Home > Football > The Capello fits so just lay off the new England boss
by Soma Sundara Rajan on 08 February 2008
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England concluded a deserved 2-1 win against Swizerland at Wembley in their first game under the great Fabio Capello. But I certainly can't understand why the press and fans are reacting this badly after one game. There were boos in the first half and some sections of the crowd were slamming David Bentley and screaming for more attacking football.
But let's face reality. This is a team that failed to qualify for Euro 2008. This is a team that are world-beaters only on paper and not on the field. A 2-1 win against Swizerland is probably nothing to shout about, but even the Swiss know how to play football and this was England's first game since their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
So take one step at a time. It's a fair enough result and the next assignment against France will be much tougher. The problem with England fans and the press is that we all see our team as the world's best and compare the way we play with the likes of Brazil or any other attacking team.
The reality is that we are nowhere near them at the moment. Steve McClaren's reign started with tghree straight wins but we know what happened later. Ultimately, 2-1 is a good result – it means the players don't have to be praised to the skies after one game, which is always the problem with England.
A team which is on a rebuilding phase must concentrate on the final result rather than the way they play football. Let it be 2-1 or 1-0 but as long as we keep winning we have no problems and the confidence of the team will grow.
It's our job to encourage players rather than boo them for, say, a bad pass, which has become a habit at Wembley in recent matches. This is were I take immense pride in being one of the Anfield faithful where we don't boo players when they play badly and would rather encourage them to perform
Capello is already accused of being too defensive and playing old football. What he wants is simple pass and play football which Arsenal do so well in Premier League rather than repeated aerial balls which are wasted most of the time.
Yes, I agree that Peter Crouch made a difference after he came on but that's because of the fact that the burden on Wayne Rooney was reduced and not because of high balls. Touch and pass is a far better option to play football as well as raising the confidence of the players and creating more chances. This is Fabio style and it's a winning style. There is nothing wrong in playing defensive football as long as we keep winning.
We also had to suffer the chants for David Beckham on Wednesday. Even Beckham has agreed that Capello was right to drop him. But just think what effect the calls for Beckham must have on a player like David Bentley. It just dips his confidence. Again it is a lack of patience from England fans. Be patient man! Beckham was not world class from day one of his England career. Bentley is a young chap and he needs time to be the new Beckham.
Yes, Bentley lacks speed but he takes good free-kicks. Beckham is not going to get any younger and we need a guy for the future. Booing or criticising Bentley doesn't make any sense as it will surely wreck his confidence. The good thing about Bentley is that the Beckham chant only stirred him on to play very well and this shows the real character of the lad.
But I agree that Capello got two selections wrong – Wes Brown and Ashley Cole. Brown was favoured ahead of Micah Richards, which was a bad decision by Capello. Cole's personal problems are taking a toll of him on the pitch and it is better for him to take a break and allow Wayne Bridge to play.
This is a team in rebuilding phase and we have one of the best managers the world has seen who himself has confessed he is no magician. It is the duty of every fan to encourage their team rather than expecting too much from them straight away under a new boss.
Condemning the manager immediately after one game – which some of the media is doing – is also crazy. Results are definitely going to improve and Don Fabio will make England a very good footballing unit again.
But PATIENCE is the keyword here.
What did you make of England's start under Capello? Tell us below or in your own Sportingo article.
Comments (8)
by Paul on February 08, 2008
Bull article written by someone that doesnt understand the pride and passion that is involved when it comes to the national team. I dont know if im speaking for most england fans but personally just the appointment of a foreign coach is an act of defeat. Countries like Italy should be looked upon as rivals not mentors, the only countries that take on foreign coaches tend to be newly developing footballing nations like the african and asian teams. We have now become a laughing stock AGAIN! Redknapp should have got the job.
by n.n on February 09, 2008
English managers just like their players are overrated, ever wonder why none of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool haven't had an English manager for so long, and by the way England never stopped being the laughing stock of the footballing world for the last decade and more. p.s Redknapp? Really? Are u that thick? Should have tried for Lippi.
by Paul on February 09, 2008
[quote]English managers just like their players are overrated, ever wonder why none of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool haven't had an English manager for so long, and by the way England never stopped being the laughing stock of the footballing world for the last decade and more. p.s Redknapp? Really? Are u that thick? Should have tried for Lippi.[/quote Another that has jumped on the ENGLISH premiership bandwagon responsible for the demise of English football. Probably an Arsenal supporter (armchair) that is!
by n.n on February 10, 2008
I'm guessing you're a Man Utd idiot, hmm in the last England game the English team consisted of 3 players who began their careers at Arsenal, Cashley Cole, Upson and Bentley where as only Brown started his career at Man Utd, and only Gerrard started at Liverpool and none of the starting lineup were produced by Chelsea. James came from Watford, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole came from West Ham, Barry from Villa, Jenas from Nottingham Forest and Rooney from Everton. Arsenal really are responsible for Englands youth problems aren't they and by the way foreigners aren't responsible for the problems they are just highlighting it. By the way what demise, the last time England won anything was when they hosted the World Cup in 66, 2 years later they had 3rd place in the EURO, I don't remember Wenger or Capello being around then. Idiot
by Dennis Higgins on February 10, 2008
Another England but not English Manager, another big pay packet how many more times are we ruining our English Game,Surely there is a English Manager who can do the England Job for a lot less money than Capello stands to earn,Six million a year,He will probably fail anyway or is it me getting fed up with all the rubbish managers and their rubbish excuses over the last Forty years,or is it just the players we have now,how often do we get real entertainment from an England Team,once in Ten years on average,remember the last time England Cheered us up yes our Five one win in Germany,lets face it Italy won the last World cup only because all the other teams played crap and they were the best of the worst.There are not many stars about now compared to Thirty Forty and Fifty years ago,they were entertainers then you can now count good footballers on two hands, it is a time of too much money for too little talent in every direction in our lovely old game,which unfortunately is now not so lovely,despite bouts of hoo
by Jon on February 10, 2008
The points in this article summarize the mentality of the national supporters nowadays. England fans don't have much faith in their side nowadays. You all have destroyed really good players due to a string of bad performances under poor management, i.e. Lampard and Robinson. Who would want to play for the national side anymore? Not Bentley, England is on their way to destroying him as well..
by Paul Fensom on February 14, 2008
As much as I like to revel in the quality of Arsenal's youth. Upson began his career at Luton I think, definitely not Arsenal. We have to accept that we are a long way behind the in the production of players and managers. Too often offering jobs to the former greats of the game in the vain hope that they can be instant successes!! (Kevin Keegan, Glenn Hoddle anyone)..look at the careers of Wenger, Mourinho and Ferguson. Our youth development at all clubs is improving. We just need to start looking at developing the not so good young players into future great managers maybe!!!
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