Jagielka was a true servant of the club, now we need to replace him with quality leaders

In our set-up, the only starter presently who can be considered captain material is Seamus. Bit worrying and I agree with the author's view that captains are needed for our team.

Seamus is vociferous and a good Captain, but how much longer will he be able to play for realistically? Unless he is Superhuman he is not likely to get any quicker either going forward or getting back to cover.

The other aspect to Seamus being on the extreme right, how does he make himself heard to a player on the opposite flank and further forward?

Or is it nothing more than a symbolic status given to a player, and to facilitate in-game management – the referee talks to the captain.

Not sure, but the general idea I agree with – that we lack those players with a certain steel and drive that motivates a team to keep on going.

In some years, a certain Tom Davies could develop into that player. Whilst both Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison also have shown at times that aggression – whilst at other times it has been lacking. Gueye and Sigurdsson, however, are the two players we have who I feel 'lead by example'; losing any one of those and our team has significantly less spark.

I hope Gomes develops into the player I think he can be. He's much more than skills and nice passing, but he's a 6'-1", strong and powerful player with both technique and brawn hope he can become a real box-to-box midfield powerhouse for us.

"soark" ???

He earned a lot of money from our club so I think we should not refer to him as a fine servant. Footballers stopped being servants many years ago. We are polluted by hired hands. I think Jags "got it"; sadly we have thieves who do not and never did.

The result - a team utterly devoid of leaders!!!

Perhaps too many strong voices? Too many cooks scenario?

Regarding Fran 5 comment, how important is the role? Looking at the title Champions League winning or coming close teams if the past 20 years (from UK at least) the real stand-out ones, they seem to have pretty influential captains. Keane, Viera, Adams, Kompany, Gerrard, Terry. All at the peak of their careers.

Maybe the key is just having the best players!!

Hopefully out of all the new signings and youth leaders with stronger mentalities will emerge. Pickford, for example, is a mad, cocky, arrogant nark. He does fancy himself a little too much but that will balance out as he matures. Richarlison is quiet but very strong mentally, you can just tell. He's only 22, in his second season over here, fresh off a move and progressing very nicely. I've got my doubts about Mina as a centre back but he's a big character. Conversely, Keane just seems like more of a quieter, nicey nicey Jags/Baines type.

Its always the spine of the team where you need it. Centre mid and an inspirational talisman up top that people can feed off would go a long way to boosting the teams mentality. However the latter tends to cost.

Aled Jones was a choir boy and he is a leader as he leads services on Songs of Praise. Bradley Cooper was a choir boy and he led his mates through three hangovers and is "Limitless"

Bob I agree with much of what you say. Jags was a very fine servant to this football club and an excellent player. As a leader though, he led us by example and inspired us to be as good as we could be.

Was he the kind of captain that drags an extra 10% from the team, no. But there aren’t many of those about.

I do fee collectively we are too nice. We know our place, the people’s club sounds very welcoming and we often are. We do need strong characters, some characters who are testing often have a common characteristic. They are often at a big club that is challenging to win things.

I agree that Mina has the potential to be a big personality and character. He just needs to settle into the English game and I think we could see his development increase.

We need more of this type

Bob I agree with much of what you say. Jags was a very fine servant to this football club and an excellent player. As a leader though, he led us by example and inspired us to be as good as we could be.

Was he the kind of captain that drags an extra 10% from the team, no. But there aren’t many of those about.

I do fee collectively we are too nice. We know our place, the people’s club sounds very welcoming and we often are. We do need strong characters, some characters who are testing often have a common characteristic. They are often at a big club that is challenging to win things.

I agree that Mina has the potential to be a big personality and character. He just needs to settle into the English game and I think we could see his development increase.

We need more of this type

Bob I agree with much of what you say. Jags was a very fine servant to this football club and an excellent player. As a leader though, he led us by example and inspired us to be as good as we could be.

Was he the kind of captain that drags an extra 10% from the team, no. But there aren’t many of those about.

I do fee collectively we are too nice. We know our place, the people’s club sounds very welcoming and we often are. We do need strong characters, some characters who are testing often have a common characteristic. They are often at a big club that is challenging to win things.

I agree that Mina has the potential to be a big personality and character. He just needs to settle into the English game and I think we could see his development increase.

We need more of this type

It ticked me off a fair bit when, in 2016, he missed out on selection for the Euros and he said he had to go home and take out his frustration on some drywall with a sledgehammer. How many times did he take out any frustration on his opponents during matches?