Yesterday, around lunchtime, I began toying with the idea that I was England football manager. It's not as egotistical as it sounds, I merely wondered what team I would pick ahead of their friendly against the Netherlands, later this month. The starting-off point was the theory that England, if the right players are picked, and a system utilised to suit those players' strengths, are a bloody good team. I wanted fresh faces and a change of mentality and attitude, so to that end, I wanted to limit those players who bring the baggage of continuous failure when wearing the three lions on their chests. I then began to think, what squad would I bring to the Euros? (OK, maybe the ego was growing).
An injection of new blood is needed, and there are some outstanding young prospects, particularly in the defensive positions, but such criterion must be balanced with talent, where experience is not a bar. For the game against the Dutch, I settled on a starting line-up of; Harte, Johnson, Kelly, Smalling and Baines as the back four. A trio in midfield of Gerrard, Cleverly (Wilshere) and Parker, and a front-three of Rooney, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Carroll. Not a bad team, right? The squad for the European Championships in the summer, in addition to the aforementioned eleven consists of the goalkeepers, Green and Stockdale (FIFA rules dictate one must name three goalies in a squad of 23). In defence, Jagielka, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole. In midfield Barry and Wilshere (Cleverly). Finally, as attacking options, Ashley Young, Walcott, Bent and Welbeck.
There are some notable exceptions, the most obvious being headline maker, John Terry, who misses out for two reasons: his form has been poor since (and during) the World Cup and his presence has a disharmonious effect on the squad. Also Joe Cole, whose form for Lille this season has been excellent, whilst "Operation Beg Paul Scholes to Return," unfortunately failed.
This was to be a simple blog, a catalyst for further discourse, like the questions you got on English exams at school, a statement of some kind or another followed by, "discuss." There would, of course, be disagreement, "Terry should be in there," some would say, "what about Milner," from others. Maybe even some calls for Kevin Davies. Well, maybe not.
Then at around 7.30 yesterday evening, the Twittersphere was thrown into turmoil (why are things never carefully placed into turmoil? Turmoil is like a towel; always stuffed, or rammed or thrown. But never placed). The ENGLAND FOOTBALL MANAGER has resigned (capitalisation indicates importance of the role in the British psyche). Then the bullshit started.
The Guardian headline "Fabio Capello leaves England with few regrets on either side," disregarding the team's absence from Euro 2008 prior to Capello's appointment, and with the sub-heading, "[t]he Italian's handling of the John Terry situation shows that he never really understood the way English football works," highlights how it's the English media who fail to understand the nature of the problems faced by the national team. Successive managers have failed and yet a post-mortem is always conducted on the discarded corpse of the manager (I believe within the England manager's contract there is the stipulation that on dissolution of said agreement, the manager is expected to figuratively donate his cadaver for further study. The wording of this may vary, for example, Steve McClaren donated his organs). While, at the same time, the players, who display shortness of breath, dizziness and a shooting pain in their left arm, are invariably given a clean bill of health.
Again another Guardian article, this time by Richard Williams began, "Fabio Capello never bothered to learn much English." Really? I understood him well enough and as an Irishman, need I say more than, Trapattoni anyone? You see, a perceived lack of English, is a media complaint and has little or nothing to do with Capello as coach.
"On Wednesday night his lack of understanding led directly to his resignation from the job of England manager, after a meeting in which he was confronted over his refusal to accept the stripping of the England captaincy from John Terry."
But it seems to me that Capello understood better than most journalists, how his position was undermined by the Football Association's decision, which was taken without consulting the manager, whose sole responsibility the team is. From a legal point of view too, Capello understands how the F.A. decision undermines the presumption of innocence, the foundation on which the British legal system is built, in his own words, “I have spoken to the chairman and I have said that, in my opinion, one cannot be punished until it’s official and the court – a non-sporting court, a civil court – has made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he has been accused of. I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain’s armband."
Even before his resignation many sports hacks missed the point. Take, Dominic Field writing in, you guessed it, the Guardian, "by publicly voicing his disapproval at his employers' decision to remove John Terry from the captaincy, a move taken out of his hands, Capello has risked critically undermining England's preparations for the summer's European Championships." So disapproval with the decision, not the decision itself, risked undermining England's Euro 2012 preparations? Curious, isn't it?
Throughout Capello's tenure, there has been an xenophobic undercurrent. But it's cloaked in terms that are more palatable than John Terry's alleged, "you f*!&ing black c*&t," he doesn't understand our culture, he doesn't speak much English etc. There is an irony in Capello's decision to uphold the principles of British law whilst at the same time British citizens talk of his "lack of understanding."
Of course, by now, the unstoppable juggernaut that is 'Arry for England is moving through the gears. Statements that Redknapp is "his generation's most successful English football manager," should not be read as a glowing endorsement of his candidacy but rather how callow English football has become, from an intellectual and innovative viewpoint. There are few, if any, great English thinkers in the game, Brian Clough, perhaps being the most recent.*
*I was tempted to use the word last here. But there's a permanence about the word which precludes the possibility that at some future date their may be an Englishman who can take his place alongside Busby and Clough.
Though I reserve the right to refute that he has been a top club manager, I firmly believe that if Redknapp were to get the job, he would excel at it and get the most from his players. The limited time the new manager will have before the European Championships is a hindrance, but less so to 'Arry. His style of go out and express yourself, without the heavy tactical burden that can be difficult to translate is the limited time international teams spend together, is ideal for England, particularly given the time constraints before the European Championships.
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