Thierry Henry - Fair Weather Captain

Firstly let's get one thing out of the way. If you've just clicked the link to read someone slagging off our captain then sorry, you're in the wrong place. I have absolutely no intention of having a go at the guy; I'd merely like him to hand over the armband at the end of the season (without leaving the club!).

Right, before we talk about the captain let's talk about the player. We know how good he is and I actually think he hasn't let us down as a player this season. In terms of 'highlights' he probably won't have such a long tape this year as in previous seasons, but I think there's some fairly obvious reasons. For a start I don't think the guy is anywhere near fit. I think the guy's body is shot and more than anything he needs a month or two off. He's the best at what he does so obviously both club and country want him to play as often as possible, and to be fair to him I'm certain that he'd play every League Cup match (whoever sponsors it this year) as well if Wenger would let him.

When you play most of your game in the inside left channel it's rather handy to have an overlapping left back to open up the space. With the exception of Lauren not one of the guys who covered the position could do that because they don't know how to play full back. Apart from that the team hasn't been firing generally and if you are the guy that gets the last touch you're going to be getting less of them if the ball doesn't get to you.

I think they lead to the third reason. He desperately wants to win every game and trophy and not winning them annoys the hell out of him. Ok, sometimes his head drops (or maybe he's feeling an injury ... we don't know) but we're watching this guy every second he plays and who can honestly say their head doesn't drop sometimes. It doesn't matter what he's paid there are still going to be times when he just wants to scream something rude at the top of his voice. Not advisable on a football pitch. He'd get a yellow at the very least!

So as a player, taking everything into account I've no complaints.

But as a captain ...

When things are going well he's magnificent. He encourages his teammates and he looks after them. He rarely goes off to celebrate goals without acknowledging the 'supporting' cast. Everyone remembers the way he pulled Kerrea Gilbert in front of him after being set up, but less well remembered is his goal against Pompey. Píres was getting loads of stick from them every time he touched the ball but after Thierry put on their shirt a couple of years ago and said it was to honour their magnificent fans they rather like our number 14. Anyway, he managed to run backwards to fairly near their fans and made a big point of congratulating Píres. Their fans certainly didn't cheer Bobby after that, but neither did he get booed every time he touched the ball! Superb captaincy and the problem was diffused.

But when things are going wrong I don't see it. I don't see him dragging the team up off the floor. Rarely is it the genius of the team that can do that, more often someone that can do it by strength. Just get the ball and go forward with it, or if we haven't got it charge in at the man that has and put the fear of God into him. That's why it's probably not Thierry's fault.

He's captain because he's the best and I'm sure Wenger thought this season would be rather better than some of it has been and there wouldn't have been a problem. A lot's been made of him leaving the pitch quickly last night, but it's not true to say that he didn't acknowledge the fans. However, by running off the other players naturally followed their captain and it fell to Gary Lewin to usher the other players over to us.

I understand that off the pitch he is a great leader but that's not where it counts. Anyway, a striker as captain? It's just wrong.

Centre half, central midfield, or full back. The captain should play there. When you're under pressure that's where you need your captain to be. Not the guy who has got to stay as far forward as he can as an outlet!

There's absolutely no other business in the world where people are promoted to authority purely because they're the best worker. Leadership doesn't work like that. It's completely different to 'doing the job' and in all honesty you have to have something special to be a leader.

For me there was only one choice at the start of the season, and that's the guy who in a questionnaire when asked about nicknames said 'Anything but Ralph!' Sorry Ralph, but before you stare at me (have you ever in your life seen a better captain's stare outside of a Jack Nicholson horror film!) I do think you should be Captain Ralph.

Didn't rate you as a right back when you started. As a player absolutely, but not at right back. You couldn't do it. Players went round you far too often. But you worked and learned and there's a reason why you appear so often in the Premiership Select XI. With hindsight you've proved me wrong and that's the sort of characteristic a captain needs.

Not necessarily being the very best, but being the very best you can possibly be.

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