Sometimes I really can't believe how, as a footballing nation, we can fall so far. I just sat through one of the most boring, predictable games I've seen in a very long time. The game I'm talking about is obviousily England - Wales. We showed such little flair and excitment through nearly the whole game. When you look at the team on paper you would say we would be a fast paced attacking team with Downing and Young on the wings with Cole coming though deep but it's just not... Where does the faults lie? For all I can see, I have to say Capello. Some of the decisions he makes trully baffles me. For example, James Milner is a great attacking player, much like Joe Cole in his prime, yet he set him out to shore up the midfield and keep Bale quiet. If you wanted a player to do that why not play Scott Parker? He had a good solid game in Bulgaria yet he changed it, why? I can understand he may have been tired, but the seasons just getting started he should be near his peak fitness. However, to be fair to Milner, him and Barry did keep Bale quiet, although it wasn't one of his better performances. Another strange decision for me is always keeping Terry in the starting 11. I'm sorry but he just dosen't seem up for it for me. For Chelsea he is a great leader, no question, but England aren't Chelsea. He has such little pace and when you're playing against better oposition you will get punished. Which we definetly saw at the World Cup. Why are we not starting the likes of Phil Jones? He's had a great start for United and deserves the chance, or even Jagielka? All far younger options, which would relish in an England shirt. It's a shame to see that this supposed England recovery has seen us scrape a home win against Wales, yet there is probably people saying "a win's a win" etc... But come on! That was a dire performance. Thank god the international break is over!
Frank Lampard was woeful tonight for me. Absolutely lethargic, and for someone with his experience he looked like he had no idea what to do with the ball. At least when Parker came on he was moving around offering other players options. Lamps just did absolutely nothing. Thank god we have Wilshere to come back instead of that clown. I kind of disagree about Terry, he is slow, but his experience counts. You're right, Phil Jones looks excellent but I think we should stick with JT until the euros.
Until Capello has gone and someone with tactical nous, passion, an understanding of the English language and how to use it to inspire the team, and no fear of dropping the over-the-hill remnants of the "golden generation" (Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand etc), then we'll remain a distinctly below-par version of what we have the potential to become with the talent pool we possess. The likes of Phil Jones, Cahill, Young, Adam Johnson etc. need to start.
Other thing is why did he change 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 and add fat useless frank, when parker and barry played ok as holding players. I don't get why capello has to keep changing formations. Hart Richards. Cahill. Smalling. Baines Parker. Rodwell Johnson. Rooney. Young Sturridge
I just feel if we are to move on as a team we have to start looking for variations in the defence. Why not stick smalling in the centre and then put Micah Richards on the right? Both players have had great starts to the season and with far more pace and hunger than Terry. And yes Lampard was distinctly average. I just fear when Ferdinand get's back it will push the other centre backs further away.
Not enough experience IMO. . Hart. Richards. Jones. Cahill. Cole. . .Wilshire. .Barry. Johnson. .Gerrard. .Young. . .Rooney. When everyone's fit.
Will people stop using Cahill as an answer to our defensive problems. He is good, but there are better, namely Jagielka (and even Lescott). In fact, Terry is still better than all of them in my opinion, and will be for the next few years. a fit Rio and JT > any other combination. ps. milner should not be getting anywhere near an england shirt at the moment.
Ferdinand is past it so is terry, the difference between them is terry has passion. Rio keeps the ball for to long then gets caught out. We can't keep going back to the same old players rio, terry, gerrard, lampard etc. Where has it got us? No where we need to start with a clean slate, but then capello wouldn't do that anyways.
I don't think you can keep blaming the managers. SGE was awful, when he had a golden generation of players at his disposal. Capello has inherited the next generation and England perform no better. They play as if they have never seen each other, and that might have a little to do with it. But only a little. They play for their clubs and hardly play with each other. Yet, these players are supposed to be the acme of their generation, and so shouldn't require that kind of nestling in that comes from one or two players trying to find their niche in a format. The thing is they aren't that proud to do well enough for England. Plus, they have eggshell confidence, which puts attainment out of reach unless the opposition are simply poor. Well, Wales weren't poor and possibly deserved a draw. England always look tired, nervous and slightly frightened. The feelings one gets when one undergoes a test that psychologically we might think might be too much for us. That's down to a lack of ability or a lack of confidence. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's confidence. What they need is a bus to get on..!
Capello is a £6 million per year waste of breath. He cannot motivate a team, he has no idea tactically, and can't even be bothered to learn to speak English! We will disappoint as a team as long as he is there.
The fault is English managers and players not being a chance - thats where your problems lie and not many others can see it
