| Just like Becks |
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| Jack Biantan | |||||||||
| Thursday, 07 February 2008 | |||||||||
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LONDON - THE Three Lions opened a new era for English football with a boring 2-1 display against Switzerland at the Wembley stadium. Newly appointed Italian manager Fabio Capello lived up to his reputation as a ruthless ruler when he benched Michael Owen and leaving the frontline only to Wayne Rooney. Capello also insisted on playing football using the European mainland style of ball possession. He banned the long balls and insisted on crisps passing and tight defense. It bored the hell out of the English fans who are used to the hit and run English style. But in the end the most important thing was, Capello got the positive result and the Three Lions have started to increase their confidence after a dismal campaign in the European Championships qualifying. Biggest story The biggest story of the night was not the goals from Shaun Wright Philips and Jermain Jenas but the rise of another David, that is David Bentley. His performance against Switzerland has signalled the end of the David Beckham era at the right wing of the English offense. The Blackburn midfielder proved his worth in the entire 90 minutes of action in the midfield. He provided the balls from the right flank and set up his team mates up front. He also set all the balls in the set pieces for every corners and free kicks. He was like like David Beckham minus Posh. He is smaller than Beckham but their looks are almost similar. Bentley was signed in 2006 by Blackburn after several years of languishing at Arsenal's bench. After a season of impressive display of talent with Blackburn, he was awarded with a long term contract that would keep him with the Rovers until 2011. He made his debut with the national side last year against Israel during the European championships qualifier as a substitute of Shaun Wright Philips. English fans were crying for Beckham's name during the match putting pressure on Capello to put Beckham back to the lineup. If I were Capello he should have put Beckham in the line-up and let him play for 15 minutes so that he could have his 100th cap and retire from the national team. Since they have already found a successor for Beckham at the right, it is decent and honorable to retire him. However, with one more match to go before he reaches the legendary 100th cap, Becks is in no mood to surrender. Now, the pressure is on Capello's side. He has to take Beckham but when? Had he let Beckham play last night, Becks could have enjoyed his glory and could have been contended on playing miles away with LA Galaxy. BENDIT SWEEPSTAKES The winner for the month of January of the Bend It sweepstakes is dino. Please email me at jackbiantan@yahoo.com to claim your prize. I need also your personal name and your address. GOD BLESS Email the author
Reddevil
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| I think the business about the 100th Cap is getting too much attention on how a team is run. The way it works is a player makes himself available for selection. The manager decides if he will be asked to join or not. At this point, I dont think anyone of us can assess the match fitness of David Beckham as the US season is over. Ultimately, a guy like Capello will know a lot more than us if he can use Beckham on his team or not. Until then the player needs to wait and take his chance when it comes. When you look at beckham's career, I dont think its his fault that England didnt succeed. There were other equally prominent footballers on those sides from Allan Shearer to Paul Gascoigne who were all pegged as the ones who will bring glory to England. England have been perennial underachievers just like Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands but do you see people laying the blame on Raul, Figo or Van Nistelrooy? To me, Beckham can quit now and he still can retire with his head high. He has got premiere league medals, a primera liga medal, champions league medal and many others. The guy is a winner whose records only a few other English footballers can match. Much has been said about his endorsements, but what people dont often hear about is how long he practices his free kicks long after all his team mates have gone home. You dont hear about those times he topped the fitness tests and how he consistently usually runs more miles than anyone on the pitch. So I dont think he has been remiss on honing his abilities as a footballer. You just dont play for Manchester United, Real Madrid and captain the national team if you dont prove yourself on the pitch. He's just getting too much media attention because of the endorsements and lifestyle so people tend to pass judgement based on that. As a player, your not going to be playing forever and who wouldnt grab an opportunity to maximize your income? he's just being smart. One thing is for sure, he is not going to get any sentimental favors from Capello. At the end of the day, whether its 99 or 100 caps, its not the issue. He will still be the 6th most capped player in England as I heard only 5 others have had more than 100. On the way england is playing, I say its about time they change since the formula hasnt exactly been working. ive commented on that on jack's previous columns, England has been left behind in the technical area for a long time. Capello is the man to put it right. Aside from Brazil and possibly the Netherlands and Portugal, there arent any other teams around that play attractive, attacking football. If they keep on winning, at this point, I think the english fans wont mind if they play a boring, controlled tactical game. |
madrista4ever
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| I disagree on giving Beckham that 100th CAP. In order for him to earn that England Iron Band. Fabio Capello is a no-nonsense manager. He knows how valuable International Friendlies are. Since England didn't qualify for Euro2008. All of the work he needs to be done are in preparations for the next World Cup Qualification for 2010. At that year Beckham would be 35 and he'll be too old to play for England squad. David Beckham had squandered all of the opportunites to give England glory. He has failed. In his football career he choosed to live a life of rock star. If he had set his priorities Football first and product endorsement last. He could have been a better footballer. When he choose to move to LA Galaxy for that big money move. He had just thrown away the last 2yrs of his best football career in Europe. If you think about it, he had decided to quit and thrown the towel. Unlike Steve McLaren, Capello cannot be duped by the public or the FA just to please this poster boy. |
dino
said:
| I saw the highlights of the match on Youtube, well, it's a good thing Capello starts on the right foot, even if there's still much to be done after seeing that match. Plus I'd take precision and possession over hit and run long balls, that's how I play it in football video games haha about Becks though, he isn't really an option right now, but maybe Capello will just relent on that 100th cap once the time comes, but still I doubt he'd be a regular anymore. |
