ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Captain's Armband Meaningless?

Read a comment made about Osman receiving the captaincy armband after Neville was belatedly subbed and it reminded me of the thoughts running through my head at the time like "What the hell!!" and "For Fuck's Sake!!

Could not fathom why the smurf recieved the armband as, being a traditionalist, I believe a captain is one who should lead from the front and inspire others to play above themselves when called upon.

It's pretty hard to lead from the front when you can't even stay on your bloody feet!!! I wouldn't be inspired by Osman barking orders at me while he's either dusting himself off after tripping over for the hundredth time or yelling from the floor.

Yes he has a dip and displays flair and skill at times, but I would hardly call him a leader by example. Maybe Neville gave it to him as a Lescott or Jagielka may have shown him up about what a leader is really all about. Personally, I would have thrown it to Lescott.
Steve Pendleton, Perth, WA Posted 03/04/2008 at 13:52:12

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Danny Broderick
1 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:04:02

I was a bit surprised myself, the only thing I would say is that he was one of our longest serving players on duty, and Moyes obviously has a better insight to the players' personalities and how they are viewed by the rest of the team than us. I think you?ve just got to go with him on this one...

Patty Beesley
2 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:22:06

Much ado about nothing!!!

Erik Dols
3 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:23:08

He got it for thirty minutes only and like Danny says he’s about the longest serving player in the team.

Dennis Bergkamp wore the captain’s armband from time to time when others were unavailable for Arsenal in his last two or three years. Now Bergkamp was a fine footballer, but really no leader at all. He was the longest serving player and when a captain is needed for short period to cover for the absence of the ’real’ captain, it is not that strange to choose one of the ’senior’ members of the squad. Although I agree that you hardly can call Osman senior. Shows us how young our squad is ;-)

Tony Williams
4 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:30:21

Oh for fucks sake, what this world coming to when someone gets "all in a tizz" about whomever gets the captain’s armband when the captain goes off.

Having a dig at Ossie because he was thrown the armband is, to be blunt, fucking ridiculous.

To give a sensible answer to a daft point, Ossie, as said above, is one of the longer serving members of the team, has hardly missed a game and was playing in the middle of the park so he could see what was going on.

On the other hand, he admits he looked around to see if anyone else wanted it but they all bottled it so fair play to him.

Chris Masey
5 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:36:03

Is this article a joke?? First Arteta and now we?re going to destroy Osman for having the armband for 17 mins, I really have seen it all...

Anthony O'Sullivan
6 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:51:34

Read the article. He clearly says he was telling Neville to hurry up getting off the pitch because time was running out. Neville turned & threw the armband to him. He turned around to see if anyone else wanted it; no-one did so he stuck it on.

Big fucking deal.

Neil Farrell
7 Posted 03/04/2008 at 15:59:52

When Big Dunc was captain, Davie Weir was vice-captain..... so who's the vice-captain now and why did he not step up?
Also, according to the OS interview, Ossie said nobody else seemed to want it!

Michael Hunt
8 Posted 03/04/2008 at 16:01:30

Fair play to Ossie, well deserved as well.

Seamus Murphy
9 Posted 03/04/2008 at 16:23:18

Ossie was one of the only Everton players with a bit of fight in him at the Derby, I would have given it to Yobo, who by the way was our best player on the day, but have no problem with Osman getting it.

As someone above said, much ado about nothing!

Danny Naylor
10 Posted 03/04/2008 at 16:40:33

Ossie said on a Podcast that Neville handed him the armband after he asked him to hurry up off the pitch. He looked around wanting to give it to someone else and nobody said to hand it to them so he put it on.

Said he was very proud to wear it for 20 odd minutes and it meant the world to him to wear in the derby.

Keith Glazzard
11 Posted 03/04/2008 at 19:13:10

And I hope he took it home and shows it to his grandkids with the pride he deserves.

Adam Carey
12 Posted 03/04/2008 at 20:28:49

The Derby County game clearly can’t get here soon enough!
The captains armband is more a symbol than anythings else. Didn’t Jags at one point captain Sheff Utd and Yobo Nigeria. Does them not having an band with a big C on their arm mean that they’ll be less vocal?

Pete Gunby
13 Posted 03/04/2008 at 20:51:07

Back in the 70’s I remember Captain getting taken off and Tenille had to takeover. She was the vocal one anyhow so it all worked out. I’m sure that Yobo, Lescott, or Jags could all handle the captaincy. It may take a few weeks to get that heads/tails thing sorted but there are probably books or even internet sites to help speed up the process. These teacup storms never seem to end.

Mark Joseph
14 Posted 04/04/2008 at 00:06:58

"Could not fathom why the smurf recieved the armband"

What the fuck does that mean............the Smurf? I find that "Label" derogatory and offensive.

Leon Osman has done nothing but represent Everton Football Club in a professional manner.

He has also been a fantastic ambassador for the town in which he lives, Skelmersdale. He is often opening functions and doing appearances (for nowt).

He is also,on his time off, found in a local pub having a quiet drink, without hangers on, and happy to talk about football.

Smurf? what a prick you are

Steve Pendleton
15 Posted 04/04/2008 at 00:24:11

Ease up Mark. Don’t get your knickers in a not. Simply a reference to his size as smurfs are small. Derogatory and offensive, what a classic! It’s a tough world Mark, think Leon is a big enough Boy(not literally) to take a reference made about his height.

You’ve made me laugh. Cheers for that.

Richard Murray
16 Posted 04/04/2008 at 03:29:15

knot @ Steve &

And everything Mark said is true.
Sort yourself out, pal, before you have ago at another Evertonian.

Michael Brien
17 Posted 04/04/2008 at 07:16:53

Steve - people like you really are annoying we have a bad run - losing at Fulham and Anfield and suddenly it’s time to play slag off the team,manager etc.
Perhaps you have forgotten the times when coming up to this stage of the season, we used to be looking at what we needed to do to stay in the Premiership. Challenging for a Champions League place/UEFA Cup seemed a long way off.
Maybe you want to belittle our team’s efforts this season Steve but personally I am proud of what the team has achieved. We have a long way to go still - but let’s not forget we have come along way in the last 6 years.And Leon Osman has more than played his part.

Ste Kenny
18 Posted 04/04/2008 at 08:06:54

I’ve never been a fan of leon osman as a footballer but one thing you cant question is his commitment to everton and the amount of effort he puts in, in that case it was fully deserved

Greg Doyle
19 Posted 04/04/2008 at 11:38:49

Didn’t see that one coming

Amanda Huddleston
20 Posted 04/04/2008 at 13:01:12

At least Smurfs are blue!

Tony Williams
21 Posted 04/04/2008 at 13:44:29

Fuck the temperature of the pies, what about the lukewarm pints? ;-)