Tottenham has always been a club of mixed fortunes, be it on the pitch or in the transfer window. A revolving door of managers, youth, and poor output from major signings have forced the search of a new captain following Younes Kaboul’s transfer to Sunderland, but giving the armband to Hugo Lloris may not bring them the success they seek.
Kaboul was a surprise choice as captain the previous year, highlighting the same issue that this new season brings, big signings that have not come through, and youth that does not immediately translate into experience.
Lloris was vice-captain the previous season and wore the armband during most of the Europa Cup matches, as well as the several EPL matches where Kaboul was rested, so it comes as no shock to most that the man who leads Les Bleus should also captain his club, but many are asking why his new vice-captain, Harry Kane, was not given the honor outright.
Making these choices has sent a clear message from White Hart Lane, neither of these two prime transfer targets is for sale. Newly promoted sides have been feasting on the buying failures of the mess that came after the 2013 sale of Gareth Bale, but Spurs have locked in those that need to be retained for the club to continue to be not only viable in the EPL, but a continued presence in European competition.
Lloris came to the club in 2012 from Lyon as a highly sought after gloveman, hoping to one day wrest the position from mainstay Brad Friedel. Unfortunately for the American icon, the end came sooner rather than later, but thankfully for Lilywhites fans, there was no breaking-in period for Lloris, who took over the job and excelled as one would expect a player of his calibre.
With all that in mind, Kane has been the figure that has grown the most over this past season and his passion for the club is reflected in his results. He was often the one to give the dressing room speeches, as well as embracing a role as the squad’s public spokesman, handling several commercial and media responsibilities.
Like Steven Gerrard before him, at age 23, a product of the Spurs youth system, the club would rightly justify placing faith in a young man who can push the team forward in the eyes of the supports and skeptics alike.
[interaction id=”55b7c52d989ec6b1718d016c”]
Gerrard showed in his captaincy the face that few people see in the modern game, a young man from the ranks who does not seek a transfer but only wants to bring home silverware for the club he dreamed of playing for as a boy. Kane has these qualities and with a nod from the club, has the opportunity to become a legend for the often dismissed North London side.
Both Kane and Lloris have become fan favorites, displaying wild celebrations at the conquests of the other, and most importantly like previous captain Michael Dawson, they both understand the need to get behind the manager and his philosophy, regardless if you agree with it. No matter the result of the weekend, neither will give criticism to Pochettino’s decisions, even if the referee sends him from the dugout.
At the end of the day, the benefits of having a captain in the thick of most of the action on the pitch will provide the best chance for an ever-changing Spurs team to become a cohesive unit. With a captain confined to a box on one end of the pitch that connection teams hope to develop over preseason might still be some ways out.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
Drew- Don’t quit your day job. Faulty speculation. The captaincy adds pressure to an already pressured job. Maybe if we get Hernandez and N’jie; the extra pressure would be okay. At this minute- vice-captain is more than enough. If you want an on the field – in the face captain – it probably should be Vertongen.
Wat high authority is this comin 4m. He is brill I agree, but had captaincy 4 a game last yr and it
hampered his game in bad way.
Not mature enuf 4 dat, jos yet. COYS!!!
Harry Kane should most certainly not be Captain. I haven’t seen some of the qualities required for him to be a Captain. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very much a fan of Harry’s. This young man is far to busy working the space in and around the box. He must focus on his positional tactics. That’s enough pressure for one. The Captain should be a leader, one who shouts to his teammates. Shouts orders, encouragement, field postioning, etc. The Captain also must lead by example, must be aggressive but sportsmanlike. I’m not convinced Vertonghen is up for it. He has shown far to often signs of feeling sorry for himself, pouty, belligerent and generally unhappy. Not a good enough example. Maybe in the not to distant future we may find Alderweireld is that man and Nabil Bentaleb as Vice-captain. For now my choice would be Hugo Lloris as Captain, as promised, allegedly and Nabil as Vice Captain. After this season we may find Alderweireld a more potent Captain. In the meantime Bentaleb gets experience. I feel Nabil has the leadership qualities the rest of the team will find easy to respect. Harry Kane has a work ethic that should inspire the rest of the team with the help of the team Captain and Vice-Captain bellowing out encouragement. My views only.
Captaincy may be a bit too much pressure to put on the young lad.
Let him lead his team from the front and see how he handles it. Coming into a year where a lot is expected of him it may be a step too far to also be captain.