Have we ever had a less inspiring captain

[KevinGage]

I think we should only have Vikings as Captain. ie Laursen, Mellberg

Liked Mellberg as a player, but he was a pretty poor captain.

Very little communication and organisation.

He voluntarily gave it up in 2006 so that tells you all you need to know.

[themossman]

What, NRC who hasn't had a sniff of a regular game in the last year? In his absence petrov has been the closest thing we've had to a defensive mf, and his role has certainly been too restrictive to give him any meaningful role in attack. He's become mainly an irritant for opposition teams. Can tackle a bit, hold players off and has tidy enough feet to get the ball out of a scrum.  Not sure I agree he's that nuanced or positionally switched on though.

[Ross]

I think not having a manager has been a bigger problem than who wears an armband. 

[pmk1981]

houllier isnt stupid,  petrov wont last with houllier

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Collins was totally up for the stoke game as he is in every game. He never switchs off and leads by example. Petrov seems to have a "fatherly" connection with the younger players. But Collins is the out and out "leader" and captain ...........

[CheeriOneill]

A hoof isn't aimed anywhere but 'generally towards the goal' - Collins sprays 70 yarders into feet.

I agree - the problem is who's feet?

Don't feel we have a stand out Captain and I hope GH agrees, this DF Midfeilder he likes to play with will be his first buy and made Captain (should be anyway).

There is more focus on Petrov as we have had no manager, that will change next week and it will kind of become irrelevant again.

[JUAN PABLO]

I don't think Petrov is a spoiler at all, that's NRC's job. Petrov is our most important player in possession, because he's the only player we have with a real brain, knows where to stand and what to do when in quite subtle ways and, like Dante says, that's hardly highlights reel stuff.

On Collins, quickly, I think it's ridiculous to say he hoofs. He's actually one of the most accurate long-passers of a ball playing at centre back in the league. A hoof isn't aimed anywhere but 'generally towards the goal' - Collins sprays 70 yarders into feet.

I completely agree about Collins, he can pass a brilliant ball , so why he goes to hoofing sometimes ...

[PaulTheVillan]

He's the welsh David Beckham.

[sfx412]

Collins was totally up for the stoke game as he is in every game. He never switchs off and leads by example. Petrov seems to have a "fatherly" connection with the younger players. But Collins is the out and out "leader" and captain ...........

I strongly disagree

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Collins was totally up for the stoke game as he is in every game. He never switchs off and leads by example. Petrov seems to have a "fatherly" connection with the younger players. But Collins is the out and out "leader" and captain ...........

I strongly disagree

Based on what ?

[FatSam]

From givemefootball.com

Marc Albrighton has lauded the impact of Stiliyan Petrov during Aston Villa's end of season revival.

Villa managed to transform themselves from relegation candidates to top 10 finishers with a run of 14 points in seven games, which Albrighton has attributed - in part - to his inspirational senior colleague.

"Stiliyan's return was massive," the 21-year-old winger told avfc.co.uk. "He brings a leadership to things and he brings a lot to the team in terms of performance and attitude too.

"The defensive side of the game is brilliant. He breaks up play and then plays it simple. He won't overcomplicate it.

"He will give it to the players like Ashley [Young] and Stewart [Downing] who will create things.

"He is a voice on the pitch too - he leads by example and makes himself heard on the field too.

"The lads respect that. He encourages you on the pitch and let's his feelings be known.

"But he leads by the way he plays too, always giving 100 per cent to the side in every game."

[Stu]

From givemefootball.com

Marc Albrighton has lauded the impact of Stiliyan Petrov during Aston Villa's end of season revival.

Villa managed to transform themselves from relegation candidates to top 10 finishers with a run of 14 points in seven games, which Albrighton has attributed - in part - to his inspirational senior colleague.

"Stiliyan's return was massive," the 21-year-old winger told avfc.co.uk. "He brings a leadership to things and he brings a lot to the team in terms of performance and attitude too.

"The defensive side of the game is brilliant. He breaks up play and then plays it simple. He won't overcomplicate it.

"He will give it to the players like Ashley [Young] and Stewart [Downing] who will create things.

"He is a voice on the pitch too - he leads by example and makes himself heard on the field too.

"The lads respect that. He encourages you on the pitch and let's his feelings be known.

"But he leads by the way he plays too, always giving 100 per cent to the side in every game."

You've been waiting 9 months to post that? Er, congratulations!

[holtepaul]

We will never know what being a captain brings. Petrov may not "look" inspiring - but captains behave in different ways.

Put it this way - our last two captains who won trophies

Andy Townsend - when he joined under BFR he was a huge disappointment. He was then appointed captain and it made him. You could see him mentally and physically lift him and other players.

Kevin Richardson - was captain for quite possibly the best side Villa have had, including the title winning side. And yet was very quiet on and off the pitch. But if you hear people like BFR and Dwight Yorke speak (as well as Everton players of that era) they say he was the best captain they have ever had.

Petrov may not charge into referees like Gerard - and I think we have needed to replace him with better for 18 months now, but it is a co-incidence how we performed better when he returned from injury. I think he is a calming head that was needed when others were losing theirs.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I wonder what the other 9 players think

[FatSam]

You've been waiting 9 months to post that? Er, congratulations!

More likely I didn't think it was worth starting a new thread for this relatively small news item - but I'm happy to accept your congratulations!