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So what you're saying is Emre should be Captain?

Sakho should probably be captain.

The problem with our squad at the moment is I don't think there are that many who stand out as captain material.

Agreed.  Henderson is sort of a "least bad" decision more than "wow, he exudes captain material."  Problem is you don't just go switching captains.  Suppose we bring in someone more capable of being captain next season---we're unlikely to just... demote Henderson.  We're stuck with him.

The only person I can think of in our squad that is truly undroppable is Coutinho and he isn't captain material so would you rather there be no captain?

Agreed about Coutinho, he's the only player I'd say is undroppable in our entire squad.  But I wouldn't want him as captain; he pulls all the strings going forward and I want him to just focus on that without having to be captain on top of it.

And as I said above, I think Sakho should be captain.  Milner would be my second choice; he's no world beater either but at least he has experience winning things.  And please don't tell me how great it is that Henderson has won the league cup---which we only won after penalties because we couldn't even beat a Championship Cardiff side in the final.  Milner has won the league twice with City. 

I would have gone for Skrtel as skipper myself, he's as close to a shoe-in (alongside Mignolet) as you can get with this team, he would have been a. Ice safe bet for 12 months until potentially Can was ready for the role.

Mignolet is an embarrassment to the club and afraid of his own shadow.  I wouldn't mind Skrtel being captain.  Can could be a perfect captain but I suspect it's a bit too early for him this season.  When Rodgers gets sacked and we get a real manager who cares about the club and doesn't sit twiddling his thumbs while we're down 5-0 to Stoke in the first half, he'll see how sh*te most of our players really are and hopefully he will give the captaincy to Can, who will be one of the top midfielders in the league by that time.

Well this is why I had such a huge problem with him being named captain.

First of all my own personal belief is that he's hugely overrated and has only had about 6 consistent months of top football since being here (from Christmas of 2013 to the end of the 2013/14 season).  I don't even think he's good enough to be at the club, let alone captain of it.  Some might say that's harsh; but even his most ardent supporters would have to admit that he's not a world-beater, and he goes missing way too often.  Just go look at his thread and read back throughout the season to see how many people were questioning why he was invisible during some of our biggest games. 

The issue I have is that as captain, he's practically guaranteed a starting position for the rest of his career with us.  Are you telling me that he is not only a top player, but in fact he is SO good that his starting position should never, EVER be called into question?  we're talking about a player who goes missing almost as much as Allen---that is the level of play that now earns you the status of "undroppable"?  it's really sort of scary when you think about it.

And don't tell me that sometimes the captain gets dropped---I would love to know how many teams in the league over the last few years dropped their captain based on form.  Occasionally they don't play because of injury etc but never do they say "okay, you're just not good enough, let's give someone else a go at your position."

I don't dislike him personally.  He seems to be a nice lad with a good attitude.  But I would hope that considering that just a few years ago we had a midfield of Xabi, Masch and Stevie, that we aspire to have more class in midfield than someone like Jordan Henderson.  But making him captain means that he IS essentially the first midfielder on the teamsheet.  And that to me is frightening.  I want players who never go missing and who have top, top talent to be first on the teamsheet.  That's not the case with Jordan.

Henderson doesn't have the guile or grit in him , I can't think of any particular game where he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and changed things around . He may be Captain but what does that say about the team as a whole ?

Henderson doesn't have the guile or grit in him , I can't think of any particular game where he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and changed things around . He may be Captain but what does that say about the team as a whole ?

yes exactly. 

Henderson being captain says less about him and more about the team in general.

it's about having a winning mentality.  Before coming to us Sakho had spent his entire career, both academy and professional, at PSG---one of the most successful clubs in French football history, where they inculcate into your brain from a young age that winning is everything. 

Compare and contrast to Henderson who had spent his entire academy and professional career at.... Sunderland.  No one cares if you don't qualify for CL at Sunderland.  Hell no one cares if you even lose at Sunderland, except two games out of the season against Newcastle.  This is the problem with bringing in midtable players; apart from them usually just not being good enough, they've never felt the pressure to win, ever---they've been at clubs who are fine just not getting relegated.  You can't just totally change an attitude that a player has had for probably ten years or more.  Look at Carroll, Downing, Adam, Henderson, Lallana, Lambert, Allen, etc---none of them really cared if we win or not.  Why would Henderson lose any sleep if we don't qualify for CL???  He's just happy to be at the club!

whereas players like Suarez, Coutinho, Sakho, Can, etc, they've been at some of the biggest clubs in the world, clubs who demand success above all else, Ajax, Inter, PSG, Bayern etc.  You see how much they want to win.

That's why out of the current options I would've given it to Sakho.  Playing and winning is part of his footballing DNA.  hence why he stormed out when he wasn't even in the team for the derby last season.  Do you think Henderson would storm out if he weren't in the team?  No, because he knows he's arrived at a club that's way above his paygrade, and he's just happy to be here. 

yes exactly. 

Henderson being captain says less about him and more about the team in general.

Think Henderson has been made captain because he leads by example in his professionalism. He will never stop working for the team, whether he is successful in changing a game around or not, he will never give up and for me that is important. Last season when Gerrard was out i saw a fast improvement in the lads game, lets give him a chance with this responsibility and see what he can do.

Personally think the midfield combination of Milner, Coutinho, Henderson and Can will be what makes this season either a big hit or miss. We need to get the balance right.

I cannot understand for the life of me why Lucas does not figure in most first choice sides. Is it because people are guessing
what BR wants or because it is their choice of the best side. Lucas is with out a doubt the ONLY DM in the squad. So the choice is either
play with a DM or without. Whenever we play top sides and Lucas is playing he is usually in the top 2 best players.

I cannot understand for the life of me why Lucas does not figure in most first choice sides. Is it because people are guessing
what BR wants or because it is their choice of the best side. Lucas is with out a doubt the ONLY DM in the squad. So the choice is either
play with a DM or without. Whenever we play top sides and Lucas is playing he is usually in the top 2 best players.

He still gets into mine! At least until we sign another DM or Can proves to be up to the role

He still gets into mine! At least until we sign another DM or Can proves to be up to the role

I really cannot understand why others don't fell Lucas isn't important to a side that defends appallingly at times.
I think our shape often goes completely to pieces at times. I believe this is a combination of the 'fluid' football BR favours, lack of coherent instructions and
the age/tactical understanding of our players. Lucas is usually a calm in a storm but he gets a bit of stick for being slow when he misses a tackle or two.
I would play him in and let him run the midfield or like you said get another specialist DM if BR doesn't think he's up to it.

Sakho should probably be captain.

Why?

What is the fascination with this man?

He is an ok defender, probably 2nd to sktrel. But he does look very very dodgy smetimes on the ball, I can see him falling over soon just trying to control the bloody thing. 

He is still quite new to the club and is a bit injury prone, so why make him captain if he is gonna miss a lot of the season thru injury and be stuck in the gym, rather on the training field.

tbf. he seems like a nice guy, but he did have a wee fall out with BR remember, so that won't have put him in a good light for captaincy.

Hendo ticks all the boxes for cqptain, solid pro, great example for youngsters, plays for england, was captain of england u21s, has shadowed gerrard as vice captain.

Hendo ticks all the boxes for cqptain

No, he doesn't.

solid pro

What does that mean?  he shows up to training on time?

plays for england

sh*te team.

was captain of england u21s

another sh*te team.

has shadowed gerrard as vice captain.

Henderson isn't fit to lace Stevie's boots.

Why?

What is the fascination with this man?

He is an ok defender, probably 2nd to sktrel. But he does look very very dodgy smetimes on the ball, I can see him falling over soon just trying to control the bloody thing. 

He is still quite new to the club and is a bit injury prone, so why make him captain if he is gonna miss a lot of the season thru injury and be stuck in the gym, rather on the training field.

tbf. he seems like a nice guy, but he did have a wee fall out with BR remember, so that won't have put him in a good light for captaincy.

Hendo ticks all the boxes for cqptain, solid pro, great example for youngsters, plays for england, was captain of england u21s, has shadowed gerrard as vice captain.

Oh dear another one who has fallen for the "Sakho is an accident waiting to happen" just based on his gangly gait.
That accident hardly ever happens unlike Lovren and Skrtel and if you add his passing ability it's no wonder he is the first choice French CB.

Looks boss, doesn't it.

Sorry, but it looks weak to me. Unless we always have the ball , that is a team that can collapse as soon as it is put under pressure. How many are willing to  actually get stuck in? and turn a game around.

I am dreading the start of our season.

Oh dear another one who has fallen for the "Sakho is an accident waiting to happen" just based on his gangly gait.

I had a girlfriend once who was quite awkward, walked funny etc.

She was great in bed.

Looks can be deceiving.

I had a girlfriend once who was quite awkward, walked funny etc.

She was great in bed.

Looks can be deceiving.

Man there's an awesome comeback here but I can't for the life of me think of it!

Can is the most talented midfielder we have.  Miles ahead of Henderson.  Definitely better than Milner.

I still think he needs to lose a stone if he wants to move up to the next level of his game, but even as is he's fantastic.

he is a good player but he is still raw... he needs to learn loads.

he also needs to keep up the efforts for 90minutes. The way his body language dropped off in the 6-1 at stoke was really bad...i noticed him above all others. He also looked like he’d downed tools when Germany got spanked in the u21s too...

Milner and Hendo all day long for me!! Can to sit back and watch how it’s done until further notice

No, he doesn't.

What does that mean?  he shows up to training on time?

sh*te team.

another sh*te team.

Henderson isn't fit to lace Stevie's boots.

your replies, are basically, shut up brezi your opinion is sh*te I know best. now trot off.

ps. I know he cant lace gerrards boots, I ment shadow him in how to behave as an LFC captain.

Oh dear another one who has fallen for the "Sakho is an accident waiting to happen" just based on his gangly gait.
That accident hardly ever happens unlike Lovren and Skrtel and if you add his passing ability it's no wonder he is the first choice French CB.

I did say he was our 2nd best defender, but I don't get the love in for him, a bit like I don't get the love in for balo. Not just on here, on twitter, instagram, facebook etc.

I did say he was our 2nd best defender, but I don't get the love in for him, a bit like I don't get the love in for balo. Not just on here, on twitter, instagram, facebook etc.

Because he's a very good defender both on the ground and in the air.

He can play the high line that Brendan normally favours.

He is easily our best passer of the ball from the back and as well as being able to keep possession and beat a man he almost always looks for a decisive attacking ball forward when  playing out from the back.

Strong and has leadership qualities.

Seems a great character.

What's not to love about Sakho should be the question.

I had a girlfriend once who was quite awkward, walked funny etc.

She was great in bed.

Looks can be deceiving.

Wasn't really a lady was it

And Sakho is boss!

Because he's a very good defender both on the ground and in the air.

He can play the high line that Brendan normally favours.

He is easily our best passer of the ball from the back and as well as being able to keep possession and beat a man he almost always looks for a decisive attacking ball forward when  playing out from the back.

Strong and has leadership qualities.

Seems a great character.

What's not to love about Sakho should be the question.

See I have not said he was not good or indeed a nice guy, I said he has dodgy moments, and he had a fall out with BR, hence why I reckon he was not in the run in for captain which is what we were talking about.

I can see why Hendo was picked as captain, and why Milner is gonna be vice captain.

Ive said all along I fancied Skrtel or lucas for the captaincy, they have been at the club longest, but Im not getting my knickers in a twist cos it went elsewhere Im just looking at reasons etc.

I also think BR is looking for British\English heart to his team, hence Hendo & Milner.

ps. I like all of our players, but Im not gonna gloss over it when they have failings, which they all do. Some more than others.

I wouldn't get too hung up on formations.

The attacking players will all interchange, sometimes the "central" striker will be wide, if we play with 2 up then both will be wide at times with Firmino and Coutinho attacking the space in the middle.

Up front, we will be very fluid and constantly shifting shape, and of course this will improve as the players get more used to each other.

I really cannot understand why others don't fell Lucas isn't important to a side that defends appallingly at times.
I think our shape often goes completely to pieces at times. I believe this is a combination of the 'fluid' football BR favours, lack of coherent instructions and
the age/tactical understanding of our players. Lucas is usually a calm in a storm but he gets a bit of stick for being slow when he misses a tackle or two.
I would play him in and let him run the midfield or like you said get another specialist DM if BR doesn't think he's up to it.

Yep, absolutely agree. When Lucas was fit and playing last season, he was actually just as good, if not better than Matic and Schneiderlin. The key this season is to keep him fit and playing regularly. Definitely the first player on the team sheet for me.

I had a girlfriend once who was quite awkward, walked funny etc.

She was great in bed.

Looks can be deceiving.

I bet she was sh*te in the air though !!