So, Nick Barmby will be the captain of Hull City for as long as Ian Ashbee recovers from knee surgery. Using the most optimistic of estimates, this will be in April.
Phil Brown made the captaincy into an issue this week, possibly because as a reaction to criticism to his dishing out of the armband to various different figures depending on availability, form and, in one odd situation, the identity of the opposition.
George Boateng, Michael Turner, Paul McShane, Ibrahima Sonko and Barmby have all started games as skipper this season. Boateng relinquished it when his fitness let him down; then Turner left the club; then McShane was given it as a token gesture when facing his old club Sunderland; then Sonko was given it for the two Premier League games that followed. Sonko's current possession of the role is especially undesirable, given that he is a loanee deemed not good enough for Stoke City but suddenly able to captain a rival Premier League club. Barmby, meanwhile, captained the two teams of fringe players that competed in the Carling Cup.
The most obvious conclusion to make from this armband sharing policy is that City are very much without a natural leader in Ashbee's absence. This conclusion has been enhanced further by City's rudderless performances of late, the kind which an Ashbee figure would not have allowed. Brown's most consistent belief since his appointment to the job is that Ashbee's presence in the team is a given if he is fit, irrespective of the player's form when on the ball.
In his long-term absence, and with the sale of Turner, there didn't seem to be a standout candidate who was actually going to justify not only the captaincy, but also a regular place in the side. McShane was probably the best option on both of these scores but Brown's unwisely-chosen words about his elevation being as a mere gesture for the player's return to the Stadium of Light put the mockers on that. Andy Dawson and Boaz Myhill, despite being regular performers and players with the club in their hearts, seem to have not been considered. Presumably Anthony Gardner and Jimmy Bullard's continuing absence (though both seem very close to a return) ruled them out too.
However, Barmby's appointment has also proved confusing. Captaincy material he may be in terms of experience, local knowledge, rapport with the fans, respect from the players - but he isn't actually playing very much. Presumably this fresh responsibility means he starts tomorrow against Wigan Athletic at the KC though, although the player he will replace (either Stephen Hunt or Kamel Ghilas, one supposes) will be rightly justified in asking why.
Brown is under the cosh, and for all our vacuous chairman's platitudes about loyalty and long-term goals and despicable supporters, a defeat this weekend would hammer in many a last nail at clubs where loyalty to staff is deemed a poor second to actual progress and success on the turf. Right now, with talk (instigated by Brown himself after last week's defeat at Liverpool) about players not responding to the manager, the team needs personalities who have the manager's trust to do the right thing. Brown has always been Barmby's biggest fan. Suddenly the agenda seems clear - Barmby has been appointed now as not just captain, but as a last effort to save Brown's job.
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