09 Nov 2015 12:15:19
Awkward in a sense that they have the armband removed from them and now given to someone they use to bark orders at. Now they at receiving end.

{Ed001's Note - it really depends on the players involved. Some players will respond to losing the armband and raise their game to try and prove the manager wrong for taking if off them. Others will sulk. You can only hope to head it off by making them feel like they are not being slighted by having it taken off them. For instance, in Milner's case, you would point out he is off form and taking away the responsibility to allow him to concentrate on his game and get his form back.}

1.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 13:39:14
When have you ever seen a Liverpool captain barking orders at anyone. That is one of the problems with our team- no leaders on the pitch, and I don't expect Lucas to be any different. Yesterday I didn't see anything to make me change my opinion, and when Henderson returns, nothing will change.

2.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 14:04:06
Sami responded well when he lost the captaincy, didn't he?

3.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 14:13:30
Thank you Ed001 for responding to my queries. Appreciate it lots. Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}

4.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 14:16:43
Was Milner dropped or was he Injured? If injured it will be interesting to see if he gets the armband back.

{Ed001's Note - injured.}

5.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 15:51:34
It's sad that people believe the only way to be a leader is to hang around barking orders and getting in peoples face.

6.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 18:28:58
As an ex-military man the question 'what is leadership' is one very close to my heart. I think you're starting point has to be what is the purpose of a leader of a football team. In my eyes it would be something like:
1. Be the manager's voice on the field.
2. Ensure player's are doing their assigned job.
3. Ensure player's are properly focused.
4. Be prepared to step in and take control of an out of control situation.

The Captain needs to command enough respect (note respect is not the same thing as fear or popularity) that the other players will follow his lead and be a strong enough communicator to be able get his point across clearly. There's a time for shouting and bollocking, there's a time for an arm around the shoulder and a quiet word and there's a time for stepping in and using your force of will to take over.

In my mind Gerrard was a very good captain, he knew when to talk, he knew when to step in and take control and few players in history can match his 'right, if you guys can't do your jobs I'll take over and show you what you should be doing' style. I love his 'we go again' speech, he had the focus of every single player (even the ones who don't speak English), he had to talk loudly over the noise of the crowd but he wasn't shouting, he had a clear simple message that he drilled into the players. As that huddle ended every player knew they were part of something, no Liverpool team has been as united as those 11 players were right then. He wasn't perfect, he wore his emotions on his sleeve and when things went badly he showed too much anguish when he should have been a picture of calm and control, he also suffered from red mist which undermined his decision making, leaders shouldn't lose control the way he could.

I never watched the great Liverpool teams of the 70s and 80s so I can't comment for that period but over the 20 years, even with his faults, Gerrard has been the most natural leader Liverpool has had.

(Got a bit carried away there with the Gerrard love fest there)

7.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 18:41:56
Alright lads, a Chelsea fan in peace here. Just reading through your comments on what makes a perfect captain and as a (biased) Chelsea fan I couldn't help but make a comment about John Terry. Whether you like him or not, for me he is the perfect captain. I'm not looking forward to having to see someone else with the armband week in week out like you guys with Gerrard. Whilst he is an outstanding defender (one of the best of this generation) he is extremely vocal, passionate for the football club and can usually keep a cool head. Very similar to Gerrard with you guys to be honest. Don't really know where I'm going with this post but just thought I'd stick it in haha.

8.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 19:29:05
Saim, I don't like Terry but there are many things that make him a good leader, he's a great authoritarian as opposed to an inspirational leader and he is a reassuring and trustworthy presence. The Wayne Bridge incident shows a massive flaw in his character though, it's not the fact that he had an affair but the fact that one of the victims was a member of his team. Respect works both ways and he had no respect for Bridge, it makes you wonder what he thinks of the rest of the squad.

9.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 20:43:26
Good leaders at team level don't make you do things - they make you think you want to do things because you want to.

They also have to be honest, fair and morally incorruptable.

10.) 09 Nov 2015
09 Nov 2015 22:13:56
Difference between a boss and a leader, Gerrard had qualities of both. The 'if you can't do it I will attitude' is a strange one, if he could just play like that more of time rather than waiting for a time he felt he was needed.