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John Terry Replaces Captain Metrosexual for EnglandThe skipper's armband was up for grabs following David Beckham's decision to stand down after six years in the job. Nearly every high profile English player - from Frank "I think I deserve a little bit of respect" Lampard to our rageaholic boy wonder - campaigned for the job but in the end, only Steven Gerrard and John Terry were worthy candidates. But as strong as both players are neither is without his faults. Though grossly misused by Sven-Goran Eriksson in the 2006 World Cup, Steven Gerrard is one of the best midfielders in the world. The Liverpool captain almost single-handedly resurrected the Reds on the night of their Champions League victory over AC Milan in 2005 and the recent history made at Anfield could not have been written without the influence of his magnificent driving force. Without Gerrard, the Reds are ordinary but with him, they are primed to succeed simply because he is on their side. It is his ability to take the game on his shoulders and lead his team to victory almost by force of will that has made Liverpool one of the best teams in the EPL. He has been a mainstay in the English midfield for some time now and his leadership, experience, and steely resolve would be a welcomed change to the English captaincy... but we see how well Gerrard functions when the team isn't built and managed around his strengths. Though he managed two goals in the World Cup, Gerrard has yet to make a significant impact on the world stage. It'd be easy to cast blame of Gerrard's international shortcomings on Sven but given all the the time he's had to prove himself, some fault must lay with the player. Perhaps the added pressures of a captaincy would be too much for Stevie G to bear.
Though he had some dodgy moments, Terry was a relentless, fearless competitor on a team of prima donnas, egos, and overhyped talent that couldn't be bothered to give a damn. And while our "Golden Generation" went through the motions, content to rely on their talent and reputation to see them through, Terry worked himself ragged to pull the Three Lions out of the jaws of defeat again and again. It took Rooney's dismissal against Portugal to bring about the first sighting of the traditional English values of character and bloody-minded determination but by then it was too late and all was lost. All things considered, I'm not sure if there was a "wrong" choice here. Both men come with pros and cons but who's to say which decision brings out the best for everyone? I mean no disrespect to Gerrard but I am overjoyed that McLaren chose Big John Terry to lead England back to prominence (Gerrard will be vice-Captain). Terry can be erratic and his World Cup performance aside, he hasn't truly established himself as the dominating presence in the English backfield but the ability to lead is my biggest concern. Leadership is forged in the fires of adversity and Terry has been through the thick of it to become not only the heart of the English defence - where he managed the seemingly impossible task of rocking the Rio-Sol central partnership that formed the stingiest defence of the 2002 World Cup - but also the soul of the Chelsea Blues. The 25-year-old plays with a pure passion that fuels his love of victory, hatred of defeat, and unwavering belief that the game deserves everything he can give it. His positioning and distribution are consistently first class and he plays, for lack of a better phrase, balls to the wall - a style that has made him a monster in the air and a beast on the ground. As such, it seems only fitting that Steve McClaren is "convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had." McClaren said: "John has all the attributes an international captain needs: leadership, authority, courage, ability, tactical awareness and a total refusal to accept second-best... "He has been an inspiration for Chelsea and is at his best in adversity." If there was a time when the same could be said for David Beckham, I must have been in a coma and missed it. John Terry will lead the Three Lions into the Steve McLaren era next Wednesday, as we take on Greece in a friendly at Old Trafford. Though we'll need more than a new captain to return to the top level of football, this feels like a proper start.  Posted at August 10, 2006 7:18 PM Permalink • Filed under: Football (Soccer) |
John Terry is the Chelski skipper who shed a bad-boy image to develop into a world class defender that commands respect from the footballing world. He's lead the Blues to two Premiership titles in a row, serving as the indomitable linchpin of their first league title in 50 years. He is also one of the few English players who bothered to bring his heart to the 2006 World Cup.
Comments (9): John Terry Replaces Captain Metrosexual for England
Hadrian
August 10, 2006 7:39 PM
If it's based on the world cup alone, Terry seems like the only obvious choice you guys had. He was really the only guy that seemed to be on top of it each game. I barely remember anything about Gerrard and those aren't the most positive memories.
Trance Fixed
August 10, 2006 7:50 PM
McLaren will have much harder choices that this one, although if he continues to bite the bullet and make positive decisions rather than stick with 'tried-and-tested', things will start to improve.
If he wants to seperate himself from Sven, he will have to act like Steve not Sven Mk2 which will take courage and possibly a few bad results, but will benefit everyone in the long run.
Gavin Norris
August 10, 2006 9:24 PM
This is the first step, I agree. A team takes on the mentality of its leaders and having Beckham as our skipper was a death sentence. Terry can re-instill the proper attitude in the lads and as the golden generation slowly phases out and fresh blood comes in, we can be re-energised. But the key is what Trance Fixed said.. McLaren CANNOT be the second coming of Sven. I have long doubted his ability to manage this squad because too many aspects of our team have borne his mark of late. But if he is truly willing to make a fresh start and pave his own way, I see no reason why we cannot return to respectability.
Alistair
August 11, 2006 1:02 AM
When McClaren got the job, I think he fully intended to carry on with Sven's way of "managing." However, the outrage resulting from our World Cup performance and what I assume is the FA's insistence that we no longer play like cowardly, moistened pussies may force him to take a new path. He ought to be fully aware by this point that continuing in the old mold is no way to keep his job. Further, he hasn't another country to run off to if sacked! He'll have to deal with the lot of us should he produce another World Cup disgrace.
zoogs
August 11, 2006 2:06 AM
Alistair: Couldn't disagree with you more. From the get go, Steve was chosen because we would be a total 180 from Sven. There have been reports of Steve and Sven not seeing eye to eye on the direction the team was going (e.g. Theo Wolcott & Beckham's role on the pitch) but Steve has always been a team player and just bit his tongue.
I also find it funny when people refer to Beckham giving up his skipper band like he really wanted to...trust me even if he wanted to keep it he would have been stripped of it, the twit was just smart enough to see the writing on the wall early. Selecting Terry was a brilliant choice because he's VERY capable of lighting a fire up people's arses during a game and shutting down egos (something the English side needs)
I'm looking forward to the Greece friendly at OT and up coming Euro qualifiers under Steve. Oh and a word of advice for Mr. McClaren - Stay away from the Secretary if you want to seperate yourself from Sven.
zoogs
August 11, 2006 6:33 AM
HAHAAHAA...made my morning tea ever the more sweeter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4782613.stm
Toxic
August 11, 2006 7:53 AM
I, unfortunately, see Gerrard turning into another John Barnes for England, Terry had to get the job, this lot need a Butcher/Adams - someone who will stand up and say how things should go like the 'Boro players who decided they didn't like McClaren's ways and started running the team themselves and winning.
He better drop thicko or the grining ginger twat won't be keeping his job long.
He doesn't like the word entertainment you know.
Shiloh
August 11, 2006 1:58 PM
Brilliant comparison, Toxic. Perhaps there's something in the water at Liverpool that makes you legend for club and loser (in comparison) for country.
Coren Lupen
August 12, 2006 3:13 AM
For Gerrard to play well internationally, the entire England squad and staff will need to be replaced by Liverpool FC. At the rate he's going (or not), John Barnes won't amount to half the disappointment Stevie will turn out to be.