Fabio Capello showing what he thinks of the FA's decision to nix Terry's captaincy
The FA and Fabio Capello are increasingly at odds with each other over John Terry's captaincy. The Italian was vocal in his support of the Chelsea defender using the cover of the deferred legal case as a presumption of innocence till proven guilty. The FA increasingly under pressure for botching the whole racial abuse case from the get go sought a more moral imperative. Terry's continuation as a captain would prove divisive and distracting to the team.
The FA rode over Capello's objections and axed Terry. The England manager unsurprisingly did not take it well. He went on Italian TV and vented his frustration. Very unwisely, one might add.
"I told (the chairman) that I don't think someone can be punished until it becomes official," Capello told RAI. "The court will decide. It's going to be civil justice, not sports justice, to decide if John Terry committed that crime that he is accused of. And I thought it fair that John Terry keeps the captain's armband."
A public denouncement which did not go down well with the FA. They are in short very incensed.
"It is being taken very seriously by the FA because it may be that Fabio Capello has breached his contract," former FA executive director David Davies told the BBC on Monday. "You have to ask what his motive is. You have to suspect he wants to prevent John Terry retiring as a player before Euro 2012, but there are wider issues. You could have what some of the media are calling a morality circus while England are trying to win the second major tournament in football."
Today, Gordon Taylor, the CEO of the Professional Footballers' Association, called Capello's stance "bizarre and disappointing". Taylor also said that Capello should have held his counsel because the new captain would know he was not his manager's choice, creating a situation not conducive to locker room unity.
This is not the first ill conceived move made by Capello. His Capello index set up prior to the World Cup gave his own England players some very unflattering ratings which set off a firestorm of criticism and caused it to be yanked off forcing Capello onto the defensive. The current situation is far worse because he finds himself increasingly isolated and viewed with suspicion by many in the FA hierarchy. There is a familiar feel to these run of events just before one of the world's most prestigious competitions bringing back a reminder of why Capello's continuation was secured amongst uniform public disapproval.
It's quite telling that some of the more outspoken footballers have not come to his defense. But that would mean implicitly supporting a John Terry captaincy which one suspects is the last thing anyone wants.
A corollary to that would be if Terry would like to continue in the national team, which is possibly the reason why Capello made him captain heading off a potential retirement. Terry has not indicated he feels any differently, but a voluntary retirement would mean the FA and Capello get to save face. Otherwise, indications are Capello might have to re-consider his future as manager. The biggest thing in his favour is Harry Redknapp, the prohibitive favourite to take over as England manager could be a convicted felon by the time his court case gets over. Tomorrow, David Bernstein and Capello are set for a very important meeting to repair this breech.
Wenger would make a very good national manager - keep those big egos in check, wouldn't have to worry about transfer budgets, proper emphasis on talent. But I believe he's being eyed as Laurent Blanc's replacement. I think the FA should have let Capello go after the World Cup - they did that man a huge disservice by pulling the plug on him so late. England always has a managerial or player crisis before a big competition. All self inflicted of course. I have my reservations about Harry as a tactician but the players seem to like him wherever he goes. Which counts for something since England's managers have been an unlikable lot - Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello. But all this counts for little as you mentioned with the genuine lack of quality players.
Shourin you think the players didnt warm to the manager well they are all over paid egotistic cant trap a ball yet type players. Capello's record of results was as good as I can remember any England manager ever
achieved. Ferdinand that Twit he thinks Harry is the man for the job. Its bloody laughable the whole of England is going mad ! I wonder what John Terry thinks about it all ! They always shoot themselves in the foot. The Media have been whingeing about Capello for at least two years. All to sell newspapers and create news. Harry is not the only manager with ability what about Wenger he is more liker it and he would sort out a lot of problems for the longer term good of England !!
Arsenal fans want a change too ! English hypocrisy lives !
Borderman, I think Capello had some good qualities but he wasn't really the sort of manager who the players ever warmed up to - he was dry and aloof. His selections reflect his cautious nature and his Milan upbringing, always going for the older, more experienced players. Having said that, I agree, England will not win any major honours because their players are not good enough except for maybe Rooney.
How prescient, Shourin. Good observation.
The problem here is interference from the Media , the FA Chairman , Politicians and any oher Tom , Dick or Harry ( pardon the pun).
Was Harry sacked by Spurs before his trial no! Harrys a dumbo not a bad manager though but no way is he in Capello's class ! There is no one on this planet who can work with England they are just impossible to work with. Just accept that England players are not nearly good enough now to win major honours simple as that!
Fabio I wish you all the very best your an honourable gentleman and way above the crap
that hounded you out of your job.