Gary Neville loses the armband??? They might as well have declared me out of the running.

Last week I was made to feel a monster by an old friend of mine. The trusty pair of brown shoes, that I always used to wear for a night out, were sitting on the shelf next to several pairs of newer, less tatty, purchases that I have made during the lifespan of those shoes. I would throw them on maybe once every two weeks, with the holes in the sole and the uncomfortable hard back giving me a blisters, but my affiliation with the shoes forced me to.

I have had to tell them, at last, that they are no longer my favourite pair. They blatantly already knew though, but I felt it was good that I rubbed it in. It seems Alex Ferguson was inspired by this completely fictional story by letting Gary Neville know that he will no longer captain Manchester United.

This news comes at a ridiculous time, as I am sure that when G-Nev looked across to his left at Goodison Park, he would have realised that Vidic had the armband, thus solidifying the fact that he wouldn't be captain again.

Lets play this one with facts, and say that, generally speaking, Gary Neville has not been that much used to  captaining the side. He was given it after Roy Keane retired, but that little armband has been passed on more times than Steve Claridge. But, as we have learnt this weekend, Alex Ferguson has a lorra lorra lot of respect for his players.

But why mention it now? The armband is clearly up for grabs at united, and although never spoke about, the battle between the high-rollers has always been fiercely contested. Is there any coincidence that the question of the captaincy has been mentioned when Wayne Rooney, a player which Ferguson has dealt with almost parentally over the last few days, was pulled out of the side and is now gearing up for a game which will be crammed with patriotism and passion against Rangers.

Maybe so, as even Ferguson wouldn't hand Rooney the captaincy, would he? In my eyes, he will eventually, and with Giggs not taking it and Ferdinand almost constantly injured, Wayne is being manoeuvred and structured to take on the role, and in my opinion, the move will happen a lot sooner than you think.  

Ryan Dugins

The Shin Roller