Fabio Capello does seem to be taking this England thing very seriously.
Extended squads of 30, intense deliberations with his technical staff over
the fitness of David Beckham, an internal dialogue on the subject of the
captaincy - bless his little Gorizian heart, he actually thinks he has a
chance of winning something. That won't last.
No doubt Capello has been so focused on his first match, against Switzerland a
week today, that forward planning for his second game, in France on March
26, has rather passed him by. Which is a pity because if he knew what
English football had in store, he could have saved a lot of heartache and
learnt to pick up the money and coast, as Sven-Göran Eriksson eventually
did.
England play in Paris on a Wednesday, so what matches has the Premier League
scheduled for the preceding Sunday? Manchester United versus Liverpool at
1.30pm, followed by Chelsea against Arsenal at 4pm. Welcome to England,
Fabio. Welcome to a sporting culture so dysfunctional that it actively works
against you. You'll learn. Give it a year.
It is not a language barrier that you have to overcome here, but an
intellectual one. We're stupid, you see. Stupid people playing stupid games,
which is why we end up paying stupid money for a guy such as you to save us.
But you have to do it while pushing a piano upstairs, didn't we tell you
that? And with a brick dropping on your head every two minutes. That's just
our way, you see. That is what we're like. We're the Laurel
and Hardy of the international scene.
The Premier League cannot hide behind the skirts of the television companies
on this one. The fact is, no broadcasting business would pay £1.7billion
over three years just to put on Bolton Wanderers versus Wigan Athletic at
prime time. Sky Sports and Setanta demand big set-piece attractions at
regular intervals through the season.
Understandably, the League does its best to oblige. So the moment Liverpool's
visit to Old Trafford and Arsenal's to Stamford Bridge were scheduled for
Saturday, March 22, it was plain that the matches were designed to be remade
as what is known as Grand Slam Sunday. Yet at that time England's intention
to play on March 26 was well-documented - and could have been confirmed with
one phone call - even if the identity of the opponents was not officially
revealed until December 4, 2007.
From the start, the Premier League would have appreciated that delaying
matches involving the leading four teams could cause huge difficulty for the
England manager. Indeed, at the time the fixture list was published, England
were hoping to qualify for Euro 2008, in which case the March international
would have been one of only four fixtures to fine-tune the team for the
tournament. And still the Premier League pressed on with its plan.
No use blaming computers, either. The days when we believed that the schedule
was spewed out at random are long gone. On August 19, Manchester City played
Manchester United and Chelsea played Liverpool, both matches moved to Sunday
for television, as the return matches have been on February 10. The games on
March 23 are, in effect, the return legs of fixtures played on December 16,
also a Sunday, live on Sky. Nobody even pretends these days. These showpiece
Sunday double-headers are football's equivalent of arranged marriages and to
place one in such proximity to an England match shows almost wanton
disregard for the fortunes of the national team. The administrative geniuses
of English football had better hope that Capello's grasp of our language
remains limited, although his thoughts on this episode could no doubt he
expressed in simple terms.
The simpler the better for Sir Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier
League and a senior administrator at the FA. Richards is a member of the FA
board, vice-chairman of the international committee and sits on FA
committees governing technical control and the FA Cup. Indeed, if more than
two people gather anywhere in a room in England and wish to talk about
football, there is probably an FA article stating that Richards must be
present and has the right to veto all decisions.
Now, with a foot in both camps, it would appear that Richards is in the
perfect position to mediate, to see the dilemma presented by a crowded
fixture list and to steer a middle course ensuring that neither the clubs
nor the England team are short-changed. It is logical that the Premier
League keeps its television paymasters happy, but not at the expense of the
national team. This does not appear to be happening.
England are to be shafted in March, just as they were in August before the
match against Germany at Wembley that England lost. Once in a season would
be unfortunate, but twice really is, as we English would say, Fabio, taking
the p***.
Of course, everyone would wish the fixture list to be rearranged to suit its
purposes, not least the powerful elite club lobby. José Mourinho, during his
time in England, complained that Chelsea were often given difficult domestic
matches before Champions League games; when in Portugal, a leading club such
as FC Porto were given an easy ride, or a free weekend, to help them. He
failed to understand that to aid Porto as shamelessly as this unfairly
disadvantaged a rival club and the Premier League exists to do more than
preserve a stranglehold of the richest on Champions League survival.
Compromising to assist England is not the same. The Premier League and FA are
not in the business of making life easier for Raymond Domenech, of France,
or Joachim Löw, the Germany coach. From Capello's perspective, it will seem
ludicrous that no consideration is given to the needs of the flagship
concern for English football; indeed, that matters are arranged to make life
harder for him. It is almost as if the Premier League is actively working to
undermine the national team and, through it, the FA. But that could not be,
for if it were true, surely there would be a movement to kick Richards off
every committee in Soho Square and make him as welcome in the building as
head lice.
When England were due to play in Israel on March 24 last year, the FA
helpfully scheduled two FA Cup replays for the preceding Monday, offering
the explanation that there was no alternative (although as one of the
matches that necessitated this arrangement was a charity friendly between
Manchester United and Juventus, this excuse had a hollow ring). Even so, the
same mitigation cannot be advanced on this occasion.
Because part of the fixture list is manufactured, there is no reason why these
matches involving the elite quartet of Barclays Premier League clubs cannot
be specifically arranged for weekends that do not clash with England
fixtures, FA Cup games or Champions League commitments. Do such dates exist?
Absolutely. And here they are: January 13 or 20, February 10 or 24, March
16, April 13 or May 4 or 11.
Viewed like this, the inbuilt inadequacies of English football become plain.
This is an industry with wealth measured in billions run by men who cannot
organise a diary. No wonder Eriksson had lost interest in everything beyond
the typing pool by the end and Steve McClaren's campaign was holed below the
water line. Whatever mistakes the last man made were compounded by a process
that often left his team shorn of their best players at crucial times. These
problems will arise naturally enough, without football's executives adding
to them.
Capello, McClaren's successor, is trying to heal a team fractured by failure,
yet in his second match he will not know until the Sunday night whether he
can call on the services of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank
Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney for a
difficult away match against a France team who will want to win, as all the
leading nations do against England.
We have grown too attached to the concept of the meaningless England friendly,
too blasé about the importance of these matches to a manager. Eriksson
foolishly devalued the currency, but Capello's serious treatment of the
Beckham issue indicates that he is aware of the importance of all matches
and training sessions to a coach whose time with the players is already
limited. Now, before the match against France, his key players will need to
rest on Monday and have one light training session on the day before the
game. There will be no opportunity for fitness assessments or detailed
tactical preparation. But will England be expected to turn in a good
performance? Of course, they always are.
Capello must take the hand he has been dealt this season, but not beyond. A
priority should be a quiet but very firm word with Richards and others who
will bask in the reflected glory of any England success, as if they have
been anything but a ball and chain fastened around the ankle of successive
England managers. Put simply: no more. Start considering the England team
and treating them with fairness or lose them. We can see how much fun a
tournament is without them - the head of sport at ITV is so looking forward
to the summer that he has cancelled it.
One imagines Capello, sitting at his desk with that same, long-suffering look
to camera that Oliver Hardy used to have as the piano teetered on the lip of
the top stair. “Well, why don't you do something to help me?” he would ask
Stan Laurel, his partner. And there goes English football, cascading down
the steps to oblivion: dum-de-dum, dum-de-dum, didd-er-ly dum, didd-er-ly
dum...
Hitting the nail on the head. England last won the WC (no, not the loo) before TV owned Football and created the monster money spinning Prem. If the FA really cared about the national team instead of playing Prince John to the Lords of Football they would simply refuse the request to play the match on Sunday, or let it go on Sunday without the internationals. Good article. Thanks.
Thad Man, Columbus , OH, USA
Excellent Article.
I ask if the African Cup can take the players away from their clubs mid season, why can't Capello for the game in France....
Something to think about, the games on "Sky Super Sunday" would not be as interesting with the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney not taking part....
Carl, Bristol,
A perpetual downward spiral....
The whole system is tearing itself apart-
The England International scene is crippled by zero competance or vision from the Premiership dominated FA.
The Premiership then dips it's grubby hands into all aspects of the lower tier divisions- at will- snatching what they want and leaving potentially devastaing situations in it's wake.
The smaller supported teams in divisions one, two and three are terminally stranded, through no hope of generating enough revenue to dig out of the hole they find themselves in.
This game is stagnant with bad practice, underhand tactics, greed and utter lack of homegrown playing investment.
Rave on.
Jez W, Leeds UTD,
Well...Martin, a fine, fine...piece. No mess with your analysis. You are Benigni-esque. Laurel and Hardy for sure but La Vita e Bella as well, no? Remember, at the end of Benigni's film, the Germans scamper out of town...and an Academy Award is won. The award for Capello if he defeats the enemy...is clear...
Johnny Centreback, Toronto, Canada
"Gotten?" You've been watching too much American TV.
Viv, Kissimmee, Florida
what rubbish. unfair to help our clubs in europe but ok to help the national team in a friendly? are you mad? no need to answer that. you support a team that is never in europe and won't win anything. of course you look to the national team for some glory (you deluded fool).
perhaps you would like to consider who pays the players and where the loyalty of the fans lies. I'll give you a clue - it's not england. international football is tripe.
jem, london, uk
Matt Carey, spot on sir. The 2 games mentioned, plus the rest of the fixture list, are far more important to a far greater number of people than an england v france friendly. I suspect the players are included in this number. It seems to me that the only people who care about england games are you and your colleagues in the press, and people who dont actually know much about football. Im an everton fan, and frankly hope lescott is never selected for england again.
Andy Pearson, Liverpool,
Well written as always, although it appears as if Mr Samuels is almost surprised at the lack of concern for the national team.
Surely it is obvious to anyone who has studied the game over the past two decades (ever since the FA's 'Blueprint for the future of football' in fact) that the interests of the Premier League are better served by a weaker England team.
Can you imagine the reaction in the corridors of power at our leading clubs that England failed to qualify? Do you think that the various Russian Oligarchs, American tycoons and foreign managers care about the England team? Or that their precious players have a summer off, to prepare no doubt for the next round of rigourous money spinning pre-season tours to the Far East?
England's failure will be forgotten as the 'English' teams march on towards Champions League glory. But when the rest of Europe prepares for the party this summer, and we have our noses pressed against the glass, a different mood may befall the nation.
Steve Norman, Bexleyheath, Kent
If the clubs were told that their England players were being withdrawn from the Sunday games to get ready for the England game, they would soon find a way to get the fixtures re-organised (not Arsenal of course, as they wouldn't lose anyone). If Mr Capello has picked a squad of 30 players then those players, squad players, injured players and all, should be effectively owned by England for that week, say five days before and one day after the game. Sky TV would pretty soon come round when they found that their big Sunday contained no Rooney, Ferdinand, Hargreaves, Terry, Cole, Gerard, lampard etc. If it contained no international players at all then the fixtures would be changed instantly, at the insistance of all four parties (FA, Clubs, TV and England). I notice that the big clubs often manage to rest their top players before a Champions Leage clash, but insist it would be unfair to do this before an International match. These clubs, remember, are not owned, or managed by Englishmen.
MB, Aberdeen, Scotland
Good article but I have to agree with James from Amsterdam / Australia. There are numerous reasons why the English national team continue to fail a this definitely doesn't help.
It may be another quick fix and a friendlier fixture list may help a little but it's not going to win you any silverware. Not not, not ever.
As soon as the powers that be realise that English players, for all their qualities, are woefully inferior on a technical level to their foreign counterparts, then they'll have a chance of remedying the problem. Once that happens and a few centres of excellence are built, England will have a chance of winning some silverware. This of course isn't a quick fix and sounds too much like hard work for men earning ridiculous amounts of money for doing their jobs very badly but it's the simple truth.
William, London,
Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that these men will ever figure it out so the onus lies on people like yourself Martin and the rest of the media to put the pressure on them. The media in this country are immensely powerful but unfortunately they are very often blinded by their own agendas. It's blatantly obvious that there needs to be an immense investment into football from a grass roots level.
Kids need to be taught how to put their foot on the ball, not through it. It really is that simple.
William, London,
Re James from London about my comments. If I work in Asda it is not right to say that Tesco have to have your staff whenever they want. If England want my players they can develop them and pay their wages
Matt Carey, London,
Matt from london with an entirely selfish point of view there. I bet I can guess which team you support.
I think Mr Samuel was trying to raise the point that there is gargantuan pressure for England to succeed. On players, manager and the FA. If Mr Richards is in a position to mediate (I can explain what that word means if needed Matt) then why does he not do so. It would in affect be to the advantage of clubs and country.
Other than that Mr Capello does not look like th type of chump to sit on his hands and let situations be created to work agaist him, Mr Richards. Be warned.
James, London,
Valid points you've raised, Martin, but I think there are a lot more serious problems with the English national team than an unfriendly fixture list. And focusing on these 'minor' problems sounds to me a lot like making excuses.
But, then again, I am Australian, so I really can't comprehend the sheer frustration involved with the acknowledgement that your national team is rubbish, despite:
* The fact you created this game;
* The fact that it is undoubtedly the most popular sport throughout the country; and
* The fact that you have the richest and most talented domestic competition in the world.
Considering England's footballing history, its population, its wealth and its love for football, I think you need take a deeper look into the continued failings of your national team instead of pinning the blame on unhelpful fixtures.
James, Amsterdam,
All a bit mealy-mouthed, it is very easy to blame the FA & furthermore a top-knob in it's structure.
I would tend to agree with Darren Branch's point about the changes needed in the game.
Surely, rather than playing that other great English game of finding someone to blame & flogging him to within an inch of his life, this approach of the FA working for change would seem to expend far less negativity.
So lets all keep on to the FA to see signs of this root & branch change that's been promised, working together with all interested parties to find positives to help not hinder the national team.
Jeremy, Farnham,
Money is the ONLY thing that talks in English football. The FA and Premier League seem to be doing everything in their power to take the soul out of the game. When will they take off their suits and see football as it really is - a GAME - one that inspires love in players and spectators alike, encouraging youngsters to take up the game and show off their skills. It is part of our common national culture and should be treasured, not marketed to the highest bidder.
J Jones, London,
Or you could look at the tail wagging the dog scenario. Surely these England issues are getting in the way of the league. I support my club. Not England. Why should these games be stuffed in the middle of our season.
Matt Carey, London,
Brilliant Martin, brilliant.
What ever happened to that 'root and branch' review of all that goes on in the cronyville that is the FA? It's utterly appalling that our national sport is run by such incompetent fools.
One fears though that even if they read this fine piece all that might change is the validity of Mr. Samuels accreditation.
Keep up the great work Martin.
Darren Heath, London, England
You are right of course and furthermore its probably a £25k job for a young graduate to sort out a fixture programme that ticks all the boxes. As to Beckham; there is fit; as in being fit by going to the gym; if you want this you have thousands to choose from at this time of year; or there is match fit, in which case you only have a couple of dozen likely candidates and Beckham isn't one of them.
jonners, weybridge,
Brilliant article!!!
You come very, very close to just stating the truth here Martin and then slide back into satire.
"It is almost as if the Premier League is actively working to undermine the national team and, through it, the FA. But that could not be, for if it were true, surely there would be a movement to kick Richards off every committee in Soho Square and make him as welcome in the building as head lice."
Well written, with more than a hint of Animal Farm about it, but isn't it time that people came out and said outright that the Premiership is in conflict with International Football? That the interests of the wealthy are served by allowing the England team to slide ever deeper into mediocrity. That the idea of a fair game on a fair field, in which money isn't the deciding factor, stands in uncomfortable contrast to the bloated monopoly of the Premiership. Great article, laughter in the dark, but how do these people get away with it?
Andy Fielding, Singapore,
Excellent article. Lets hope either the FA can read or that someone translates it for Capello.
Martin S, Mars, red zone