Should Bruno Guimaraes leave Newcastle United, there is only one man to wear the black armband: Dan Burn. According to columnist John Gibson, Burn embodies what Newcastle and their fans are all about. A Geordie with a big heart and a big love, he is one of the supporters.
Why Dan Burn Stands Out
Any competition for the skipper role stands in Burn's considerable shadow. Joelinton is not a natural leader, nor are Sven Botman or Malick Thiaw. Fabian Schar has supporters but will not play enough games to justify the honour. While Burn faces competition for a starting role, he will play more often than Schar. Lewis Hall is too young, Lewis Miley not ready yet, and the front men have enough to occupy their minds.
Burn has become Thomas Tuchel's secret weapon at the World Cup. A team's captain is not just a coin-caller; he must inspire those around him by word or deed.
Types of Great Captains
Great skippers fall into two categories: tub-thumpers like Joe Harvey, Bob Moncur, Jimmy Scoular, and Alan Shearer, who lead with clenched fists and barked orders; and those who lead by example, like Kevin Keegan and Stan Anderson. Burn fits the first category. Hughie Gallacher, who defied the typical captain mould, was both skipper and top goalscorer with 39 goals from 41 games when United last won the league in 1927.
Of the modern Saudi era, Jamaal Lascelles and Kieran Trippier deserve honourable mention.
Bruno's Place Among Greats
Where does Bruno fit among United's all-time greatest skippers? Gibson suggests waiting until his career is complete before ranking him. The sticking point for a transfer is whether Arsenal, who thought they could get him cheap, will pay serious cash.
Geordie Lions at the World Cup
Elliot Anderson, who has started every Three Lions match, and super sub Dan Burn are central to England's World Cup final bid against Argentina. In 1990, four Geordies with NUFC links represented England in a World Cup semi-final: manager Bobby Robson and players Peter Beardsley, Paul Gascoigne, and Chris Waddle. All were involved in the penalty shoot-out defeat to West Germany. Gascoigne never played in another World Cup; Robson never managed again in the competition.
Gibson has spoken with those players about the effect of 1990. Despite the loss, Italia 90 cemented Gascoigne's reputation with Gazzamania, and Robson went on to manage PSV, Porto, and Barcelona before returning to Newcastle. For Waddle, it led to a Pizza Hut advert alongside Stuart Pearce, poking fun at Gareth Southgate's Euro 96 miss.
Gibson hopes for a better outcome this time, with no villains in a shoot-out.
