Why Thierry Henry will Never be a Great Captain…
148 comments December 31st, 2005
Because he’s a striker.
And a striker is fundamentally too selfish to be a captain.
The reason he glowers and shouts at people when he doesn’t get the right pass is because he’s a brilliant goalscorer, and all the best goalscorers have that attitude.
When people talk about the way in which Michael Owen and Ian Wright “destroyed their partners”, it’s due to a similiar trait. Although Henry provides a lot more assists than those two ever did, at heart he is still a goal-hungry predator.
People will point out examples of captains who were strikers who have been successful. Eric Cantona is often touted in this discussion. But did you ever see Cantona cajole and rally his troops? No. He played in the same team as Roy Keane: one of the great natural leaders in world football. Cantona’s role was to be the emblematic standard at the front-line: to lead by the example of his excellence.
Thierry is more than capable of that. But there is no Roy Keane behind. No, dare I say, Patrick Vieira. And certainly no Tony Adams.
Henry is a brilliant striker, and one of the world’s best players. I hope that he nets a couple today to win three points at Villa Park. But for me, he’s just not captain material.
However, as long as he stays at the club (which itself is doubtful), he will be skipper. Taking the armband off him now would only serve to push him even further in Barcelona’s direction. As if losing all the time isn’t already doing so.
But should the time ever come when Thierry does take his leave, I wouldn’t look to a striker for my skipper. Being a forward is the most selfish position on the pitch, and subsequently entirely unsuitably for a captain.
Central midfield or centre-back, on the other hand, are ideal.
My pick?
Kolo Toure.
It might never happen, but it’d make me happy. He really has got the spirit for it, hasn’t he.
In the last three seasons, he’s been a real diamond. A shining light. Let’s hope he can keep up with the pacey Baros and Moore to shut Villa out today.
Come on Arsenal.
