Best & Worst Villa Captain in the History of Forever

[hogso]

Thought I'd try something different.

 

Interested to hear thoughts on this. I, like many others on the forum I presume, am a reletively young fan, who has properly followed the club since the mid 90s. Therefore, I havent seen any of our captains in action since before them, and could name precious few - 80/81 being the exception, of course. Not specifically the official 'club captain', memories of odd players picking up the armband would be fun too.Therefore, with the thread title in mind, the first two that came to mind are;

 

Best - Gareth Barry

 

 

The consumate professional, composed, effective, level-headed (mostly), role model - and during his time as captain commanded well from the centre of the park.

 

Worst - Darren Bent

 

 

What was that all about? Leading by example? Furrgedaboudit.

[bickster]

Anyone old enough to remember Sir Dennis will vote for him as best captain

Worst for me - Nigel Reo Coker, couldn't even lead by example, zero talent, zero leadership skills

[mikeyp102]

Southgate or Barry for me as best.

Gabby under mcleish was appalling

Edited January 27, 2014 by mikeyp102

[briny_ear]

Best.

 

Sir Dennis - no competition.

 

Worst?

 

I think by definition, captains are usually good - players who can lead by example and win respect and influence on the field. So I find it hard to think of one. The example given in the OP, of Darren Bent, seems a bit unfair on the player. It seems pretty clear to me that Lambert was just playing games with him as part of his campaign to get him out of the club. So it reflects badly on the manager, not the player.

 

Edit

 

But the other examples given above, of NRC and Gabby - yes, they were both poor captains.

Edited January 27, 2014 by briny_ear

[dAVe80]

John Devey is the obvious answer. Although in the modern era, it has to be Sir Dennis.

[Pez1974]

Best is probably Mortimer in my time.

 

A few candidates for worst, and for me Houllier giving Ashley Young the armband to try and keep him happy is all wrong. Captaining our football club is an honour, not a perk. Boooooo!

 

Didn't Steve Sims captained us a few times?

Edited January 27, 2014 by Pez1974

[rjw63]

 

or

 

 

or even

 

[Mantis]

Best.

 

Sir Dennis - no competition.

 

Worst?

 

I think by definition, captains are usually good - players who can lead by example and win respect and influence on the field. So I find it hard to think of one. The example given in the OP, of Darren Bent, seems a bit unfair on the player. It seems pretty clear to me that Lambert was just playing games with him as part of his campaign to get him out of the club. So it reflects badly on the manager, not the player.

 

Edit

 

But the other examples given above, of NRC and Gabby - yes, they were both poor captains.

 

Based on? Giving the captaincy to Bent was the wrong decision but I've seen nothing to suggest that it was all some sort of ploy to force Bent out. Doesn't really make much sense.

 

[villa-revolution]

Best Captain is easy, just got to be Sir Dennis.

 

The worst captain I would say, because he wasn't much of a player anyway, was Harry Gregory when we we're in the old 3rd Division.

[Pelle]

Do I remember it right that Cowans was our captain during the '89/'90 season?

 

Best (that I can remember): Ricco or Southgate

 

Worst: Hm, neither Bent nor Gabby really excelled with the arm band. Or NRC, for that matter. But I have to go for Bent.

[dAVe80]

Do I remember it right that Cowans was our captain during the '89/'90 season?

 

No, newly appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager, Stuart Gray was.

[dAVe80]

Not happy about the lack of NRC love! We won the Peace Cup under his Captaincy, some seem to forget!! *wink face thing*

[NIVillan]

Ian Ross, Dennis Mortimer and Kevin Richardson are the past Captains I can remember of my time supporting Villa.

 

 

 

Didnt Kinsella captain us at one point?

[Zatman]

Laursen, the collapse when he was injured says it all for me

[AVFCforever1991]

I'd go with Laursen too

 

[BG_Villa_Fan]

Edit : nvm

Edited January 28, 2014 by BG_Villa_Fan

[Pelle]

 

Do I remember it right that Cowans was our captain during the '89/'90 season?

 

No, newly appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager, Stuart Gray was.

 

 

Ah, well, couldn't watch that many games those days, and just had a picture of Cowans with an armnband. Probably my mind playing strange trix with me. Cheers!

[El-Reacho]

Laursen/Southgate best. 

 

Bit of a tough one to say but Clark had a tough time of it last year. Really wasn't ready for it - was arguably a unfair giving it to him when he was having enough difficulty as it was.

[dAVe80]

 

 

Do I remember it right that Cowans was our captain during the '89/'90 season?

 

No, newly appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager, Stuart Gray was.

 

 

Ah, well, couldn't watch that many games those days, and just had a picture of Cowans with an armnband. Probably my mind playing strange trix with me. Cheers!

 

There's a chance he would have captained the side, when Gray was injured / suspended / substituted. I'd say there's a good chance such a picture exists.

[dont_do_it_doug.]

No Mark Kinsella?