Ferdinand backed for captain role

[Jack]

Source: BBC

ENGLAND v USA
Venue: Wembley Date: Wednesday, 28 May Kick-off: 2005 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC One, live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live (available on website for UK only), full coverage on BBC Sport website


Owen Hargreaves feels his Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand should be England captain on a permanent basis.

England boss Fabio Capello is yet to name his skipper for Wednesday's friendly with the USA, and must decide who will get the job in the long-term.

Hargreaves said: "There are a lot of individuals who could be captain but Rio has been the most consistent player in England this season.

"He epitomises our success at United and would be a fabulous captain."

Chelsea defender John Terry, 27, was captain under previous England boss Steve McClaren.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, who turns 28 on Friday, led England in Capello's first game in charge against Switzerland in February.

But Ferdinand, 29, who skippered United to success in the Champions League and Premier League this season, wore the armband against France in March.

Capello says he will make up his mind about his permanent skipper this summer and Hargreaves is enjoying playing under the Italian, who replaced McClaren after England missed out on Euro 2008.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder explained: "Everyone's still getting to know each other really but he carries the aura of a big coach - similar to the boss at United (Sir Alex Ferguson).

"I think he does things his own way and players respect that. Everyone's ready to do their best for him.

"You look forward to a change after a disappointing campaign - it's a breath of fresh air."

Meanwhile, Blackburn winger David Bentley is relishing the challenge of trying to oust David Beckham on England's right flank.

Bentley, 23, hopes to be involved against the US at Wembley and to make the trip to play Trinidad & Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on 1 June.

But Beckham, who linked up with the England squad on Monday, is in good form after scoring with a spectacular 70-yard injury-time shot in the LA Galaxy's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.

"I know David Beckham is loved the world over and I admire him as a man and a player but I will be trying my hardest to challenge him for the position and we'll see what happens," Bentley said.

"I have to keep performing and playing to a high level and keep working hard.

"The levels David has reached are fantastic but I know I have to go every day to training and be aiming to reach those levels and go higher.

"You want to push yourself on to the next level and I'll be looking to play as many games as I can to push on to the next step.

"These are big games for me to try and establish myself as an international player and push on which I want to do."

[Steve Gardner]

I think Terry has blown it. Yet again during the Champs League final he showed a lack of restraint by questioning the refereee's judgement and by allowing his players to openly disrepect and surround him.

There was also talk of him spitting at an opponent, though I don't know whether that turned out to be true or not.

Either way, I see Capello very much as a disciplinarian; Terry's lack of discipline will have cost him the role.

[Jack]

In this seasons match of Arsenal V's Chelsea. Terry also showed a bit of selfishess, if not ungentlemenly conduct as the ball went out of play half way done the pitch, kicked out by an Arsenal player as Joe Cole was on the floor. Arsenal were on the attack yet Terry kicked the ball out right by our corner flag leaving us with a defensive throw on.

Here's a past post I made about John Terry.
theallseeingi.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=football&action=display&thread=615

[Steve Gardner]

Yeah, I remember the incident and the post.

What are your thoughts on the England captaincy? Do you think it should be Ferdinand or someone else?

[Jack]

I think Ferdinand is a good choice. Although I wouldn't mind giving Joe Cole a go and having a look whether he's a good captain or not.

[Steve Gardner]

It looks like I was wrong about Terry blowing the captaincy - he's going to wear the armband against the USA after all.

That said, it does look as though Capello's taken the opportunity to rebuild Terry's confidence after his Champs League penalty miss, at least that's the strong impression given in this BBC aricle.

And Capello said the captaincy will boost Terry after he missed a crucial penalty in Chelsea's Champions League final defeat against Manchester United. He said: "It is a good decision for John Terry after last Wednesday, which was not nice for him."

Capello added: "He has played very well in training and when I told him he would be captain he was very, very happy.

Probably a shrewd move by Capello - explains why he's the England coach and I'm not.

I still don't expect Terry to get the role on a permanent basis though.

[Jack]

I was going to post this news, however you seem to have beaten me to it.

If you read my post in the CBox you'd have seen my fury about this decision. I was hoping it'd be Ferdinand, he's a great player with lots of enthusiasm. Terry on the other hand it's sly and sneaky and has a go at far too many people. He'd be the sort of person that'd be in a riot after a football match had he not been a footballer.

Oh well. If we lose maybe Terry won't be wearing the armband for much longer!

[Steve Gardner]

I must admit, I didn't see this one coming.

He's obviously not a long term contender for the captaincy, which makes me wonder why Capello has done it. Does Beckham feature, for example, in Capello's World Cup qualifying plans?

Source and full article: BBC

David Beckham has been named England captain for Sunday's friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the 33-year-old who stepped down as skipper after the 2006 World Cup and was then dropped by former boss Steve McClaren.

The midfielder did regain his place under McClaren but was then made to wait for his 100th cap when current manager Fabio Capello took charge.