"The heart sinks as Fabio Capello misses chance to make a fresh start"

[sianisit.livejournal.com]

A fresh start would have been nice, and there could have been no better moment. Laurent Blanc knew an opportunity when he saw one, and decided to "suspend" France's entire World Cup squad for his first match as head coach. Fabio Capello, by contrast, has merely reassembled the remnants of his Rustenburg rabble for what amounts to a lap of dishonour.

To read his projected team sheet for tomorrow's match is to feel the spirits slump. Better late than never for Joe Hart and Michael Dawson, who may play most of the match, and there is the promise of a glimpse of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs. But the continued presence in the starting line-up of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Gareth Barry and Wayne Rooney, en bloc, shouts the message that there will be no cleansing of the Augean stables before the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign starts in September.

Deep down, Capello blames the players. That much is clear. So perhaps his decision to recall almost all of those responsible for the World Cup debacle for tomorrow's match is actually a gesture of ritual sacrifice before the genuine renewal can begin. Or maybe he just can't think of a better plan.


Rest of article here: www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/aug/10/fabio-capello-england-missed-chance

What a mess.

Comments

[lollapoe.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, and i know they probably didn't care - but I don't think the symbolic gesture is even about the players, it's something to mostly get the crowd and press off their backs a little bit.

I'm not saying he should've done the exact same ting France did cause the situation is pretty different, but he could've mixed it up, called some of the current players and a few new ones. I do think it is important, specially when it comes to getting people excited about them again.