Onward: Passing the armband

[Ben Knight]

Time for a new captain at TFC.

http://onwardsoccer.com/?p=1905

[scooter]

i think its too soon
jimmy should be a starting 65 minute player on left mid for us this season cranking balls into the box then bring in one of the young guys and get them groomed
mls is a grinding physical game and new lads need to adjust how much better than a 20 minute run out
when jimmy subs out then pass the arm band to different players and see how they react then pick a new captain in due time
you dont just throw out and dispose of captain's like tissues

[TFC Tifoso]

i think its too soon
jimmy should be a starting 65 minute player on left mid for us this season cranking balls into the box then bring in one of the young guys and get them groomed
mls is a grinding physical game and new lads need to adjust how much better than a 20 minute run out
when jimmy subs out then pass the arm band to different players and see how they react then pick a new captain in due time
you dont just throw out and dispose of captain's like tissues


perfect!.......especially guys like Jimmy B who respect the badge, and played 3/4 of the year with a broken hand.

[TFCRegina]

Especially guys like Jimmy B who makes poor decisions on a consistent basis, can't rally the troops when the going gets tough, has been part of a losing culture since he got here, and the only reason he's captain is he was our first signing and he's Canadian...we should definitely not toss those guys out.

[Roogsy]

i think its too soon
jimmy should be a starting 65 minute player on left mid for us this season cranking balls into the box then bring in one of the young guys and get them groomed
mls is a grinding physical game and new lads need to adjust how much better than a 20 minute run out
when jimmy subs out then pass the arm band to different players and see how they react then pick a new captain in due time
you dont just throw out and dispose of captain's like tissues

While captains should not come and go arbitrarily, they also don't have a free pass when it comes to their play. If Jimmy's play had not declined in the past year, I would say play on. However, with diminished play comes diminished profile and responsibilities and the mantle has to eventually be passed. This isn't a senate appointment. You don't get the armband for life. It serves a purpose and it should go to whoever can serve that purpose more effectively.

Having him pass on the armbad isn't a show of disrespect or lack of appreciation for what he has done for the team and fans.

[Shaughno]

Jimmy had his shot. IMO, Preki should decide who he thinks will lead the team and have them as the new captain.

I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest.

[TFC_Junky]

I agree that Jimmy's minutes will come down and thus the armband should be passed, but to who is an interesting question. JDG or DeRo seem to be the obvious choices but I was really impressed with the way that Cronin communicates on the pitch and how he handled the media at the end of the year regarding the mood in the dressing room. He called it what it was, that was that. He's not perhaps the best choice now but I wouldn't rule him out to take it over down the road. Just my humble opinnion

[Stouffville_RPB]

What defines a captain written by a damn good one.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/10/what_defines_a_captain.html

...In the dressing room, he is the coach’s right-hand man...the captain’s responsibility to help his teammates fulfil their potential, while at the same time ensuring that he is also fulfilling his own. Consistent performances are vitally important for a captain, because he cannot make demands on his teammates if he is not seen to be doing his own job first...a captain essentially has to have one foot in the dressing room, and one in the coach’s room...

Not sure Jimmy fits the bill but also don't know if anyone else can fill the role.

[CoachGT]

Jimmy had his shot. IMO, Preki should decide who he thinks will lead the team and have them as the new captain.

I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest.

If they want to send a message to all, it'll be either DeRo or JDG. Signifies a new future for the team.

[Damien]

It's all in Jimmy's hands.

They can't rip the armband off him... but he should take some responsibility and hand it to DeRo or DeGuz.

[BuSaPuNk]

It's all in Jimmy's hands.

They can't rip the armband off him... but he should take some responsibility and hand it to DeRo or DeGuz.

Completely agree. Jimmy should hand it to DeRo I believe. He showed last season that he can put the team on his back and really turn a game around single handedly.

I also believe that this could be a win win for Jimmy B. If he has the pressure of being captain lifted off his shoulders and is put in a position to play well (especially if he is put on the wing in the midfield) he will come out this year. I know his pace is slowing and he's getting up in that age. But I believe if he just goes out there and plays and let's someone else deal with the media, locker room issues and so on it will allow him to just get back to his game.

[Globetrotter]

jimmy should be a starting 65 minute player on left mid for us this season cranking balls into the box

Cranking balls into the box? His crosses are floaters! He puts up more ducks then Drew Bledsoe.

[Damien]

Cranking balls into the box? His crosses are floaters! He puts up more ducks then Drew Bledsoe.

Badum-bum-CHING!

He actually has Marvel Wynne syndrome sometimes... running in too deep into plays down the left, then gets caught and we're short defensively on the counter attack.

[Juanito]

Jimmy had his shot. IMO, Preki should decide who he thinks will lead the team and have them as the new captain.

I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest.

I COMPLETLEY agree with Shaughno ... for once.

[TFC07]

Am I the only one who thinks people are making this a too much of issue?

[Carts]

perfect!.......especially guys like Jimmy B who respect the badge, and played 3/4 of the year with a broken hand.

He played with cracked ribs in year-1 as well...

Canadian warrior...

Carts...

[Carts]

Jimmy had his shot. IMO, Preki should decide who he thinks will lead the team and have them as the new captain.

I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest.

Agreed Shaughno...

I wouldn't be suprised, nor would I be dissapointed...

He leads the team out there, respected throughout the league and in the community...

Carts...

[maninb]

"I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest."

Something tells me deRo doesn't command a lot of respect in the dressing room, what with the way he threw his teammates under the bus after the last game last year, and his constant whining about being under-paid...

[TFC Tifoso]

He played with cracked ribs in year-1 as well...

Canadian warrior...

Carts...


Agree fully......its unfortunate that there's not more support for our captain....

[TFC Tifoso]

"I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest."

Something tells me deRo doesn't command a lot of respect in the dressing room, what with the way he threw his teammates under the bus after the last game last year, and his constant whining about being under-paid...

I love DeRo, and what he does for the team, but the captain is not always the most skilled or "best" player ont he team.....it is the heart and soul....the badge personified.....and nobody on TFC fills that role like Jimmy B.

[T.Reis]

"I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRo get handed the armband to be honest."

Something tells me deRo doesn't command a lot of respect in the dressing room, what with the way he threw his teammates under the bus after the last game last year, and his constant whining about being under-paid...

Bingo!

DeRo seems to be a little bit to quick to comment on certain things. I'm assuming that's not one thing a team wants in their captain. Sometimes u got to say something, sometimes you got to just give a "textbook answer" to buy the situation some time. That's just one thing a captain needs to be able to do, identify and differentiate. It's not just always about motivating players.

Either way if there is a new captain and it's not DeRo, I could see him getting sulky about it. Just that alone is a characteristic that would lean my away from giving him the arm band.

Just my thoughts. I know they are worth shite.

[Oblio2]

Rod Brindamour (sp?) just gave up the Hurricanes armband to a younger player because he can't do the job of playing like he used to. You pass the mantle.
Someone should have a chat in Jims ear and let him do the classy thing. He's been great for us as Captain, during these early years. now, time for a change.

[T.Reis]

Rod Brindamour (sp?) just gave up the Hurricanes armband to a younger player because he can't do the job of playing like he used to. You pass the mantle.
Someone should have a chat in Jims ear and let him do the classy thing. He's been great for us as Captain, during these early years. now, time for a change.

Great call Oblio.

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

Trying to stir up controversy in the dull offseason?

Brennan to be honest has lost his legs and was pretty awful last year in my opinion, and should be on the bench.

[Pookie]

Brennan said to me directly at a pub crawl that he plans to play one more year as a role player most likely and then get full on into coaching.

IMO, he was pretty clear as to the fact he would be playing less minutes.

From a captain standpoint, I don't think he has it. Incredibly nice guy but when the questions were being asked, it was Edwards and Cronin that stood in front of the cameras. When there were issues about turf, it was DeRo putting his name out there.

Some folks gravitate towards leadership and I just don't see it in Brennan, with all due respect for what he has given the club.

[Hitcho]

No fucking way should it be De Guz. The only commitment I have seen from him so far is to the money and his hairstyle. You don't give the armband to someone that has just arrived and that has yet to show clear commitment tot he club or any significant leadership qualities. "Oooooo, he played in SPAIN - let's make him captain!" How stupid is that? There's no case to be made for De Guz to be made captain.

De Ro is a more sensible suggestion, but I'm not in the "take the armband away" camp so I'd vote against it. Brennan still has a big role to play for this team, both this season and (hopefully) in the future once he's stopped playing. If he does come back as a coach next season, what kind of statement would it make on his authority to strip him of the armband this season?

Besides which Jimmy's stick last season came when he played LB. He should bnot be put there this season, save in the case of dire emergency. Nana and Serioux should both be in line to play there ahead of Brennan, and we should really be looking to bring in a LB before the season starts. Whereas at left mid he was a solid, reliable player with an occasional hammer shot. He has good vision, gets into good spaces, can cross well (by MLS standards) and is good in the tackle when he's tracking back. Plus he's Canadian, has great experience, is one of the very few players t have mroe than a season or so with TFC under his belt so offers good stability in a squad that has had revolving doors since it was created and he will literally be driven with a vengeance to make the play offs this season - it's play offs or retire no a bust for him. So I'd love to see him as our starting left mid this season. With the armband firmly in place.

[Darlofletch]

a) I think it's a little more thought out than "he played in spain - let's make him captain"

and b) serioux should NOT be at left back, we tried that a few times last year out of necessity and he's not good there. nana? I dunno, but do we want to be messing our brightest defensive prospect about by playing him out of position.

i agree i don't think Brennan's really the answer at lb any more, but hopefully we can get somneone else in rather than waste either nana or serioux out of position.

[Hugh Jazz]

If Brennan wants to play a reduced role this season then I agree he should pass on the armband. Otherwise, I don't think there's anyone else who has shown they'd be a better captain. I agree Cronin looks like a guy who might be a captain down the line, we'll have to wait and see.

I still think the worse thing to happen to Brennan last year was playing 4-3-3 most of the season, sure he's getting older but its more than just that.

Agreed that Serioux should not play LB again, not sure why people are advocating that.

[Hitcho]

a) I think it's a little more thought out than "he played in spain - let's make him captain"

and b) serioux should NOT be at left back, we tried that a few times last year out of necessity and he's not good there. nana? I dunno, but do we want to be messing our brightest defensive prospect about by playing him out of position.

i agree i don't think Brennan's really the answer at lb any more, but hopefully we can get somneone else in rather than waste either nana or serioux out of position.

a) the article says
When TFC began, Brennan was go-to experienced veteran. Three years later, both Julian de Guzman and Dwayne de Rosario have clearer claims to that crown. One of them should take the mantle now. But the only "veteran" qualities that De Guzman could have over Brennan relate to the fact he played in Spain. It's certainly not MLS or TFC related veteran qualities and Brennan has been a Canadian international for as long as De Guzman has (I think). There's nothing else in the article to support De Guzman being given the armband. So it's not really based on much more than "oooo he played in SPAIN, let's give him the armband" (despite my sarcastic paraphrasing).

b) i completely agree that Serioux was not a great LB and that Nana should stay as a CB. But my point is that unless we sign a new LB, someone on the existing squad has to play there. And if that's the case, then I think both Serioux (if fit) and Nana would do a better job than Jimmy, based on last season. At the same time, we don;t really have anyone other than Jimmy to play left mid, certainly not as their natural position. So, new signings aside (and so far it only looks as though we are getting in CBs in defence, which is where both Serioux and Nana played for most of last season) my point still stands. But yeah, if we can get in a new LB and keep Nana as CB then that would defintiely be the best option.

Mrs Darlofletch will not be happy if she hears you were Jimmy-bashing on the boards, even indirectly... :D:D:D

[Darlofletch]

I think it's based on (and admittedly these weren't the reasons given in the article), he's our best player (hopefully we'll actually see that this season), he's the best Canadian player right now, he's our DP, getting the big money, should be the face of the team, which some people add up to mean captain.

i don't necessarily agree that best player should mean captain, and i have no idea if de Guzman would be any good or would even want that, but the reasons why people would put him forward as an option are fairly obvious.

and i think even Mrs darlofletch, bless her biased little heart, realises that jimmy's not all that great at lb any more.

[Hitcho]

Well if those were true then I could see why people would rely on them. But to be honest, he did very little (in the time he had) to show he was our "best player" last season. And the rationale of making the highest paid player the captain is madness. it fits for some lpayers (Gerrard at LFC) but would that have been Robinho at Man City?! Or Cronaldo at manure?

He may turn out to be a good captain, but I think he needs to put in at least one dedicated season where he's a stand out player and leader first. Until that happens, I am still not going to believe that his heart is really in this MLS jaunt he's taking.

Blimey. If Mrs Darlofletch has fallen off the "Jimmy at LB" wall then he's really in trouble. Maybe we could get someone from the Bachelor to play LB instead? Hahaha. (Don't tell her I said that...:D)

[Redcoe15]

If not Jimmy B., then DeRo. He seems to me the guy that would most lay it on the line for this team - see the game in Montreal as an example. I'm not sure you give it to JDG seeing as he's only had a partial season under his belt. And besides, who knows how long he's committed to TFC.

[TFC OZZ]

I do not think De Ro should be the captain of this team.

He's without question one of the best players to ever play in MLS, but that doesn't mean he should be the middle man between our players and coaches. I don't think he has the attitude to be honest, but at the same time I obviously don't know him. I personally see him as a guy who can't take criticism, and could get over-excited too easily. I don't see him as the guy who can go in an diffuse a situation. He's had rifts with management in his career (then again who hasn't) and I really don't feel like he's the guy for the job. He's the guy that needs to be included 100% of the way towards reaching the playoffs on the field because of his talent, but i feel like someone else should get the armband.

I think it should stay with Jimmy for the time being. I had no problem with Robbo, but I'm sure there are hundreds who disagree there. Frei and Cronin are good candidates, but too yound and inexperienced. Serioux is a decent choice if he stepped up his game considerably.

As for De Guzman? Well when he puts in a solid performance to show why we used a DP slot on him I'll think about it; until then... nope.

[106-12]

I said this last year< OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN > as long as jimmy is playing he should be the captain unless he wants to step down or we get abig name international player like henry or delpiero both name just examples he should be the captain .This is not hockey and iam sorry to say we do not have aclear leader on the team to make him acaptain . I think jimmy is ok not the best captain he just needs to speak and shout at the players abit more when they screw up however having players like Amado last year made it hard because he could f--k the mode in the dressing room.And again i say jimmy should stay as captain because we do not have aclear leader on the team and we do not know DERO,S true feeling about DE GUZMAN,S deal so we stay with our captain is the best right now and i think that is what is going to happen.

[swan]

No fucking way should it be De Guz. The only commitment I have seen from him so far is to the money and his hairstyle. You don't give the armband to someone that has just arrived and that has yet to show clear commitment tot he club or any significant leadership qualities. "Oooooo, he played in SPAIN - let's make him captain!" How stupid is that? There's no case to be made for De Guz to be made captain.

De Ro is a more sensible suggestion, but I'm not in the "take the armband away" camp so I'd vote against it. Brennan still has a big role to play for this team, both this season and (hopefully) in the future once he's stopped playing. If he does come back as a coach next season, what kind of statement would it make on his authority to strip him of the armband this season?

Besides which Jimmy's stick last season came when he played LB. He should bnot be put there this season, save in the case of dire emergency. Nana and Serioux should both be in line to play there ahead of Brennan, and we should really be looking to bring in a LB before the season starts. Whereas at left mid he was a solid, reliable player with an occasional hammer shot. He has good vision, gets into good spaces, can cross well (by MLS standards) and is good in the tackle when he's tracking back. Plus he's Canadian, has great experience, is one of the very few players t have mroe than a season or so with TFC under his belt so offers good stability in a squad that has had revolving doors since it was created and he will literally be driven with a vengeance to make the play offs this season - it's play offs or retire no a bust for him. So I'd love to see him as our starting left mid this season. With the armband firmly in place.

i agree..

[DichioTFC]

Of all the faults and flaws with TFC, the captain's armband isn't one of them. People need to reflect on what kind of a captain they want for their team. Community ambassador, plays while hurt, takes a moderate tone (not like DeRo's "whatever comes to mind" attitude), left Europe for us right away (unlike JDG), has extensive experience (unlike Nana / Frei / Cronin).

Ability is one thing, but not the only thing. Jimmy B's determined & professional demeanor is the kind of attitude that I, as a fan, would want TFC to embody. Sure we want him to be more involved, but its his last year, let him retire gracefully with the band and be known alongside Danny D as icons of our young team's history.

[Shakes McQueen]

So, we have three losing seasons. Clear organizational issues on defense. A current captain whose play has diminished sharply in the past year. And lest we forget all of the rumblings we heard of locker room dissent?

It's time for Jimmy B to pass the torch. If we are willing to overlook all of the above issues, remind just why the fuck we have a captain at all? His play declined on the pitch, and off the pitch the team's chemistry apparently went sour - something he's responsible for keeping in check.

Like Roogsy said, this isn't a senate appointment. In addition to a nod of respect towards a player, it should also serve a functional use. Time to pass it on. Brennan shouldn't even be a starting player this season - he should be a bench sub at most.

- Scott

[Hitcho]

So, we have three losing seasons. Clear organizational issues on defense. A current captain whose play has diminished sharply in the past year. And lest we forget all of the rumblings we heard of locker room dissent?

It's time for Jimmy B to pass the torch. If we are willing to overlook all of the above issues, remind just why the fuck we have a captain at all? His play declined on the pitch, and off the pitch the team's chemistry apparently went sour - something he's responsible for keeping in check.

Like Roogsy said, this isn't a senate appointment. In addition to a nod of respect towards a player, it should also serve a functional use. Time to pass it on. Brennan shouldn't even be a starting player this season - he should be a bench sub at most.

- Scott

It's incredibly harsh to put all of that on the captain. A lot of what you just listed falls squarely on the shoulders of the coach/manager. The captain is a link between staff and players and someone for players to turn to, but he is not solely responsible for the team's chemistry or "organizational issues in defence". He's a player Shakes - not a coach or manager. If the coach plays poor tactics and gives the captain and other players bad instructions on the pitch then he's going to suffer along with the rest of the team and you cannot expect any player (except maybe Steven Gerrard in a cup final for Liverpool) to just turn the whole thing around, and then single handedly foster a great spirit and harmony in the dressing room. The discontent stemmed from poor coaching, poor man management, players getting pissed off at the poor state of things (even Cronin hinted at this) and it all bubbled over. No captain can stop all that on his own.

I do agree that Jimmy should not be starting at LB this season. But I also think he should be given the starting role at left mid. It's his natural (and best) position, we have no-one else to play there and no space on the roster to brnig in CBs, strikers and wingers who are all of a decent standard so we need to use what we already have. He has a lot of good attributes for that position (see my posts above) and pace is much less of a factor than it is in defence (how fast is Beckham?). Plus he's Canadian, as committed as anyone on the squad, has great experience, provides continuity in a squad of revolving players and coaches and knows the club and squad better than anyone else on the team (or at least as well as). He's also a great person for the younger players to approach for advice.

You can't put all the team's ills on the captain, and to do so overlooks the many great qualities that Brennan brings.