ace Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 http://bleacherreport.com/articles/869181-chelsea-10-greatest-blues-captains-of-all-time/page/2 Was reading this article and was wondering what the opinions on the board were regarding who our best captain was. Is it JT, Chopper, or someone else?
Spiller86 Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 (edited) Having only really seen 3 or 4 I can't really have an opinion as such. However, here is something from yesterday that absolutely typifies why I love JT and why he such a great leader. We were up 5-1 at the time and the ball fell into space, with a Bolton player advancing on and the possibility of the counter. JT ran about 15 yards and launched himself on the ground to win the ball away from the diving Bolton player and set us back on our way, he was by no means our closest player to the ball. Despite the fact that many players had switched off knowing the win was in the bag, JT was still fighting for that inch. We may have lost some experience and leaders over the past couple of seasons, but while ever he is there the team will never struggle for motivators on the pitch. Edited October 3, 2011 by Spiller86
ace Posted October 3, 2011 Author Posted October 3, 2011 I'm too young of a fan to really comment on this, I just thought it was interesting question. I will always remember JT getting kicked in the face against Arsenal though as the epitome of his attitude for this club. The man lays it all on the line for us. As the article points out, Lampard would be a fine captain for most other teams but has spent his life being vice-captain to JT. To a lesser extent, the same goes for Drogba and Ballack. We have plenty of great guys and leaders on our current squad, but only one JT.
shedpensioner Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 Far too tough to call, different era's etc! we've had some good skippers through the years and JT has lucked out that he's skipper during our most successfull era!
Andreas Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 Surely has to be JT with the success included, now im not old enough to know some of the other skippers but his attitude out there and in the dressing room seems exceptional. Saw Premier League World yesterday and it was A.Cole speaking about JT and how good of a leader he was and about his amazing pre-match speeches.
stevo Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 John Terry for me, the fact that he is 100% Chelsea, had the chance to play for Manure and turned them down before we started winning things and the amount of fight and effort he applies it has to be him in my book.
Hutch Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 For me and many of my generation, there's only one candidate, Mr Chelsea himself with an incredible 795 appearances for the club, the one and only Chopper Harris. Here's Chopper doing a number on Stan Bowles: Famously tackling George Best: With Marvin Hinton and the FA Cup:
Barn Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 I asked my dad about this. Firstly though for me one of my favourite players ever was Dennis Wise and I think he showed everything that people like about JT though in a lesser period for the club/team. But JT has to be regarded as the best because of the number of international captains he has commanded, Ballack for example is one of the best captains in the world, yet he couldn't wrestle the armband away from JT. For that JT has my vote. Now my dad has seen a lot more captains than I and two he mentioned were of course, Chopper and Ray Willkins. But he thought the best of all was JT! One other that I think deserves an honourable mention is Graham Roberts who took a ver average team and lead them to some glory when we really needed it.
Backbiter Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 (edited) JT. No question for me. Obviously Chopper was a good skipper, and Colin Pates did a really good job. Wisey was a fantastic captain and a huge factor in our revival under Hoddle, Gullit and Vialli, but for me Terry has been a true legend in every respect. The ultimate captain and leader. EDIT: A word for Micky Droy, who always played with heart and commitment and was a good skipper during the tough times. Edited October 3, 2011 by Backbiter
Ballack & Blu Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 JT for me,i remember when ballack joined and he reminisced about the time during a chelsea v bayern clash,JT mentioned i'll sort you and olly khan out in the tunnell,ballack apparently wasn't keen,and said he jumped at the chance to play under JT.
Davey Baby Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 An honourable mention to Paul Elliot, who was absolutely brilliant. I've seen a lot of captains at Chelsea, but the best by a mile is JT. I would go so far to say he's the most important player in our history: Through the ranks, captain of England, an immense leader, and at a time when we were in danger of losing our soul and our identity, he was there. You cannot underestimate the importance of a leader. To think we agreed to sell him to Huddersfield .. Biased I am, but I regard him as the best defender these shores have produced since Alan Hansen, and the best defender in world football today. It amazes me the degree to which he is underestimated. He's been playing with a bad back for a good few years now, which has affected his mobility. No matter, his technique, reading of the game, courage and mentality have ensured his performances haven't suffered. People talk about his pace, how often do you see him get undone by it .. ? Last year, believe it or not, he didn't even make the PFA team of the year. Yes folks, Vincent Kompany did. How's that for justice .. ? Just once, I wish MOTD would analyse his game, analyse what makes every manager make him their captain and first name on the team sheet. Vidic gets lots of credit, not JT. Arsenal would be twice the team with him in their ranks, not only can he defend but he galvanises his troops, leading from the front, taking no prisoners. Arsenal haven't won a thing since they lost their last natural born leader. The cliche is that JT needs a fast and nimble partner beside him, that he's not half the player without a Carvalho or Gallas. The truth is, he doesn't need anyone. He's by far the best defender I have ever seen in a blue shirt. The truth is he always makes his partner look better. It may not be the trendy thing to say, but it's the truth. Let's not forget he is also the most hated player in the country, hence the reason he gets no credit. England produced a gem, yet he had the misfortune to play for Chelsea. Does it affect him? Not so you'd notice. We lost to Germany in the WC. Whose fault was that? You guessed it, JT's. What absolute baloney. He has long been the national scapegoat. When we line up against other teams, they see JT and we have already gained a psychological edge. He is the player we can least do without, and we'll only really know his worth when he's gone. If City had got him that would have been the end of the Premiership as we know it.
barak81 Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 Last year, believe it or not, he didn't even make the PFA team of the year. Yes folks, Vincent Kompany did. How's that for justice .. ? I agree with everything you wrote except this. Stats time. Chelsea have won the league 3 times since Roman came in. In our first season we won the league with a record number of points, dumped barcelona out of the champions league in what must be one of the all time champions league ties and as a result of this terry and lampard won the respective player of the year awards, players and writer of the year. Since then we have won the league twice including a double and no chelsea player has been recognised for this. In addition to this, in 2010 Harry redknapp became the first manager to not win the league yet win premiership manager of the season for 9 years. This was in-spite of carlo winning the double with a record goal scoring ratio. It's not a conspiracy, it just sticks in the mouth a little bit to give Chelsea players the credit they often deserve, so the last person there going to give any praise to is the guy who essential everything that is chelsea. In terms of best captian my vote goes for JT. other then the fact he is the best defender in the world and his ball playing skills are better then people give him credit for. every bit as good as Rio, it just so happens he can actually do the rough stuff as well so that over shadows the other stuff. IMO this is a harder era to captian a top team in, so many ego's, so many nationality and people that lead there national teams. And they all report in to one man, with nothing but complete respect. On the pitch he leads from the front, we are never the same team with out him. And of the pitch he ensures that there are no fractions between the nationality's. I believe he insists on meals where every one attends and regularly holds socials while also up-keaping the standerd traditions at the clubs such as the away game debute song. Big boots to fill. Id be supprised if i see another as good an all round player and Capitan at chelsea in my life time. And i play on living for a good 50+ years
Davey Baby Posted October 3, 2011 Posted October 3, 2011 regularly holds socials That reminds me of the time Capello told him he had lost the armband. He said, "Don't worry gaffer, look under Wayne Bridge's bed." I'm here all week folks ..
shedpensioner Posted October 4, 2011 Posted October 4, 2011 One other that I think deserves an honourable mention is Graham Roberts who took a ver average team and lead them to some glory when we really needed it. Yeah the Division 2 Champions side was a fantastic year not the greatest players but a real team spirit (Boys in blue division 2 won't be there for long)
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