Rio Should Be Skipper Now

Yeah, I basically agree with most of that, Zae. Ryan will lead by example whether he has the armband or not, so he doesn't have to be captain. Gary is touch and go for the first team with just getting back from injuries and so on, so Rio seems to be the man, but I don't think he should be named just at this moment, incase Gary does come back in (in which case I feel he should be the captain). If however, it looks likely that Gary will struggle to hold down a first team place, then yes, Rio looks to be the one. The timing could be crucial - it would certianly cheer Rio up after his England disappointment.

All I'll say is - Rio might be more vocal but never underestimate the effect Giggs has on the younger players. Sometimes you want players to be put in place by a shouting captain but sometimes you want them to be inspired and Giggs can do the second. (If you haven't noticed, Giggs is one of the players at United I do like) :P

Well our Captain never plays at all (Ledley King). Rio would have been my choice for England captain over Terry. You have it sussed though at ManU, every player is a captain in mentality. At Spurs there is a lack of leadership on the pitch, not enough shouting between the players. Captaincy these days is more about off the field media work anyway, on the pitch there should be 11 players with the armband metaphorically on their arms.

As I said though, and on similar lines to BringBackHoddle, Giggs will be an example whoever is captain for that day, and the younger players look to him for what to do anyway. Rio is probably the best player for the captaincy - I think Giggs is a little on the quite side - he's more of a supportive role to the youngsters, one who shows them where to go, and comforts them when things aren't going right - he's been through it all before. You notice it especially with how he reacts to Rooney - whenever Rooney's injured, Giggs immediately knows something is wrong because he knows Rooney through and through and knows he wouldn't fake an injury or pain, so he's first there consoling him. And when he scores, especially after a goal-drought, Giggs is the first to congratulate him. Giggs is quality - players look up to him. But true, there are players all over the pitch doing their bit for the captaincy. Players like Neville (when he's there) van der Sar, Rooney tend to be shouting orders and encouragements, whereas other perhaps quieter ones, such as Scholes, Vidic, Hargreaves and Tevez are showing it by their firghting, terrior spirit, and they lift and inspire the team. That leadership is what I see as missing from Spurs, and also, I noticed, Portsmouth. It's almost as if each player is looking to someone else to step up and take the lead, and everyone looks almost a bit lost and confused. There may be a captain named for the game, but everyone needs to take their responsibility, and everyone needs to encourage their team-mates, tell them when they are going wrong, and stand up and be counted.