21 Aug 2026 15:54:02
Vice-Captains announced by Iraola: Alisson, Joe Gomez and Szoboszlai.
Looks fine to me, despite some shaking their heads at Gomez.
21 Aug 2026 16:28:58
Yeah, looks good. I think it's a great honour for Joe in what will likely be his final season for us after 12 years.
21 Aug 2026 16:33:47
He's been a senior member of the team for 11 years, don't see a problem with that.
21 Aug 2026 16:36:00
Are they the 3 longest serving players?
Joe and Alison surely are. And Szob came in same time as Endo, Grav and Macca, didn't he?
21 Aug 2026 16:49:31
I can see Gomez picking up a bicep injury wearing the captain's armband.
21 Aug 2026 16:51:32
JK, Joe, VVD and Alisson are the longest servers (in that order).
Technically, Gakpo has been here longer than Szob, however, I reckon Szob will be our next captain once VVD goes, so that's probably why he's been added to the group.
21 Aug 2026 16:56:29
I really don't have a problem with Gomez being one of the vice-captains. The chances of him actually being captain are slim, given that he's rarely fit. I think he's averaged about 15 games a season over his career with us.
21 Aug 2026 17:08:36
Zed, yeah I agree on the Szob shout.
Can see Joe being the skipper for early League Cup rounds.
If Vvd were to miss any league / CL games, I wonder who would wear the armband. I'd probably go with your analysis and say Szob.
21 Aug 2026 17:15:53
Will go to Dom if Vvd is out. Ai explained that he sees Becker as a captain, but with the rules around only captains being able to question the Refs, he wants it to be an outfield player.
I don't see Gomez starting a lot now with Araujo, Jaquet, and Leoni around. Cup games, coming on a RB to see out leads, will be his main role.
21 Aug 2026 17:25:33
@ Zed, is that a slight pointer to Gakpo not being here much longer?
21 Aug 2026 17:28:07
Interesting choice by AI in selecting Joe. Well deserved, I think, but interesting that a player who a reasonable section of this forum wanted out over the summer should be valued so highly by the coach.
21 Aug 2026 17:46:12
He won't be on the pitch very often, so it's irrelevant.
21 Aug 2026 17:46:16
Grinch, could be, although I'm coming round to him staying at least this season, providing a decent CF option if Isak is injured.
Could also be that the 3 slots were reserved for long servers and the next captain?
21 Aug 2026 19:01:05
Rigsby, that's awful, but I laughed. We're both going to hell.
21 Aug 2026 20:37:59
At least we'll be warm, Ecogsi2.