Lack of leadership/captaincy is cause of....

[risa]

....poor performances????

Who is the leader on the pitch? Is there anyone 'putting an arm' around the younger players, is there anyone trying to maintain discipline, is there anyone trying to raise morale when things aren't going our way? Doesn't look like it to me and it could be part of the reason behind our dip in form.

I am certainly not one to moan and my glass is always half full but I have been racking my brains to the reason why we have only won 1 game in 7.

[**** Pulling Himself Off]

Good shout.

Perhaps Pearson can be a leader.

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

kindersurprise said:

Good shout.

Perhaps Pearson can be a leader.

Doubt it. He doesn't seem that sort of player.

I would give Nash the armband . But i suppose he is too "far back"...

Griffin has to do the JE job now.

[Deleted]

It's really the one big thing about Higgy we have missed the most. Griff is not the right man so and I think Rory is perhaps not the captain's mold but maybe better than Griff. In long term lookout Ryan is everybit captain material, tenacious aggresive and not scared of mixing it with his own players if he needs too.

[Danstoke82]

I think Delap should do it. He was the first one to put an arm round Dicko during his red mist moment and Griff was nowhere. I never really understood as to why Tone gave Griff the armband, seeing as though he just rejoined us. Delap has filled in before, why not give him another go?

[risa]

Good shout about Ryan, Sidders.

Perhaps Delap is the only one at the moment who has been there, done that so has the head to hold the team together.

[Danstoke82]

Change of mind actually, I can't see any reason why Lenny couldn't be given the armband, I know he can have a bit of a temper sometimes but he has respect of the other players and does like to shout.

[robin1302]

I would have given it to Lawrence as well.

[mikeyb99]

Griffin is a terrible captain. He isn't a talker which doesn't bode well, and he certainly doesn't lead by example - unless you mean 'leading by example' being consistently awful performances. Got to be either Delap or Nash. Pulis won't do it though, removing his captaincy or dropping him from the squad (which is what should happen) would mean admitting he was wrong to re-sign him in the first place.

[thepremierbanksy]

yes but TP says he's a dope (re: LL)

[apb1]

I think the cause of our decline is we haven't been go-karting enough.

It's an interesting point re the leadership question - but since we lost Higgy, who WAS a leader, we've done ok. The season has been characterised by individuals who've led by action rather than words - Lawrence, Fuller and the goalscoring defenders in particular.

We urgently need the first two, and at least one other (Ameobi or Pearson perhaps, as Whelan seems a bit overwhelmed) to start performing, and let the confidence start flowing through the team. That is what we are lacking, ever since the first half at Preston when we were knocked off our stride.

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

I could do what Griff does, continually just trapping the ball and passing it back to Nash, putting us under pressure.

Has he ever passed the ball forwards??? ;D

[eriksson74]

I would give it Riggott, he was a calming influence on Saturday trying to settle the others who couldn't get rid of the ball quick enough.

Failing that then Rory, who plays with a calm assurance.

[Deleted]

I am not so sure about Riggot I don't know if I have seen enough of him yet to make that judgement.

[flyonthewall]

Griff isn't a the type of player to go around bollockin anyone when they make a mistake, am sure that is not why he was selected for the role in the first place (neither was Alan Shearer and many other captains), although Griff has not been at his best in recent weeks he does bring alot to the team on and off the pitch. He is a top professional, how often do you see him in town on a saturday night, how often does he get pissed at all?? He has loads of experience in the game and is well respected by his fellow professionals. I agree that Griff does need to be more of a leader on the pitch but certainly off the pitch he is taking on the role, there have been a couple of incidences in more recent weeks where all has not been rosy in the camp and Griff has acted as diplomat and peace maker. The older experienced players would not take this from a young inexperienced player, and like wise off someone who wants to bob off from training on a friday so he can get his mug on soccer am!! The captains role is alot more than what has been discussed on here. Griff is the right man for the job and i think that TP made the right choice, Griff just needs to show the fans that now.

[melonhead]

John Eustace used to shout and motivate, but obviously he is not here anymore. I agree Lawrence seems to be the most vocal at the moment, I have also seen Pugh in several matches trying to gee up his team mates. Nash as well, however, if if he whispers he is twice as vocal as Simmo.

Could do with a Taggert type character, who is a real Captain.

[Irish Stokie]

Ye i agree with you sidders, i taught that Riggot would have been the answer to our leadership problems but hasnt quite been as good as i expected. In the future Ryan looks a good shout but for now either Delap ,if you want a leader, or Lawrence if the want the lead by example esq player. Doesnt really matter what we want tho because there is no way that Tone will drop Griff

[flyonthewall]

What is the cause of us been in top position for donkeys you dim wits, stop always looking for a fucking scape goat

[flyonthewall]

What is the cause of us been in top position for donkeys you dim wits, stop always looking for a fucking scape goat, do you know what team effort is all about? Didn't realise that everytime there was an incident, that the captain had to run over and check it out, get off his case!