Behind the Times: Capello/Klasnic/Bangura/Bullard

The real world has intervened over the past fortnight, and consequentially T.S.D.B has been on a little downtime. But we’re back today, in a big way.

As I type, Fabio Capello has just finished unveiling himself to a rather large pack/gaggle/shoal/murder of media types at an F.A press conference in some swanky hotel in Londinium. Capello’s English is not quite ready yet, so the Q and A session with the press was conducted in Italian. However, just to show willing, Capello introduced himself in English.

What was most notable about the press conference was that none of the questions posed to Capello were even remotely challenging. Capello’s mere presence seemed to intimidate the usually emboldened Fleet Street posse, allowing Don Fabio (that’s what we’re calling him now, at least until he makes his first mistake) a fairly tranquil introduction into the prickly domain of English football.

Unfortunately for Brian Barwick, a man whose mouth seems to perpetually be moulded into a worried ‘o’ shape, the media decided to reserve all of the tricky questions for the F.A. Capello’s prospective £6.5 million p.a wage was the major talking point, but a few particularly scurrilous scribes brought up the rumoured rancour in Soho Square over Don Fab’s appointment. Apparently, several members of the F.A.’s board believe that Barwick was too hasty in appointing Capello, especially after he promised a ‘root and branch’ review of English football. Barwick quite reasonably suggested that he can’t really win on that count, as he was roundly lambasted by the press for wavering over the choice of the last England manager, ultimately missing out on Big Phil Scholari.

If one can appreciate Barwick’s argument, it’s difficult to accept it unconditionally. Barwick has rushed into an appointment, perhaps offering too heavy a financial incentive to Capello in the process. If Capello fails as England manager, the ire directed at the F.A. will be of an unprecedented level. Barwick is banking on Capello avoiding the ignominious failure perennially associated with the England manager, and in terms of pedigree he has made an impeccable choice. However, in appointing Capello he has elected to avoid entirely the long-term situation, the ‘root and branch’. In managerial terms, Capello is the ultimate quick fix solution. He has that resilient character needed to swiftly inject positivity into a flagging dressing room, as he proved by winning the title with a previously disjointed Real Madrid side last season. However, Capello isn’t really one for the long term. Davor Suker, who was at Real Madrid during Capello’s first spell there, says that Capello “came in a winner and left as a winner.” Capello needs to keep this aura of success around him at all times. It is how he motivates his charges. When he left Milan in 1996 he did so a champion, but with a team on the wane. He returned to the club two years later, but noticed that the club was a meek imitation of the dominant force of the early 90s, without many of its superstars, and promptly exited. In short Capello is tremendous at coaxing excellence out of underachieving players, but is not the sort to patiently wait for the next generation of world beaters to spring up, a la Wenger. His aim will be, in all likelihood, to drag England to glory at South Africa 2010 or Poland/Ukraine and then retire, his glory intact. Which would be great, obviously, but it doesn’t tally with all this ‘root and branch’ talk.

Of course, I may be completely wrong. Capello may hang around for years, waiting for Walcott, Sturridge, Bostock and co to mature, but I severely doubt it. No, surely Capello’s here to eke one last hurrah out of the much-maligned ‘Golden Generation’. After that, who knows.

And on we go:
BigFourGrandSlamSuperSundayMegaAmazingLOLZ Oh, and some other teams played as well.

Video of the Day

Almeria vs Valladolid: One of the worst misses EVER, followed by a rather special free kick.

Heartwarming Story of the Day: Werder Bremen’s Ivan Klasnic scores his first goal for the club since having two kidney transplant operations, as they demolish Leverkusen 5-2.

What have we missed:

-Well, outside of the top division, the massive story of the past couple of weeks concerns Watford midfielder Alhassan Bangura, who is facing deportation to Sierra Leone. It’s quite a sad tale. Bangura fled Sierra Leone in his teens after escaping the clutches of a voodoo cult and believes that, if he returns to his home country, he will almost certainly be killed. An appeal was rejected last week, with the government suggesting that Sierra Leone is not as dangerous as it was when he left. Aidy Boothroyd was apoplectic with rage after hearing the verdict, while both sets of fans in last weekend’s Watford-Plymouth game staged a half-time protest against the decision.

-Greece are the Unofficial Football World Champions going into 2008.

-The always entertaining Jimmy Bullard is close to a return to first team action at Fulham after that horrendous injury.

-Is this the greatest 5-a-side goal ever?