Gilberto Silva Drops By as Capello's England Makes Its Debut

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Fabio Capello is expected to help England deliver a World Cup, so its rather fitting that on the eve of his debut, we talk to a World Cup winner, Arsenal's own Gilberto Silva. Matt Hughes helps us sift through the squad and we take turns guessing (educated guesses, of course) as to what Fabio's XI will look line. We also review events in the Premier League (gotta give credit to Spurs and stare in open-mouthed wonder at Newcastle) and offer up the usual faves, Bill's stat (which, for once is Old Firm-related) and Quick Hits.

Gilberto Silva talks openly and frankly about his relationship with Arsene Wenger and what the future may hold. It's never easy when, after having been a starter, you find yourself on the bench, and Gilberto admits that, though he remains close to Wenger and says the Frenchman is helping him along. It will be interesting what happens next.
We all seem to agree that, with the recent pull-outs and pre-existing injuries, Capello can't get too imaginative with his XI. Matt reckons he may take Wayne Bridge over Ashley Cole, goalkeeper is up for grabs (I don't think Guillem rates Chris Kirkland very highly) as are the wide positions. Guillem fantasizes about Joe Cole as a second striker -- seems a bit wacky to me, because that would make Wayne Rooney your centerforward, but hey, opinions are like bellybuttons -- and talks about Steven Gerrard as a holding midfielder (equally wacky IMHO).
Tottenham's turnaround also deserves a mention. It's still an incomplete side, but Michael Dawson (mistake on Tevez's goal aside) and Tom Huddlestone have come on in leaps and bounds. And Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Hutton are smart pick-ups. Juande Ramos seems to be justifying his massive paycheque.
With regards to Newcastle, Guillem, who knows the characters involved, explains what Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere will actually be doing to help Dennis Wise. Matt suggests how it may work (or, not work) vis-a-vis Kevin Keegan (who, lest we forget, is the Manager) and I find it extraordinary that we all seem to have forgotten about Alan Shearer OBE: wasn't he supposed to fit into the puzzle somewhere?

Comments

[David Warnes]

a question for gab (with all due respect, guillem): the liverpool - chelsea game was to most people's eyes another serving of the lifeless gruel those two teams regularly churn out. however, i was reminded of the cliche that in italy, the perfect result is 0-0. now, obviously there are different shades in the palette of the artist nil-nil, but do you think that nowadays italian football fans would find ANYTHING 'enjoyable' about that game at the bridge? apart, that is, from being able to say that the premiership, as they always thought, is very obviously inferior to serie a.

[Zulfy Ali]

May we please please have The Eurogame podcast back?

[dennis]

I'm the last person to defend some of the morons who follow England, but they were not booing possesion football (they were cheering a rare passage of it later in the game).

They were booing because they'd just seen twenty minutes of chronic football, with players continually giving away the ball.

Fickle? What do you think the crowd would have been in Italy, Spain or France if they'd failed to qualify and were playing Switzerland in a friendly. They'd have been booing after 3 minutes!

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. David - If it's a marketing tool and it's done the right way, maybe it can be considered. But, as always, any extra revenue should go back to fans and grassroots. Which, I fear, won't happen.
2. Craig - I'm rather with you on many points... I think we should talk about this on the podcast...
3. Macca - I think a minority of stupid people will always boo if the ball isn't smacked forward every ten seconds. But the majority are more intelligent than that. And I think many of the England players are too.
4. David - Some ex-footballers turned pundits actually watch football matches, do their homework and integrate it with their own experience as players to provide meaningful insight. Some ex-footballers turned pundits just spout out cliches and live off their reputation as players (perhaps not realizing that, in a few years, they will be forgotten as players).

[David]

I have an idea for the bbc, how about renaming match of the day match of the cliche. This is because during the recent international all messrs Linekar, Hansen, shearer and Wright did was say the usual stuff about Italian football being defensive and England needing to play at a high tempo. Firstly have they not seen the 2 Milan clubs or Roma in the champions league, where they are some of the most attacking sides in the competition. Secondly England having to play at a high tempo has one us diddly squat in the last 40 years because this style of play gives the ball away to much.

[Macca]

I think Craig has made a good point with his comment about possibly seeing football played with 'a bit of brain'. I think Capello could bring some intelligent football to the England team, and i think that English players and quite clearly a large no. of English fans lack this (note that the booing came during a passage of possession football which ended in Joe Cole getting a good save out of the keeper). It's all about entertainment now rather than inteligent football.

[Craig]

I have a lot to rant about this week. Firstly, the Premiership moving abroad is ridiculous. What America does, we will follow, but this is not America. Football clubs have historically been community assets, not "franchises" or "businesses". The league is not open, it's not particularly competitive, but it is what it is, and it doesn't need changing. It’s sport, it’s meant to be illogical and we love it when a small team does well, or a big team languishes in the lower leagues. Those are the stories we like reading. The NFL can do as it pleases as it has far greater power over the clubs, and it ensures a much more level playing field. This is manipulating everything that is inherent and traditional in football. The Premier League is in danger of disenfranchising the vast, vast majority of their most loyal fans (the one's who haven't already been priced out of the game) in favour of a pot of gold that might not exist abroad. What staggers me even more is that the likes of Sunderland and Reading voted for this. Do they really think that they have a significant fanbase outside of the UK, prepared to pay lots of money to watch them? Or are they happy to just let the money the big four draw filter down to them? Do they really think that given a few years, the big four will not argue that this is unfair?

We're in danger of seeing Portsmouth Pirates, and teams relocating to a bigger source of fans as in the Budweiser advert. How long before they decide that Wigan is too small and too close to Manchester for a Premier League team? "Hey, I know, lets move them to Tokyo. 30m people and no Premier League team - imagine the money we could get out of them!" “Blackburn is the same, say hello to the Beijing Rovers!”

"You do the football, we'll do the beer", it goes. How about you do neither, because just as a beer connoisseur would consider American beer as sub-European standard, bland rubbish that only works because of advertising and isn’t worthy of exportation, that's also how we see the American Football formula.

Secondly, we constantly condemn fickle foreigners for their handkerchiefs and their booing. "They don't know they're born, managers must be given time", they say. Yet last night, the England fans put the foreigners to shame. 32 minutes (yes - 32!!) into the first game in charge of arguably the most successful manager of his generation, the crowd began to boo. These are the same people who phone radio phone-ins and complain that we can't keep the ball. Ball retention was clearly a problem for England, a massive one at that. In big games, even against poor teams, we gave the ball away cheaply. "£100,000 a week and they can't even pass to each other", "we're not producing enough young players", "our skills are simply inferior to the Brazilians/French/Latvians/San Marinans", "they're not trying hard enough": RUBBISH, all of it. England couldn't keep the ball because they were scared and far too eager to impress. This is down to poor management and intense pressure. "Why can't Lampard/Gerrard/Rooney etc perform like they do for their clubs?!", well then they would be an incohesive group of individuals, not a team - which funnily enough is another argument as to why England were underachieving. Money and effort doesn't come into it, the players worked their socks off to impress against Croatia, but they lacked cool heads on the pitch and on the touchline, and there was too many headless chickens. There must have been 40 yards between each midfielder at times. England is a top-8 nation talent wise in football. Yes, the players aren’t entirely blameless, but their fault is not to earn a ridiculous amount of money or to be technically inferior. They are good enough, granted they lack a bit of composure and class in the middle of the park, but what international team doesn’t have a weakness?! They merely needed a strong manager that they genuinely believe can bring them success to whip them into shape, instill a team mentality, and make them forget about the criticisms in the media. They won’t be criticizing when they’re winning every game, and the players will know that that is possible under Capello. With Sven in charge we achieved par. With Capello we could achieve anything. I've been longing to watch England play convincing, controlling football, with a bit of brain and feel confident against big sides in knock-out games.

Finally, many hacks seem to write their reviews when they see the team sheet, not the match. I read that Bentley was the man-of-the-match, that Wes Brown is a terrible right-back, Wayne Rooney is not a striker. Wayne Rooney had a lively game. His finishing (true to form) was off, but his all-round game was good. And yes, he tracked back, but only when he switched to left wing. If England see enough of the ball, he can lead the line. The problem comes when he’s asked to feed off scraps, a la V Portugal in 2006 (being unfit doesn’t help when you’re trying to play lone striker for the first time and in a World Cup quarter final either). Bentley did ok, hit and miss, but he's certainly no messiah.

Wes Brown, right back for the Premiership's best defence, did fine last night, absolutely no problem, and he’s certainly been the best right-back in the league for the past few weeks. Ashley Cole on the other side, supposedly the best left-back in the world, had a poor game, which went virtually unnoticed. They do, however, seem to agree with me on one thing, Joe Cole has been England's best player of late. He’s long stood out like a bundle of composed skill, almost like a foreigner, in a team full of headless chickens, and he looks to be thriving in the new and improved set up too.

I'm done.

[David]

Dear Gab,
What is your opinion on paying premiership games overseas? Personally as long as it is kept under control I do not have a big problem because it is due to the tv rights in overseas countrys paying such high prices that has made the premiership what it is. I believe that by playing competitive games overseas we are returning the favour and giving people the chance for fans to watch their favourite players face to face. Also are their similar plans in other european leagues.

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. Chrissy - As I recall, Bullard's grandmother is German, so he made himelf available to Klinsmann prior to the 2006 World Cup (although he was never called)
2. Macca - I'll do my best to satisfy your request
3. Nick - It's all about educated guesses. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong.

[Nick]

When Capello's starting eleven was announced, I smiled as I thought back to a Radio 5Live interview a few weeks ago when Gabriele suggested a similar sort of line-up and was denounced and ridiculed by Steve "No Brainer" Claridge who reckoned Capello would hardly change the team. I hope that the supporters can come to terms with a manager picking players for the team on the basis of merit and not for sentimental or historical reasons.

[Macca]

Gab,
I would be interested to hear in Monday's podcast about the reaction in Italy to Capello's first game in charge.

[Chrissy]

doesn't jimmy bullard want to play for Germany? Or is that just because he doesn't think he'll get an England call up?

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. Sarah - I'm not convinced English referees are bad per se. I do think they had a stinker last weekend. Diet is just one component of course. As for Jose Keegan, do you mean Jose (Spanish) or Jose (Portuguese)?
2. Duncan - That was Bill Edgar who said that. I can only guess he has the stats which prove it.
3.BryanV - I would hope Guillem wasn't saying Fletcher is one of the top 10 young players in Europe...
4. Sam - Yeah, the press has been riding this Capello-as-drill-sergeant line a bit too much methinks.
5.James - You're being swept along. Pound for pound the edge still goes to South America, IMHO. And remember too that at the ACN there is a big variety in terms of the players in the side. Ghana has a fearsome midfield for example, but, up front, they have Junior Agogo (who is doing well, but I don't think anyone would consider world class).
6. Cory - Thanks for the kudos on the podcast. I'll let Guillem handle the rest...

[CORY]

Guillem,
Do you have any details on Mascherano's fee/contract? Hardcore LFC sites report the fee to include his wages. I am guessing that Kia and co. will then essentially loan his "economic rights" for the 4 years and then regain them after the deal. Isn't this essentially slavery? Will the PL's new rules on 3rd party ownership affect this? BTW, the podcast is much better this year. I missed DK at first, but I am a true convert to the change.

[Art Vandelay]

Question for the Pod:

Does the continent of Africa now produce 'pound-for-pound' the best footballers in the world? Players Like Eto'o, Drogba, Essien and Adebayor have strength, technique, power, heart and versatility. Does any other continent measure up against Africa or am I being swept along with the Africa Cup of Nations being shown on the TV?

Thanks
-- James

[Sam]

How hilariously predictable. What do the press concentrate on in Capello's first meet-up. Tactics? Philosophy? Get real! He's banning playstations and telling them to dress smart! How very Real Madrid 96.

One thing I noticed is how lame the questions were at Fabio's press conference. And they have the cheek to criticise footballers for being dim?

Why isn't Ramos meeting managers after games, is he a snob like Wenger? And if that story about Mourinho and Rafa's assistant is true, it's the most pathetic thing I've heard. I thought the press exaggerated this stuff.

Is it true calling someone by their surname is an Italian thing, seems a bit formal.

[BryanV]

Good show as ever, tho' is it getting shorter? Guillem, some interesting points regarding the renaissance of Scottish football. Just a quick question, were you saying that Fletcher is considered one of the top 10 young players in Europe or another Scottish player?

[Duncan]

Huddlestone is called the best long passer in the premiership and no one says a word about it. THE BEST? At the very least I would expect a comment.

[sarah]

That Gilberto interview was as fascinating as an interview with an English footballer.

Whenever anyone starts talking about miraculous fitness improvements, alarm bells should go off and drug testers should follow. There are no fitness miracles, everyone knows the broccoli, pasta, fish schtick now. Man United do pretty well, and they live on old school beans and brew ups (according to Silvestre anyway).

If Guillem ever feels the need to defend Keegan again, he should imagine his name is Jose Keegan, then he'll be gushing like Niagara.

Who except Keith Hackett claims English referees are good? Spanish refs though are top.