The Football Thread

[titoli]

I don't see the language issue as being a problem.I understand he's already fluent in one or two languages other than Italian  and by the time the World Cup qualifiers start next Autumn his English will be very good.

Actually it seems like he's not totally foreign to the language. He can speak it on a basic level. If I were him I wouldn't mind upping it up: what for? Press conferences? This is a bs issue. yeah, Benitez said that it is essential for half-time  encouraging and direction. But Capello has Baldini with him who can manage 5 languages, in case. Actually, as he is wont to set a distance between he and his players, not knowing the language could turn up an advantage: if the folks playing for him can't understand him that will make him all the more redoutable to them. And he is wont to play on these psychological approaches. 
Of course, his main problem is the keeper. That's why he brought with him Tancredi (former AS ROMA and italian national team keeper). I wonder what he can do with a monthly session (if at all) with your keepers, but I am sure they can only get better.
As one of his two only friends in football world said:"If something can be done with  those players, he's the only one who can do it". Anyway, is worthwhile reflecting on the fact that nobody laughed when it was written that his aim (which it is) is to win a WC for England. it will be different after a first lamentable performance (which I'm sure it is bound to happen) but nobody laughed now.
About an english manager, that is only a proof of how little the english press know about football history. In Italy we imported english coaches until the '50's (some even later) because England was in the vanguard as to football strategies and training methods. That din't hinder us from winning 2 WC in the '30s. These people writing this kind of crap should tell which english trainer has accomplished anything worthwhile in the last 20 years. And if SCS is a prime example of their abilities...
I don't know whether Capello will accept a second in command. In case he might make sure he's not one who can understand italian like David Platt...

[Banjo]

Even if Capello can remove this supposed "mental block" with such things as penalty shoot outs i think any thoughts of winning the World Cup maybe over ambitious.England just doesn't have the same depth of talent as other countries and we only need to be missing a handful of key players to be struggling as the Croatia game demonstrated.

Its also doubtful that a European country will triumph in the climate of South Africa which'll surely favour a South American team.

Yes the goalkeeper is one huge problem that needs solving.

Hopefully Capello's impact will be so immediate that the token Englishman idea can be forgotten about.



 

[titoli]

He took Baldini with him as talent spotter. That means (I guess) he intends to build on a larger basis than just PL stars.
One big question mark is how his relationship with big team managers is gonna develop. Really, I can't wait to see what he's gonna do.

[titoli]

I didn't watch the match, Banjo. Whaddaya think of it and Fab?

[Banjo]

It was an encouraging start for Capello and England considering that this was a totally different line up,afterall Rome wasn't built in a day!

It was great to see the very imposing figure of Capello standing on the touchline throughout much of the game.It would appear that he has already gained the respect of his players despite the tough new regime of double training sessions,no wives/girlfriends/mobile phones etc.

Looking forward to the France game next month.

[Banjo]

Good luck tonight Titoli against MU 

[titoli]

Good luck tonight Titoli against MU 

Thanx, man. You'll watch the match?

[titoli]

We lost, agin. Still we were most unlucky and MU grabbed the chances. But this squad as good as Brasil? I never saw Brasil playing catenaccio like MU did tonight. And they played catenaccio even after their first goal: embarassing. They waited for a chance praying in the meantime not to get a goal. I'm curious to see the Old Trafford's second leg: if we have half the  luck MU had tonight it will be very interesting even if Totti (as most probably the case will be) won't be playing.

[Banjo]

But this squad as good as Brasil?

I don't think Brazil would include such a knucklehead like Rooney in their side who with his thuggish temper is probably more of a liability than an asset for England.

I really hope Roma can perform miracles and overturn the deficit in the return leg but they might need more than luck because  referees at Old Trafford are more than usually biased towards the home team.

[titoli]

I don't think Brazil would include such a knucklehead like Rooney in their side who with his thuggish temper is probably more of a liability than an asset for England.

You didn't watch the match, I presume. Rooney is the only player in MU that I admire. He was the match-winner and he has an exemplary behaviour (not like clownish Ronaldo).

I really hope Roma can perform miracles and overturn the deficit in the return leg but they might need more than luck because  referees at Old Trafford are more than usually biased towards the home team.

Not so much (I hope). I think referees in CL (with exceptions) are more fair headed than in national leagues because of the importance of the competition. What we need is just somebody who can make a goal out of the many and clear chances we create in a match. Yesterday we had none.

[Banjo]

You didn't watch the match, I presume. Rooney is the only player in MU that I admire. He was the match-winner and he has an exemplary behaviour (not like clownish Ronaldo).
 

I did see the game but admittedly i rarely watch MU in the Premiership.Maybe Ferguson has a tighter rein over Rooney than say Eriksson because undoubtably he has cost England dearly in the past.Maybe on evidence of last Wednesdays game he has matured somewhat.I respect his ability but we never see the appalling on pitch behavior from the likes of Ronaldinho that Rooney has displayed in the past.

Hopefully Rooney will be wary enough to be wary of Capello's wrath to behave in an England shirt in future.

[titoli]

I saw all the matches he played against us last year and this one and he has always been correct and (alas!) most decisive man on the pitch. He's a no frills player who's there to score. He has no qualms about doing humble tasks like running behind a ball for half a field and save a corner to get a side throw instead (He did this last night and last year too: and, guess what, that's what struck most A.S. Roma fans, judging from talk shows on the local radios). Anyway. I'm very curious about next wednesday's match. And I'd bet that SAF's gonna play catenaccio at OT too. Hope luck will be with us this time: that's all we need.

[Banjo]

Hope luck will be with us this time

I do too and (contrary to what the British media would have you believe) that goes for most of the non-MU fans here too.

[titoli]

Totti won't be on the pitch, alas! But the rest of the squad is alive and well.

[Banjo]

Well it all starts on Saturday and its a tough opening  for Italy against Holland on the 9th June.Wonder if Cannavaro will have recovered in time?