Up until news from the wires broke that Wayne Rooney had been charged by the FA for his foul-mouthed slanging match with an inanimate object, our Captain’s Poll was proving to be one of the most interesting we’d seen all season.
Just a single percentage point separated a three-way race between Frank Lampard, Robin Van Persie and the aforementioned Mr. Rooney before word hit. With the dust settling on this week’s European encounter, the final verdict is in after Rooney appealed the sanction and we’ve officially taken the United striker out of the running…
The heavyweight duo of Frank Lampard (sorry Frank) and Robin Van Persie are almost definitely going to remain at the front of the chase – they’re both on penalties for two of the top sides, whilst also having the benefit of facing two of the lowest ranked teams in the Premier League.
It will be interesting to see if all of those who climbed aboard the Rooney train early will now have a preference between either of these “obvious” candidates, or if his absence will now introduce some risk-taking into the captaincy choice. The gameweeks are whittling away now, with fewer opportunities to recover those mini-league gaps, could it be time to really go for broke with the armband?
Didier Drogba is perhaps the leading candidate in this race (three goals in the same fixture last season is a nice omen) although he is far from guaranteed his starting role after Wednesday night’s exertions and with the looming second-leg at Old Trafford. If you’re a bold soul taking a gamble you certainly have options – Asamoah Gyan at home to West Brom? Darren Bent on a roll versus Newcastle? Nani against Fulham – given Ferguson’s recent shuffling, that’s even a moderate risk now.
Even if your vote previously dropped into the Rooney camp, don’t forget to glide by the frontpage once more and scratch your cross.
