So, who would you choose?
Steven Caldwell
Michael Bradley
So, who would you choose?
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Bradley.
New team philosophy. It's no insult to Caldwell who is a leader for sure I just think it's important to stress the change in the team.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
If Bradley just missed out on being captain of the USMNT (and still could be in the future), then I don't see why he shouldn't be captain here. That's not a reflection on Caldwell's leadership.
Impossible to judge without being in the locker room. Whoever is the more effective leader should be captain....period. I don't see how any of us would really know. Up to Nelsen to figure that out.
Silly season discussion.
We don't choose. The captain is Caldwell. Bradley will be captain when Caldwell is gone.
More importantly:
We have a number of leaders on this team. That's a good thing.
Bradley being considered for USMNT captain definitely helps make a case that he should be club captain too, but more than that I just don't see a reason to take it away from Caldwell. He did a great job last year, and has proven his leadership. Even if Bradley is a phenomenal locker room leader, it's probably best to make him vice this season then switch roles for next year in order to not unsettle the dressing room too much.
Caldwell was a stand out, but it's Bradley's time now....and I think he is up to the job.
Caldwell is the captain. Bradley needs to earn it wearing the red. Im sure he'll get it soon but Caldwell is captain until Bradley earns it for the team
It is Caldwell all the way for me. Outside of your departure from a team, I truly believe you have to do some detrimental to the club to loose the captaincy.
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
Let Bradley settle in his first season, he is still young enough to be captain further down the line, say 1-2 yrs. Let him take this season to concentrate on his football, get to know the city, the club and his team mates. No doubt he is captain material, but I'd be in no rush to give it to him so soon. Caldwell's 34, so he wouldn't have too many yrs left in him anyway.
There seems to be a tradition in North America to give the best/most high profile player in the team the captain's armband. Not so much in Europe.
Before he came here Caldwell was club captain at Birmingham even when he wasn't playing much. If he does get injured or loses his place then it's a no brainer to give Bradley the armband on match day but I see Caldwell as captain until he moves on.
I tend to agree - I think with all the changes a certain degree of continuity will be appreciated by the guys who have been around a while. Caldwell is the guy.....for now.
Caldwell now as there is no reason to change with Bradley acting as Vice Captain with the thought that he will be captain when Caldwell retires or moves on.
I noticed that, when Nelson was speaking about Morrow coming into the side, he was suggesting that the role of LB is, more or less, Morgan's to lose, having shown his worth and with being, now, one of the more senior members at the club, as far as appearances are concerned; gives you a bit of incite as to how Nelson views the world.
The armband is a sign of respect, Bradley has as of yet not given a reason on the pitch to earn that respect.
Giving it to Bradley now would be spitting in Caldwell's face IMO
WE DID IT!
Agreed. You don't kick down the type of money we did and make the long term commitment to the player we have without making him captain. It's inevitable.
But in some ways this is a formality. They'll both be providing leadership out there regardless of who wears the armband.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Guy with the best angry finger point gets the armband.
Caldwell wins:
Some Random journeymen should not be the captain of this soccer team.
Toronto FC is trying to set a new standard of quality with this club.
Therefore the captain should also set a new standard of quality.
I vote Bradley
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Although I agree original point still stands, Messi and Ronaldo are both captain of their national teams
Never heard of giving a captaincy to a brand new player.