Post
by DGPW » August 3, 2010, 11:13 am
Hi Bob, Have just seen your 12 July response to my post of 10 July. Since nowhere in my comments did I attribute, or imply, Capello was entirely to blame for England's abject World Cup failure, presume you got me mixed up with someone else! If you re-read my post, you will see its main thrusts were: (i) at Capello's blind and supreme arrogance in denying ALL & ANY responsibility for the appalling performances of the England team collectively, and of individual players; (ii) at his expressing as his opinion that he had done everything right, (i.e. had not made any mistakes!), in his capacity as the England Manager and that ther players had let HIM down (not you will note England as a whole and the England supporters in particular); (iii) at the fact that it was a total certainty that he would not resign and would not be sacked by the FA for reasons unrelated to football and Capello's performance; (iv) my forecast that , again for other than footballing reasons, Beckham would contiuue to be a major factor in everything Capello does, and that together they would ensure the England team' (as selected by them!) continuing failure against other National sides, other than minnow countries such as is England now.
Turning to your expressed views, and contrary to them, I say a very resounding "Yes" that I DO feel Capello shares by far the greater responsibility for the embarassing performances by the England team and, to an extent, some of the individual players, and undoubtedly should have had the self respect to resign or to have been sacked.
Managers, in any walk of life, are required to fulfill the tasks for which they are employed and paid, otherwise they are shown the door. In this specific case, I am comfortable in knowing that my views, as regards the responsibilities of a (National) football Manager, are shared by at least six World Cup 2010 team Managers who accepted responsibility and resigned, for perceived failure for performances which, relatively, were substantially superior to that elicited by Capello from HIS chosen England players. So also, similarly sharing the view of a Manager's responsibiities, there have been countless numbers of both club and national football managers, many of them legends in the game, and of far greater proven abilities than those displayed by Capello, who resigned.
As regards your support for Capello being justified in including in the squad and playing unfit or out of form players, I again respectfully disagree. Capello chose and sent home from the original squad of 30, seven fit players; also most spcifically in the German game, with the team two goals down and with nothing to lose, he continued to lack the courage to remove at least two 'name' players who were performing abysmally (one of them having done so for all four of England's games) and, needing goals, he takes of Defoe and brings on Emile "one goal every ten games" Heskey! As regards lack of choices among the eleven fully fit players available off the bench, dare I commit sacrilege by suggesting the very fit and very in form Michael Dawson in defence and the drive and power of Scott Parker in midfield would have been improvements upon Capello's selections. So also the availabililty of the (fully fit sent home by Capello), pair of Walcott and in form goal scoring Bent, while I readily admit could hardly be considered as world class players, surely would have offered improved alternatives to Heskey & Rooney .
Finally, as regards your rhetorical specific or implied questions as to whether a different Manager ( particualrly one of the many top BRITISH managers in the game), would have selected a different squad of players, selected different teams; adopted better tactics and training approaches, achieved better comunication and motivation from the players, and achieved a higher and less embarassing level of performance at the finals, I suggest the resounding answer is "Yes". Sadly also, given the existing clearly demonstrated "FA-Capello-Beckham" iron control, I can see nothing in the immediate future other than further false dawns, pain and suffering for England supporters. dgpw.
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