Has Fabio Capello Solved All Our Problems? Because it Feels Like He Has.

June 4th, 2009 | by: Daryl |

Fabio Capello has killed three birds with one tactical stone. The dead birds (I’ve just realized what a brutal analogy killing birds with stones is, but we’ve started down this path now so no turning back) are:

1. The Gerrard vs Lampard debate. Solved.
2. The left sided problem. Solved.
3. Getting the most out of Wayne Rooney. Solved.

And here’s how he did it.

We play with a target striker (usually Emile Heskey) and Wayne Rooney plays in the space behind that target striker. Easily Rooney’s best position, and the reason why he has seven goals in his last five WCQ games.

Lampard plays in central midfield, while Steven Gerrard plays out left. However, Gerrard and Rooney tend to switch now and again, which gets Gerrard involved a bit more centrally and probably confuses the living hell out of opposition defenders.

Sounds complicated, but it’s definitely working so far, and we appear to be getting the most out of our best players. Rooney sounds happy anyway:

“We’ve worked on it a lot,” Rooney told Sky Sports. “We’ve spoken, me and Steven, and we’re enjoying it. We’re getting involved. We’re scoring goals, making goals. Hopefully that can continue.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. Emile has done a great job holding the ball up and it gives the likes of me and Steven the chance to get in space, get on the ball and do what we like doing best – scoring goals and creating goals.

“That is how it’s been for the last few games.”

Long may it continue. But what are we going to complain about on this blog now that all our problems are solved?

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Richard

I can’t help but think the Kazakh’s will be a tougher test than people think. More so the location than the team. Especially if the field is as rough as reported. Lest we forget Macadonia. Or maybe I’ve just had too long to think about this.
http://littlemissdiana.blogspot.com diana

I had read about the pitch as well.

And, the Guardian had reported today that there was a bust-up between Gary Cahill and Gareth Barry during training. Here – http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/05/gary-cahill-gareth-barry-england-clash

Not sure if that counts as a ‘problem’ though…
http://epl.theoffside.com Rob

Gareth Barry – Not good at making friends at the moment.

The thing is, at club level Rooney is doing the same thing, and while it looked crazy at the start of the season (I remember complaining it looks silly in the Liverpool/Man United liveblog anyway) by the end he looked really confortable playing wide and switching with Tevez and Ronaldo. Which is at least part of the reason why its working so well. Long may it continue, as you say.