The top five candidates to replace Vidic as United skipper.
5. Robin Van Persie
He may not have been at the club for very long, but he is now a fully fledged senior member of the squad. His experiences at the top end of the table with Arsenal, and last season’s title winning exploits have stood him in good stead to take the armband, and it is also a job he has performed before. Arsene Wenger gave him the duty during his final season at the Emirates in a bid to keep him at the club.
The only thing that would hold him back is his injury record.
4. Rio Ferdinand
Could he be worth one more season? He’s captained club and country before, and despite rumours of continued discord between himself and David Moyes the manager would do well to bury the hatchet as a player with Rio’s considerable experience would do so much for the continuity of the squad in the wake of an overhaul.
The only problem is that he doesn’t get on the pitch as much as he’d like, and what United need is a solid and dependable player to carry out the role week in-week out.
3. Darren Fletcher
The Scottish international may have only just returned from a long period out of the game with a chronic bowel illness, but he swears he’s back and prepared to make up for lost time. He is often billed as an unsung hero of the side and cuts a popular figure at Old Trafford. His commitment and ability have never been in question and he would rarely let his teammates down during this time of upheaval.
However, his illness may flare up again at any time, and like RVP the last thing United need is a skipper sidelined for a long period of time.
2. Michael Carrick
The 32-year-old was once frequently tipped as fodder to be offered up to other Premier League sides as bait for stars that Sir Alex wanted to bring on board. However, over the past two season’s he has highlighted just how important he can be to the club by modelling himself as a deep lying string puller, an English Pirlo if you will (steady on!) but he is now an important member of the side and they do not perform as well when he is out of the starting XI.
But, is he too quiet?
1. Wayne Rooney
Surely the obvious choice? Rooney has frequently insisted that he wants to leave the club for something else, but perhaps the armband could persuade him to stay, at least for another season.
At 28, Rooney is now in his prime, and his ferocity on the pitch is exactly what the club need to drag them out of this slump and into a new golden generation. A fit, firing and happy Rooney would be a clear attraction to other players coming into the club, and it could be what finally gets him to curb his temper.
It’d do wonders for the national side too!