Capello & Terry
England 2 – 2 Czech Republic
A little disappointed is how I felt after the latest (typical) England friendly. I had, have a lot of confidence in Fabio Capello leading England to a successful World Cup Campaign in 2010 (by successful I mean at least a semi-final place). But I haven’t been that encouraged with the past week’s activities; the captancy decision and his latest friendly as he continues to settle into probably the most demanding job in world football.
1. His choice of captain, John Terry. I felt both Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were more sensible options; both (when fit) should be automatic choices, whilst I’m not too sure whether John Terry is still one of the two best English centre backs?
2. The ‘Golden Generation’. Although they promised so much, and if it wasn’t for Eriksson going completly mad and deciding that an injured Owen and Rooney, an extremely inexperienced (at club level let alone international) Walcott, together with Crouch upfront, we would have a more than great chance of bringing home the 2006 World Cup. Oh well, enough of me whinging on that subject (for this post anyway). The Golden generation is now past it, we need to move on and give future potential the chance to a) prove themselves, and b) get a chance to learn each other’s game. As much as the likes of Beckham has done for England (which is more than he is given credit for), it’s time for an England manager to look elswhere to old questions. I’m not saying players like ‘golden balls’, Lampard, James and even to an extent Terry, don’t have a a place in the squad, but please let us see Bentley, Agbonlahor, Ashley Young et al. show us what they can do in the bigger matches.
3. The formation. I know a couple of years or so ago when Eriksson was fiddling with formations, everyone was saying ’stick to 4-4-2 it’s what the players know!’. At the time it was a valid point. But now where we sometimes seem a little short of strikers and overwhelmed by midfielders demanding £15-20m transfer fees (Barry, Bentley, Carrick etc.) why not try 4-5-1, or 4-3-2-1. Many of the players play similar formations for their club (especially those at Man U and Chelsea).
In time he may try one or two of the above suggesstions and it may not work out. But surely it is positive to move on than slip back to what previous managers have tried. On Wednesday, all I could think, I’ve seen this all before – Lampard/Gerrard debate, team running out of ideas, ineffective Rooney etc. does this ring a bell for anyone else too?
Sorry about all that, airchair supporter rant now over.
