Martin Cranie = Captain?

I like Martin, but I'm not sure what he offers as first team captain? He's an okay player at this level and if we could clone him, we may have a half decent partnership in the middle of defence. But as it is, Martin is a perennial relegation battler. He lacks the Shackellness of a Shackell, to really get ahead in this league. Though the partnership with Ramage is looking less desperate of late, it should be said.

But why is he Captain? He doesn't act like one, or provide the team with any senior support or guidance. Not in match time, that we a privy to and can see for ourselves, anyway. Where was the captain on Saturday? Did anyone see him chill out Frimpong or Mellis? He organise his own business best he can, but he team? Cranie the player had a decent game up until the goal. Cranie the captain you could argue, had a shocker.

Note the question marks. I'm looking to see what others think, rather state it as fact. On Saturday, despite the great efforts, we were leaderless. Is Martin there by default following Luke's injury? Or because he is one of the few selected, consistent and available players, in a sea of under-achievers and loanees?

Bobby is the obvious choice for the job, but he has to be on the pitch.

I'm putting this question to the floor, please don't call me a ****.

 

I'll check back at tea-time, see what Phil thinks. He'll turn it all into a Bobby/Luke massacre no doubt and rope the Germans in somewhere.

 

I dunt like Cranie being captain either, for me captain would be Bobby but I reckon he'd turn it down. He's not that bothered about being captain, all he wants to do is laik! Another reason why I think he'd turn it down also, is cos fitness tends to be a big problem wi him these days.

I hope he's back for Sat... We desperately need him in middle of the pitch IMO!

 

I agree with you. Cranie's just about first name on teamsheet for me with O'Grady, Jennings & Steele but he's not a captain.

Obvious candidates for me would Hassell & Ramage. The problem been that like you say Hassell is often injured & Ramage is only a loanee.

Cranie will probably keep it due to a lack of alternatives.

On the other hand we could of given it him to try & convince him to stay here beyond this season. I'm pretty sure that's why Hill gave it Butterfield.

 

I agree re: the captaincy issue but not with the Shackell comments as I think Cranie is a better player. If fit and picked Bobby would be captain for me.

 

Yes not really captain material. Not sure who, other than Bobby, is though.

 

Lack of candidates I presume. Managers don't tend to go for a forward as their captain, they're not as involved in the game as the rest of the team. In midfield we had three relatively young lads (all part of the problem rather than the solution, two sent off yesterday and the other on his debut) plus a loan player. At the back we had we had two loan players plus Cranie and Kennedy. I don't think anyone would suggest Kennedy as captain.

Realistic candidates, I suppose, were Cranie, Steele and O'Grady. A goalkeeper can be just as isolated from the rest of the game as a forward, while one of the biggest criticisms of Steele is that he isn't vocal enough. Which just leaves Cranie.

I guess Ramage has the ideal character for it, but I think managers are a bit reticent to give the arm band to loan players. And let's be reight, until the last few games Ramage was really struggling with his own form, never mind organising everyone else.

 

Not fussed..Just pick a random player to toss the coin, each match. Other than that he doesn't have a great deal to do.

 

Lack of options. We are struggling for leaders on the pitch. Bobby is the only one, I am certain he would have been into Frimpong's ear, maybe the Mellis incident would never have occurred. In fact Bobby wouldn't even need to be captain to take on that responsibility, just on the pitch.

 

You've never played football have you? The captain is the leader of the team, cajoling and encouraging, handing out bollockings if needed, a good captain makes a big contribution to the team. Admittedly you expect players to do that regardless of having an armband, we are just lacking in leaders full stop.

 

There..you've summed up my response perfectly.

 

I suppose it depends on what you perceive to be captain material. If you demand the captain to be a shouting, fist waving warrior ala Billy Bremner or Neil Redfearn, then Cranie isn't your man. If, on the other hand, you want a calm, unflustered bloke, leading by example ala Bobby Moore or Phil Chambers, then Cranie is the man. For example, you say he wasn't a calming influence on either Frimpong or Mellis without knowing whether he'd said anything to them on the pitch, or not. Just because you didn't see him do so doesn't mean it didn't happen.
His style may be understated, but effective and popular with the other players. He may be more respected amongst the players than any other candidate, who is also a regular & first choice name on the team sheet.

 

Lawrence would be a candidate for me, if he can get in the side and stay there. Agree with what's being said about Cranie, good player but doesn't appear to want to influence others. He's got the job by virtue of being one of the few players guaranteed a place in the side.

 

Agree with what Big Lil said.

Also you need someone whos a recently big name in the squad. Frimpong Prochwitz Mellis Jennings Pedesen and you could go on.

Cranies a name that most of them would have come across. he's played Uefa u21 championship final, played in the premier league. That will earn instant respect with the more talented players in the group.
If a Hassell Kennedy O'grady to name three says to Mellis or Frimpong I don't know. push up there. They might think who are you? what you done to tell me how I should play my game. I've played in the champions league. What have you done?

 

Also noticed at the final whistle he walked straight down the tunnel and didn't bother coming to the fans. Pretty poor from a captain I think.

 

Another one due for execution
Needs to get in the queue
Maybe he didn't agree with the cavemen smashing seats up
Or it may have been the racist abuse given by our fans to some wed players that caused him to do that

 

But most don't regardless of what we fans expect.

 

If that's the attitude of some towards their captain, regardless of who he is, then it says something about them, and it's not a good something.

 

Another one due for execution? You are sooooo boring. It's just a discussion about being a captain for God's sake.

 

There is no more 'well known' a player at Oakwell than Bobby Hassell. I know you don't like that, but it's a fact. He is universally respected at the club, and his 500 or so appearances in professional football garner more respect than Frimpong's 20 or so.
Being selected in a couple of Champions League games (Frimpong, Mellis) does not make them any more respected. Have they played in playoff finals, FA Cup Semi Finals?

However, I wouldn't give Bobby the captaincy. My choice would be Liam Lawrence if fit and a regular starter. He too has tremendous experience in all four tiers of English Football, as well as a spell in Europe. But to be honest, until reading this thread it wasn't a subject that had crossed my mind. I haven't thought about the captaincy since Wiseman was bizarrely given it by Keith Hill whilst playing like a complete weapon.

Cranie is our most consistent player, a regular, and I can see why he's Danny's choice as captain.


As an aside though, it's very nice knowing Bobby will be back on Saturday. We'd have won on Saturday had he been fully fit and in instead of Frimpong. One of the worst debuts I've witnessed. In fact, one of the worst displays I've witnessed. But then, it's not a shock when you consider his career so far. Let's hope Danny and the likes of Bobby and Lawrence can mentor him.

You Reds.