Hard work starts here for Capello
THE Football Association have one almighty PR exercise on their hands if they are to generate interest for England’s friendly with Hungary on 11 August.
After leading a dismal World Cup campaign, I feel it’s down to coach Fabio Capello to come out and shoulder the blame, while assuring fans of a brighter future.
If he doesn’t, then red-faced FA chiefs could be looking at a revolt from fed-up fans, and subsequently a quarter-full Wembley, as Capello prepares to lead his men into the Euro 2012 qualifiers, starting against Bulgaria on 3 September.
Irrespective of how many turn up at Wembley in three weeks’ time, Capello’s work starts here.
One thing he would have learned from South Africa is that he needs to go back to basics and look to introduce a more continental 4-3-3 formation, which has not only been proven by Spain, Holland and Germany, but also coincides with the systems played by our top clubs domestically.
Capello has stuck religiously with the 4-4-2 throughout the qualifiers and World Cup, but as that has clearly not worked, he simply has to look to bed in the likes of Adam Johnson and Ashley Young flanking Wayne Rooney up front.
Longer-term, Capello has a problem in trying to replace the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, who are unlikely to be playing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Worryingly, none of our top sides seem to be producing English talent worthy of stepping into the breach. Indeed only Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa, in the likes of Young, James Milner and maybe Fabian Delph, can offer any kind of encouragement.
I’d like to see the likes of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Everton’s Jack Rodwell eased gently into the England set-up, even in this next qualifying campaign, while Capello should also be monitoring and leaving his office door open to lads such as Nathan Cleverley, on loan at Watford, and Ipswich’s Connor Wickham, who are both showing potential. These lads may think they are a million miles away from a call-up, but they could be only a season away.
Criticism of Capello missing the Uefa Under-19 Championship in France is harsh, he will undoubtedly have his coaches monitoring any new talent. He has more pressing issues to deal with back home.