What if Fabio Capello Quit Tomorrow?

December 1st, 2009 | by: Daryl |

fabio goodbye I’m a big fan of The Times writer Patrick Barclay, particularly his appearances on The Game podcast (which I heartily recommend). However, I find myself disagreeing quite strongly with Barclay’s recent article concerning potential successors to Fabio Capello. Especially this line:

Everyone agrees that Fabio Capello is one of the main reasons for increased optimism about England’s chances in the World Cup — and yet, if the Italian suddenly quit, few would panic.

I for one, would panic. Quite a lot.

I agree with Barclay that Roy Hodgson would be the obvious and excellent choice. I also agree that Harry Redknapp would make a decent replacement. But neither has quite the CV of our current boss. And the fact that Barclay goes on to recommend Phil Brown, Steve Bruce and Paul Hart as potential England managers suggests that the pool is very shallow indeed.

Make no mistake: If Fabio Capello quit tomorrow, we’d be in trouble. Luckily for us, he almost certainly won’t. But there is the opt-out after World Cup 2010 to worry about. Whether we win the World Cup (here’s hoping) or make the semi-finals, or don’t even get out of the group stage, there is a very real possibility that eight months from now we could be facing life without Fabio.

In the meantime I suggest we all enjoy having our team coached by a world class manager. Because it may not happen again for a while.

Tags: England, England Team News, Fabio Capello

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Comments

By Matilda | December 1st, 2009 at 7:51 pm

My first reaction from the title: I would cry. Fabio has brought together a team of quite talented players who were floundering under, dare I say his name, McClaren. Life after Capello is a bit difficult to contemplate.

Posted from United States

By diana | December 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 am

Like you Daryl, I do like to read Patrick Barclay’s articles on The Times website but his latest…it is making me shaking my head. Not sure if it is me but it seemed there are always discussion of England, post-Capello.

Anyways, I am with Matilda.

Posted from Singapore

By Aidan | December 2nd, 2009 at 7:36 am

I can heartily recommend The Game podcast too – excellent stuff.
I do think though that Patrick Barclay comes out with some strange stuff at times which does occasionally flabbergaster the others in the podcast. I’ve only read his column on occasion so can’t really comment on that, but as for the podcast I always enjoy Gabriele Marcotti’s opinions.

Anyhoo…there is a real dearth of talented English managers at present and has been for a while. Hodgson for me is the only viable candidate. I shudder at the thought of Mr Wheeler Dealer Redknapp getting a chance. Yes he is clearly a decent manager, but I wouldn’t rate him any higher than decent. Not long ago we were only spared the horrors of either Allardyce or Curbishley as England boss by chosing Steve McLaren instead – oh dear.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Doc Latin | December 4th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Talk about being unreasonable. England has nothing equivalent to Capello. It’s obvious England has become more tactically savvy. I fear England BECAUSE of Capello.

Posted from Canada