Sunday, July 15, 2007

Tottenham Hotspur's New Captain?


Despite the ever-present exception of a left winger, the squad appears to be filling out nicely.

But where is our captain?
I'm not debating Ledley's abilities or loyalties. He is one of the best this country has to offer. But putting my fantasy football squad together, it pains me that he has to be left out yet again.

He can't earn me any points sat six rows behind BMJ on a Saturday afternoon.


Real life has greater subtleties to it. His influence to younger players and to the squad as a whole I would imagine is tangible.


But where is the voice on the park? Where is the impassioned general to sustain momentum when a daft goal is conceded, when eyes roll and heads think of dropping?
Ledley King is out again and it is my belief that that it is highly unlikely we'll get a full season out of him again. Not nice to write, but essentially true.

The Suggestions Box is now open.

90 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe you are wrong for this reason...

There are two things that can make a good captain:

- One who leads by his voice and mental strength

- And one who leads by example

Ledley is the latter. He is an excellent role model to the rest of the team. There is no reason why he should have more injuries next season, just because he had an unlucky season last time out. He will probably remain fit most of the time, occasionally needing a rest - as all players do.

Don't lost faith in Ledley, he's our best player (along with Berbatov) and has been for a long time.

Anonymous said...

I THINK THE NEW CAPTAIN SHOULD A PLAYER THAT DRIVES PASSION A PLAYER THAT IS HARDWORKING THE ONLY TRUE LEADER IS DAWSON

Anonymous said...

I definetly think that MICHAEL DAWSON should be captain he has the stature and presence of a real leader he's not too shy to bollock people if they screw up and he is quick enough to praise when they are correct maybe Mr Robinson in the sticks could learn very quickly to rediscover the great goalkeeper he was in the 2005/6 campaign

Anonymous said...

I'm not gonna suggest a new captain. I'm also going to point out King made 21 leagye starts last season. Sure it's been stop/start for him since the back end of the season before, but I think some are getting a bit carried away by one injury hit season. Lets just see what happens when he returns from this latest operation.

Anonymous said...

Robbie Keane or Paul Robinson

Harry Hotspur said...

5.53 - I'm not trying to be rude - but buy a newspaper.

He's injured now.

Anonymous said...

Exactly 5:53. Those thinking of who should be our new captain, should be taken out and shot to be perfectly honest. One injury hit season and they start on like this!
Unbelievable!!

Anonymous said...

HH - He's injured now and what for gods sake? I stick up for you here but this is bollocks.

Anonymous said...

Been saying Daws should be captain since King's first lenghty absence. He's a born leader,loves the club and always gives his all. We need a captain who plays almost every game, which Daws did last year.

Harry Hotspur said...

The 'how very dare you even discuss this brigade' will be thin on the ground if we are leaderless for much longer...

It would be great too, if they might grasp that looking for a stand in or possible replacement IF King is unable to return full time isn't disloyal - it's common sense.

Can anyone name any successful teams that have an absentee captain?

And was Cheatski's slide last season and the loss of Terry pure coincidence?

Anonymous said...

Daws for me.

Anonymous said...

OK harry, you walow in doom and gloom regarding King and make YOUR decision for who should wear the armband. I'll say agian he made 21 starts last season, and before that hadn't been particuarly injury prone. Also he is having an operation now during pre-season to clear up a problem that will benefit him/us in the long run. But yeah maybe you're right we should all depress ourselves by contemplating he'll never play again even though we know very little about if/when he will return. Sorry but you can write him off if it makes you feel like a realist or whatever. Personally I'm not concerned in the slightst about his future with Spurs.

Anonymous said...

Also I dont think you're being disloyal, just a bit stupid.

Anonymous said...

...it must be difficult to pose a relatively simple question then discover many of your readers find it beyond their sparse level of f**king intelligence...

...dawson for me n'all harry, cheers.

Anonymous said...

whilst we must all agree that ledley has been a great captain for us, surely you can all see we need some stability in the team. obviously ledley would be most peoples first choice captain but we need a regular starter so therefore i vote Dawson.

Anonymous said...

If you would like to hasten Ledleys departure,make him feel unwanted, and feel that perhaps his passion and loyalty towards the club is misguided...go ahead strip him of the captaincy, yes great idea! Essexian 76

Anonymous said...

Alright I'll answer the simple question with a simple f*cking answer. Ledley King should be our captain. Dawson can be another leader for us, but I wouldn't strip King of his captaincy because of an injury. I'm sure this is too simple an answer though for all the ever so intelligent people out there! Jesus!

Anonymous said...

Hi Harry first time posting on here but have been reading what you have to say for a while no, TOP SITE. Anyway last year was not the first injury hit season for King- I love the guy and feel he is definately one of the top 3 defenders in the country but throughout his career he has had injury problems with the year before last being the exception. Michael Dawson seems the best positoned for the role of captain while keeping Robbie on as his vice. Also I reckon there are more Spurs fans out where I live in Worcester than bloody Villa, Up The Spurs

Harry Hotspur said...

6.42 - "Personally I'm not concerned in the slightst about his future with Spurs."


Are you an Ostrich?


Or would you care to share why you're so relaxed?


I have have an awful feeling you're going to use the word 'staunch', but I'll ask anyway.......

Anonymous said...

James Cutmore: My problem with Dawson as captain is that with Kaboul coming this summer, one of Dawson or King could lose their place? I mean Dawson and King are the obvious choices for captain, and when fit, i think we would all agree that King is the better player. We do not know how good Kaboul is going to be yet, and if he lives up to his comments about coming to Spurs because he will be in the 1st team, then we may have a problem. If King and Kaboul are the 1st choice centre back pairing, and in the mean time Dawson has been made captain, then again we have a captain not on the field. I think best to leave the captaincy where it is for the time being, and then see how this season transpires. I think one player who could be guaranteed a staring place, that plays with his heart, his head ad unbelievable skill is being overlooked. What about Jenas......only joking i mean Berbatov????

Anonymous said...

Youre a twat for doubting him but i do agree dawson should eventually take the arm band although i feel robbie should continue to take it when ledley drops out as i feel dawson is still molding into a great player and leader. Under kings wing dawson has the potenial to be a future england captain...
Dawson for England!

Anonymous said...

If someone had told me a month ago that we'd spend close to 45 million on new players this summer (and I think we will before it's over) I would have expected us to buy 3 top players to enable our young squad to push into the top 4 this season.

Instead the purchases still have a very strong feeling of 'building for the future'. I love all the buys we've made but I still think it's a case of 5th again this year but "we'll be great in 2 years" (when we won't have any money because of the new stadium)?

Either way - I can't wait to see the new guys in action...

Summerspur said...

Harry, I'm starting to think you are a "glass is half empty merchant"

King is a good captain, more vocal than people think.
Whats to stop Dawson, Robbo etc having a good yell when the going gets tough. Keane must assume he is the captain.
Being a football captain is a bit of token gesture really. There should be several leaders on the pitch. All captains don't have to be cut from the same mould, many successful skippers have had vastly different styles, Roy Keane, Bobby Moore, Henry ....

Chelsea missed Terry more as a player than a captain.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you HH. It is crazy to suggest that discussing who should lead the team when the King is injured is disloyal and unreasonable. To achieve what it aspires to, Spurs must have strong, inspired leadership. For mw, dawson has shown the necessary temperament, desire, passion and coolness to be the obvious replacement.

Aussie Yid.

Anonymous said...

Re: Not concerned in the slightest. i honestly dont see a reason to be. He's career isn't threatened, unless you know otherwise please share. I dont think he will leave us, and I am of the belief he will return from this operation and play for us just as usual. He may get the odd injury as anyone would but I cant fathom why he's being written off. OK consider this, if the club suddenly announced Dawson or whoever was the new captain, what would you think? Would you be happy?!! No, you would then have good reason to doubt Kings future. So instead of creating that scenario yourself in a make believe world type of way, all I'm saying is I dont fear for his Spurs future and I believe anyone who is doing so, needs to pull themselves together, or would that be too boring a day for you? If I'm wrong fair enough, I'll be gutted but right now I have no reason to think we need to appoint a new club/1st choice captain. I cant see why you have this reason either, but if you have any real knowledge of genuine doubt over King, please do share. Otherwise lets just get on with things without the need to shake up the club that you have no power of decision or inside knowledge of.
I know you will keep arguing this and feel I could say exactly what faults in appointing a new captain there are, but keep going son. You know best I'm sure!

Anonymous said...

7:13 Are we discussing the new vice-captain? NO! If that is the point then again I say stay as we are. But wer'e not, wer'e discussing who is the new CAPTAIN. The original piece from HH is all doom and gloom over Kings future and that we need to make a fresh start with the captain as if he will never play again. Ludicrous. But fine by me to give Daws the vice captain role, although personally I would leave it with Keano.

Harry Hotspur said...

7.14 The only info I had I shared months ago ('Tottenham's Nasty Secret') was that King was rumoured to have a serious ongoing injury that wasn't going to get better only worse.

He then came back and now he's out again.

This, I might add, depresses me. I'm not motivated by any weird agenda - I want Spurs to have a functioning captain.

21 games isn't enough.

Anonymous said...

Great site Harry and you are right about Ledley he's a wonderful player a seemingly wonderful man but not the guy to rattle other players cages when we're up against it. How many more games would we have won last season with a Mackay or a Roy Keane leading us ? The truth is that we have not had an obvious alternative up till now although I also love the Daws.

Anonymous said...

Ok then Kings finished he wont play a full season ever again and we need to plan for the future without him. 21 games isn't enough and as that's happened last season and some poxy site has suggested he will always carry a long term injury it must be true.
What absolute dogshit!
Give the armband to Stalteri whilst we're living in HH's fantasy league team that he cant do because he's uncertain about a players future. I do stick up for you against the pointless drivel that is aimed at you, but I BELIEVE and I hope I'm right that what you are suggesting here is complete crap and shouldn'tr have been posted. BTW the last time someone said I was an ostrich and being naive was when some muppet said so after I told him Berbatov wasn't going to Manu. But I guess that just means I'm naive and dont ever like to hear bad news. Wont get a full season from him ever again, do you honestly believe that?

Harry Hotspur said...

summerspur - just looking at the season ahead. I cannot get cheered that our captain might put in another 21 appearances - if we're lucky.

King and Terry are so similar in what they bring to their teams.

I would say Terry has the edge on King in terms of being more of a Mr Shouty character, but the impact that both men have on their colleagues almost 'just by being on the pitch' is huge. Bigger than huge.

Every game without King was mend and make do.

Kaboul looks genuinely terrific.

But that doesn't answer who will captain IF King isn't available enough.

Anonymous said...

James Cutmore: Re the guy that spoke about us spending shit loads and not seem to have improved the 1st team much i totaly agree.
I think Bale is an excellent signing, and i also think Kaboul could be looking good too. I just fail to see why we would spend an over inflated amount of money on Bent when we were already well stocked on strikers. Now i do trust the Spurs management, but unless we sell Defoe, i think it is mad that we have blown the majority of our budget improving the part of the team that needed improving the least. Would it not have been far better spending £15m on a world class central midfielder such as Van der Vaart or Deco, who is rumoured to be unsettled at the Nou camp? Or ths money could have been spent on a sweet little left winger like Quaresema [excuse spelling]. Before you all say that these players would not come to us, you are probably right, they are just examples. I do think though we could have found major improvements to the 1st team midfield with the Bent money, and this would have given us far more balance. As it is we have the best strikers in the league, with an average midfield, and thats a problem we need to address.

Anonymous said...

Jesus can more people keep missing the point? One says it's a debate over the vice captaincy...It's not!
Another thinks wer'e talking about whether King is a good enough captain or not...It's not! And HH latest is that he thinks by me saying he played 21 games last season means thats the most I think he will ever play in a season again...IT'S NOT!!!!
I said that because it's considered that he was out the whole season or something and he played more than half the games in a real injury hit season. If that's the worst it can get then No we dont change captains. If that really is all he will ever play a season again then fine, but it wont be and there's no point contemplating that it will be.

Harry Hotspur said...

7.33 I'm wondering if your ancestors burnt many people for 'being witches'

Are you worried that if more than six people are allowed to consider that King might have a career threatening injury ... it might come true!??????

I discussing the downside protection angle here - which I am allowed to, that is all.



"Wont get a full season from him ever again, do you honestly believe that?"

No, that's why I never wrote those words.

Anonymous said...

I don't think we should take the Captaincy away from King because he is injured, but it is true to say he is unlikley to play a full season again this year. Robbie is ok as vice but MJ should be making sure the other players play their part, if they think someone needs geeing up they should do it, they are all on the field and can see whats going on and they should all take responsibilty.

Towards the end of last season Berba started to do this, everyone moaned he was fed up with us and was doing moody's but actually he was showing fight and letting his colleagues know they weren't doing enough.

If we want CL they all have to stand up and be counted

Anonymous said...

Keano should be made captain, he'll smack anyone who gives it the big un and leads by example.

Anonymous said...

No that's right. You wrote: It is highly unlikely that we will get a full season out of him again. Not nice to write but true.

Highly unlikely...Never.....It's basically the same thing IMO.

Anonymous said...

"But it's true to say it's highly unlikely he will play a full season this year" That's ok I agree. Not what I thought Harry was getting at, as he said it as in EVER, and unless he can offer some decent reasoning for this then I wont believe that.

Harry Hotspur said...

7.47

Highly unlikely based on the info I pick up. Knee being drained after games blah blah blah...

Never? I don't have a crystal ball, hence the fact I DO think it's worth discussing...

I value him as a player, but I want my captain ON the pitch, I'm old fashioned like that.

Anonymous said...

That is why he is having an operation to sort it out. You're suggesting he wont play a full season, Oh sorry it's highly unlikely he will, and I'm saying you cant say that as you dont know how he will return. So it's a bit soon to contemplate appointing a new captain. You've stuffed up posting this topic, and you would never be able to admit it so I'll leave you to it. God I wish I had your forsight. Perhaps you also know how Dawson would come back from his next injury and we could discuss who takes the armband from him!! Simply: YOU CANT APPOINT A NEW CAPTAIN WITHOUT KNOWING KING'S SITUATION FOR SURE. What you are saying is we should now appoint a new long term captain, because of King's situation, and it's utter garbage to do so.

Anonymous said...

HH agree Totally, king is unlikely to be fit for the start of the season. Although most won't admit it, he is injury prone he has been carrying injuries since the world cup and indeed before that picked up less serios injuries on occassions. If we are to challenge the top 4 we need a plan B on the captaincy front. It doesn't mean we respect him any less it is just an unfortunate situation. It is the team that counts and we need a player to stand in where necessary.

Anonymous said...

And to add finally. Because you DONT have a crystal ball as you admit, it's NOT worth discussing, and to say so is being very negative for the sake of it without the knowledge of why we should appoint a new captain. It's so clear!!

Harry Hotspur said...

I speculate over the future of one of our most important players and really, once you're stripped of the 'how dare you' guff, all you've got left is gobbledygook. That's not a very productive thing for me to say, but I'm bored...


Let's hope he makes a speedy recovery and goes on to lead us to a treble this season....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anonymous said...

King is probably, I say probably never going to be the same again. I thought that was common knowledge. Hilarious to see how hurt some peeps get when they find out for the firts time. I'm suprised you haven't been branded a gooner for suggesting the unthinkable. Wake up!!

Anonymous said...

That last post from you Harry sums it up. I put forward coherant sensible argument as to why you shouldn't be creating such a thread and that's your reply. Accusing me of gobbledeguke and the treble remark. I'll see you later. I know when someone has lost a debate and knows when they are wrong. One day you may be mature enough to say "oh yes, I see where you're coming from". For the record I do see where youre coming from, I am unable to say for sure about how King will return and so you may be right. It's just that I'm not willing to put forward the suggestion that he is highly unlikely to play a full season again and that the time is now to appoint a new first team captain. Just not my style to presume such things. Oh and before I leave you all to make your suggestions about who now wears the armband because King missed 17 league games last season, for the record I can admit he will probably miss the start of the new season, because that seem sto be clear. Just that I dont think that spells the end of Ledley King the footballer. I am old fashioned like that. Tee hee!

Anonymous said...

Common knowledge that King will never be the same again? I wonder if it is in the club or the players minds? Hilarious. Some fans know everything without knowing anything!!

Anonymous said...

I can't see the problem... except for youre fantasy league...

If King plays, he's captain, if not, Keane seem to be vise Captain, then Robinson, then Dawson... and so on. We will always have a captain out there, and who it should be is a fair question, but when King plays, he's the captain! Use youre blog for something useful. Fantasy league is just that, fantasy...

Anonymous said...

Actually on second thoughts I agree that Jing will never be the same again. He will come back better, because he's now had an operation to clear up a niggling injury that he wont be carrying anymore! Also I wouldn't stoop to calling HH a gooner. I dont suck up to him and gush over his video's but I certainly have too much class to make silly childish remarks about him being a gooner thankyou very much. I'll just tell him he's wrong and give a million reasons why. But thats goobledeguke to him because he cant take it.

Anonymous said...

There was quite a few games last season where we needed a captain on the field. The best captains are usually the heart & soul of the team, when we lost ledders through injury, there didnt seem a player who could handle the pressure & responsibility to drive the team forward.

Anonymous said...

8.35 So now H's got you so mad you believe LK will lift the next WC!?!?

Go to bed mate.

Anonymous said...

JENAS

Death said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg5HsG7AN1Y

It is quite probable that you have all seen that.... but if you haven't.... rofl

Anonymous said...

"I'd prefer the Ledley story to be kept quiet, but expect it will spread.

I have heard from a source close to his mother some weeks ago that he had been advised he ought to pack up."

Paul Smith Odyssey Web Site

Anonymous said...

Ledley is our king - enough said.

We should just be nominating a DEPUTY captain here.

And if that were the case then many people will be surprised that my first choice would probably be...Younes Kaboul.

As much as I love both Dawson and Keane (the natural choices) Kaboul is a vocal organiser and a leader of men.

I think many people will be surprised at the impact Kaboul will have.

Kaboul is big, strong, quick, good in the air and superb in the tackle with excellent distribution and positional sense.

He can also play as a commanding defensive midfielder.

This guy is very much in the same mould as Ledley King and I think we have pulled off a real coup in signing this chap.

One other thing: Dont worry too much about the left midfield situation - Adel Taarabt looks like he could be the man

Anonymous said...

Ledley to stay as captain simple as. Dawson as vice, mmm no thankyou, hes a good player, has a good voice, BUT, theres just something about him that I'm not sure about to make him a captain of Spurs.

Robbie Keane, if ever Ledley was to lose captaincy, it would be to Robbie Keane, he has been with us for what 5 years I think or something now? and has just signed another 5 year contract. He should undoubtebly be the future captain, he is deffinately vice.

Then after Keano its Robbo for me.

sean k said...

how come there is so little support for keane as captain if you didnt know tottenham you would think he is.
if any of you actually were at the lane last season would know what i mean he doesnt just get the players going he also gets the fans going too.
if i had choose itd be keane for those reasons he has been loyal and shows his passion too much like daws but more so, anyway this all hypothetical we still managed 5th twice in a row king cant be that bad!!! you just wish he show more passion like keane but thats not him but when hes on the pitch on the ball you know why we love him hes got class!!!

sean k said...

any new info on kevin prince boateng will he be joining his king, sorry for the pun!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm a big fan of King Ledley but those of you banging on about 21 appearances.. find a decent reasoning for your argument please.

King - 21 games
Daws - 57 games (or thereabouts, cant remember now)

Why mention that shoddy statistic when you could draw comparisons with his return and our big boost in form, the improvement in Berba when King was on the pitch etc

Anonymous said...

I am with Harry on this one. Top site by the way, even if I don't appreciate the way some people constantly whinge at your remarks (which, in the main are on point).

But as regards both the Captaincy and Ledley, these are very valid questions which warrant consideration, or at least some attention.

When I was at the Watford game last season backend (Nice goal Robbo, you finally contributed at last...) all the talk I heard was how Ledley's knee was FCUK'd and his career was all but done. A couple of weeks later, and he's coming back?? But of course, the rumours must have been rubbish, right? IMO, WRONG!!!!

There is no smoke without fire in these situations, draining knees, keyhole surgeries etc., I've seen injuries such as these ruin many a career in many a sport. Ledley is a fine man, has been a fine ambassador for club and country. He is loyal, and dedicated. It hurt him when he heard all the rumours. Of course it bloody did, he's a proud man who has been playing at the top level.

That doesn't mean the concerns were not, and are not still validated. He rushed back last season to aid our club's cause, virtually went straight back in the England side and... got injured. Knee surgery (again) soon follows, and he's racing to be fit for the start of the season. Dawson was massive for us last year. If it isn't Ledders, it should go to Daws. Realistically I think Ledders keeps the job, if he's club captain but not playing, Dawson gets the armband. I really hope Ledley does get fit and stay fit BTW, do not misunderstand me.

Oh, before anyone sarcastically applauds me for actually being at a game, I live in Spain. Pay my airfare every couple of days and I'd go to every game!!!

Anonymous said...

Our vice-captain is the national captain of Ireland. I find it strange that you don't even mention this Mr. Writer of the Harry blog.

Anonymous said...

Take your point Harry.
If the captain is out, the vice captain gets the armband. Keano is an international skipper so is not out of his depth. However, Keano is not always ever present but this is a very rare quality these days. It was amazing how Dawson played last season but it should not be expected or relied on too heavily that he will be able to so 3 times a week over a whole season. I tend to believe in the old cliche; We need leaders all over the pitch......

Anonymous said...

Mido should stay and be captain. Ghaly - vice captain.
They both absolutely command the respect of players and fans alike.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't it just a month ago that Ledley was the starting CB for England - and looking great I might add? Pretty dumb to say he'll never be the same.

As for Dawson, he has the heart, but not close to the quality on the pitch yet - he has got to step up big time before consideration. Two seasons ago, the last CL spot is all ours, then Ledley gets hurt and the defense goes to rubbish. Last season, after the slow start, the team is coming on strong and then he gets hurt and again the defense falls apart. Gardner and Davenport played their part in the rubbish, but Dawson looked lost without Ledley. How many goals were scored last season with Dawson standing 2-3 feet from the scorer? The 2 goals in the Boro game for example, where Dawson lost his mark on both occasions - or the devastating goal from SWP where Daws was going to back up until he hit the stands. My vote is for Keane until Ledley gets healthy.

Anonymous said...

king are and should be capain for as long he is in the club. end of discussion.

Anonymous said...

I posted a blog on here last October suggesting we sell King whilst we could still get something for him. Its too late now. Anyway it wasn't just last season, he has been injury prone for years. The season before last he missed the run in and with him in the team we could surely have got the extra point that would have put us in the Champions League, even with the dodgy lasagne. He is a fine player when he is there but he just ain't there enough.

I know I am a lone voice on Dawson but whilst he was lion hearted last season he actual form, especially after Christmas, was not brilliant. Hopefully it was just fatigue but I agree that should King stay fit and with Kaboul around, then Dawson might not get in the side so he can hardly be captain.

Same thing goes for Keane cos the front pairing may well end up Berbatov and Bent. Goalies make poor captains and anyway Robbo should have been dropped towards the end of the season and might find himself under pressure from Alnwick.

Forwards are not an ideal choice but great forwards, players who are the comfortably the team's best player, have often done the job in the past. Therefore unloess we sign an old head before the start of the season, I'd give the job to Berbatov.

Anonymous said...

Whilst its true Ledley was injured for the majority of last season - i dont feel thats a valid reason to replace him
yes i feel Terry's absence for Chelscum affected there playing - but we have 2 or 3 superb replacements for when he IS injured
Dawson for one - Robbo maybe and Keane for sure

If we land C Davies theres another

If it was my choice id be torn between Daws and Keane - tho i must admit i prefer someone at the back

lets all hope Ledders gets fit and leads us to the glory we deserve!

someone posted there are 2 things that make a good captain one who leads by voice and mental strength and 2nd one who leads by example

then says ledders is the latter - for me BOTH of them points make a captain - not one or the other

Anonymous said...

well fuck me. You must be a goonr in disguise Harry, no real Spurs fan would admit that Ledley is slightly injury prone and we might need to start considering a back up/replacement.

What an evil despicable man you are.

Ledley is invincible and will live forever - This is a fact and it came from a source close to his brother. i simply wont contemplate any other possibility. because im a 'real' spurs supporter.

Anonymous said...

Crazy people all of you, what we need is someone in need of calming down, someone who with leadership will focus here and relax in his game....yes I am talking JJ, Jermaine would make a good captain, take some of the focus that he places on himself and direct it at the team. He can be a voice, he can be a leader and it will improve his game.

Anonymous said...

For all those who keep saying Kaboul should be captian, let me remind you of one thing;
his langauge skills;

we all know what yelling and pointing is, but if he cant even do it in the right language, then whats the point?

As for Dawson, I think he should he handed the arm band IN A FEW YEARS. I dont think he is 100% ready yet, he just needs to...fine tune his skills and sense of direction;

as for me, I have heard Chimbonda talk, and I believe that he has the skill, and quality to make a decent captain if Ledley is out;

Also, for me Keaney and RObbo arent 1st choice Vice Captains either; Keane (as good as a player he is) always ends up whining if he thinks its a foul and lets play go on (which mean he missed out a goo 25+ goal scoring oppurtunities) and Robbo is...well...Robbo, although I do think that handing him the Captain's band may boost that confidence he needs, so instead of playing like last year, he plays like the year before.

I think thats basically it; Daws or Tarabaat in a few years, maybe even Zokora; You can see how much he has when he plays, and alot of people love him, especially when he comes over to the Park Lane after the match and dances to his chant "Do do do do, DIDIER ZOKORA"

Anonymous said...

I think Ledders will unfortunately miss a large chunk of the season through injury. I was hoping that the new season would be his chance to prove everyone wrong, then - doh, he's out for pre-season. When he comes back, he will have missed out on the vital 'gelling' process. I think he will have one more season as captain.

Keano makes a good captain due to his cheekyness. He is a motivational player and can raise the whole team spirit. The problem is, he will not play every game this season because of Bent/Defoe (who I think will play mostly cup football together). Should remain vice captain.

That leaves Dawson and Robbo.

I think the captain should be an outfield player, so Dawson gets the thumbs up from me.

Robbo 3rd in line.

Anonymous said...

Robbie Keane as skipper

COYS said...

Plotting against the King is treason and I do not want to be part of it.

I believe King is an honourable captain and he himself will know when it is time to stand down.

We all need to get behind our captain and support him through injury.

When King is off the pitch our vice captain is our then our captain. This is what vice captains are for.

DO NOT FEED PEOPLES DOUBTS AND CREATE INFIGHTING TO UNSETTLE THE SQUAD

It is clear that the squad are together by the way they perform.

WE WILL BE IN THE TOP4 VERY SOON

COYS COYS COYS

Anonymous said...

i here that ledley has a long standing hip problem that will always be there. he rarely trains fully with the squad and sooner or later he will get an insurance payment and give the game up. thats why jol has brought in the fast, pacey and strong kaboul.. a ready made replacement for ledders.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Didier Zokora as a potential captain, always fights for the team even when down and even though off to African Cup of Nations still think that he has the fighting spirit that'll rub off on younger players.
If not its got to be Dimitar who knows what it takes to captain a side.

Anonymous said...

ok fellow yids, calm down.

Harrys right, what good is a captain that doesnt play? He can be the greatest leader but if he is not on the pitch then what can he do?

And you cant have him as captain one week and then change it when hes injured the next.

And we cant expect Robbo or Keano to take over the armband- come on seriously, ones a keeper (not even a very good one) and the others a striker (who struggles to organise himself in a game let alone others)

The reason we havent managed to step up to a champions league spot is we are missing a real leader- look at terry, gerrard, scholes, giggas, neville, lampard, even carragher, ferdinand, hyppia etc etc abundances of players who are in the top four who could effectively take over as captain.

yes we need a left winger along with a midfielder who can but a decent rhough ball through, but what we really need is a (fully fit) leader. at the start of ledleys injury there was such a lack of organisation at the back, nobody to take control. yeh robbo can shout, but he cant hold the back line can he?

and with pansy midfielders like jj and zokora and useless misfits like rocha, dawson is the only obvious choice.

and hes nowhere near ready for that responsibility.

Anonymous said...

and how can anyone suggest chimbonda as a captain?

come on guys think before you speak your talking about one of the most disloyal troublemakers who hasnt done nething for spurs yet. hows that gona make players like keane dawson robbo and even more recent players like jj who have all been at the club longer and wont just leave as soon as a bigger offer comes in. but then againt who wuld put in a bigger offer for the shit i just mentioned (bar dawson)

Anonymous said...

surely the real question is who should be third choice captain - keano has done fine as captain in leds absence, and the spot behind him is the one up for grabs.
Daws is a legend and will no doubt be captain one day, maybe even for england, but for now can we not put too much on him please? just let him grow into one of the best defenders in the country, he is nearly there after all. The simple fact of the matter is that Leds is captain, and how much he plays next season nobody can tell. When he is not there keano has the experience, the voice, the passion and the respect of both the coaching staff and players.

Harry Hotspur said...

11.03 Thank you.

Anonymous said...

its a fact that Ledley's career is all but over. His move to Chelsea 18 months ago was cancelled cos his medical report was laughable.
He is finished, get over it.

Anonymous said...

How about this - it doesn't really matter in football who is wearing the armband - it's seen as significant but it's not. What is significant is that you have players on the pitch who play the captain's role. At the moment we have very few who have the required skill. Therefore, the answer is to buy players who have leadership qualities. The problem being, with our policy of buying only young players this is a quality you are likely to lack whenever you do make a signing. Therefore, signing a a couple of realtively experienced players with leadership skills would be a start to solving our "lack of leadership" problem. By the way, those who are suggesting Robbo as captain - he shouldn't even be in the team let alone captaining it!

Anonymous said...

A captain is the face of the club, a leader doesnt need an armband.

As the first comment said, there are 2 kinds of captain, a shouter, and a quiet hard-worker.

Ledley is a quiet hard-worker, but for my money, Dawson is both.

But changing the captain shows a total lack of confidence in King, and should not be done!!!!!

Anonymous said...

It is just amazing how much shit some fellow Tottenahm fans chat, and I am embarassed to be associated with people such as yourselves.

Robbie Keane captain??...not even guaranteed to start...

Robbo not in the team???...less said about that the better.

I love all your tinted glasses in respect of King, quite brilliant actually!!...He has had Injury ravaged seasons like no other player since Anderton. Yes he is brilliant and of course if fit should play and be captain, but only playing a quarter of the games last season and now being injured again means that we need to look to the future.

Please can Tottenham fans start being more realistic.

Dawson gets my vote.....oh we could have Zokora like some genius said but would be nice if he learnt English first!!!

Anonymous said...

You know, i had a very similar conversation on Friday and i agree with the 1st reply......

There are two things that can make a good captain:

- One who leads by his voice and mental strength

- And one who leads by example

Having both makes a great captain.... and most of the top clubs have one

Anonymous said...

Upon reflection, the keep King at any cost mob are right, but not right enough.

We need an inspirational leader and who better than Winston Churchill?

I propose we dig him up, er, prop the bits sort of up...ahem... and get the armband on him.

Who cares if we don't get even 21 games out of him? We've got Churchill inspiring the lads onwards and upwards to victory!

Tottenham Hotspur - where death doesn't impede your career!

Anonymous said...

totally agree, a true leader does not need an armband. if roy keane did not have it on in his manutd days, he would not have been any less the player he was, same goes for all other great captains like gerrard, terry et al.

since keano has left, manutd has winners/leaders/captains all over the park (giggs, rio, neville, even heinze, scholes)- and thats the difference, these players just do it, **no need for an elastic band round the arm for these players!**

first and foremost it's a mentality issue...some players have it, others dont. same as any other attribute.

Anonymous said...

your a div....dawson can't captain he's too error prone when ledders is not about....also if ledder had been fit we would been in champ league last season, and uefa before that

Anonymous said...

I'm keen on Keane being captain, but with 3 other excellent strikers, he might only play about 50% of all our games. I'd rather have a steady captain who's going to be on the pitch almost all the time. Given Ledley's fragility these days, perhaps Daws is the best choice. Robbo is another option, but he's stuck at the back, and can't communicate as well with the front players. Or maybe give the talismanic Berbatov the job, he plays hard all over the pitch, not just a goalhanger, I think he'd lead through example.

Anonymous said...

Zokora...why? driving force in the midfield always gives 110%...tjhough it'll never happen im a big fan of his!

Anonymous said...

Dear blog author,

Judging from what you write you ask, should the captain's band be handed to a player less injury prone.

No. Ledley will be back, and prove you wrong.

Meanwhile the Irish national captain is deputizing. Not an ideal leader, but the second best we have.

There will be no new leader until Ledley stops playing (not happening in the next 10 years).

We might see a new vice captain though, if we buy the midfield general we so sorely missed last season.

coys

Anonymous said...

I'll say it again - JENAS.

Robbo - no goalies make good captains, too far away from the action.
Keane - not guaranteed a start. You can't chop and change captain every game.
Dawson - let him get on with learning the game. Possible future captain.
Zokora - headless chicken.
Chimbonda - don't make me laugh.
Kaboul - fuck off, numpty who suggested this.
Jenas - ideal candidate. Centre midfield, middle of the action, will make a man of him, guaranteed a start in Jol's preferred 11.

No-one else springs to mind, unless Mabbutt is making a comeback!

COYS

Anonymous said...

I believe you are write ledley king is a quality footballer but he hasnt got wat is required to be a captain hes not a born leader and he is to much injury prone