which he’s serving a ban.
.-= TheZiggy´s last blog ..August 2012 – Solid Start To A New Season =-.
Well many of the English professional players behaviour on the pitch hasn’t always be squeaky clean, Terry, Gerrard and Rooney all have been in some sort of trouble on the pitch. I think the only person that hasn’t would be probably a player like Barry and hes so boring that I couldn’t see him inspiring the team.
But John Terry despite the millions he is paid and the fact that he was in the wrong. He is only human so of course these things are going to affect him. I think that I would be affected if I was already feeling guilty for doing something bad and then having 10,000 fans giving me abuse as well as the paper talk that is going on. The reason he hasn’t got the captaincy is because Capello doesn’t want the spotlight on him and instead he wants it on the England squad, on performances and to go into the world cup with little distraction.
Hi Tom, great article there, very interesting read. I am managing england in FM 2010 and have kept Terry as captain, he is a great leader both in FM and real life. However what he did was unexcusable and he should have been dropped as captain, so Capello has made the right decision. I don’t agree with the choice of Ferdinand to replace him. he is out of form, quite old, currently banned for elbowing a player and has a history of drugs and missing drugs tests. What was Capello thinking? Gerrard or Lampard would have been better choices, but at least it wasn’t Rooney as I feel captaincy might have had an effect on his game.
.-= Laxeyman´s last blog ..Notts County Story – February 2014 =-.
Well I dont think that Rooney would have made a good captain, I dont think it would have affected his game I just don’t think that he is a leader just yet, but I think that he will be able once he matures as a person, I can see him much like a Roy Keane character.
Although it must be said that Rio was never accused or found guilty of taking drugs, it was a missed drugs test what he was banned for. But I do agree that he isn’t the best of role models on the pitch either. I don’t think form has much to do with whether they can lead a side, personality and presence on the pitch as well as the respect of team mates is needed. But I do think Gerrard would make a much better captain.
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