The First Creeping Doubts About Fabio Capello

Is anybody else starting to question whether Capello knows what he is doing?
The tactic of naming the team 2 or 3 hours before the game was clearly to prevent the best team that ever walked on this planet from stealing a march on England. The USA’s 80-1 starting odds reflected their chances and there was no need for a clandestine approach which probably helped the Yanks by hindering England.
The players need to prepare mentally for an important game which had been hyped-up to stratospheric levels. You would think that task would be much easier if you knew whether you were playing the game, on the bench or playing the vuvuzela.

Very poor substitution putting SWP in Coles left wing area thats very odd.

Apparently it is something Fabio has done for years, after a player got injured in a warm up and his replacement played badly. But yeah, I don't know that it has worked out so far in this World Cup.

Let’s face it Capello can’t speak English very well, but then again neither can his team (unless you call ‘err well errm well like y’know wot a mean like we need to score more goals like, we can do it like’ good English)so communication is at a serious disadvantage from square one.
Capello and the England team need to take a lesson from Germany who show true professionalism on and off the pitch. Their manager, Oliver Bierhoff , is cool and professional unlike Capello who was seen waving his arms around like a blustering oaf when they actually did score! The German team employ magical footwork and play a game in true team spirit. They rarely ever foul. They don’t face up to the ref spouting vile language. They are a joy to watch and deserve to win. The England squad are over-paid hot headed egotists with brains partly in their feet and partly hanging between their legs and if they couldn’t kick a bag of hot air for money they would be digging up turnips for a living. If someone was to take a pin and pop all their bloated egos in one go it would cause an earthquake measurable on the richter scale.

I think Fabio “dropped the ball” in his selections and substitutions, but I think he's paying for not blooding some new talent earlier in his reign. If we recall, we were in total control of our qualifying group from Day 1 and maybe, he should have given a look at Hart, A Johnson, Dawson, and the like.

I still believe we have one of the top managers out there and I'm more concerned about the players and their performances.

I agree with a lot of what you say about the English players. Some of them aren't the sharpest tools in the box, and the Germans looked very impressive against Australia, who are the worst team at the tournament. I've always admired the fact that no matter how badly the German national sides are playing, whenever they get to a major tournament, they seem to be able to get it all together.

However, they are not all of what you think. They don't have magical footwork but play the game in it's simplest form, keeping the ball on the ground and moving off the ball. “True professionalism” is a term I wouldn't use for any German team as they are consistently the worst “divers” on the planet.

But some valid points…………….

I agree soccerlimey, you can never count out Germany or Italy for that matter when the Cup is being played. I think this will be a very interesting year for the World Cup.

The Yanks didn't appear to have all their ducks in a row on Defense and I couldn't understand the reasoning behind some of the re-entry balls by the US goalie. I counted at least 5 golden chances for England to score on Saturday. The Yanks were lucky to come out with a tie

I think the USA was somewhat fortunate but there's an old saying that says ” the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get”. They are no pushovers and are well-coached. Italy and Germany will both be around at the end as usual but I'm itching to see how Brazil and Spain cope with this new ball.

Capello will pull it together, he always does.

I think the main problem is the kick and rush kind of football. England should try to abondon that. I was watching the game and all England did for major part of the game was hoof those long balls towards Heskey. It's clearly back to the old kick and rush and route 1 tactics as Beckenbauer pointed out. It was the same thing during the Hoddle years and part of the Eriksson and McLaren times as well. The last time England played some really good stuff was under Venables in Euro 1996 and before that it was under later Sir Bobby Robson at the 1990 WC. England should try to get back to playing that kind of football. That young German side was very good to watch the other night and maybe Spain will provide us some quality football. Looking forward to that.

ok a couple of days to cool down and some perspective.
Ledley King is a problem , but we all hoped for better……….
It is not the end of the world, However we may suspect that England Peaked around 12 months ago and unless we can fill the Ferdinand-King hole we are in serious trouble Liverpool's Jamie is not the answer -bless him lotsa heart but the legs are gone.
so Fabio some major changes and a bold approach-please
very sad but It will take a major leap to pass the last 16 and last 8 mmmmmm..

England's problem exactly…extremely critical, ready to tarfeather anyone when things don't go as planned.

Capello can't predict Rob Green making that dumb of a move. Had I asked England fans before the game who would be most likely to make that kind if mistake, I'm sure 90%+ of them would have agreed it would be David James…so why hate Capello for not predicting the near-unpredictable. As for Heskie, he did a good job setting-up Gerrard's goal. I don't think playing him over Defoe was THAT bad of an idea. King, Milener…eh, they did have injury woes. But no one thought those woes would show to the extent they did

Yes, plenty of us out there are questioning Capello big time, it is talk in all the pubs, all the workplaces, everywhere. We are also questioning the squad. As for his selections, it matters not who is selected; the entire England bench fall so well short of a slick, skilful, talented, professional football squad that any eleven out of the total will still only add up to a barrel of frogs. I will sum up some of the talk I hear all the time since it is most of what we talk about these days…
The England bench have one big thing in common with their manager – none of them communicate very well in English, so that is square one. Maybe you don’t need to communicate where English football is concerned! I will mention nothing of their reprehensible tabloid antics off the pitch, but just keep it in mind as I sum this up. So when, as a true English person, a lover of my country, when I listen to the team and their boss trying to speak English, I am not surprised at how unintelligent their game is; missing passes, clearing their throats and spitting, facing up to and swearing f-words at the ref, using vile language in that practice match (yes we know who), the team boss waving his arms about in anger when they actually do score. They are a bunch of gratuitously egotistical hot heads who should take a quiet look at Germany who are their opposites – professional, calm, sophisticated team players who hone their skills based on an intelligent appreciation of the game. From the boss to every player on the bench, they have style, character and are a class act – a real joy to watch. Now I could be proud of them and if our own squad was even half as good, I would be proud to support them. Back home for a moment now: Do all those folks with huge beer guts who drive around in cars and 4×4s flying those cheap, tacky Chinese made red and white nylon flags think they look good? And as for those who hang similarly huge ugly cheap flags from their bedroom windows which look like 1960s bed sheets, they represent the most conspicuous bad taste one could ever imagine. Do they seriously think they are being patriotic to their country? Doing us all some kind of favour? They look positively hideous. Heaven forbid we go and import another billion of them to hang around London during the Olympics in 2012. It will make us look cheap and tacky and here is a fact; it will earn the Chinese more money than the Olympic Games earn us in tourist revenue.
Yes, we want to be patriotic, of course we do, me included, I love my country, so why don’t we wave some quality made bunting in support of a sport or event that truly epitomises how great our nation is and gives us just reason to be proud whilst demonstrating to the world that we are a people of intellect, taste, quality, sporting skill and worth our place in the global scheme of things. By the way, just been reading about how domestic violence increases by 30% here during a football world cup. English football –‘the beautiful game’ come off it chaps, wake up and smell the coffee, English football is rooted in the 1970s when the gum chewing, boot slinging, loud mouthed coach and the squad of boozed up, players missing practice sessions, showing off in sleazy night clubs with blonde bimbos entered our airspace. Get real England, get into the 21st century and you will have support beyond your wildest dreams – I will be in the front of the queue for my ticket.

Sounds to me like you should move to Germany

Capello is symptomatic of the English. We used to lead the world now we feel we have to appologise for our once great past, so no englishman can manage like a foreigner! He is rubbish and has no more pedigree in International football than the guy next to you in the pub.

10 minutes before kick off I saw the team. My comments (believe me if you wish) was Green is a mistake maker like James and Hart should start. Heskey gives you nothing that Crouch won't and he helped to make Spurs' season and what a goals record and finally Milner had not played for some weeks and had a virus and would in no way be fit enough for the fight against one of the fittest the USA.

On that basis I should be the manager so here goes
2 centre backs (pity Jags wasn't there) any are good enough. then a three of Cole A, Barry (if he is up to 90 mins) and Johnson (carragher against a strong side) Lamps, Gerrard with cole roo and crouch up front. Look for 4-0 against both remaining sides.

I have worked out a winning formulae for england to win the world cup. its a 4 2 3 1 formation put carragher at right back he will give us a security on that side he don't have to push forward as the width comes from the two wingers. and dawson in the center along with terry put warnock at left back and he should just keep in defence also not attack. and push johnson and ashley cole on the right andleft side of midfield as wingers, as attacking is what there best at and we will have a balanced look on the left side for once as cole can operate as a left winger happy days. and have barry and carrick petroling in front out the back four to give them that extra bit of security so the atacking players have a good base to go off. as both are great passers of the ball just what you need to keep play ticking over. and then you have an advanced midfied gerrard flanked by cole and johnson and rooney up front on his ownbeing supported by the two wingers and gerrard pulling the strings in behind him like our own english zidane anybdoy who sees this please leave me any comments bout weather you think this could work. come on england we can do it. skeltron also i beleive that adam johnson is part of a bright future for england along with a host of under 21 's that coming through the ranks we might one day have that technnally talented team we all dream off we just need to wait for them to come through wilshere rocks he much better than ozil just you wiat we will HAVE our day the golden goose generation needs to step a side. and ALSO i think that ROY HODGESON SHOULD BE THE NEXT ENGLAND MANAGER WITH PEARCE AND BECKHAM AS ASISTANT COACHES AND ADAMS AS THE DEFENCE COACH

Envious Engurlander, eh? LOL

I had my doubts as far back as the England V Croatia Game. We won it but everybody was getting excited saying how good we were and would win the world cup. No so fast, we were not great on that night, the croates actually were very poor and the score reflected that. Okay so far we made it to the finals with hope.
Capello promised us on form players. Where did Ledley King fit in with all his injuries for a start. And Captain Rio, has had injury problems and Barry is another who is on a wing and a prayer. For me Dawson or Upson should have played instead of King who should have stayed at home.
I am sad for Rio, but King is down to Fabio.
Now as for the rest of the team, Heskey had a good game so they say, what so getting caught offside all the time is a good game then and that's when he can stay on his feet. Plays well with Rooney ? Not that I saw he doesn't.
Where's our other TOP scorers then, Bent been Banging them in and so has Bobby Zamora and how many has Heskey got ?.
Green, well he dropped a big un, is he allowed one ? maybe, but it might have been two, his save hit the post and went out it could so easily have gone in the onion bag. So a big Question mark, would I want him there in the next match. We need to get the points without worrying about the goalie. No bring in James for his experience for this one.
Defence is a major issue with the right back. I had doubts about Johnson's ability to defend and would have Jamie C as right back. Going forward linking up with Lennon or getting forward is great but in the later rounds should we make it, I want a Defender who can do the defensive part. Johnson for me lets too many forwards get past him on the goal side instead of showing them the outside and narrowing the gap. Cole of course can always be relied on. Terry and I assume Jamie C will be the centrals, both lack pace so you would have to put Barry in the Midfield holding position but Questions on his fittness.
That leaves who else to put in the middle, Lampard or Gerrard would have to be in there with Cole and Lennon with Gerrard or Defoe up front with Rooney. 4-5-1.
I am not the Manager of course but I would not have taken King full stop and I would not have played offside slippery boots Heskey ………………

Your right England do play in it's simplest form banging from front to back Kick and Rush.

Yes the best of the bunch falling to Heskey who managed to stay on his feet and ON side for once, but still can't hit the net. The chances we get will be few and far between and we must take them.

Your talking Rubbish me ol mate. Green dropped a clanger and agree it is something James would have done but that is life and not down to Capello, Green would have been in my starting 11.
Heskey ? caught off side so many times it was a joke and still unable to stand on two feet as he fell over at least twice (again). And to put the icing on the cake, my two year old daughter could have slotted that ball past the keeper. What was it Capello told us, I will select on form players, Defoe, Crouch or even Rooney would have put that one away.
As for King, should not have been on the plane.

Not bad. But why push Johnson and A.cole into the wingers role when we have Lennon and J.Cole who can operate there. Like your back four but would put A.Cole at left back. The rest looks okay tho.

Not at all, but it sure looks like you are hence the urge to move. one thing, though. How do you make the assumption that German players are:

“professional, calm, sophisticated team players who hone their skills based on an intelligent appreciation of the game. From the boss to every player on the bench, they have style, character and are a class act – a real joy to watch”

I don't think that there is a professional footballer out there these days, bar a handful, that fall into that category. Are you making those assumptions because they beat that pub team from Australia

I think we always make the mistake of making the manager the fall guy for all this crap instead of axing the players and going with youth. if this squad fails, I would cut most of them and go with young players to Euro 2012. I'm beginning to feel that maybe half this team, given a choice, would rather be home.

There are two other classic under-achievers in world soccer. Mexico and Spain. They seem to have got their act together.

I'm waiting for us to do the same.

Your right to a point, but the manager picks the players. Lets just look at Capello for a start. I had big doubta about Rio as Captain because of his injuries and fittness, Gerrard should have been picked as Captain straight off. King would not even have been in the 23 for his injury record. Capello then tells us he will pick the in form players, so why play Hart and Crouch straight off ?.
The trouble with some of these players, they think they are better than they really are. Some can not read the game Heskey for example always getting caught offside, Rooney not using Lennon on the right, Gerrard taking a pot shot when other players were in better places etc, etc.
We need youth as you say, whatever happens I would scrap the whole England squad set up and start again, bring in young players. We have two very good Goalkeepers in Joe hart and Chris Kirkland to name two, start there and work forwards. Come 2012 we should have a good squad of young Experienced players who could bring us the Euro championship and even the W/C 2014.

fabio should ditch heskey..he should be called hasbeen.why take him when we have more quality players that didnt get to go..also why take players who already had niggling injuries.get rid of the old men and bring in the new generation.its time to rebuild and let the real footballing generation who are bringing hard work back into the game,its not about sponsorship and who looks the best on the pitch.we won the world cup in 1966 because men were real men who had a total passion for the game and not how much they were being paid.i am proud to be english,but our team is a joke it has been for nearly 20years.the last decent footballers were in the 1990 world cup.xx

Have you thought of opening up a Quality flag selling shop.
I support the team at whatever sport we happen to be in.
The point is just this, The English Game is to commercialized, players overpaid and over rated, and they think they are better than they really are.
However, we have to make the best of it and support the team whatever the outcome of the end result, you never know, we might just have a little luck on our side and play all the Donkeys and hope the other side have a off day.
I am sure we will make at leat the next round and good enough on paper for the Quater finals, but that's about it.

You make valid points but every player should expect to play. These are proffessionals and should been fighting for a starting shirt and questioning the manager as to why they are not in the starting 11. The players need to stay focused on their game. Nobody should expect to be automatically in the team.

The bold approach then
HART
Jamie C. Terry Dawson
Lennon Lamps Stevie G J.Cole
Rooney Defoe Crouch

As I said in an earlier post I had my doubts way back.
James made a good claim for the goalies shirt and Carragher was our best defender but he will be out with that yellow card he got. Everyone else looked poor.
S W P for Lennon gave us a better service but that was it. The team had no leadership on or off the pitch.
Why Drop ROO to left Midfield whats happened to J. Cole ?
Capello needs to get things sorted straight away.
My eleven for our Last Game has got to something like this.
James
Johnson Terry Dawson A.Cole
SWP Lamps Barry J.Cole Gerrard
Rooney
4-4-1-1
Or James
Terry Upson Dawson
SWP Lamps Barry Gerrard J. Cole
Rooney Croutch
3-5-2

Having seen the England matches, we are disgusted at their performance. Fabio Capello at £6 million per year isn't working. It is about time we had a manger that understands English Premier League Football, not trying to play another formation. We should learn from past World Cup performances. Look at re-runs where we went wrong. Learn from history. Remember 1966 when we had an English Manager? We could not better than David Beckham who understands our type of play and gets on well with the team.
Ann and Roy Thorogood.