EPL Predictions: Power Ranking Each Club's Captain Heading into 2011-12 Season

Successful teams are generally led from the front by a captain, who is capable of inspiring his team and get the best out of his team mates. There have been numerous games where the captain of a team has been inspirational and contributed immensely to the success of the team. In the last two World Cups, the countries which won the world cups had strong captains - Iker Casillas and Fabio Cannavaro - who were a key reason for the victories.

A team which does not have a captain, who can set an example for youngsters, could succumb under pressure though there is no guarantee that a team with an excellent captain would succeed. An example for the latter is Charlie Adam's performances as the captain of Blackpool FC which were inspirational but it ended in vain as the club were relegated.

Though the manager is the one who runs the show for a team, it is up to the captain to ensure they fight throughout the duration they are on the pitch. The Premiership era has seen inspirational captains like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira and there are still a lot of proud players, who love to lead their sides to success. This slideshow is on ranking each club captain based on their efforts as the leader of their side heading into the 2011-12 season.

Newcastle United: Fabricio Coloccini (Not Included)

West Ham signed former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan in the summer and though losing Nolan is a big loss for the Magpies, they will hope that new signings and the existing talented players will help them progress this season. Manager Alan Pardew has awarded the captaincy to defender Fabricio Coloccini, who has been a mainstay for Newcastle in the heart of the defence.

Though Coloccini could have left the club when they got relegated, he remained with the club and won the supporters by helping them get promoted back to the Premiership. For someone who is a Argentina International, it does show the willingness of the defender to stay and help the club. The defender has been applauded for his good performances this season and has made such a positive impact that Pardew has handed him the captaincy.

It will be interesting to see how he performs and Joey Barton, who did not get the armband due to his contract situation, has already supported the defender. Coloccini will hope to bring stability to the team and though some players might be leaving, Newcastle still have a lot of talent and can stay in the top half of the table if they can gel together.

19. Wigan Athletic: Gary Caldwell

Gary Caldwell is one of the most experienced players in Wigan and though he is quite a decent defender, Wigan's defence was definitely not solid last season which was one of the main reasons why they were perilously close to getting relegated in the 2010-11 season. However, they showed their grit as they won on the final day of the season to help Wigan stay in the top flight.

Caldwell and manager Roberto Martinez will understand that they cannot afford to let them get so close to being relegated and will have to work on their strategies in the next season. They have some exciting players like Victor Moses and James McCarthy but they could lose Charles N'Zogbia in the summer as he is attracting the interest of many teams.

Wigan are a team with a positive manager and good attitude and Caldwell and his team will hope that they can move further forward in the coming seasons and move into the top half of the table.

18. Sunderland: Lee Cattermole

The tough tackling midfielder has the faith of his manager Steve Bruce, who has given him the armband at such a young age. Cattermole is a player, who is responsible for breaking up play and starting attacks from midfield. His presence in midfield allowed the Jordan Henderson to play in a more attacking role.

However, he will have to to curb his rash tackling as he has already got a name for getting into the referee's bad books though he is still young and can grow into an excellent midfielder. The former England U-21 International will have to shoulder responsibility following the departures of Henderson and Darren Bent.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is on a signing spree in the summer as he has been the most active manager in the window so far. With the arrivals of former Manchester United players John O'Shea and Wes Brown, Cattermole can further look up to them for any guidance required.

17. Queens Park Rangers: Adel Taarabt

The Moroccan midfielder is one of the most talented youngsters in the Premiership and though Queens Park Rangers have only just been promoted, their impressive performances under Neil Warnock in the last season in Championship can mean that they can stay up in the league if they have belief in their ability.

However, their mercurial captain Adel Taarabt has been linked with a move away from QPR, which is not something which will be liked by the manager, who will be hoping to hold on to him. He was the most impressive player in the Championship last season and as expected, his performances have not gone unnoticed as he has been tracked by some clubs.

Though he has thrown tantrums at times and has been blamed in the Moroccan set-up for poor attitude, he has the ability to create excellent opportunities and not for nothing was he awarded the Pleyer of the Championship for the 2010-11 season. With age on his side, there is ample time for the midfielder to develop into a world class player in the future.

16. Aston Villa: Stilyan Petrov

Though the Bulgarian International is currently 32 years old, he is regarded as a senior leader in the dressing room and his experience is important in guiding many youngsters to make their mark for Aston Villa. With Ashley Young signing for Manchester United and Stewart Downing still uncertain of his future, Villa could potentially lose two of their premier players in the summer.

However, Villa have an excellent group of youngsters coming up through the ranks and players like Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan and Jonathan Hogg have the talent to be first team players in the future. But for now, Petrov remains an integral player in midfield for Villa as he combines his attacking skills along with discipline and good work rate in midfield.

With Alex Mcleish appointed as the new Villa manager, he could look to his captain to inspire his team mates to perform to their potential. Despite the loss of Ashley Young, they are a good team and with intelligent signings, they could again compete for the Europa League spot in the future.

15. Swansea: Garry Monk

The Swansea captain was integral in securing promotion for the club and it was a massive moment in the history of the club as they were promoted to the Premier League via playoffs. Garry Monk and Ashley Williams formed an excellent partnership in central defence as the Swans played with a lot of flair without compromising on organization in midfield.

It will be interesting to see how they fare in the Premier League considering they play a neat passing style which is sometimes not popular with clubs in the bottom half of the table in the Premiership. Though Blackpool were easily one of the most entertaining team in the last decade, their organization and poor defence meant that they were relegated despite having a lot of flair in attack having the likes of David Vaughan, Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell in their team.

Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job in getting the Swans promoted but this is where the hard work begins and the manager believes that his team are capable of competing with the best and Swansea will have a tough opening fixture against Manchester City to get a taste of what they will be facing in the Premiership.

14. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Karl Henry

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy and his team were elated following their efforts to avoid relegation on the final day of the season, mainly due to a superb goal by Stephen Hunt. The club were in serious threat of relegation but managed to just avoid it and the manager will hope that they can have a better season in 2011-12.

Wolves midfielder Karl Henry has been criticized following his rough tackling in the league which led to injuries and the unfortunate team being Fulham. However, he has remained a key player for McCarthy's side as he has been integral to the team in them being stronger in midfield. Henry is a player who will give everything on the pitch and though he has been criticized, as the Wolves captain, he has been a very important player for them in the last two seasons.

Though it will be better if he can avoid making rash tackles, he is a player who harasses opponents in midfield and also brings out the ball from midfield to create attacking moves.

13. Norwich City: Grant Holt

The Norwich City captain's career is very different to that of most other Premier League footballers but he is finally going to realize his dream of playing in the Premier League, something which he would not have expected when he joined Norwich City in League One division in 2009. Under the astute management of Paul Lambert, the Canaries have been the surprise entry to the Premiership having only just been promoted to the Championship in 2010-11 season.

He was amongst the best League One strikers in League One but it is surprising that he continued to maintain the same sort of impact in Championship as he led Norwich from the front. At the age of 30, he has finally realized his dream of playing in the Premiership but it would be a huge risk to bet against him not doing well in the Premiership as well.

If Norwich are to stay in the Premiership in the 2012-13 season as well, they need their captain to lead them from the front and should Holt manage to be prolific in one of the toughest leagues in the world, Norwich has a good chance of being successful in the next season.

12. Stoke City: Ryan Shawcross

Though Tony Pulis has been criticized for his team's rather rough style of play, he has to be appreciated on how he has managed to retain stability at the club with Stoke not being in any fear of relegation as the season neared the end. Ryan Shawcross was given the captaincy by Pulis and it has proved to be an astute move from the manager.

Shawcross shows a lot of determination on the pitch and along with Robert Huth, it is a good partnership in the heart of the defence. The England defender has been criticized for his style of play especially after his horror tackle on Aaron Ramsey but he is still young and could yet improve his disciplinary record.

However, Pulis might face trouble keeping the defender in the long term because if Shawcross is consistent, he could attract bigger clubs, some of whom have been linked with the defender.

11. West Bromwich Albion: Chris Brunt

West Bromwich Albion has been excellent in their first season in the Premiership and have successfully stayed in the top flight, which was their primary aim in the last season. Though they had a flying start to the season, a run of defeats led to the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and appointed former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson as the manager of the club.

Hodgson has installed Brunt as the captain of the club and it is the right decision considering that he has been one of the most important performers for the Baggies this season. The left footed midfielder who can play as on the wings or in a more central role has been instrumental in creating many opportunities for the club.

He has been with the club since 2007 and is one of the most experienced players at the club. The midfielder and his team mates survived in the Premiership quite easily in the end and will hope that they stay in the top flight for the 2012-13 season as well.

10. Blackburn Rovers: Ryan Nelsen

The Blackburn captain along with Christopher Samba has formed a solid partnership at the heart of the defence and Nelsen and Samba are both natural leaders, which helps the duo organize the defence better. The New Zealand International has taken a very different route to other footballers having played in the MLS before joining Blackburn Rovers under Mark Hughes.

Though Samba was captain at the start of the season under Sam Allardyce, the sacking of the manager drew furious reactions from Samba which meant the new manager Steve Kean had to strip him of captaincy after the defender almost demanded a transfer. However, Samba later accepted it and even signed a new contract with the club.

Nelsen is one of the most experienced defenders in the Premiership and it does help the side when they are guided by his immense experience in the league. He recently signed a new deal with Blackburn and has been faithful to the club staying with the club since making a move to one of Europe's top leagues.

9. Fulham: Danny Murphy

The former Liverpool midfielder is one of the most important players for Fulham FC and he is the one who is mainly in-charge of the distribution in midfield. It helps that Fulham have got Bobby Zamora who could hold up the ball and players who are good finishers but Murphy is the one who dictates play for Fulham. 

Though Mark Hughes has left the club, Fulham have got in an excellent manager in Martin Jol, who favors good attacking football. The club could play in the Europa league this season if they can manage to get through qualifiers and though it will be great for the club if they can get into the Europa League, they could suffer fatigue considering they have already started their season.

Murphy is into the twilight of his career having spent his best days of his career at Liverpool, but he remains very influential for Fulham. Jol will have to ensure that his captain gets adequate rest and can have good fitness throughout the season.

8. Everton: Phil Neville

Everton Captain Phil Neville features quite high on this list because of his dedication and commitment to the team. The former Manchester United defender is a hard working player, who has the backing of manager David Moyes and his team mates. He has shown the willingness to the cause even though Everton have struggled in recent seasons to compete for Europa league spots.

Also, he has played out of position many times for Everton according to the manager's decision and has never shown dissent to the manager even if the team fails, which is important considering that the support of the captain is important for the manager. He could not play regularly at Manchester United and moved on in 2005 but from that time, he has been at Everton, and though offers have come for him, he has been content with the decision of the manager to keep him at Everton.

There was speculation linking him to a move to Tottenham in January because Neville will provide the leadership needed for the team. Though Seamus Coleman seems to be a player who is progressing extremely well at Everton and is the future right back for Everton, it seems that he will have to be content with a role as a winger as Neville still retains excellent fitness.

7. Bolton Wanderers: Kevin Davies

The Bolton forward is among the longest serving players at Bolton having stayed at the club for seven seasons now and is likely to continue his career there in the near future. Though he has had disappointing seasons early in his career, he has settled well at Bolton and he is a fan favorite at Bolton.

Davies is not a prolific goal-scorer but he is a fighter on the pitch, who gives everything on the pitch. He battles hard for every ball in the air and pressurizes the defenders to a great extent, as a result of which some players can benefit from his style of play. The Bolton striker is known for his grit and determination and he also scores important goals for his club.

Under the stewardship of Owen Coyle, Bolton have progressed significantly and with exciting players like Stuart Holden and Lee Chung-Yong, the Trotters will hope to finish in the top half of the season next time.

6. Tottenham Hotspur: Michael Dawson

Harry Redknapp handed the captaincy to Michael Dawson following the departure of Robbie Keane to Celtic on a loan spell in the second half of the 2009-10 season and he has been a key figure in the heart of the defence for the Spurs. Though he is not the quickest defenders, his positioning is excellent which is why he remains a quality defender.

Also, he is very strong and his physicality helps him be a key player when defending against aerial threat of oppositons. The defender is composed on the ball and is one of the major reasons why Tottenham managed to get into the top four slots in the 2009-10 season and played Champions league football in the 2010-11 season.

Though the former Nottingham Forest defender did not get enough playing time initially at Spurs, it should be said that injuries to quality defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King along with his determination and talent helped him progress into one of the best defenders in the Premiership. It is to his credit that he has managed to become a fan favorite at the club and as captain, he has shown immense determination and commitment to the cause.

5. Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas

The Arsenal captain has been inspirational for the Gunners on a lot of occasions like the sensational performance against Aston Villa and on some other occasions as well. However, he has been linked with a move to Barcelona in the past and he has not made a statement to quell the speculation which has meant that his future remains uncertain.

It is difficult to determine how much he is affected by the speculation in the media but the uncertainty surrounding the club captain could affect others as well. It is difficult to lead others when you are uncertain on your future and also, it is difficult for Arsenal FC as a club because their captain is linked with an exit.

The captain of the club can convince others to join the club and also, persuade his team mates to stay with the club. However, with Fabregas himself not sure of his future, it is not sure whether he is in a position to do that. Also, he is not a vocal captain on the pitch and when the team is under pressure, he has not lead from the front in this season.

Also with his recurring hamstring injuries, he has not played enough games for the Gunners this season and if the club feel that these injuries could occur again, then it is better having a captain, who can play around 30-35 games in the league.

4. Manchester City: Carlos Tevez

According to the Mirror, Carlos Tevez has demanded that Manchester City allows him to leave the club but the club has insisted that they will allow him to do so only on their terms and that means they will only let him if they get an offer which is close to their valuation of the Argentina International. The future of Tevez has been discussed in the past and it was always likely that the subject would turn up in the summer.

However, City will know that Tevez is a player, who will give his best when he is on the pitch which is why they might keep him at the club despite the latest statements from the striker. Just like in Fabregas' case, it does not help when the club's captain's future is uncertain and the last time such speculation existed, there were many reports on whether Tevez could be stripped of captaincy. However, he did stay at the club as club captain and did have a successful season with City.

The advantage that Manchester City have is the experience in the squad which helps them cope with the transfer saga of their captain. Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Nigel De Jong are very experienced and if Tevez is indeed stripped of his captaincy in the future, Kompany or De Jong is very likely to get the armband.

Though the transfer speculation could affect a player's performance, it seems like it has had no bearing on Carlos Tevez as he remained their best striker continuing to score goals at an excellent strike-rate throughout the season.

3. Liverpool: Steven Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard emerged through the Liverpool academy and has played for the club all his life. Whenever his name is announced as the teams line up before the game, it is greeted with huge cheers and it has come to a point where Liverpool fans always retain the belief that he can conjure something special whenever they need it most.

The greatest moment of his professional career would have to be "that" game in Istanbul where Gerrard inspired his players to arguably Liverpool's greatest win in the Premiership era. The England midfielder has stayed faithful to the club and with the return of Kenny Dalglish as the manager of the club, it looks promising for Liverpool and Gerrard is certainly going to be pleased with the new signings.

The new owners coming in have been a huge boost for the club and the signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll immediately after the sale of Fernando Torres showed that they meant business and taking the club back into the top clubs in Europe. Captain Gerrard is an important component of Dalglish's Liverpool and will be required to inspire them to win matches consistently.

2. Chelsea: John Terry

The England Captain is a natural leader, which is the reason why Fabio Capello gave John Terry the captaincy despite stripping him unceremoniously following allegations regarding an affair with Wayne Bridge's wife. Terry is undoubtedly a leader in the dressing room and has been vital for the Blues in helping them being one of the top clubs in Europe.

Terry is a player, who can be viewed as one who barks orders at his others in order to get the best from his team mates. He has shown immense character and has been unfazed by criticism, while maintaining his strong leadership for Chelsea. If things are not going right for Chelsea, Terry tries to inspire the players with his aggressive style of play.

For example against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in this season, Chelsea were hardly holding on to the ball and were dominated in midfield for the first half an hour with many players playing long balls which were clearly not working. Terry took it upon himself to bring out the ball from the deep and made a marauding run into the box, which finally gave some momentum to the Blues, though they could only draw the game.

Though he has not had as good a season as he would have liked, the signing of David Luiz could mean Terry can benefit from the Brazilian's all-action approach. The Blues captain is an extremely important player for Chelsea and wears his heart on the sleeve.

1. Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic

The Manchester United captain was one of the most important reasons why Manchester United won the Premier League last season and he was one of the most committed players in the team. The Serbia International is a player who can command the defence well and has shown in the past that he is a good leader.

It prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to give the armband to Vidic, who was a rock at the heart of Manchester United's defence. He was the first to urge his players to be alert and pushed his team on when they were in search of goals as well. Though United had several experienced players like Paul Scholes, Edwin Van Der Sar and Rio Ferdinand, Vidic was integral in keeping the defense compact.

His leadership at the back helped United cope with injuries to Rio Ferdinand, who was injured for a number of games. Vidic guided Chris Smalling in difficult circumstances and in Smalling, United have a replacement who is composed in tough situations, which is important for a defender. With United winning their historic 19th title and Vidic a key reason for that, it is hard to think of a better captain in the Premiership.