LONDON • About a decade ago, The Wall Street Journal writer Sam Walker had the idea of trying to identify the most objectively great teams in sporting history, and seeing if he could discern any common traits.
He found they all shared a single characteristic - for every team, the duration of their success coincided with the lifespan of a captain, who could elevate a team to perform beyond the level of their natural ability, from Hungary's Ferenc Puskas to Carles Puyol of Barcelona.
In short, he theorised the one thing the greatest teams have in common is great player leadership.
Walker's findings provide an interesting counterpoint to an inconspicuous but intriguing trend of this Premier League season.
At many teams, the club captain has been an impermanent or peripheral figure.
Gary Cahill has barely played for Chelsea, likewise, Everton's Phil Jagielka, and Southampton's Steven Davis, now on loan to Rangers.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
You don't always need vocal captains... You can lead by example as a creative player. If the likes of Hazard or Silva are picked as captains, for me, that's a sign that those guys should be able to inspire the team.
NIGEL WINTERBURN, former Arsenal defender, on how individualistic attacking players can break the archetype of the vocal and defensive captain.
Manchester United's Antonio Valencia and Manchester City's Vincent Kompany have started five and six league games respectively.
Seven clubs (Arsenal, the Toffees, Fulham, City, United, Newcastle and the Saints) have had four or more captains this term.
All of which begs a question: Is the ever-present, totemic captain an endangered species? And does it matter?
The first thing to point out is that there does not appear to be an obvious correlation between consistency of captain and success based on the small sample of this league season.
City do not appear to have suffered for rotating the armband.
In fact, it is easy to disparage the importance attached to captaincy as old-fashioned - a peculiarly English hang-up.
When pundits - usually from the generations of retired former players - bemoan the lack of leaders in modern football, it feels like they are often harking back to that monolithic figure of English folklore.
The blood-soaked Terry Butcher, or Captain Marvel Bryan Robson, or John Terry or Tony Adams shouting and pointing fingers.
But Nigel Winterburn, who played under Adams at Arsenal, says that the presence of an old-school skipper in the ranks was not something he or his teammates considered a particularly important factor in their success.
"It didn't give us anything extra," the former England defender says.
"I never really worried who was captain, it didn't interest me."
When Winterburn moved to West Ham, the captaincy was less consistent unlike at Highbury, yet he "didn't personally notice the difference".
Is the lionisation of a single captain out of step with the reality of modern football then, a prehistoric obsession in an era of advanced analytics and player rotation?
As Michael Cox pointed out in an article for ESPN on Arsenal's perceived lack of leaders in 2016, every generation thinks it had better leaders.
As early as 1938, then Gunners boss Herbert Chapman was lamenting: "Football today lacks the personalities of 20 or 30 years ago."
A lack of leadership is often a retrofitted criticism applied to underperforming teams, while teams that succeed, despite lacking archetypal leaders, escape censure.
However, it would be wrong to say the idea of captaincy is something that is incompatible with the analytical side of modern football.
It is possible that the cult of the captain has seemingly declined in parallel with the rise of the cult of the coach.
The advent of meticulous micromanagers such as City's Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, whose coaching depends in large part on intensively rehearsing movements and systems, ensures their teams are never unsure of what to do in any phase of the game.
It seems there has also been a change in the type of player considered for the captaincy.
In the past, that office was usually the preserve of vocal, charismatic, defensive players.
But a new breed of captain has begun to emerge. This season, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, David Silva at City and Fulham's Tom Cairney have worn the armband in the league.
These are all attacking players, most of the individualistic variety, none especially loud.
But Winterburn, who was captained by Joe Cole in his final season at West Ham, believes they can do the job.
"You don't always need vocal captains," he says. "You can lead by example as a creative player. If the likes of (Chelsea's Eden) Hazard or Silva are picked as captains, for me, that's a sign that those guys should be able to inspire the team."
While Winterburn still prefers the single-captain model, he adds, "There should be 11 captains out there."
It seems that is the way we are heading but by rotating the captaincy, are you multiplying leadership or spreading it more thinly?
Therein lies the paradox - with 59 players and counting having skippered a league team this season, is captaincy in decline? Or is it in fashion?
THE TIMES, LONDON
Get a report of the Cardiff City vs. Everton 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. Sigurdsson double, Calvert-Lewin help Everton sink Cardiff. Cardiff 0-3 Everton: Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff - Football News
VALENCIA • Valencia coach Marcelino has started the mind games by saying Arsenal are "the favourites" in their Europa League semi-final next month. The Spanish team, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, eased into the Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time in five years - a 2-0 home win over fellow LaLiga side
Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino
Seniors welcome but Fandi happy with team, Football News
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates with Jordan Henderson at the end of the match REUTERS. Liverpool crushed Arsenal 5-1 to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but manager Juergen Klopp still would not get involved in any talk of winning the title.
Defoe has joined Rangers on loan But has now snapped up the 36-year-old - who has been allowed to leave Bournemouth in search of first-team football. The deal includes two recall options in summer
Rangers 'agree loan deal' to sign Jermain Defoe from Bournemouth
"It was my honour to work for the late and much-loved Khun Vichai, who gave me the fantastic opportunity to manage his club and share some great moments with him. "My mission at Leicester City Football Club ends here but I will continue to follow the performances of the team and wish the club all the best for the future."
Sacked Puel says an 'honour' to manage Leicester -football
Football: Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas is I-League's best
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field | Football Extras: Plane cushions found in search for missing soccer player Sala
Plane cushions found in search for missing football star
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours AFP January 12, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Willian insisted he had no intention of leaving Chelsea after his superb goal sealed a 2-1 win at home to Newcastle on Saturday.
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours
Rafael Ramazotti de Quadros (born 8 September 1988), commonly referred to as Ramazotti for his Italian heritage, is a Brazilian association footballer who plays as a striker for Mexican club FC Juárez.
CONFIRMED - Rafael Ramazotti joins Hougang United in Singapore
Rooney bags first MLS hat trick in DC romp. By. Wayne Rooney scored three goals on Saturday night to lead DC United to a crushing 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. Rooney registered his first
Football: Rooney bags first MLS hat trick in DC romp
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Juve's old guard bidding to finish off Ajax kids. Cristiano Ronaldo will spearhead Juventus' old guard as they look to finish the job on Tuesday against Ajax's impressive young guns in a
Football: Juventus's old guard bidding to finish job against
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming live free
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch live soccer stream android
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch champions league final live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
#pagani #livestreaming #americanfootball #frasirap #Suarez #goodday #thomasmeunier #londoncity #acmilan #Liamgallagher #valcea #kopisusu #soccer #footballstreaming #ucl #manchestercity #lfc #comics #gooners #championsleague #hoffenhiem #england #oasisengland #villarealcf #GarageCafeDxb #nationsleague #conference #premierleague #serieatim #football #gunners #Liverpool #manchestercity #soccer #MyDubai #footballdubai #champion #watchlive #klopp #realmadrid #433skills #sumbertv #copaamerica #elcasico #soccerbible #jadwalbolahariini #Fcb #soccermemes #comico #winner #zidane #commento #sunderlandafc #arsenalfantv #thebeatles #bayervshoffenheim #ronaldo #panini #seriea #lionelmessi #neymar #freekicks #Barca #liverpoolfans #hotcoffee #midnight #nutmeg #Barcelona #linkstreaming #liverpoolfc #kroenkeout #fcbarcelona #coys #JUVENTUS #manchestercity #championship #chocolatecoffee #league1 #footballschedule #Vip45 #nikesoccer #meunier #portsmouthfc #liverpool #henderson #sixtimes #coffeebreak #rugby #paulmcartney #fut #barcelona #livesports #messi #Sunday #cristianoronaldo
No comments:
Post a Comment