Howe and Lascelles

[Geordie_Jacko]

So after playing him a lot in pre season and still playing him as Captain it looks like nothing has changed or is going to change in that department before the start of the new season. After another lackluster display yesterday I just can't understand why Eddie hasn't stripped him of the captaincy yet. Maybe he does things in the dressing room and at training we don't see but even if you are a leader off the field to be captain you need to back that up with big displays on the field and he just doesn't do that. I see Gerrard has just recently taken the captaincy off Ming's at Villa and all the pundits on sky where saying he's made the correct decision not only for Villa but for Ming's as well. I honestly think that would be the case if Howe took it off Lascelles. Unlike some I still really like Lascelles and I personally think he's got it in the locker to battle the other lads for a starting spot alongside Botman I just don't think the pressure of being club captain helps at all. Now we have him, Schar and Burn basically battling it out for that spot next to Botman he won't be playing every game even if fit so why have him as club captain then have to give other regular starters the armband? I think Pope, Trips or even Botman should take the armband personally I think that would really help Lascelles on field performances get to the level they need to be at. I'm a huge fan of Eddie Howe but for me this is his only real mistake so far. But then again what do I know. What do you guys think?

[TheOtherTerryMac]

So after playing him a lot in pre season and still playing him as Captain it looks like nothing has changed or is going to change in that department before the start of the new season. After another lackluster display yesterday I just can't understand why Eddie hasn't stripped him of the captaincy yet. Maybe he does things in the dressing room and at training we don't see but even if you are a leader off the field to be captain you need to back that up with big displays on the field and he just doesn't do that. I see Gerrard has just recently taken the captaincy off Ming's at Villa and all the pundits on sky where saying he's made the correct decision not only for Villa but for Ming's as well. I honestly think that would be the case if Howe took it off Lascelles. Unlike some I still really like Lascelles and I personally think he's got it in the locker to battle the other lads for a starting spot alongside Botman I just don't think the pressure of being club captain helps at all. Now we have him, Schar and Burn basically battling it out for that spot next to Botman he won't be playing every game even if fit so why have him as club captain then have to give other regular starters the armband? I think Pope, Trips or even Botman should take the armband personally I think that would really help Lascelles on field performances get to the level they need to be at. I'm a huge fan of Eddie Howe but for me this is his only real mistake so far. But then again what do I know. What do you guys think?

Lascelles is a terrible defender he just can’t play football. The ball is like a hot potato to him and he either plays it sideways or an anywhere will do punt upfield.

Everytime he plays I fear the worse he shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting 11

[trinitoon]

Lascelles is crap. He isn't being sold so I'm glad this post isn't about that.

In terms of the captaincy, it is hard to captain people that you are worse than. Tripps is clearly captain material. But maybe he drives people too hard; dunno.

Lascelles should not be captain because, apart from rousing speeches and a war face, he doesn't have the moral authority to tell better players anything...

[Geordie_Jacko]

Lascelles is crap. He isn't being sold so I'm glad this post isn't about that.

In terms of the captaincy, it is hard to captain people that you are worse than. Tripps is clearly captain material. But maybe he drives people too hard; dunno.

Lascelles should not be captain because, apart from rousing speeches and a war face, he doesn't have the moral authority to tell better players anything...

I don't think captaining better players is the issue. Quite often the captain of a team isn't the best player but it will usually be a player that can put in captain worthy performances which Lascelles often doesn't. He is usually at fault somewhere for a lot of the goals we concede. Then he's expected to rally the troops when he's the one at fault and he's the last person they want to listen too. I really think it's a mistake by Howe not changing the captaincy before the new season.

[Nufcian]

I had thought that Howe was just keeping him Captain as none of the new lads has been a player for us long enough to really do the job… but I had thought it would mean Lascelles would be on the bench, and a distinct 4th choice behind Botman - Burn - Schar.

Maybe that’s the plan, in the pre season he has given all the players who will be on the 25 man squad a run out.

Could be Lascelles does a good job off the pitch, and we don’t have another senior centrehalf to replace him as 4th choice?

[GBruno]

Bruno would be my choice for captain, but would be happy with Trippier.

But yeah, I agree, Lascelles remaining captain is odd. We need to get rid. Fed Fernandes is a better backup defender option by far.

Its odd Ritchie is still about too.

[Jammy89]

I don't think it's that odd.

Howe/Bruce/Rafa have all said that Lascelles is a leader in the dressing room and that he does a lot of captain stuff behind the scenes.

He stays club captain but doesn't play and you have Trippier as captain on the field.

It means that the old players, who know they are going to be moved on don't feel to upset etc. I know we can say they shouldn't care etc. but they will and an upset squad will do massive damage.

I don't think he'll play much and I think he'll be moved on, when he is I think we'll see a top player taking the band.

[tinostongue]

I don't think it's that odd.

Howe/Bruce/Rafa have all said that Lascelles is a leader in the dressing room and that he does a lot of captain stuff behind the scenes.

He stays club captain but doesn't play and you have Trippier as captain on the field.

It means that the old players, who know they are going to be moved on don't feel to upset etc. I know we can say they shouldn't care etc. but they will and an upset squad will do massive damage.

I don't think he'll play much and I think he'll be moved on, when he is I think we'll see a top player taking the band.

I agree, granted he’s not our best defender, he’s been here a long time and shown loyalty to the club, I definitely believe he cares about our club and as Howe has mentioned, he does great work behind the scenes especially with new players. I hope we keep him, and as club captain, on the field captain, choose any one of 4 Shelvey, Bruno, Pope, Schar. He doesn’t deserve some of the abuse he gets from our fans on here, he’s one of ours, support him!

[toptoon]

Sorry I don’t get it. Being a captain is not all about arm around the shoulder, you have to give a *******ing sometimes and make demands. How can he do that to a more senior player and be respected if he’s not an automatic starter? How will he be respected?

Am I being old fashioned?? I am concerned that Howe sees him as a starter - that's the only reason I can see to keep him as skipper.

[Geordie_Jacko]

Sorry I don’t get it. Being a captain is not all about arm around the shoulder, you have to give a *******ing sometimes and make demands. How can he do that to a more senior player and be respected if he’s not an automatic starter? How will he be respected?

Am I being old fashioned?? I am concerned that Howe sees him as a starter - that's the only reason I can see to keep him as skipper.

I don't think you are being old fashioned at all, modern day football is a harsh world and if Lascelles or senior players around him couldn't accept him loosing the captaincy then so be it. They're grown men for Christ sake. I personally don't think that's the case and I agree with you that I also think Howe has plans for Lascelles to be a starter alongside Botman. What I will reiterate to others is I'm not a Lascelles hater far from it. Like I've already said and have often before I don't think he deserves a lot of hate he gets and I do think he's been a good servant to the club. I also think he has it in his locker to still be a good CB for us. I just don't think he should be our Captain and I think loosing that responsibility of leasing the team could help his on field performances. He may be a leader off the field and good with youngsters but so will plenty others that doesn't help you on a Saturday afternoon.