In the wake of the news that JT's contract will not be renewed for next season (assuming it is not all just bluster), a key question naturally comes to the fore: who should succeed him as our next captain?

 

Naturally his are enormous shoes to fill; not only has he been our captain and heart of our defence for over a decade, but he is also the last (and arguably best) youth product who has ever risen to a major role in the team, his leadership skills are unparalleled within the squad, and he is, in many ways, seen as the voice of the fans within the dressing room and within the club hierarchy (Captain, Leader, Legend; Mr Chelsea, etc.)

 

As current vice-captain, the natural successor would seem to be Ivanovic. On the other hand we could opt for someone a little more out-of-the-box:

 

Fabregas - perhaps not as emotionally tied to the club, but an experienced winner who has captained a [relatively] successful side in the past?

Mikel - who will be our longest-serving player but who is not widely seen as a natural leader?

Costa - an explosive and combative character, but might be let down by his volatility (and potentially a weakness in communicating considering his lack of English)?

Zouma - a young defender with a great deal of promise; an option perhaps in the mould of Terry himself?

Azpilicueta - a consummate professional and a classic case of a player who would lead by example?

Hazard - our key player and the fulcrum of our attack - ostensibly an unassuming character but perhaps a way to tie him to the club long-term?

 

I have attempted to include everyone who seems like a realistic option in the poll. What do you think?

I like your Cesc and Hazard selections and the explanations behind them. Anyone of them IMHO.

For me it's between Cesc, Zouma and Azpilicueta, with each of them having pros and cons. No one is going to be as inspiring a captain and vice captain as Terry and Lampard respectively, but I think those three are the best long term options. Here's my thoughts on each

Zouma: Definitely the future of our central defence, and a player who could definitely grow into the role as captain. Leads by example, but i'd wonder is that really enough. He'd have to learn to be more vocal, and be a bit more commanding in marshalling the defensive line, since at the moment Terry does all that. You can see the passion and determination in his game though, and not all captains have to be exceptionally vocal, but for me I think we need a slightly more experienced head as our leader on the pitch

Azpilicueta: Much the same as Zouma, plays with passion and is an absolute rock at the back, but again i'd worry about his vocality. 

Fabregas: Fabregas is my choice, for a number of reasons. He's won literally everything there is to win in football, and has played for the greatest club side in history, which would surely give him the respect of the rest of the team, and he's also been captain of a big club before, from a young age, so he's certainly capable. Despite what people say, to me he looks like he always gives 100%, and you can see when he scores that he actually does give a sh*t about the club and the fans, which is the most important thing for a captain in my opinion. His position also puts him nice and centrally in the pitch to issue instructions, though his tactical awareness isn't always the best, but that's not really his game. One last note, how sickening would it be for arsenal fans to see Cesc captain us to victory at the Emirates again?    

It's difficult to say without knowing the players personalities but for me it's between Cesc & Teebo.

Zouma is probably next in line to be Captain after the next one, Hazard will be off at some point (let's not kid ourselves), Mikel isn't a guaranteed starter and Ivan isn't gonna be a nailed on starter in a season or 2.

As petty as it may sound I wouldn't want Fabregas to be captain. He is probably the most qualified but I just don't see him as one of us.

 

Cahill could be a short term option, depending on how the JT saga goes, but the only person I would be happy with is Azpilicueta. Ticks all the boxes in my opinion. He can lead the team both vocally and through his performances.  

I expect it'll be Ivanovic, but after next season I don't see him staying here, Cahill wants more game time and I'm not sure if he'll be here next season. I see Zouma as a future captain, until then Tibo, Aspi, Fabregas and even Mikel are options, Fab has experience, is he a leader? No, how much game time will Mikel get under the new manager? Probably not as much game time as he's getting now, Tibo has been too sloppy and I'm not even sure he communicates that well with his defenders, so I'd say maybe Azpi, but I'm not sure if he can actually lead the team vocally. The other option for captain is Costa, we all know about his antics, but if we make him captain, that would give him more responsibility and perhaps calm him down a bit, the obvious problem is the language barrier. Maybe the captain will be someone who we bring in, who knows what's going to happen during the transfer window, with any luck a few of our players will be replaced.

Edited February 4, 201610 yr by Floyd25

It's a pretty bare cupboard and I personally wouldn't want Fabregas because I don't really see him as Chelsea captain material. I think there's a lack of trust between a lot of the supporters and him still, plus he doesn't strike me as the type who can rally the troops. 

 

My choice would be Courtois though. He's one of the few top-class players we have, he's guaranteed to start every match (I don't know if Fabregas is if we make signings in the summer), he leads by example and he's not just an imposing figure physically, but shown an ability to get stuck into his defence when they need it.

 

He's not really associated too strongly with any other club either (Cesc is still very much Arsenal to a lot of fans) and he's the standard of player we should be aspiring to. He's one of the three best in his position in the world and that demands respect at such a young age.

 

Zouma and Azpi are great players and fine men but they don't quite feel right as skipper to me yet. Making Ivanovic captain is rewarding mediocrity in my opinion.

 

I think this discussion just highlights the lack of leaders, and the lack of real characters in the squad. Go back 6 years and you could make a case for about 6 players that is stronger than any of the ones on show here. Unfortunately the lack of strong leadership at board level has filtered it's way down through the coaching staff and onto the pitch too which is one of the reasons we're a shambles at the moment.

Interesting views on Cesc not rallying the troops or being a leader but votes for Tibo (who shagged his team mates missus) haha! *different to JT as well*

I'm not against Tibo being captain btw just an interesting point I thought!

Azpi or Cesc for me, Zouma is still a little raw I think!

Edited February 4, 201610 yr by EdinburghBlue

Interesting views on Cesc not rallying the troops or being a leader but votes for Tibo (who shagged his team mates missus) haha!

I'm not against Tibo being captain btw just an interesting point I thought!

Azpi or Cesc for me, Zouma is still a little raw I think!

 

It'll become a Chelsea captain's tradition.

 

What's more alpha male than cuckoldry? 

 

Courtois also has the time to be a Chelsea legend. He's the established number one at 23 which gives him at least a decade if things go well.

 

I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if Cesc went in the summer and Dave is a great servant but the guy doesn't even hold down a starting spot in his favoured position. In my opinion he definitely should, but first and foremost I want my skipper to be a nailed-on starter and the first name on the team sheet preferably.

 

Right now I think we'd all say that was Thibaut. 

Edited February 4, 201610 yr by ShedEnder91

I think Fabregas is probably a good leader in terms of personality, I agree that he is tainted by the Arsenal (and to a lesser extent Barca) connection though.

 

He could partly rectify that if he handed out a load of celery to the fans before the next home game though.

I think Fabregas is probably a good leader in terms of personality, I agree that he is tainted by the Arsenal (and to a lesser extent Barca) connection though.

 

He could partly rectify that if he handed out a load of celery to the fans before the next home game though.

 

Unfortunately the club banned celery in the ground, although they still serve it up in hospitality with no sense of irony whatsoever.

In the wake of the news that JT's contract will not be renewed for next season (assuming it is not all just bluster), a key question naturally comes to the fore: who should succeed him as our next captain?

 

Naturally his are enormous shoes to fill; not only has he been our captain and heart of our defence for over a decade, but he is also the last (and arguably best) youth product who has ever risen to a major role in the team, his leadership skills are unparalleled within the squad, and he is, in many ways, seen as the voice of the fans within the dressing room and within the club hierarchy (Captain, Leader, Legend; Mr Chelsea, etc.)

 

As current vice-captain, the natural successor would seem to be Ivanovic. On the other hand we could opt for someone a little more out-of-the-box:

 

Fabregas - perhaps not as emotionally tied to the club, but an experienced winner who has captained a [relatively] successful side in the past?

Mikel - who will be our longest-serving player but who is not widely seen as a natural leader?

Costa - an explosive and combative character, but might be let down by his volatility (and potentially a weakness in communicating considering his lack of English)?

Zouma - a young defender with a great deal of promise; an option perhaps in the mould of Terry himself?

Azpilicueta - a consummate professional and a classic case of a player who would lead by example?

Hazard - our key player and the fulcrum of our attack - ostensibly an unassuming character but perhaps a way to tie him to the club long-term?

 

I have attempted to include everyone who seems like a realistic option in the poll. What do you think?

 

Are we looking for an interim captain or long term ?

 

Ivanovic has only got a few seasons left-if that. 

Mikel won't play enough games.

Hazard is a good shout because he could speak to the ref all the time, especially when he gets fouled, and maybe afford a fair bit more protection.

Azpilicueta is another player who I could see being a good captain, but not long term.

 

 

Zouma would be my personal preference, for the obvious reasons.

 

Fabregas and Costa can be dealt with in one paragraph, please no, they represent both ends of a thermometer.

Special shout for Christensen. If we're thinking long term rebuild, he fits, along with Zouma.

Edited February 4, 201610 yr by coco

It'll become a Chelsea captain's tradition.

 

What's more alpha male than cuckoldry? 

 

Courtois also has the time to be a Chelsea legend. He's the established number one at 23 which gives him at least a decade if things go well.

 

I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if Cesc went in the summer and Dave is a great servant but the guy doesn't even hold down a starting spot in his favoured position. In my opinion he definitely should, but first and foremost I want my skipper to be a nailed-on starter and the first name on the team sheet preferably.

 

Right now I think we'd all say that was Thibaut.

Surely regarding Azpi being a nailed on starter in not your natural position is an achievement in itself! Especially when it was ahead of Luis who was arguably the best LB in Europe the previous year?

Any manager that comes in and give Zouma the captain band has already lost the dressing without playing a match.

I love Zouma and he may be a future captain but it's not his time right now.

I think we go Cortois with Dave as vice-captain.

Any manager that comes in and give Zouma the captain band has already lost the dressing without playing a match.

 

If that's the case we should concentrate on getting rid of the players who cannot take orders from our future captain, we don't need players like that.

Surely regarding Azpi being a nailed on starter in not your natural position is an achievement in itself! Especially when it was ahead of Luis who was arguably the best LB in Europe the previous year?

 

It's certainly an achievement but I'm still not sure he's the guy I'd go with.

 

 

I love Zouma and he may be a future captain but it's not his time right now.

 

I think appointing Zouma who is still learning the game would be a bizarre move. Courtois on the other hand has been to a World Cup, a Champions League Final and been a key player in teams that have won the league in two different countries. Has Zouma actually played a competitive game for his country yet?

Perhaps I should of laid out why I think Zouma is a good candidate for those that don't see it.

 

• Firstly he is a growing lad, both physically and mentally.
• He plays in a central position which is always preferable for a captain, rather than a winger, keeper, forward.
• He is starting to play regularly in the big games and already looks settled.
• He could probably knock Costa out with one punch.

Has to be Azpi. Should be no argument

 

I think appointing Zouma who is still learning the game would be a bizarre move. 

 

Although it is exactly what we did appointing JT all those years ago, go figure that one out.

Edited February 4, 201610 yr by coco

Perhaps I should of laid out why I think Zouma is a good candidate for those that don't see it.

 

• Firstly he is a growing lad, both physically and mentally.
• He plays in a central position which is always preferable for a captain, rather than a winger, keeper, forward.
• He is starting to play regularly in the big games and already looks settled.
• He could probably knock Costa out with one punch.

And he has made his appreciation of JT known. I get you Coco.

Zouma I think will be in the future, but right now I wouldn't want to burden him with the extra responsibility, plus I don't think seasoned pro's will want to be bossed around by a relative newcomer. I would probably go for Fabregas to fully expunge the remnants of Arsenal from him, he plays in a central role and speaks better English than Azpilicueta as well as Spanish. Also if we assume he has another 4 or so seasons at the top level, Zouma at 24/25 will hopefully then be ready to take the armband long-term and also gives time for any other potential candidates time to stake a claim.

Zouma I think will be in the future, but right now I wouldn't want to burden him with the extra responsibility, plus I don't think seasoned pro's will want to be bossed around by a relative newcomer. I would probably go for Fabregas to fully expunge the remnants of Arsenal from him, he plays in a central role and speaks better English than Azpilicueta as well as Spanish. Also if we assume he has another 4 or so seasons at the top level, Zouma at 24/25 will hopefully then be ready to take the armband long-term and also gives time for any other potential candidates time to stake a claim.

This is why we need JT, to nurture and cultivate a young successor.

Although it is exactly what we did appointing JT all those years ago, go figure that one out.

 

Absolutely. Great point.

 

However when there's someone who is so much further along in their development and who has so much more experience then I think the choice becomes obvious. Courtois is 23 and he's been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Let Zouma learn his game and then in time he becomes an option.