Source: Daily_Mail
GARY LINEKER: The England captain must have the trust of his players
I was England captain for two years under Graham Taylor. Although a great honour, itmade little difference on the field apart from wearing an armband and spinning a coin.[LNB]I'd act in exactly the same way as I had done previously, and so would those who played under me, such as Stuart Pearce. [LNB]He didn't need an armband to give team-mates a hard-man stare thatwarned them: 'Do your jobs or else.' Terry Butcher would shout scarythings to gee us up regardless of whether he or Bryan Robson wasskipper. [LNB]But off the field there are two areas that make the positionimportant. The first is representing the team's views in front of themedia, a conduit between the players and the outside world. [LNB]The second is possibly even more significant, acting as a linkbetween the squad and the manager. If the players have a question oropinion to pass on to the manager, they will normally go through thecaptain. If the manager wants to impart something or gauge the mood inthe squad, he will go through the captain, too. [LNB]Hand off: Capello moved swiftly to depose Terry [LNB]It was like that with Bobby Robson, who had a very closerelationship with his skipper, Bryan Robson. They would discuss things,with Bryan giving him the sense of how the dressing room felt beforeBobby made the final decision. And I am sure it will be like that withFabio Capello.[LNB]If he felt John Terry was unable to speak for any member of thesquad for whatever reason and didn't have their trust, it would havemade his position as captain extremely difficult. Terry also would havefound it difficult communicating to the world's media in the currentsituation, with allegations about using the captaincy to make money aspotentially damaging as stories about his personal relationships.[LNB]Can you imagine the Chelsea player being brought in for Press conferences as England skipper?[LNB]The first barrage of questions would have all been personal.Personally, I think the obsession with celebrity is overblown in thiscountry, but it is a reality of life and something Capello had to takeinto account. I think that's why he acted so decisively to sack Terryas captain.[LNB]At least Capello took the tough decision quickly. He didn't wantthis hanging over him going into the World Cup. I am convinced it isfor that reason a possible distraction ahead of the World Cup rather than any moral judgment that saw him act. [LNB] More from Gary Lineker... Gary Lineker: Has Sir Alex Ferguson lost faith in Manchester United's £31m record buy Dimitar Berbatov?30/01/10 GARY LINEKER: Arsene Wenger can bury the myth that to be champions you have to spend millions 23/01/10 Gary Lineker: Something is rotten at Liverpool16/01/10 GARY LINEKER: Manchester United must be worried if City can afford to splash £10m on ageing Vieira09/01/10 GARY LINEKER: Why managers have to start caring about the FA Cup 02/01/10 GARY LINEKER: Even if City make it to fifth, will Mancini be there next season? Don't count on it26/12/09 Gary Lineker: Alberto Aquilani - possibly the worst £20m ever spent19/12/09 GARY LINEKER: One manager got me by the neck and threw me at the dressing room wall12/12/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE From a footballing point of view, changing the skipper should make no difference to how England perform in South Africa. [LNB]If Terry is in the team, he will show exactly the same leadership qualities regardless of whether he has an armband or not. [LNB]It is just that off the field, another captain may be able to fulfilthe job of representing the players to Capello and the outside mediawith less fuss. It looks as if that man will be Rio Ferdinand, fitnessprovided of course.[LNB]I can understand Capello's statement about not needing to make a change frompromoting his vice-captain, although personally Wayne Rooney was the one I wouldhave gone for given a fresh slate. [LNB]Capello is blessed with a few natural leaders Terry, Ferdinand,Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard. But I think Rooney would have theoverwhelming respect of all the players, largely due to his value forthe team. [LNB] Natural leaders: Terry celebrates with England counterparts Gerrard, Lampard and Wayne Rooney[LNB][LNB]The England side is full of good players, but he is better. The manager knows he isthe most important player, and he handles the media perfectly wellthese days. I think it's inevitable he will be England's main captainone day and if Ferdinand's injuries come back to haunt him, maybe evenin this World Cup. [LNB]With all the furore surrounding Terry, people have overlooked what a topsy-turvy time this has been for Ferdinand. [LNB]Three months ago after a mistake against Brazil, his entire England career was being written off, not by me I hasten to add. Now he is the man set to lead us into South Africa.[LNB]I think he is crucial to England as a big tournament player. Gone are the days when we had strength in depth at centre-half; the injury record of Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate means we are reliant on Terry and Ferdinand.[LNB] And a possible bonus of Ferdinand having missed games this season: if he can get rid of the back problems, he will be fresh for the finals. You just hope the injury won't take away that yard or two of pace, and we won't know that until we see him play 10 or 15 games for United. [LNB]It will be interesting to see how the England squad handle Wayne Bridge and Terry being together. [LNB]Footballers generally take the mickey about most things, it is a tough, sarcastic industry, and someone like Gazza might have cracked a joke about it to break the ice, despite the sensitivity of the situation.[LNB]The modern player might gauge how Bridge would react before doing something like that, but they will have to work through it as togetherness is important, particularly when cooped up away from home at the World Cup.[LNB] Time to go with DefoeRegardless of the hoopla over the England captaincy, the most significant decisionFabio Capello has to make in terms of World Cup success is finding the right man to play with Wayne Rooney.[LNB]For me, Jermain Defoe has to be given the chance to show what he can do against Egypt in next month's friendly because I believe he and Rooney can provide the goals England will need in South Africa.[LNB]Step up: Defoe can cut it at international level[LNB]I've always rated Defoe but, deep down, never thought he would learn the movement needed to be a top international striker.[LNB]But, at 27, the penny has most definitely dropped. His hat-trick against Leeds in midweek was further proof he is at the top of his game. [LNB]I know he has been working with former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who is a close friend, and I suspect it has done him a lot of good because there is something different in his game this season. [LNB]Fabio Capello likes to have a big man up front, like Emile Heskey, but I think Defoe's form is simply too hot to ignore right now. [LNB]And Peter Beardsley and I proved in two World Cups that you don't need to physically intimidate the opposition to be successful. [LNB] Defoe is realising the potential he has always had. I was a similar age when I went toBarcelona and could feel myself understanding the game better. [LNB]I was disappointed that Defoe didn't start the friendly in Brazil but, surely, he must be given a chance against Egypt at Wembley on March 3 to see if he can develop a partnership with Rooney.[LNB] Pat on the back: James[LNB]Good weekFair play to David James, who has dropped his right to a possible contract extension because of Portsmouth's financial problems and because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup through a lack of matches. [LNB]People might not believe this, but footballers start off as kids who love the game and want to become as good as they can. [LNB]Money doesn't come into it and James would rather go to the World Cup than have a couple of million extra in his pocket. [LNB]Bad weekGael Clichy spent Arsenal's defeat by Manchester United looking like he was runningbackwards. You can forgive Clichy slightly because he is coming back from injury, but he was pretty pitiful against United. [LNB] Lesson: Clichy (left) made Nani look like Ronaldo[LNB]He made Nani look so good I thought United had a ringer on the field called Cristiano Ronaldo. Clichy must do a lot, lot better against Chelsea today.[LNB] [LNB]
