I would have thought so, seeing as though he took the armband in Kitching’s absence. There’s a lot more to being a captain than longevity or even what we see on the pitch though. Ideally we’d have people all over the pitch showing visible signs of leadership. Look at the 97 promotion team. Redders looked and played like a captain, but so did de Zeeuw, Eaden, Hendrie, etc. It’s aspects of the role we don’t see, on the training pitch, in the dressing room, on a night out, in the manager’s office, etc, that are just as important, Managers tend to make the right choice*. *although, personally, I don’t like keepers as captains, as captains also are useful to be speaking with the referee and I don’t particularly fancy the idea of our keeper sprinting 90 yards to query a decision!
I suspect it will be Luca Connell when he's back. Second in POTY awards and shown huge loyalty with a long term contract.
Williams: If he signs a new contract I would agree. I wouldnt give the captaincy to someone who's future is up in the air with us. Kane: Be lucky to stay a first team regular if everyone stays fit and future is uncertain. Cole: Not a fan of strikers as captain, leave him to focus on goals and another with an uncertain future. Ideally the captain would be a key first team regular who is signed up for many years so can be rewarded with the role.
I’d have JW as club captain - if he signs a new contract. I don’t mean use it as a bribe or anything, or to drop him if he doesn’t extend, just that the captain has to be someone who is committed to the cause. Kitching wasn’t the right call. My choice would be Connell. Integral to the team, a clear natural leader and in a position that a captain can have some influence. Always prefer the captain to be a centre back or centre mid to be honest.
I questioned Stendl on his appointment of Davies as captain at a meeting once. (I prefer someone from the centre of defence or midfield who can shout out orders to others.) He looked gone out at me. And I think it was Conman who answered with waffle. As an aside. Davies has only played in 40 games since he left us. 4yrs ago. 184 in 5yrs for us. But I suppose his pockets are bulging.
I'd pick Connell as well. The only argument against him is that he will be doing his organising and leading, just as he did last season, with or without the armband. Not sure 'committed to the cause' can be a criteria. Kitching was committed to the cause, until he wasn't.
I don't think you should have a set captain. There should be players you look to as leaders but I reckon being captain allows too much for loss of form. Your captain should be the same player whilst he is playing but not a set club captain. I'd go Phillips because now he's fit he's going to play every game and when he has a bad game he's still steady enough to keep his place.
https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2022/december/liam-kitching-signs-new-deal/ But at least when he signed that contract he guaranteed us a good fee. I wouldn't give the armband to someone out of contract next summer.
Too small for a centre back, and genuine competition for wing back, so query whether he's a regular starter.
No idea if he should be captain, but interesting that Williams is into his 6th season with us now. That's impressive longevity in today's game, especially with our turnover! Marting Devaney and Steve Foster were both considered stalwarts, and they did 6 seasons each with us. Obviously he wasn't a regular in his first season but still played a fair few games.
