Capello so far...

[Pavilionaire]

I was distraught that Owen wasn't selected, now we've got mighty Defoe. If that wasn't bad enough Woodgate was overlooked and now Ferdinand is crocked it seems Upson or Lescott might play vs Croatia.

This squad hs NO GOALS in it Cappello, no f***ing goals. Mark my words, he is going for a 0-0 in Zagreb. A VERY dangerous policy if David James is your keeper, IMHO.

 

[Easy 10]

I can't remember ever being THIS pessimistic going into a World Cup qualifier.
We'll stumble through against Andorra, but that Croatia match is just a disaster waiting to happen. The friendlies have been wasted, Capello hasn't made his mark on the team, and we look absolutely there for the taking.

 

[Brovion]

I can't remember ever being THIS pessimistic going into a World Cup qualifier.
We'll stumble through against Andorra, but that Croatia match is just a disaster waiting to happen. The friendlies have been wasted, Capello hasn't made his mark on the team, and we look absolutely there for the taking.

That pessimisim COULD be our salvation. No one's expecting us to get anything, no one's saying that Zagreb is simply a stepping stone on the road to our expected triumph in South Africa. With the pressure of expectation removed I reckon we'll get a battling draw and it will be appreciated as a good result (which it will be) as opposed to the tabloids - and people on here - dismissing it as failure: "we should be beating teams like Croatia".

Mind you that in itself creates its own problems. One decent result and the whole 'England Expects' bandwaggon will start rolling again.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

It's funny how some of the most decorated managers in europe cant get it right but some bloke with a keyboard who has probably never been paid to kick a ball in his life knows the answers to a better performance.

Well that told me!

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

No, no it can't. They are too similar and neither of them are what you need in the middle of the park in international football (as most people who say this also seem to think 4-4-2 is the only formation). If Gerrard had signed for Chelsea it MIGHT have worked, they'd have had Makalele behind them for one thing. Chelsea ended up getting Essien so that was better for them anyway.
The problem with Gerrard and Lampard is that they both want to attack, Gerrard isn't even a midfielder really, his best football is in the final third, Lampard can play slightly more reserved but it's not really his true role. You need a midfielder who actually plays in the middle of the field, who picks up the ball, is always available for a pass, and always makes a good pass, someone who dictates the tempo of the game - all good international teams have at least one. Italy have Pirlo, Spain have Senna AND Xavi (plus Alonso), Germany have Frings (also Ballack who is a far more intelligent player than Gerrard or Lampard), Croatia have Kovac and Modric, Brazil have Gilberto, Argentina have Cambiasso, etc. Many of them also play a more defensive ballwinner type alongside them as well (Gattuso, Mascherano and the like), whereas England are lucky if we have ONE player who likes to play predominantly in the middle (unless you count Beckham but that's just because he can't run anymore). It's been a bit better with Barry in there but he can't do it all, also he's nothing special really. Still the difference it made when we actually had a balanced team was remarkable (beating Russia 3-0 ). There's only room for one of Gerrard and Lampard, although either would have to even justify that.

See your point bro. Some good points raised. But Gerrard and Scholes (another naturally attacking midfielder) worked - granted the only example I can give you is the 5-1 in Munich so I honestly do believe him and Lampard can be done.

When one attacks, one sits back - simple coaching surely

 

[Barnet Seagull]

So, do you think Capello has a master plan for Wednesday?

 

[Giraffe]

Capello has completely failed to impress me. Seems like a foreign McClaren to me.

That said, whoever does the job is screwed by the fact that unless England reach a major finals the players in all other games are still thinking about looking after themselves ahead of the next champions league/premiership game.

Until we find a way to make England more important than clubs like in cricket we are stuck with the situation.

However I do think a very recent premiership player like Shearer would be a better bet as manager as he would understand their mentality far better and may get more out of what we have.

 

[Simster]

So, do you think Capello has a master plan for Wednesday?

Yes. Despite moaning that Rooney wasn't carrying out orders, Shrek can expect a cosy starting position.

And Lampard to partner Gerrard in the middle. It makes the banter in the dressing room so much more bearable when they are both allowed to play.

 

[Mellotron]

Great to see Capello lambasting Rooney and Cole at 2-0 up. He's showing them that winning/turning up is not enough, they are two of our most naturally talented players and he expects the best from them.

Also great to see England playing better in the 2nd half for the first time in years and years.

I'm hoping for a win on Wednesday, which is totally possible. But yes the phrase "England Expects" should be made illegal. Like the use of the swastika in Germany.

Brovion:

You're not honestly saying Rooney is the same type of player as Carrick? That's one of the most bizarre comments I've ever heard. My point was we have players to fulfill the Xavi, Pirlo etc role, just we haven't USED them yet. Carrick has had precious little time on the big stage to grow into this role for England.

We need to keep trusting in Capello as he is showing he is someone to actually change things when it's not going our way. With Sven and McClaren it was always a case of admitting defeat and sticking to Plan A no matter what.

We all think we know the secret to England's success but I'm confident Fabio will find it. For example I am in the pro-Bentley camp but if it works better playing Walcott on the right at the expense of Bentley I am perfectly happy to accept that, rather than try to shoe horn him in.

 

[Brovion]

Brovion:

You're not honestly saying Rooney is the same type of player as Carrick? That's one of the most bizarre comments I've ever heard. My point was we have players to fulfill the Xavi, Pirlo etc role, just we haven't USED them yet. Carrick has had precious little time on the big stage to grow into this role for England.

.

No of course I'm not; I think we may have been a little at cross-purposes. I wasn't talking solely about holding players which I think you were. My point was that whilst we go on about Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, etc etc and how great they are people forget that other nations have got good players as well. The Croatian team isn't eleven patsys with funny foreign names who are just going to roll over in the face of our inherent superiority. They've got good INTELLIGENT players in all positions, they play as a team and they are rightly favorites. That STILL baffles those who say "but look at all the English players in the Champions' League final compared to the number of Croatians, surely we must have the better team."

 

[Uncle Buck]

I think that until Capello works out that his first pick up front, when fit has to be Owen and then somebody along side him, we have an issue.

 

[Easy 10]

I think that until Capello works out that his first pick up front, when fit has to be Owen and then somebody along side him, we have an issue.

Thats certainly a factor, but the biggest issue for me is the midfield. If he persists with playing Gerrard with Lampard, and giving starts to Beckham, then we are always going to struggle. He MUST get that midfield balanced. When everyone is fit, I personally would go with:

J Cole - Barry - Gerrard - SWP or Bentley or Walcott or Anyonebutfuckingbeckham

 

[Uncle Buck]

Thats certainly a factor, but the biggest issue for me is the midfield. If he persists with playing Gerrard with Lampard, and giving starts to Beckham, then we are always going to struggle. He MUST get that midfield balanced. When everyone is fit, I personally would go with:

J Cole - Barry - Gerrard - SWP or Bentley or Walcott or Anyonebutfuckingbeckham

I think Cole on the left is a nailed on selection. With regards to Barry, I would actually play Hargreaves in that role, he is the better holding midfielder, but the issue is he struggles to stay fit. Gerrard is probably the other central midfielder. On the right, well the issue three is, although Beckham's legs are starting to go, none of the other options seem to be doing it. Capello does not seem to rate Bentley (have not seen enough of Bentley to comment). Personally I do not want Walcott to be played out wide, ultimately I think he will have to go upfront. Maybe SWP will find some form now he is playing most weeks, however at international level his crossing leaves alot to be desired. Lennon seems to have believed his hype from 2 years ago and has not kicked on. After that I am not really sure.

 

[Mellotron]

I'm not suggesting for a second that Croatia don't have good players. Not suggesting that at all.

The people (myself included) bleating on about ten players in the CL Final is in response to the morons saying our players

"aren't good enough, end of."
"Useless."
"Overrated" etc.

And (apart from occasionally being slightly over-rated by some overzealous Liverpool fans etc) those statements are simply not true.

We HAVE the players to make a balanced, intelligent midfield. Just not sure the right combination has been found. It's certainly not Gerrard - Lampard - Beckham, I TRUST we can all agree on that.

And yes, man for man we do have a far better team than Croatia. However, they have played better AS A TEAM over the last couple of years.

 

[Golden Graham]

I. After that I am not really sure.

Well that is a first!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Well that is a first!

Ah, the multiple personality is back...

 

[Easy 10]

Out of SWP, Bently and Walcott, its hard to make a definitive case for any one of them over each other, but we've got to stick with one of them and give them a run in the side to give them a chance of establishing themselves, without thinking that one duff cross means thats their lot for another three months. None of them have done enough to really stake a claim yet, but then chances have been few and far between whilst the plodding hieroglyphic has occupied the right.

At a push, I'd go with SWP if/when he starts playing regularly for Citeh. His crossing isn't always of the standard you'd want, but he DOES occupy fullbacks, his pace and workrate means he provides an outlet, and is always going to stretch opposition defences. Ask any opposition fullback who he'd rather be up against, and I guarantee he'd pick an easy evening keeping tabs on the old shuffler rather than having someone like SWP or even Walcott barrelling down the wing at him all night.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Is Golden Graham a steward?

 

[Simster]

Out of SWP, Bently and Walcott, its hard to make a definitive case for any one of them over each other, but we've got to stick with one of them and give them a run in the side to give them a chance of establishing themselves, without thinking that one duff cross means thats their lot for another three months. None of them have done enough to really stake a claim yet, but then chances have been few and far between whilst the plodding hieroglyphic has occupied the right.

At a push, I'd go with SWP if/when he starts playing regularly for Citeh. His crossing isn't always of the standard you'd want, but he DOES occupy fullbacks, his pace and workrate means he provides an outlet, and is always going to stretch opposition defences. Ask any opposition fullback who he'd rather be up against, and I guarantee he'd pick an easy evening keeping tabs on the old shuffler rather than having someone like SWP or even Walcott barrelling down the wing at him all night.

Good point. I don't think it really matters which of those three actually starts - England need to build a TEAM so the important thing is to bring in a player who isn't going to DICK Capello around at the business end of the season, and who doesn't go into an England match worried about getting injured. I'm hoping SWP is like his step father in that respect and I think he tends to make better use of the ball than TW & DB.

 

[Silent Bob]

Out of SWP, Bently and Walcott, its hard to make a definitive case for any one of them over each other, but we've got to stick with one of them and give them a run in the side to give them a chance of establishing themselves, without thinking that one duff cross means thats their lot for another three months. None of them have done enough to really stake a claim yet, but then chances have been few and far between whilst the plodding hieroglyphic has occupied the right.

At a push, I'd go with SWP if/when he starts playing regularly for Citeh. His crossing isn't always of the standard you'd want, but he DOES occupy fullbacks, his pace and workrate means he provides an outlet, and is always going to stretch opposition defences. Ask any opposition fullback who he'd rather be up against, and I guarantee he'd pick an easy evening keeping tabs on the old shuffler rather than having someone like SWP or even Walcott barrelling down the wing at him all night.

Wright-Phillips has a goal in him as well. He'd be my choice at the moment. They all have their faults, the problem with Beckham though is that including him actually makes the team worse.