Ireland Captain when Staunton retires?

DRakE

Well, who do you think?
Personally I'd go for Shay Given... or maybe a guy like Kinsella or McAteer...

Pigman

Gary Breen and Matt Holland are the only obvious choices as far as I can see.

bugler

Considering McAteer isn't even guaranteed his place it would be a bit odd to give him the captaincy. I'd think the same can apply to Breen. Over the next season the likes of John O'Shea and Andy O'Brien will be looking to come in. There could be a lot of uncertainty over the central defender positions over the next year or so. Considering that it was Kinsella who was destined for the bench when Keane was with the squad, I'd say it would be most likely go to Holland if it's to be an outfield player, but you never know. Good consistent player, rarely misses a match for any reason (see his appearance record for Ipswich) and should be around for some time to come. The other viable candidate is Given, in my opinion, and that seems a bit unlikely to me, for some reason

Holland it is.

Samson

Nobody considering Duff or Keane (Robbie) ?

mike65

Its got to be Matt Holland, Irelands new Mr Reliable.

I dont think Messers Keane (Robbie) or Duff would be well placed for such a role.

Mike.

Dustaz

I think Kinsella is the most obvious choice since he has captained the side before and is slightly more defensivly minded than holland, having said that MattyGoal wouldnt be a bad choice either.

Monkey

Players like Holland, Robbie Keane and Duff don't have the experience and you need someone who will shout at people and organise things on the pitch and I don't think any of these can do that. And Mc Ateer captaining Ireland? God I hope not.

Shay Given would seem to be the best bet ... but I'm still hoping Keane will be back...

Greenbean

We might even see Roy Keane as the next captain.

JarJar blinks

I voted Given, but Holland Breen or Kilbane would be good.

F$%k Roy Keane he walked out on the Irish team twice, first when he quit and secondly after he refused to say sorry after the bust up with players.

McAteer is too unpredictable, sometimes he's great sometimes useless.

Plyed great in both qualifers against the Dutch

Samson

Originally posted by mike65
I dont think Messers Keane (Robbie) or Duff would be well placed for such a role.

Why not ?

If they are not to be considered due youth/experience well fair enough.
However, if people say they should not be considered because they are "forwards", well then I disagree.
I am of the opinion that forwards can be as good a captain as a midfielder or centre-half.
Just look at the example of our enemies across the water, anyone remember Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer ?

And as far as the argument of the captain needing to be in a defensive role to shout and organise, again I disagree, good defenders do that anyway.

Pigman

Originally posted by Samson


Why not ?

If they are not to be considered due youth/experience well fair enough.
However, if people say they should not be considered because they are "forwards", well then I disagree.
I am of the opinion that forwards can be as good a captain as a midfielder or centre-half.
Just look at the example of our enemies across the water, anyone remember Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer ?

And as far as the argument of the captain needing to be in a defensive role to shout and organise, again I disagree, good defenders do that anyway.

Being a good captain doesn't have anything to do with position (much), age or experience. It's all about your ability to lead, show commitment on field and your organisational and motivational skills.

I mean Roy Keane became captain of Ireland after Andy Townsend retired but I'm sure with the personality he showed on the pitch Keane could have done the job practically from day one.

Also regarding age look at Bobby Moore for example. He became England captain at 23 and never relinquised the armband after.

Position shouldn't matter but just as a personal thing I would only ever give it to a centre-back or a central midfield player as they tend to be in "the thick of things" so to speak.

Finally I wouldn't choose Shearer and Lineker as good examples of captains. Shearer was skipper for Euro 2000 and Lineker Captain for Euro 1992 if memory serves me correctly? Two of Englands worst tournements ever.

bugler

I'd be against Duff and Keane becoming captain for what i think are obvious reasons. As anyone who ever played the sport at a competitive level can tell you, the captain has to be someone who is respected and possibly even looked up to. Duff and Keane? No. You just don't do it. They're young, and lets face it, streaky players of undoubted talent. They have neither the maturity nor experience, nor you'd expect the character, to captain an international side. As for Kilbane...no just no. The captain needs to be as close to a dead cert to start as possible. How someone as inconsistent as Kilbane could be suggested boggles meh mind.

francie brady

I think Kenny Cunningham should be in the team instead of Breen. i also think he should be next captain.

castie

nah id have to say kinsella

Bard

The obvious choice is the best captain they've ever had.

Roy Keane.

--

Oh - and Dave O'Leary for manager.

ciarac

Holland. You cant have Given cos goalies make bad captains - they are too far from the action

zAbbo

I`d go for Matt Holland as he`s been an ever present with Ipswitch for 3 seasons(i think) and is their Skipper as well.

Littletinyman

Lee Carsley.

Yerac

Yeah it would have to be Kinsella or Holland. Both are consistent players pretty much assured of their places and both captain their club sides.

DapperGent

If Roy Keane doesn't come back then I'd have to say Matt Holland he's already captain for his club and is a good leader. Another choice would be Gary Kelly who has captained Leeds a good bit. I doubt he'll get in the side much after the WC though cos both Finnan and Carr are way better than him both at the back and shoring up right midfield.

TetsuoHashimoto

J McAteer full back replaces Staunton as Captain, he scored some vital goals and was unlucky to be hurt by a Cameroon playing in the Japanese league

Samson

Originally posted by Pigman
Finally I wouldn't choose Shearer and Lineker as good examples of captains. Shearer was skipper for Euro 2000 and Lineker Captain for Euro 1992 if memory serves me correctly? Two of Englands worst tournements(sic) ever.

True indeed that '92 and '00 were poor tournaments for England, but I don't see that the poor performances can be attributed to a lacklustre captaincy.

jahras

Who did Stan give the armband to when he went off against Germany, Kinsella was it?

Yerac

Breen, just one of those last couple of minutes, give it to the guy standing nearest you jobs.