Capello set for England hot-seat
Almost a done deal, we are told. Here’s why it is a good appointment:
1 – He has a phenomenal track record in club football. Proven to be able to win championships in extremely tough leagues like Spain and Italy.
2 – Not scared of players. If his reputation is true, we might actually see players willing to die for their shirt when they pull on the three lions. We won’t see players shoe-horned into areas where they are not compfortable and we will play a recognisable system as a team. Hallelujah.
3 – Will not stand interference from the FA. This is a very good thing. He won’t be a patsy or a puppet of the board. If they stick their noses in, he’ll walk. We need a manager who will do it his way or not at all.
4 – He actually wants the job.
5 – But most importantly of all, and the reason he was the number one choice… his name is the greatest Christmas gift ever to the tabloid headline writers. Years and years of puns and plays on Fab and Cap and ‘ello!’. They must be drooling with anticipation.
Reasons why we ought to be worried about this appointment:
1 – It has happened in a big rush. The root and branch investigation into English football’s failings appears to have taken three weeks. And even if it is still ongoing, it will be shoved on to the back burner while the FA board cross their fingers and pray Capello delivers success on the field.
2 – It misses the point about the most successful England manager of recent times. Bobby Robson, that is. From small club on limited budget to England manager. The key skill of any national coach is to get the best out of the available talent. This is the same model operated by almost every club outside the top 4 in the premiership. A national manager cannot but in the big player. This is a test for a man like Capello. All very well having millions at Madrid. So we’ll see ifa good CV really does make a good national manager.
3 – All England players will need to learn how to roll over six times following the briefest of contact with an opposition player, or failing that, a stiff blade of grass. Seriously though, I do fear an indulgence of play acting (worse than now…) when we really get to the bones of how to win football matches, Italian style.
4 – He knows nothing at all about English football or its players bar what he has seen on the telly. This was the same for Sven, of course. He didn’t win us the world cup, did he?
Got to say I’m in favour of this move. I think Harry Redknapp would have made a fine choice too and his time will still come. But for now, this appointment will restore hope and that is exactly what English football needs just now.
