‘Permanent’ is just a state of mind as far as the England captaincy is concerned. A week after announcing that John Terry was going to be reinstated permanent captain, Fabio Capello has sent the Chelsea man home to rest (along with vice-captain Frank Lampard and Chelsea teammate Ashley Cole), meaning that the defender will certainly not be wearing the armband when England face off against Ghana on Tuesday. Instead, the man to lead his country into battle against Africa’s finest will be... Manchester City’s Gareth Barry!
England Vs. Ghana, Preview: Gareth Barry Wins Captaincy
Ok, that’s not really an inspirational choice, but considering the squad list there’s not really anyone else who could hope to receive the honour. Barry is the senior figure on the England team with 45 caps, and he has several years experience as a captain at the Premier League level with Aston Villa. Virtually nobody else in Fabio Capello’s expected starting eleven has served as a captain in the top level, leaving Barry the obvious choice. The midfielder responded to being awarded the armband by being horrendously dull:
Obviously it’s going to be a massive moment in my career. I’m really looking forward to doing the job.
Thrilling!
I will be the same player I always am. You don’t put the armband on and change.
Considering the England-Germany match in the World Cup you putting on the armband and changing was one of England’s last hopes, Gareth.
I’ve got experience of three years captaining Aston Villa and there is some extra responsibility but I won’t change the way I play.
So much for being inspirational, I guess. Anyway, England generally put far too much focus on whoever’s leading them out, and for all the fuss about the captaincy I’d suggest that the mere act of deploying Gareth Barry in the midfield is far more damaging to the team than making him the captain.
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