5 players who should never have been made captain

When we think of football team captains, the pre-requisite is that those players have to be, without fail, an example to the rest of their teammates. A player who can adequately get across the manager's message with enough of a presence in the dressing room to be taken seriously but not alienated. It's a tough ask for some. How many times have we seen players that are quite clearly not captaincy material thrust into the position purely because of his standing within a certain club? The following five slides are a drop in a very large ocean regarding players who should never have been handed the captain's armband – for a variety of reasons.

#5 Neymar - Brazil

Neymar was appointed Brazil captain after the 2014 World Cup

There was a sense of inevitability that Neymar would be bestowed the ultimate honour and captain the Selecao. When the going has got tough, Neymar has been in amongst it and has provided the goods when needed.

A back injury at the World Cup in 2014 was a blessing in disguise as it turned out. Brazil’s favourite son was absolved from all blame for the 7-1 hammering at the hands of eventual champions Germany.

However, the most popular player doesn’t always make the best captain and Neymar is a case in point. Leading by example isn’t yet his forte. The exuberance of youth means that far too often Neymar has concerned himself with situations that do not require his input.

Witness the end of the game against Colombia in the Copa America where he was not only sent off for aiming the ball at an opponent after the final whistle but cited for abusing the referee thereafter.

Captain’s behaviour? I don’t think so.

#4 Thomas Vermaelen - Arsenal

Thomas Vermaelen was never able to shake off the injury curse at Arsenal – and now at FC Barcelona

Now at FC Barcelona after moving in 2014, Thomas Vermaelen could have been the next great captain for the Gunners after Tony Adams. Leadership skills came naturally to the Belgian and the role came completely naturally to him to the extent that his teammates accepted his elevated status without question.

Vermaelen’s problem was that he was injured far too often to build up a head of steam in the captain’s role. No sooner had he laid a marker down for his expectations than he was ruled out for long periods of time.

Now injured again at Barcelona, the second time since his transfer, one has to question the validity of Vermaelen’s medical, given that Barca appeared to have signed him without his physical condition being fully assessed and signed off.

He has spent more time on the treatment table than he did leading the Gunners. That can’t be right, can it?

Thomas Vermaelen suffered an injury during Barcelona’s match against Atletico Madrid (image courtesy Marca)

#3 Lee Cattermole - Sunderland

Lee Cattermole getting sent off – a common sight at Sunderland

Cattermole was handed the captaincy at Sunderland purely because he would take games by the scruff of the neck and go to war with whatever opposition was placed in front of him. And he certainly made the best of his limited skill set, but often fell foul of officialdom with his penchant for trouble.

Not quite in the league of the #1 player on this list, with Cattermole in the side, you always felt that trouble wasn’t too far away. Let’s be clear. It’s a man’s game and often no quarter is asked or given. In such circumstances, you need people like Lee Cattermole in the trenches with you.

But it’s all very well having such a gung-ho attitude, you need to back it up with deeds. For all of his industry at Sunderland, he was never more than a hod carrier. Taking on board all of the Black Cats troubles, and then taking them out on some poor soul who just happen to cross his path at the wrong time.

Sunderland fans will love him – but more for his entertainment value than his prowess as a captain.

#2 Wayne Rooney - Manchester United

Is the pressure of captaincy weighing down Wayne Rooney at Manchester United?

Like Neymar, it’s unusual to find an attacking player as your captain, as your figurehead. Wayne Rooney’s situation comes about more by virtue of his deeds at international level than his words. You certainly can’t imagine Manchester United’s finest delivering a rousing dressing room monologue in perhaps the style of a Terry Butcher or a Paul Ince.

That’s not to suggest that “Wazza” doesn’t play for the shirt. Out of the entire current crop of individuals, Rooney is probably one of few players who can hold his head high and walk off of the pitch knowing he gave 100%.

But it’s all very well putting in the effort. A captain needs to have that little bit extra. Leadership skills that teammates will look toward in times of trouble. And his goalscoring drought in the Premier League is definitely a cause for concern – he hasn’t scored since April this year!

Rooney does his own work exceptionally well and anyone who says otherwise is just being mischievous. But that’s not really enough to be handed the captain’s armband.

#1 Joey Barton - Queens Park Rangers

Joey Barton’s red card reduced QPR to 10 men which eventually allowed Manchester City to win the final game and be crowned champions in 2012

Harry Redknapp has made a few decisions in his managerial career that have left supporters and pundits agog, but this surely takes the biscuit! Experience is all well and good, and Joey Barton comes good in this regard.

If it is someone who has been there and done it that you want in charge of the troops, then Barton ticks all of the right boxes.

But the Liverpool native is a ticking time bomb. Say or do the wrong thing, however innocuous, and be prepared to feel the wrath of the former QPR man – a player who has the record for most consecutive bookings in the Premier League with seven.

Arguably, Barton never really stayed on the pitch long enough to warrant a captaincy. And a previous record will certainly have counted against him when it got down to the nitty-gritty with teammates.

How are you supposed to respect a player who goes around stubbing cigars out in teammates’ eyes?