New era for the England footy team

[RivaOni]

Yes, once again, I'm talking about the real football, or what you guys criminally call Soccer...

Anyhow, after the dismal performance of Steve McLaren as head coach of the England national football team, we've now employed another foreigner in the name of Fabio Capello, one of the most succesful club managers on record.

So far its been very interesting, and thats only based on his 23 man squad for Wednesdays friendly against Switzerland:

[RivaOni]

James Defoe, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth (and very nearly scored a Hat-Trick at the weekend on his debut) has been re-called to the Engand set-up as cover for Agbonlahor who picked up an injury in Aston Villa's game, I think they're going to see how his injury his going today before the game on Wednesday.

[RivaOni]

Capello demands winning mentality

Good to see just how much effort the guys put in, he only agreed a contract in November (I think it was) and only actually started work about a week ago, yet he's gone from knowing barely any English to being able to deliver team talks with only a bit of help already.

I also like how he's told the players everyones on an equal footing, so they're all out to impress, and that he has seemingly seperated himself from being pally with members of the squad (meaning there will be no automatic choices or players demanding formations).

He's also told them that they need to improve, not that recent results were just "bad luck" as the players would have us believe, so a good start already and he's not even managed his first match as coach, I'm looking forward to this!!

I also find the Rio Ferdinand comment about Capello's English funny, you should really hear Ferdinand speak, its sometimes like his lips are sewn together and he's speaking martian

EDIT:

Aglonbahor has officially withdrawn from the squad due to injury now, so Defoe's in the squad good and proper, I'm hoping he gets a start after his performance at the weekend.

[Robb]

I'm a bit under-whelmed by the choice of strikers for this game, really wanted to see something a bit different, but then again, who do we actually have?

[Sciler]

I think Owen and Rooney are great, and Crouch is kind of touch and go...sometimes he pulls out amazing goals, other times he makes me cringe lol.

There's quite a few familiar names though (while I dont know them all sadly) but I am happy to see the following at least:
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)

I loved watching these guys either throughout the season of EPL or in the last World Cup.

[RivaOni]

[Robb]

David James

Micah Richards Rio Ferdinand Johnathon Woodgate Wayne Bridge

David Bentley Steven Gerrard Gareth Barry Joe Cole

Jermain Defoe Wayne Rooney


That would be my choice =)

[RivaOni]

As I thought, Gerrard's been chosen as captain for tomorrows match, but its not a permanent fixture.

And Capello has made it clear that he is unwilling to talk about players that haven't made the squad, amongst other rules he's put in place to force the players to communicate (all having breakfast at the same time, in the England suits, all at the same table, and none of them can leave until everyone is ready to leave, including the coaching staff)

I imagine its gonna be a big shock to some of the celebrity players we have, and also to the media who won't have many stories to print from this era other than match reports I imagine.

[Robb]

I'd like to see an approach similar to portugals where they have 3 players rotating as captain, that way no one gets too much of the pressure or the limelight.

[RivaOni]

I think thats a pretty good idea, the problem I always saw with having a captain was that he's pretty much, fitness allowing, (or in the case of Englands past, even that doesn't matter) an automatic pick, the system you mention gives space for form to be the deciding factor in who makes the squad and is captain.