It isn't important these days, and I don't think it was that important in the Invincible days.
Leaders lead with or without the ceremonial title and armband.

And, further to that, our problem is not who wears the armband but the fact we have very few players who stand out as having the qualities associated with the stereotypical view of what a leader should be, something the Invincibles didn't lack.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 6 minutes ago
It isn't important these days, and I don't think it was that important in the Invincible days.
Leaders lead with or without the ceremonial title and armband.
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Having a good captain is better than not having a good captain, so there is that...

Vieira and Keane were prime examples of great leaders. They would not let their team players drop their standards.

Having saying that, a team with quality players helps the captain in this regard.

Of course Captaincy is important. Sokratis is trying to deflect the mess that the players made by nominating Xhaka. His public blow up has increased pressure on all of them so obviously he is trying to play down the entire captaincy issue now.

What is important about captaincy? Winning the toss, having a good handshake?

Of course a team needs a captain. You need sb who carries the authority to guide the team on the field, communicates well, sees dangers and opportunities and knows what each player shd do better. Having a quality team massively helps but does not dispense with the need for a captain. During the Invincibles we could count at least 9 players with captaincy qualities. Every player knew what he was required and expected to do and had the qualities to do it. Today, we have less than 3 players who come anywhere close to captain material. Even Auba is not captain material. But it also shows that an Arsenal captain today has an almost impossible task, leading and organising 10 headless chickens. Another key player is a keeper who can organise the defence and initiate attacks, and Lehmann was brilliant at that, and such a keeper makes the captain's task easier.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 14 minutes ago
What is important about captaincy? Winning the toss, having a good handshake?
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You are representing the club as its captain. You get extra access to the media and become a spokesman for the team. It matters. You have more responsibility on the pitch and ref sees you as the representative for the players.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 14 minutes ago
What is important about captaincy? Winning the toss, having a good handshake?
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You are representing the club as its captain. You get extra access to the media and become a spokesman for the team. It matters. You have more responsibility on the pitch and ref sees you as the representative for the players.
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We've had this discussion before and it was proven how far off base you were. Captains aren't put up for media more. They may be required to do at least one thing before major cup finals but so what. Before out cl final TAA and Van Dijk did as many press conferences as Henderson. During the world cup Kane did as many as other players.
In terms of on the pitch, this rule that only captains can talk to the ref is ridiculous and exists only in writing. Imagine Lloris only being allowed to talk to the ref after a decision has gone against spurs 90 yards from when it occurred.
The role the captain has these days is the link between players and coaching staff. It's about setting standards on the training ground for players and the youth team.
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Proven by who? No one in the feckin world thinks the same way as you do. Captains are extremely important in the game.

Every team needs a captain, even the Invincibles. The epic Keane vs Vieira battles are clear testimony to that.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Grand Cannon (U18697)
posted 2 minutes ago
Every team needs a captain, even the Invincibles. The epic Keane vs Vieira battles are clear testimony to that.
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You think Vieira wouldn't have battled Keane if he didn't have an armband on? He did before he was captain! And Keane was the same before he was captain.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I don't understand the argument here, having a great captain, born leader and club symbol is a great thing.

You don't necessarily need one, just like (for instance) you don't necessarily need anything more than an average Goalkeeper if the rest of your team is great but you'd certainly still want a great keeper regardless...

You don't necessarily need one,
===
So captaincy is not important?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 49 minutes ago
comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 14 minutes ago
What is important about captaincy? Winning the toss, having a good handshake?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You are representing the club as its captain. You get extra access to the media and become a spokesman for the team. It matters. You have more responsibility on the pitch and ref sees you as the representative for the players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We've had this discussion before and it was proven how far off base you were. Captains aren't put up for media more. They may be required to do at least one thing before major cup finals but so what. Before out cl final TAA and Van Dijk did as many press conferences as Henderson. During the world cup Kane did as many as other players.
In terms of on the pitch, this rule that only captains can talk to the ref is ridiculous and exists only in writing. Imagine Lloris only being allowed to talk to the ref after a decision has gone against spurs 90 yards from when it occurred.
The role the captain has these days is the link between players and coaching staff. It's about setting standards on the training ground for players and the youth team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven by who? No one in the feckin world thinks the same way as you do. Captains are extremely important in the game.
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Considering at least two people on this thread have said they aren't important, the whole "no one in the world" comment is disproven pretty quickly.
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Already explained Emery devalued it for arsenal by appointing a d!ck like Xhaka. So its no surprise for me when some the prats who voted for him now trying to deflect. the whole 'remove xhaka from captain' ruckus dominating the newspapers and talking heads is precisely because most actually think it is very important.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 1 minute ago

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Already explained Emery devalued it for arsenal by appointing a d!ck like Xhaka. So its no surprise for me when some the prats who voted for him now trying to deflect. the whole 'remove xhaka from captain' ruckus dominating the newspapers and talking heads is precisely because most actually think it is very important.
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No. It's because it is news worthy in the sense that it very rarely happens and is a result of a player abusing his own fans, which again, very rarely happens.
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Its actually blown up to another level because he is captain. And thats the whole point. wenger wouldn't be talking about 'values of the club' if he wasn't captain. and thats what captaincy means. he is representing the club, which means far more than just 'another' player in the dressing room.

You think if Guendouzi had reacted the same Emery wouldn't have spoken about values of the club? You don't goad fans and tell them to fack off and not get a public dressing down.

Every single player represents the club.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
You think if Guendouzi had reacted the same Emery wouldn't have spoken about values of the club? You don't goad fans and tell them to fack off and not get a public dressing down.

Every single player represents the club.
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That should be the case. but it isn't. Guen is 20. and can make mistakes and is often forgiven for naivite. experienced players make mistakes and react but again its often dismissed as flaws in character.

the captain of the club however is always held to a higher standard. which is why it was so shocking when adams came out with those revelations in his book.

not even sure why its even a discussion tbh. the importance of a captain is mostly accepted norm. and Xhaka's punishment is always going to be more severe because of that.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
You don't necessarily need one,
===
So captaincy is not important?
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It can be very important, it can also not be - depends on the situation, other players etc

Not sure there's a time when having a great captain, leader and positive symbol at the head of a team is ever anything but a good thing though?