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First defeat for Capello
Fabio Capello has tasted defeat in only his second match as England manager after a 1-0 reverse in France.
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Fabio Capello has tasted defeat in only his second match as England manager after a 1-0 reverse in France.
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Comments
David Pallister says...
Who cares about the result?? We've got two and a half years to get that part right. The important thing is, are we moving in the right direction? Based on what i saw last night there were some big differences in style and tactics compared to the MacLaren era. We kept the ball in the first half better than i can remember us doing for the last ten years. Ok, the end product wasn't great but i honestly believe that will come with time. Capello deserves to see as many players as he likes in the friendlies and he's allowed to make mistakes with selection too. I'd rather he makes the mistakes now and learns from them before the next world cup. As long as he learns from them i'll support him. As always Beckham splits everyone's opinion but it's a fact that he's been the most creative player in our side for the last 9 years and without him we don't have the same threat going forward. I'd bet that if you ask any of our strikers who they'd want to deliver crosses in from the right he'd be first choice every time. Bentley's not consistent enough yet and will need European experience at club level to get it. Overall though i'm reasonably happy about England's performance and confident about the further improvements to come.
Posted 09:11 27th March 2008
Jack Mcgachie says...
I don't know how Wes Brown gets into the England squad. Obviously Sir Alex Ferguson and Fabio Capello rates him as a player but I and the population of football fans thinks that he is overated and stupid for rejecting a 70000 or more weekly wage deal. I don't blame him for the loss, i blame Capello for picking him.
Posted 09:08 27th March 2008
Derek Parrott says...
France were rubbish and we were even worse. I feel sorry for Capello who now knows for certain we do not have any world class players. Any of the Premier League Teams could have beaten France or England. Where was the desire and the passion let alone any skill. The top players in the Premiership are all foreign because the home grown players are not good enough.
Posted 09:01 27th March 2008
Paul Owen says...
I don't know if I was watching the same game as most of the Sky Sports Pundits! (rating) (5)James- Awful positioning to give the penalty away, too upright, if he was coming he should have spread himself, hands 1st, not turning his face away. (5)Brown- Caught out of position a couple of times, poor crossing, good energy. (7)Ferdinand- Did himself proud in a poor back line, quick agile, he's got the presence at the back to be a captain, but failed to motivate the team into action. (5)Terry- got the feeling that he was in a bit of a sulk. Poor defending & caught out by his team mate - surely he knows how quick he is?! (3)Ashley Cole- Big Problems, caught out of position, awful choice of passes, one to be found out! Bridge is surely a better choice!! (7)Beckham- Did well & doesn't deserve the bad press! Worked hard & I think we all realise that he's a squad player now, but what a squad player to have. Nobody up front to target. (6)Hargreaves- Worked hard & is probably Englands best defensive midfielder. (6)Barry- looked out of sorts, plays better in a traditional in a 4-4-2. (5)Joe Cole- Often Englands best player, sadly not against France, was awful & looked off colour, possibly because he was worried about Ashley Cole's next gaffe! Too defensive. (6)Gerrard- showed up once or twice & is certainly not a support striker, no two ways about it, he's one of our best centre midfielders, play him there!! (6)Rooney- Our best Support Striker, don't like him playing up front at United or England, much more effective playing off a Striker. Came too deep at times leaving Cole & Beckham further forward than himself & Gerrard. Subs (5)Crouch- Would have been more effective starting (5)Owen- Time will tell if he still has it, No service to show quality (5)Bentley- Quiet, no support (6)Lescott- Solid, better than Ashley Cole (6)Downing- Useful Left footer, few around (4)Johnson- Looked slow
Posted 08:27 27th March 2008
Fahd Peerallykhan (Manchester United fan) says...
I admit this match was a very dull at times, lacked creativity and penetration but it was only a test for Capello. He still has to learn about his players. He does not know what are the plus and minus of each his player. Who can play whith who. Hopefully, with this match undergone, he will have a better idea of what to play in the next game. Also, beckham was very present in this match, he deserved his 100th cap. He should play more, he gives us more options with his long passes.
Posted 08:27 27th March 2008
Jan Fitzpatrick (Liverpool fan) says...
End the Beckham thing he's over and should have been gone along time ago, if he wants to play internationals go and play for USA after trading in his citizenship, the media make so much hype about him he must be paying you guys, I'm sure he does as there is so much old stuff gets in the news. England did nothing when he was captain please move on Capello.
Posted 08:25 27th March 2008
Ross Harrower says...
When will the press and fans in England wake up and realise that you are not a great team and are never likely to win any major tournaments. Just because you pay millions for one of the best managers in the world does not mean you will suddenly become world beaters!! Yes you may have the best league in the world but it is not the english players that make it the best league. You have just been beaten by one of the best teams in the world in a meaningless friendly, forget about it!, it is hardly even worth talking about. Give the players and manager a chance! I suppose Capello should be sacked now? Short memories!! Anyway Scotland managed to beat France home and away so that shows how far down the pecking order England must be!!
Posted 08:23 27th March 2008
Barry Shuttleworth (Sunderland fan) says...
What a waste playing Beckham last night - he was only after one thing - his 100th cap and even said so after the match - 'there was only one thing that mattered tonight and that was winning my 100th cap' - er am I missing something? was trying to get an England victory not more important? At least Brand Beckham will be happy!!
Posted 07:50 27th March 2008
Matthew Towner (Manchester United fan) says...
I think a sensible view point is required when considering the England Team and how good it should be. At the end of the 90 minutes last night there were only 4 players who play for one of the big clubs on the pitch for England and one of those (Crouch) rarely features for his club. England do not have strength in depth. Players such as Barry, Bentley and Downing highlight how limited Englands resources are. The majority of the England Team on show have none or very limited Champions League Experience and that should be the pre-requisite for players at this level. We can analyse how limited we are in comparison to France by comparing the right back position. England played with Wes Brown and then Glen Johnson. The former is second string at Manchester United and the latter has only played a few minutes for Chelea at the top level. In comparison France have Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Clerc (Lyon), Bacary Sagna(Arsenal). All first choice at their clubs and with considerable experience in the Champions League. The Champions League is the closest thing to International Football and players who perform at that level need to be involved. This is why it shocks me that Cappello ignores Michael Carrick, a top class midfield player, champions league experience, first choice for Manchester United for the big games, excellent technique, calm on the ball and good in possession with an excellent range of passing. Finally, would like to add that John Terry got caught wanting again, he is often found short at Champions League and International Level due to lack of pace and not being able to get away with the fouls he commits weekly in the Prem.
Posted 07:43 27th March 2008
Larissa S (Arsenal fan) says...
I have to say that for the first time in ages, England actually look as though they can play football. Don't get me wrong, there were problems - a lack of movement and creativity in the attacking third, but that will come as players get comfortable. As for Rooney, he plays as a lone striker for Man U on occasion, he just needs more creativity behind him, and hopefully that will come as his teammates learn what is expected of him. What England need is to learn how to be flexible. We know how to play 4-4-2, but if we can't teach the boys how to adapt and play another system during the friendlies, when will we teach them so they can adapt to other teams? In the middle of a tourney? It's not that we aren't good enough, but I think our players may not be intelligent enough, so they have a lot to learn. As for the comment of having 6 English players on the pitch for Premiership matches - give me a break. I played in China where they had a 4 foreign player rule. All that led to was foreign players competing against each other for a spot and most of us took the money for a season and didn't return because it was too frustrating playing with teammates that were not that good or intelligent and playing there ruined our game. Have patience England fans. We've got time to see where the team is going. Right now, they are connecting with each other, not resorting to long ball and looking decent. As they get comfortable, creativity and movement will come.
Posted 07:41 27th March 2008
Westall Ray says...
Unbelievably poor and to see Mr Beckam being interveiwed with a smile on his face when we lost so badly, he is past his sell by date, so lets go forward with our younger players. Again our aging "stars" performed so badly particularly their first touch, the French were much more fluent. Come on English players find some passion as you just seem to be only going through the motions! I am fed up of making excuses for and defending our national side - we need to stop relying on players who think they are world class players and get new young blood who really want to play for England not just turn up.
Posted 07:40 27th March 2008
John Asante (Chelsea fan) says...
Discipline, yes. but what England needs is a coach that will inspire that passion in the players. A coach that they'll LOVE to play for and impress... Morinhio-style. The boot camp style of coaching that Capello's introducing is only going to work for so long. The players need to be free... to look up to him like a father figure and above all need not be afraid to be creative while on the pitch. Games are different from training sessions, so that freedom of variation (not too much of course) wont hurt
Posted 06:59 27th March 2008
Oniel Samuel says...
Can someone please tell me how defoe was not playing last night, considering that all players are 'picked on current form'? What a load of rubbish. Is Capello trying to say that Crouch, Wallcott and Owen are in better form than Defoe? You must be joking. And Downing??? Capello hasnt got a clue
Posted 06:36 27th March 2008
Iain W (Rangers fan) says...
Yeah I agree with all of you...One of the most successful managers in world football is wrong and the unqualified england fans are right. Gimmie a break!!! Look on the bright side, you lost 1-0 (to a penalty) against France in France, who btw are a far superior team. Give the man time or England will never achieve anything. Not that I have a problem with that!!!
Posted 02:49 27th March 2008
Johnny Smith (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Once again JT was exposed, he needs to seriously think about playing Woodgate. Becks did well considering he was playing with Wes Brown, get well M. Richards. And M.Owen is shocking, we have hardly any options upfront. Downing, no way! England aint good and they aint bad, were average that is all, but we should know that by now
Posted 02:15 27th March 2008
Mohit Pabbi (Manchester United fan) says...
Was I watching the same game as every one here...cos I thought England actually played well...people have to realise that we have an Italian manager now...England will become a ound tactical team, you are not going to see lots of pretty football, Capello is there to deliver results. One thing has already changed about England and that is that they doing more short passes, which I was delighted to see. They played themselves out of tight spaces by passing, rather than kicking the ball up field and waiting for it too come back...I'm sorry if you think tactical football is not appealling then your probably not the hardcore football fan you thought you was. The two concerns were the poor quality of crosses and lack of goal attempts, but other than that I thought it was a good TEAM performance.
Posted 01:00 27th March 2008
Original Scars (Manchester United fan) says...
I feel Capello has not learnt from the previous managers mistakes, that individual quality (if there is any or enough) will not make a team great nor will the selection of certain players ensure games are won. The England coach now needs to look at players who actually want to win games for their country rather than these big name players who don't share the passion with the nation. Only when this is done can England even think about trying to win a cup cause now England could lose to any country with their poor run of preformances.
Posted 23:58 26th March 2008
Rob Lindsay (Newcastle United fan) says...
Shocking. It can't be stated how much of a waste of life that game was, Jesus wouldn't bother giving himself for our sins on such a basis. Enough of slating Beckham, he's providing the minute amount of passion that I witnessed tonight, his balls in were questionning and awkward enough to deserve a French defenisve response at times. Gerrard bottled it, Rooney was non-existant and Owen needs to go away and gather himself. Downing should not be there in any way shape or form. We need to really re-assert ourselves as a footballing nation. Enough excuses of foreign players dominating our league, we've got the talent it's just not clicking. Where's the passionate attacking football we can string together when it is our day? You ask where the evidence is of such football? Look at Gerrard's bursting forward runs for Liverpool, Wayne's sublime touches for Man Utd, Jame's heartstopping saves for Portsmouth. Where are the determined runs and closing down as if we need to earn some respect from not only our own team-mates, but from our fans and supporters who've poured their hearts into this team for too long without response. Football is the story of my life, and with Newcastle United and England as narrators, it's not a jubilous book.
Posted 23:55 26th March 2008
Julian H (Portsmouth fan) says...
Wayne Rooney is not a lone striker, the sooner Capello understands and acts on this the better. Crosses should also be the main thing Capello works on after this match. Truly awful. The Chelsea players were disappointing and I understand Wes Brown is decent and consistent for Man Utd but for England he is shocking. I would also like to know how Crouch and Walcott got in ahead of Defoe. Crouch has what.. a few sub appearances for Liverpool? Same with Walcott for Arsenal. I would have liked to see Rooney and Defoe up front tonight which would be best for both of them. Rooney dropping just a bit off.
Posted 23:16 26th March 2008
Mike Vinall says...
England were woeful tonight, we have no creativity or fluidity to our play, Gerrard was awful and cant not handle the big games. Why play Rooney up top on his own?? Lots of problems need answering, or are we just not as good or big as we think we are.
Posted 23:10 26th March 2008
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