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England Comment: Fabio Capello was right to sack John Terry but making Rio Ferdinand captain is a gamble
Manchester United defender is struggling with fitness and form
5 Feb 2010 18:24:00
Amar Singh | England Correspondent
Fabio Capello is a man with systems. Every match is meticulously prepared for.
For every Plan A there is a Plan B and for every Plan B, a Plan C.
His on-field preparations clearly mirror what he does off the pitch and when Capello appointed John Terry as his captain in 2007, he also made Rio Ferdinand his vice captain and Steven Gerrard his 'third choice' skipper.
Today, after rightly stripping the shamed John Terry of his armband following a 'meeting' that lasted just 12 minutes, the Italian manager ignored the form book and reverted to his system.
But by promoting an injury-hit and gaffe-prone Rio Ferdinand, who is also currently suspended for violent conduct, has Capello rocked the England boat further?
Yes, the 31-year-old Manchester United defender captained his club to a Champions League victory in 2008 and has worn the armband for England before.
Yes, on his day Rio Ferdinand is a composed, cultured centre-back who makes the art of defending look easy.
And, yes, off the field Ferdinand is a far more likeable character than Terry, immersing himself in charity work and showing no reluctance to speal out on issues such as racism and poverty.
But after a year that has seen several blunders in an England shirt and poor form for Manchester United, there is a big question mark over whether the world's most expensive centre-back can ever recover his best form
Many predicted that West Ham's assured Matthew Upson who, alongside Terry, could end up being England's first choice pairing at the back in the World Cup.
What we can be certain of is that Capello made his decision based on the 'best interests of the England team'. Though a deeply religious man, Capello would never allow a media-driven moral crusade guide his actions.
Of paramount importance is the morale of 'the group' ahead of a World Cup which will see England installed as one of the favourites to go all the way after a qualifying campaign that featured nine wins out of ten.
The solitary defeat, you may remember, came against Ukraine in October, when England were reduced to ten men after goalkeeper Robert Green brought down Artem Milevskiy. It was Rio Ferdinand who left his keeper exposed - costing Fabio Capello's England a 100 per cent record in qualifying.
But there can be no lapses in concentration in a World Cup quarter-final. Nor can England afford to play a half-fit defender against the finest attacking players in the globe. Indeed the memory of Fernando Torres out-muscling Rio Ferdinand to score against Manchester United at Anfield this season, will still fill England supporters with nerves.
On current form, few would bet against Ferdinand costing his manager again.
Fabio Capello is a man with systems. Every match is meticulously prepared for.
For every Plan A there is a Plan B and for every Plan B, a Plan C.
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His on-field preparations clearly mirror what he does off the pitch and when Capello appointed John Terry as his captain in 2007, he also made Rio Ferdinand his vice captain and Steven Gerrard his 'third choice' skipper.
Today, after rightly stripping the shamed John Terry of his armband following a 'meeting' that lasted just 12 minutes, the Italian manager ignored the form book and reverted to his system.
But by promoting an injury-hit and gaffe-prone Rio Ferdinand, who is also currently suspended for violent conduct, has Capello rocked the England boat further?
Yes, the 31-year-old Manchester United defender captained his club to a Champions League victory in 2008 and has worn the armband for England before.
Yes, on his day Rio Ferdinand is a composed, cultured centre-back who makes the art of defending look easy.
And, yes, off the field Ferdinand is a far more likeable character than Terry, immersing himself in charity work and showing no reluctance to speal out on issues such as racism and poverty.
But after a year that has seen several blunders in an England shirt and poor form for Manchester United, there is a big question mark over whether the world's most expensive centre-back can ever recover his best form
Front-runners | Rio has taken Terry's role
Many predicted that West Ham's assured Matthew Upson who, alongside Terry, could end up being England's first choice pairing at the back in the World Cup.
What we can be certain of is that Capello made his decision based on the 'best interests of the England team'. Though a deeply religious man, Capello would never allow a media-driven moral crusade guide his actions.
Of paramount importance is the morale of 'the group' ahead of a World Cup which will see England installed as one of the favourites to go all the way after a qualifying campaign that featured nine wins out of ten.
The solitary defeat, you may remember, came against Ukraine in October, when England were reduced to ten men after goalkeeper Robert Green brought down Artem Milevskiy. It was Rio Ferdinand who left his keeper exposed - costing Fabio Capello's England a 100 per cent record in qualifying.
But there can be no lapses in concentration in a World Cup quarter-final. Nor can England afford to play a half-fit defender against the finest attacking players in the globe. Indeed the memory of Fernando Torres out-muscling Rio Ferdinand to score against Manchester United at Anfield this season, will still fill England supporters with nerves.
On current form, few would bet against Ferdinand costing his manager again.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Goal.com Poll
Poll runs from 8 Feb 2010 to 10 Feb 2010
Poll runs from 8 Feb 2010 to 10 Feb 2010
Was Fabio Capello right to strip John Terry of the England captaincy?
No
55.56%
Yes
44.44%
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