Click to watch a Video review or last night’s England v Denmark game (England won 2-1)
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Fabio Capello did not imagine he would have to cast his net so wide
February 8, 2011 By
Capello Struggles as players withdraw from the England Squad….
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Will Cappello stay with England?
A look at Capello’s current issues…..
Fabio Capello is adamant that his days as a football manager will be over when his time with England comes to an end. All being well, a campaign at the Euro 2012 finals will take him to his retirement. It sounds logical since he will turn 66 that summer. There is also a suspicion, though, that the post with this particular national team makes men wonder when they will next enjoy some serenity.
Until he tied himself to England, Capello’s reputation was as close to unassailable as anyone in the game can ever expect. League titles came to him at all four of the clubs he had managed. If anyone insisted on a single unforgettable moment, Capello could refer them to Milan’s 4-0 defeat of Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup final. And then came England.
There was, of course, revitalisation at the start. Smart decisions were admired everywhere, whether in Emile Heskey’s effectiveness as a catalyst for Wayne Rooney or Gareth Barry’s deployment as a defensive midfielder. Capello even took on an idealistic air when putting his trust in a 19-year-old and then witnessing Theo Walcott take that hat‑trick against Croatia in September 2008.
The Arsenal player himself, however, sometimes volunteers the fact that those are his only goals to date for his country. There are reasons for that and Walcott need not reproach himself unduly, but Capello has found it impossible to sustain public faith in the England team. Some now treat Jack Wilshere as an icon of regeneration, although it is asking a lot to assume that a 19-year-old of even his capacities will fill that role effortlessly.
In essence, Capello has to scramble for solutions. When the interview for the job was held, the Football Association surely never asked him whether he would care to scour the Championship. In the last England fixture, however, Cardiff City’s Jay Bothroyd came off the bench to make an international debut against France. That may have been the zenith of his career and he should take a rightful pride in getting further than the vast majority of his fellow professionals, but it can only be seen as low point for his country.
Capello had not been making a commitment and Bothroyd has no part to play in Copenhagen. The manager’s mind has to be more open than he would surely wish. It would be a joy to see Kyle Walker excel against Denmark this week, perhaps as a substitute, but nobody could have anticipated that Michael Dawson, the England centre-half, would be asked to endorse a youngster on Tottenham Hotspur’s books as a prospective England international. Dawson did his best: “Kyle went out on loan to QPR and left them in a good position. He went to Aston Villa and it’s started like a dream. He’s only very young but he’s quick and strong and gets in amongst it and will be a top player.”
There is reason to be heartened by Walker, but the fact remains that Harry Redknapp did not feel the need to keep the right-back at White Hart Lane this season. So far, too, there has only been the opportunity for three Premier League outings with Villa.
The athletic Walker, who will be 21 in May, has ability and impresses on the overlap, but many observers feel that his defending must improve. If Capello settles for looking closely at only the favourable aspects then he is still blameless. The manager works with the material to hand and may never have guessed that he would include, say, Carlton Cole – three goals this season – or Ryan Shawcross in squads. Often, he must lean on older players such as Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard. It could be a coincidence or it might be a harbinger of problems ahead, but neither was fit to take on Denmark.
England’s overall position is far from disastrous. The side hold their own in the great majority of matches and may even have some impact at the Euro 2012 finals. Indeed, a fine 3-1 win was achieved Switzerland in Basle five months ago. There have been far worse days than these for the national team. Nonetheless, the side are not among the very best in Europe. The 4-1 defeat to Germany at last year’s World Cup was sobering enough and a meeting with Spain would be unfortunate.
Capello is a capable man who directs England with good sense and in his better days he has deflected attention from the limitations. Only the flowering of the youth initiatives at club and FA level, however, will relieve his successors from the duty of covering up the failings in the national team.
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Fabio Capello To Quit, after Euro 2012
September 9, 2010 By
The news broke last night that England manager Fabio Capello will quit his post after Euro 2012. After four years in the job by that time he will have been paid around £24 million and 66 years old, it isn’t about time to retire.
Fabio Capello says he wants to enjoy his life as a pensioner, and who can blame him. There is no doubt that he is a very good football manager, England have looked very good in their qualification campaigns for both the World Cup and the opening rounds of the Euro 2012 tournament.
I hope that he is motivated to set the record straight about his ability, in a major football tournament at Euro 2012 following what can only be described as a disaster in the World Cup in South Africa. As more revelations emerge in the tabloids it is clear that there were issues, tensions and problems in the camp that no manager could have worked around so I think we have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Fabio Capello could have easily walked away after the World Cup with a few harsh words for the young dumb (and full of ***) England stars, but he didn’t despite calls from people like me to jump on the first plane back to his tax haven.
So the question is now can England win Euro 2012? For my money they are not in the same league as Spain or Holland for that matter, Germany will be even tougher to beat in two years time but certainly England should make a better fist of it next time round.
As is the English way we do not mind failure as long as it is glorious failure. The bookmakers make England and 9 to one shot generally which on balance is probably a fair price but I would have to use someone else’s money if I was honest to back England.
They represent absolutely no value with the tournament just under two years away but Spain are a team that only a fool at this stage would oppose. Capello has a mountain to climb to compete with the world champions. The good news though is he is up for the challenge which will make it an interesting couple years for the three Lions.
England‘s next match is against Montenegro next month at Wembley. Until then England sit proudly at the top of their qualifying group having played two and won two with a goal difference of seven for and only one against.
England Betting…..
WILLIAM HILL have cut England from 6/1 to 5/1 to win all their Euro qualifiers – and they are now 8/1 to win the tournament. ‘England are starting to show the form people expected from them in South Africa – but they qualified comfortably for the World Cup, so the hard work is still to come’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Hills offer 9/4 that Capello will start six Manchester City players for the next Euro match
Defoe is 5/6 favourite with Hills to end up as England’s top scorer in qualifying.
England are 11/4 with Hills to score 22 or more goals in qualifying.
WILLIAM HILL…To win Euro 2012….
Spain 7/2
Germany5/1
Holland7/1
England8/1
Italy10/1
France11/1
Portugal16/1
Croatia20/1
Russia25/1
Serbia25/1
England to Qualify: 1/25
Hills…..Group:
England1/6
Switzerland8/1
Bulgaria14/1
Montenegro14/1
Wales40/1
Hills…Top England Scorer in qualifying:
Jermaine Defoe5/6
Wayne Rooney11/10
Steven Gerrard7/1
Darren Bent11/1
Peter Crouch12/1
Theo Walcott12/1
Adam Johnson14/1
**Number of Man City players to start v Montenegro:
Under 2…16/1
2 or 3……5/4
4 or 5…..11/8
Over 5…..9/4
**Total England goals in Qualifying:
7 so Far
Under 12…20/1
13 – 15….7/1
16 – 18….6/4
19 – 21…7/4
Over 21….11/4
Switzerland v England Preview
September 6, 2010 By
Switzerland the England Preview, Tuesday 7 September
Fabio Capello announced on Monday that Wayne Rooney was both happy and keen to start for England in Basel on Tuesday night. It has been a difficult few days for the England and Manchester United star, to say the least given the disgusting accusations printed in the Sunday tabloids.
I read a brilliant piece in the London Evening Standard which said When Fabio Capello became England manager in 2008 he was quite specific about the kind of woman he admired. “I like classy women”. It is a pity the England players don’t share this quality.
It is clear now why Rooney played so badly for England in the World Cup, the sword of Damocles has nothing on the News of the World it seems. Wayne Rooney aside England come here fresh from an excellent campaign opening win against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday winning four nil.
Of course this is an away fixture and we saw in the World Cup how negative and dour the Swiss are. England though should be too good for the home side and that 4 to 5 you have to say England are a good bet. That said they could easily be suffocated and frustrated by the Swiss so it is not a foregone conclusion that England will play with the freedom and style that we witnessed at Wembley.
In all likelihood Capello will field an unchanged side and with that win under their belt no doubt the optimism of the nation has been raised again and the debacle we witnessed in South Africa now will be consigned to history. I said last week that Bulgaria were rubbish, which I now realise probably overestimated their ability. Switzerland on the other hand are not rubbish, they are not a pretty sight to watch but they do not concede many goals at all, in fact they play such dull and negative football that they simply wear down their opponents which they may well do again to England.
So it will be a test of character for Capello’s reformed team. I would say though that if they cannot beat Switzerland then any hope of seriously challenging for Euro 2012 is a remote possibility at best. Surely England will be to good and should win this game and have six points in the bag after their first two group games.
I do not expect many goals, so under 2.5 goals would be my bet here. I advised though a good bet on England to win out right at odds of around 4 to 5.
Live odds…
Some specials….
Stan James bet 7/2 that Wayne Rooney doesn’t start for England in Switzerland tomorrow and bet 13/8 that he fails to start in either Basel tomorrow or against Everton at Goodison on Saturday lunchtime.
Head of PR Charlie McCann: ” We are offering 13/8 that Rooney misses out in either Basel or at Goodison at the weekend and that will surely have its supporters given Rooney is unlikely to receive a sympathetic reception to his recent troubles back on Merseyside. Michael Owen has an excellent record against Everton and this may be an ideal opportunity for Sir Alex Ferguson to give Owen his head at Goodison and rest Rooney.”
Rooney to Start against Switzerland?
Yes 1/6
No 7/2
Rooney to score at any time v Switzerland?
Yes 6/4
No 8/15
Rooney to start against Switzerland Tues AND Everton on Saturday?
Yes 4/9
No 13/8
Rooney goals v Swiss?
0 8/15
1 5/2
2 5/1
3 or more 25/1
Stan James bet 1/2 that Fabio Capello leaves his post as England national team boss before Laurent Blanc (6/4) the new French manager who made an inauspicious start to his competitive reign with the home defeat at the hands of Belarus on Friday night.
Head of PR Charlie McCann: ” France travel to Sarajevo tomorrow knowing that another defeat would make it extemely difficult for Blan’s new look Les Bleus to qualify but he will surely be given more time. England got off to a flier at Wembley on Friday but defeat in Basel would have the media once again examining the Italian’s credentials for the post of England boss.”
Midweek International Specials 07 Sep 16:00
Who Will Leave Their Position Of National Team Manager First?
Selection Price
Fabio Capello 1/2
Laurent Blanc 6/4
Ladbrokes Bet….
ENGLAND are 1/33 to qualify for the European Championships according to Ladbrokes.
The Three Lions are unchanged at 8/1 to win the tournament whilst coach Fabio Capello is 1/4 to lead them into the major tournament. He is 11/4 not to be in charge.
Hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe is 33/1 to repeat his 3-goal feat against Switzerland on Tuesday and 6/4 to score at any time.
David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “The scoreline might have flattered England but the bandwagon looks set to roll again and punters enjoyed a great night.
Ladbrokes – latest betting:
1/33 England to qualify for Euros
8/1 England to win Euro 2012
6/4 Joe Hart to be England keeper for first match of the Euro 2012
1/4 Capello to be in charge for start of Euros
11/4 Capello not to be in charge by start of Euros
6/4 Defoe to score vs Switzerland
33/1 Capello to score a hat-trick vs Switzerland
Capello Says Sorry For Capello Index, Will It Still Be Costly?
July 19, 2010 By
England coach Fabio Capello is ‘very sorry and upset’ after seeing his controversial player index released to the public. Read more at Sky Sports.
The ‘Capello Index‘ caused uproar ahead of this summer’s World Cup, with the Italian initially scheduled to rate his England squad while the tournament was in progress. Despite adverse publicity Hills think it unlikely that Capello will leave his role in 2010 offering 7/1 that he does and he is now favourite to go in 2012 at 8/11.
“Capello survived one of the worst set of England performances at a World Cup, so a little thing like this seems insignificant,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
Year Capello Leaves Office Of England Manager: 7/1 2010, 7/2 2011, 8/11 2012, 7/2 2013, 11/2 2014 or later
A Great Post Script To England’s World Cup
July 12, 2010 By
As the World Cup ends, I thought I would show you the funniest World Cup Viral I have seen, which sums up the England World Cup Campaign…..
England Announce New Shirt Sponsors….
Very Funny!
Roll on Euro2012…..
Thanks to Richard @ Spectrum FM for this!
What Next For Capello and England?
July 3, 2010 By
Fabio Capello keeps his job, but the fans are no in love with England. England shirts are on sale and we are promised change, but who will Capello turn to? Who can he turn to, will it just be more of the same for Euro 2012?
England shirts going cheap in York
Will Capello ring the changes for Euro 2012?
With the average age of England’s line up in their final World Cup match against Germany an arthritic 29.18 years old, William Hill are betting on what it will be when they line up for their next competitive game, the opening Euro qualifier against Bulgaria.
‘It is all very well Fabio glibly suggesting he’ll be looking at new players but the crucial element in most fans’ minds will be the ages of those new players’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.’We beliebe that there is every chance we’ll see a drop in the average age of four years or more and make 24.1- 25 our 5/2 favourite to be the average age.’
But the question is who the hell will fill the shoes of Lampard, Gerrard, Terry and co? There looks little in the way of raw talent at the disposal of Fabio Capello, but what do you think?
William Hill…..Average age of Englands starting XI v Bulgaria (1st Euro qualifier):
22 and Under…..25/1
22.1-23……9/1
23.1-24…..7/2
24.1-25…..5/2
25.1-26…..3/1
26.1-27……6/1
27.1-28……10/1
28.1 and Over…..16/1
HILLS HAVE ALSO OPENED A BOOK ON HOW MANY EURO QUALIFYING POINTS ENGLAND WILL TAKE FROM WALES…..’Disappointment for England in the Wales matches would attract huge criticism from fans and media, so these are two vital matches for Fabio – and we’re increasing the pressure by making them odds on at 8/15 to take all six points’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Hills……England Points v Wales in the Euro qualifiers:
6….8/15
4….5/2
3….8/1
2….25/1
1….40/1
0…..200/1
FABIO ODDS ON TO STICK AROUND UNTIL 2012
WILLIAM HILL now make 2012 their 8/11 favourite to be the year in which Fabio Capello ceases to be England manager.
Despite Capello hitning at bringing in new faces for the Hungary friendly Hills still make Rooney, Terry, Gerrard and Lampard odds-on shots to start the match. (See prices below). But Emile Heskey has already been backed to miss out, from 4/6 to 4/11 not to start.
HILLS have lengthened Harry Redknapp’s odds of becoming the next England manager from 13/8 to 9/4 favourite, but slashed Roy Hodgson from 6/1 to 11/4 second favourite. ‘Who knows what Harry’s fortunes will be once the job becomes vacant, but if Hodgson impresses at Anfield he could well be in just the right place at just the right time to take over if Capello departs in 2012′ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Next England Manager
Harry Redknapp…9/4
Roy Hodgson…11/4
Stuart Pearce..7/2
Martin O’Neill…10/1
David Beckham…10/1
Jose Mourinho..12/1
Sam Allardyce…12/1
Marcello Lippi…14/1
Arsene Wenger..16/1
Mark Hughes…16/1
Steve Bruce…16/1
Guus Hiddink…20/1
Frank Rijkaard…20/1
Alan Shearer…20/1
Steve Coppell25/1
Martin Jol…25/1
Jurgen Klinsmann….25/1
David Moyes..25/1
Alan Curbishley..25/1
Glenn Hoddle25/1
Louis Van Gaal33/1
Luis Felipe Scolari33/1
Alex Ferguson50/1
To start in the friendly vs Hungary
Yes….No
Adam Johnson…8/13…6/5
Theo Walcott..EVS…8/11
Michael Carrick..EVS…8/11
Emile Heskey…2/1…4/11
Jermain Defoe…1/2…6/4
Aaron Lennon…EVS…8/11
James Milner…8/11..EVS
Ryan Shawcross….7/2…1/6
Frank Lampard…1/3…9/4
John Terry…..4/9….13/8
Steven Gerrard…2/5…7/4
Michael Dawson..2/1….4/11
Wayne Rooney….1/5….10/3
One thought, with the Olympics in London is 2012, it may be a big enough distraction to bury bad news?
More News From the England World Cup Camp Exposed
July 1, 2010 By
More Internal Problems Emerge From England Camp….
The Sun is getting under the skin of what went wrong within the England camp at the World Cup. In today’s Sun it is reported that David Beckham had to defuse the explosive World Cup row that was tearing England apart. Alan Shearer, writing in The Sun two days ago, insisted there was ‘something fundamentally wrong’ within Fabio Capello’s camp. The belief is players were divided by a feud between Steven Gerrard and Kop pal Jamie Carragher on one side and Chelsea skipper John Terry on the other. Read more: in todays Sun.
This would explain the tension and maybe the lack of spirit, which was evident on the pitch. It is hard to blame the manager if this scenario is correct. It does look like Fabio Capello will remain as England Manager. The chances of Capello being sacked look to be receding by the day. It is understood Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA’s influential director of football development, will recommend he is kept on for the rest of his contract until 2012. England striker Jermain Defoe believes the weight of World Cup expectation took its toll on the squad in South Africa, but insists the players remain behind under-pressure manager Fabio Capello. Its just a pity they weren’t a few weeks ago!
Bookies have shortened their odds that Fabio Capello will still be England manager when they play their August friendly against Hungary, from 4/7 to 1/2, and have lengthened the odds that he is gone by then from 5/4 to 6/4. ‘There seems to be a sudden flurry of support for Fabio to survive – but we do offer 11/10 that he has gone before the end of the year’ said Hill’s spookesman Graham Sharpe.
England, what a shambles, that is a dead-cert.
WILLIAM HILL WORLD CUP SPECIALS
Highest Scoring Quarter Final: 15/8 Germany v Argentina, 9/4 Holland v Brazil, 11/4 Paraguay v Spain, 4/1 Uruguay v Ghana.
2nd July – Highest Scoring Game: 4/7 Holland v Brazil, 5/4 Uruguay v Ghana.
2nd July – Total Goals: 6/4 four to five, 8/5 under four, 2/1 over five.
3rd July – Highest Scoring Game: 8/11 Argentina v Germany, Evens Paraguay v Spain.
3rd July – Total Goals: 6/4 four to five, 7/4 under four, 7/4 over five.
How Many of the Remaining Eight Games Will Go To Penalties: 12/5 none, 3/1 one, 5/2 two, 2/1 three or more.
Total Tournament Goals: 10/1 under 130, 7/2 – 131 to 135, 7/4 – 136 to 140, 2/1 – 141 to 145, 11/2 – 146 to 150, 20/1 – 151 plus. (122 goals scored so far, excludes extra-time and penalties).
How Many Red Cards Will There Be From The Quarter Final Stage Onwards?: 13/2 none, 9/2 one, 3/1 two, 11/4 three, 7/2 four, 9/2 five or more.
To Win the World Cup: 5/2 Brazil, 11/4 Spain, 9/2 Argentina, 13/2 Germany, 7/1 Holland, 16/1 Uruguay, 40/1 Ghana, 50/1 Paraguay.
Should England Sack Fabio Capello?
June 27, 2010 By
England were very poor, so poor, the question has to be asked, should the manager, Fabio Capello be sacked? He earns a reported £6m a year, was that value for money?
A shocking disallowed goal and four strikes by a rampant Germany have sent a sorry England crashing out of the World Cup. The disallowed goal was a shocker, and goal line technology has to come in, but it is only 5/1 to do so. But it wouldn’t have mattered, England won one game against Slovenia and there was nothing encouraging, a shadow of the England we saw in qualification.
I think we saw a glimmer of what really went on when John Terry let the cat out of the bag. It was clear that all was not well in the camp and you can’t win World Cups unless your team morale is high. Something clearly was not right, was it the discipline? The fact that he told multimillionaires that they couldn’t see their wives? Was it a case of mutiny and too much bounty?
I was told that one England World Cup player wasn’t bothered about playing for England and had to be persuaded several times, he would rather have gone on holiday. The cash he would earn was less than a weeks wages. I wonder if the status and salaries these players now enjoy means they are not motivated and certainly being told what they can and can’t do or even say probably doesn’t sit well.
Is it fair to blame the manager?
Well it is not his fault the players didn’t perform, we have seen that they can. However there is clearly something not right with his relationship with the England players and unlike at club level he can’t now transfer in or out a new set. There is no reason to assume that if there is an issue that it will suddenly get any better. He also seems to rate Emile Heskey and clearly failed to look at the player stats before picking his team. With two goals needed he brought off Defoe and put on Heskey, that was poor. I would personally sack the manager, but they gave him a new contract just before the World Cup. That defies belief! What we need is someone who is passionate, has the respect of the players, understands the English game and above all is English, I think it matters.
Fabio Capello has already said he will not resign, but why would he, he has a big payout coming if the FA do want to get rid of him. He and his advisers are no fools are they? The football fans are being taken for fools though in my view. That was a poor show and our nation deserves better. We deserve passion and commitment.
Next England Manager?
England Should Appoint David Beckham?
I would now appoint David Beckham as manager but have someone as a consultant or mentor, like Terry Venables who he can turn to for advice. It gives us a couple of years to regroup. I say give him a two year contract, that should be the norm for England managers. He has the respect of the players, is committed to England and what have we got to lose? We have tried experience and big names with big CV’s. If not Beckham then Alan Shearer. I think Club management is so different that by having someone not saddled with all that experience could make a difference. I think David Beckham would be a great choice. He is also 33/1 to be the next England Manager.
Harry Redknapp..7/4
Roy Hodgson..7/2
Stuart Pearce..7/1
Martin O’Neill..10/1
Jose Mourinho..12/1
Sam Allardyce …12/1
Arsene Wenger…14/1
Steve Bruce.. 16/1
Mark Hughes…16/1
Guus Hiddink..20/1
Alan Shearer…25/1
David Beckham…33/1
Who are you now supporting?
For me its Spain. Hate the Germans and the Argies. Brazil is the glory hunters option and I don’t like Orange much, so Spain is the team I have now adopted for the World Cup!
Grounding Jack Wilshere damages chances of developing an English Xavi
Jack Wilshere will start for England Tonight……How good is he and can England beat Denmark?
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Ask Fabio Capello about Jack Wilshere’s deployment as a holding midfielder against Denmark in Copenhagen and a pained look seizes the England coach. “I have to have someone who can play there,” he says. “Since Hargreaves – no one.”
Jack the lad is being grounded. The deeper midfield role assigned to him on national service is not the one Capello would have picked for him if English football were capable of manufacturing specialist players in every position. Wilshere knows the anchoring job from his work at Arsenal, where Arsène Wenger often uses him as part of a screening duo who allow Cesc Fábregas to roam. But with an Abou Diaby alongside, Wilshere is free to join Arsenal’s attacking play – to go box to box, in the popular grandstand parlance, a liberty that would be denied him if he were the lone sentry in an England midfield.
The catalogue of talents press-ganged into a team-balancing role has been headed in recent years by Steven Gerrard on the left. Wilshere planted in front of a back four would go straight in at No2 on that list. In time it might even depose Gerrard’s move to accommodate Frank Lampard if Wilshere is deprived of the chance to develop in the manner of a Paul Scholes or Xavi.
Capello will have cashed his chips by 2012 so the education of English youth is probably of less concern to him than repairing the damage to his own reputation from the most recent World Cup. He is entirely open, though, in his regret at having to force Wilshere into a restricted metier. As faith in Gareth Barry dips Capello has been trying to guess whether Wilshere can play the defensive role alone or must have Barry’s help until he has mastered the art.
According to Gary Neville, who observed many experiments in the England holding role during 85 international appearances, the hard-tackling quarterback is a modern myth. Neville says: “What happens in football is that there are trends. People see a [Claude] Makelele and say – you need a holding midfield player. Well, do you? Man Utd won the European Cup with [Michael] Carrick and [Paul] Scholes as central midfield players. All of a sudden Makelele defines the Makelele role and everyone says you’ve got to have a Makelele. What you need is good players who recognise danger. The idea that you need a natural holding midfielder – I don’t go along with that.”
At United, Scholes has retreated from his old thrusting role to perform a more conservative line of work, but only after a decade of destructive endeavour further up the pitch. With England, Wilshere is being asked to make that sacrifice at the outset. An alternative, more optimistic take is that tidying and setting up fresh moves from deep starting points is a useful stage in a youngster’s schooling (like Samir Nasri being forced by Wenger to learn the Arsenal system from a starting role on the left).
If he feels daunted, or reluctant, Wilshere is in good company. Paul Ince clashed with Terry Venables when Venables thought Ince’s legs had slowed and considered him the ideal midfield guard. Older English players hear the order to retreat as a threat of emasculation. In our culture the box-to-box midfielder – Bryan Robson, Lampard, Gerrard – is a galloping hero. His opposite is David Batty. Jamie Redknapp and Owen Hargreaves improved the public image of the “sitting” player but the English culture tends not to produce watchmen of the calibre of Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso, which is how Gareth Southgate and Ledley King ended up being tried in the warder position.
“He’s not completely holding – he’s in between. He’s a box-to-box player who can play in any position in midfield,” Wenger says of Wilshere. But Arsenal’s array of tiki-taka passers exceeds England’s and so Wenger has more scope for constructing the right midfield mix. Capello is forever toiling to make the best of his team’s limitations: the Gerrard-Lampard conundrum, the inconsistency of England’s wingers and most of all the absence of a natural heir to Hargreaves, who was a fleeting presence anyway and only briefly disguised a long-term shortage.
Neville is a member of the school who say law changes have rendered the ball‑winning “holding midfielder” an anachronism. They believe teams regain possession and stifle threats through collective action: by screening and interception. This is certainly the way with the world’s best side, Barcelona, where Sergio Busquets is as clever in the construction of a forward move from deep as he is at winning the ball back on the rare occasions the opposition borrow it for five seconds.
England lack the staff to join these sophisticated discussions about how best to balance defence and attack. Capello persuades himself that shackling the country’s best young creative midfielder is the only option open to him as Hargreaves’s career fades to vanishing point and Barry stagnates. Even then the England coach appears worried by Wilshere’s youth and the burden a new designation will place on him in a year when he has become a regular starter for Arsenal.
Capello mentions the Switzerland game in June and winces to denote the strain it would place on Wilshere to still be pushing him in the tennis and cricket seasons. One of the few English youngsters who plays as if he might have been reared in Spain is already caught up in his country’s failings.
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