Fabio Capello’s troubles

Fabio Capello has one of the toughest jobs in football. England nation expects a lot from their national team and considering the quality of the players the team should be at the top of European football. However, the things couldn’t be more different as England even missed out on the last year’s Euro and now Capello is here to take them to the World Cup.

Italian is used to working under pressure and he is the big fan of discipline. He usually focuses on defense as all Italian coaches and the fact that Milan won the title in Serie A by scoring just 27 goals throughout the season under Capello should not be surprising. However, England is used to playing attacking football and not even Capello can change this. The FA probably had in mind that the Italian is strict coach, who doesn’t give any star treatment and that is probably why they have given him the job. He faced a lot of problems at the start of his career but that is perfectly normal when you are coaching England.

To start from the keepers. Capello still sticks with David James, who is 38 by the way, and he is a good keeper but prone to making mistakes. Scott Carson is a great keeper but the mistake against Croatia cost him dearly and he is now the second choice. Green and Robinson are also in the running but both of them are very inconsistent. This remains a big problem for the Italian considering that James will have to retire some time. I almost forgot Joe Hart, who could be fighting for number 1 spot with Scott Carson in the future.

Defense is the area of the team that needs the least improvement with Ferdinand and Terry in the centre and Brown and Ashley Cole on the flanks. Lescott, Upson, Bridge and Johnson are providing cover and the only surprise is dropping Micah Richards, who showed on many occasions that he was mature enough to play at this level.

The biggest problem is in midfield where Capello has a lot of great players but their performances for the national team are not satisfying. The centre of the park was always reserved for Lampard and Gerrard, two best midfielders in England and maybe in Europe. However, their performances for England are very poor considering how they play for the respective clubs and this has been the biggest problems of the team in recent years. Gareth Barry is always there to step up if either of these two is unavailable and he has been impressive playing with both of them. I do not see the reason why he would be left out because both Gerrard and Lampard are now fit.

Right flank is probably the most crowded place in the team as four excellent players are in the running. Former captain David Beckham still has lot to offer and Capello doesn’t want to give up one him. He dropped him in Real but was soon forced to eat his pride and get him back to the starting line-up and Beckham brought him the title in La Liga. Bentley, Wright-Philips and Walcott are also there and it seems that whoever plays Capello will not make a mistake. Joe Cole is first choice on the left flank with Stuart Downing ready to step up. Middlesbrough winger didn’t really impress for the country or the club recently, and I really don’t know why Ashley Young is not called instead. Aston Villa midfielder is impressive this season and he both scores goals and sets them up. He is a real danger from set-pieces, which is something the team needs when Beckham is not playing.

In attack one place is reserved for Wayne Rooney and Crouch, Defoe and Heskey battle for the other one. It seems that Heskey is the closest to start the next few games, but Crouch and Defoe has been very good together in Portsmouth and Capello might be tempted to play them together at some point.

These were all options regarding individual players but the team’s main problem remains performing under pressure, as expectations are really high and the performances are poor. It seems that main problem is psychological and if the Italian manages to convince the players to play as they do it in their clubs the results will certainly improve.

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