Capello's conundrums

Now that the fuss and hype has (almost) died down following Fabio Capello's appointment as Steve McClaren's successor, the Italian will begin his tour of Premier League grounds in the hunt for his chosen players to lead England to the 2010 World Cup.

He has many tough choices ahead of him. Will he end David Beckham's international career on 99 caps? If so, who will replace him? Who will go in goal? What of the Gerrard/Lampard conundrum? What about the long-running left-sided crisis? Which youngsters will he give a chance?

Orange has put together its own dossier, giving Capello some advice on the tricky selection choices that lay in front of him. You can read some of the ex-Real Madrid and AC Milan coach's thoughts from his first FA press conference here. Most importantly though, we want to hear your thoughts on who should be in Capello's first England squad. Give us your opinions using the box below.

Comments

[Ronnie Stuart]

My team

James

Richards
Carragher
Terry
Bridge

Wright-Philips
Gerrard (C)
Barry
J. Cole

Rooney
Owen (VC)

Subs:

Green
Ferdinand
Campbell
Lampard
Pennant
Crouch
Walcot

Drop Beckham
Captain arm band to Gerrard

[Xt]

I think any team needs the quality but above all needs the commitment and the passion. And I'm affraid that, judging by the performances of the last few years, only wright-phillips, joe cole, rooney, crouch and beckham have showed they care about playing for their country! And the media should stop talking about winning World and European Cups as if it is a god given right! England won the WC once, 40 years ago. And with the primadonnas that are in theteam, won't win it again for another 40!

[P]

All this just goes to show how much lack of knolwedge there is about football.

[Jack]

I say drop beckham completely. He is the most untallented dribbler you can find, all he can do is boot a ball from one end to the other mostly giving it to the other team.
Also people putting lampard and gerrard together. Comon it does not work!

Green

A. Cole
Carragher (if he came back)
Ferdinand
M. Richards

J. Cole
Gerrard
G. Barry
Ashley young

Owen
D. Bent

Why dont we ever try out d.bent properly. His goal scoring record in the premierleague speaks for itself.

[Dave, Bristol]

One of the reasons we have gone for an overseas manager is highlighted by all your predictable English-style responses. Virtually all of you have gone for a run-of-the-mill 4-4-2 formation. Is there no imagination out there?

[David Smith]

Core my team would be quality!!

(GK)Almunia (elidgable)
(DR)Danny Mills
(DC)Martin Keown (get bak)
(DC)Micah Richards
(DL)Stuart Pearce (legend)
(MR)David Beckham
(MC)Joey Barton
(MC)Lee Bowyer
(ML)Gareth Barry
(ST)Alan Shearer (legend)
(ST)Gavin Peacock (BBC2 legend for MOTD)

[UselessEngland]

I know many will disagree with my selection... but Cappello should sweep the decks entirely and now he has a good chance to create a great team leaving out all the dead wood, talking of dead wood read on...
Dropped
Robinson
Lampard
Gerrard
Terry
The Neville Brothers
Downing
Rooney
Owen
The Entire Board of Directors at the FA.
In
Who's left?
Thats my point, there is no shortage of money in the game so how come we cannot produce talented players?

[latenightshopping]

fabio, i feel for you, having to sort out englands problems.
maybe he should look to how the scots sorted things, one thing they dont lack is team spirit!
the team that is picked should follow gerrards example
and show how MUCH they desire to win! and have we seen that?? i think not....
with one noteable exception (the above mentioned) all the players involved should take a close look at themselves and think long and hard about what is to play for england.

[Rob]

Many vaid comments.. but the one which makes me realise why the fa appoined FC before an English Manger is our lack of basic football knowledge...
please see

GK Green
LB Cole(A)
CB Terry (capt)
CB Ferdinand
RB Richards
DM Gerrard
DM Hargreaves
LM Cole(J)
CM Lampard
RM Beckham
ST Rooney
ST Crouch

Posted by: Henz 73 | 18 December 2007 at 18:02

TWELVE PLAYERS

and

put robo in reserves
bring gk:green
lb:cole(A)
rb:nevill(G)
cb:rio
cb:terry
lm:cole(J)
rm:lennon
cm:lampard
cm:gerrad
st:rooney

sub
james
king
beckam
hargrevas
aliabogorhour
dean ashton

Posted by: Jack glostershier | 18 December 2007 at 19:48

TEN PLAYERS

... I am sure it is supoosed to be ..erm 11!

[ANDY BILLI]

BRING BACK CARRA AND SCHOLES ASHTON WITH OWEN AND ROONEY BEHIND THEM.LAMPARD SUB BENTLEY ON THE RIGHT J.COLE ON THE LEFT JAMES OR GREEN IN GOAL

[Jack glostershier]

put robo in reserves
bring gk:green
lb:cole(A)
rb:nevill(G)
cb:rio
cb:terry
lm:cole(J)
rm:lennon
cm:lampard
cm:gerrad
st:rooney

sub
james
king
beckam
hargrevas
aliabogorhour
dean ashton

[Nick, Essex]

I think Stewart Downing should be dropped for starters, he's an absolute waste of space! He is completely over-rated, and wot has he actually done for Boro??! Score 1 in every 20 games that is!! Young and Agbonlahor should definitely start now, alongside Barry! Good to see the Villa boys gettin noticed now! Team as follows:-

GK- David James
RB- Gary Neville
LB- Ashley Cole
CB- Rio Ferdinand
CB- Micah Richards
RM- David Bentley
LM- Ashley Young
CM- Steven Gerrard
CM or holding role- Gareth Barry
ST- Wayne Rooney
ST- Gabriel Agbonlahor

[Chris, Liverpool]

Here's one for ya....

James

Richards Terry Ferdinand Lescott

Hargreaves
Beckham Lennon
Gerrard

Rooney Agbonlehor

[Robert,Nottingham]

if we want to get rid of anyone well let's start with all the sicknote's on the bench who couldn't play last time for their country but could for there club 3 days later DUMP THAT LOT u know where there loyaltie's lie.u need to keep the money boys out who only think about one thing(themselves).We need some new blood in .

[dave]

when you talk about strikers, aslong as there fit, its always owen and rooney, owens goal record is outstanding and its been in recent times before he got injured again. and saw someone have gerrard as DM, erm no thats the problem with gerrard and lampard, gerrard is much better attacker than lampard, gerrard got better strike and can burst threw defence much more power and speed, reason gerrard looks bad sometimes is because his covering lampards defencive dutys, as lampard like to w8 around upfront to take a penalty and score a corner.

[Shaheer]

HAVE YOU GONE MAD!!!!!! About drop Beckham... im not only sayin dis because hes my fav player but i personaly think England cant win a single match withuot him anymore...People like stewart downing should be dropped they cannot deliver in football. Personally as a right midfielder for my club and school i personally think there is no better midfielder than beckham. Robinson is just having a bad time/season like all good players do.. he needs to gather his confidence but GK's like robert green cant handle strikers like Henry, Drogba...so england will just flop... Cappelo needs to keep his experienced and good players in if he wants to take this team to the top....

[Frank Wood]

Team to settle us down and start winning again:
Green
Richards
Terry
Ferdinand
A Cole

Beckham
Gerrard
Hargreaves
Barry

Crouch
Ashton

[Sam]

Striker: Owen
Striker: Rooney
Striker: Crouch
Midfield: Barry
Midfeild: Lennon
Midfeild: Hargreaves
Midfeild: J.Cole
Defence: G.Nevile
Defence: A.Cole
Defence: Terry
Goalie: James

Subs:
Gerrard
Robinson
P.Nevile
Johnson
Wright-Phillips

[mark fitzsimmons]

AND......David Beckham should be playing for England until he is 40!!

[mark fitzsimmons]

Ok, thats the manager sorted.
That's the least of our worries not having any English managers good enough for the job, what about the players?
Gary Neville!!! Mika Richards!!Rio Ferdinand!!!.....oh, please, is this the best that we have got? God help you Mr Capello...unless you know sombody who can clone Stevie Gerrard 11 times!!

[phil mortimer]

during the european championships how many games did beckam play !! but you are blaming him for not qualifying, the under 21s have won nothing, yet you want to replace the full england side with most of them.Anyone who has played football knows you must mix experienced players with some young ones, and then introduce them one at a time.People who think we should throw out the old team are talking rubbish!! capello seams to be saying the right things, and all our team needs are proper direction and motivation,and i believe his stricter approach will focus the players. Also wright beckam of at your peril, capello, and msclaren, both had to eat humble pie, two of the replacements mentioned, lennon, and wright phillips, cant even cross thier legs never mind a ball!!!

[paul]

For gods sake please don’t rely on Lennon or Wright-Phillips, yes they have potential, they can both run with the ball but neither can cross to save there lives, a lot of the time they are like headless chickens, they both have A LOT to learn. Beckham is still the best right sided midfielder the country has.
I would think about what to do with
Lampard (him or Gerrard?)
J Cole (effective 1 game in 10)
Rooney (goal scoring threat?)

[Rob]

You can't get rid of the 'old team' straight away. True the likes of Neville, Campbell & Becks all need to wave bye; but the core of the team, Terry, Gerrard (even tho he played better for pool - maybe England should always play in Red?) and Rooney need to be there. I hope FC really looks carefully and chooses a blend of players unlike previous mangers who pick the 'Newspaper Best 11' and keeps their fingers crossed. Villa seam to have a good few young English players.... Shame the FA didn't realise their manager has already proved he has good potential in spotting good English talent.

[Vincent]

Beckham should be dropped. All he ever does is dance around the field. Not a serious, professional team player. He is too self serving. Just look at his ads. Something is missing.

[zak]

str:Rooney and owen
rightmid:david beckham
rightcentre:Gerrad
leftcentre:Hargreaves
leftmid:joe cole
rightdef: Richards or Gary Neville
centredef:rio and terry
leftdef:cole
subs
carson just needs exp so he sub
carrick
Barry
Lampard
Crouch
and play a 442