Psycho picks up the pieces for England after Capello debacle
As David Bernstein admitted, the moment Fabio Capello gave that interview to Italian television on Sunday night the Football Association had a major problem.
'His backing of John Terry wasn't helpful in the way it came across or was communicated,' said the FA chairman on Thursday. 'It did give the impression of a conflict of views between the manager and the board. It produced an unsatisfactory situation.'
On his way: Fabio Capello leaves his Knightsbridge home on Thursday morning
It actually did more than that. It derailed England's preparations for Euro 2012, leaving them short of a manager as well as a captain four months before the tournament. Sir Trevor Brooking, seated among the four most powerful men at the FA in Wembley's press auditorium, did his best to remove the whiff of crisis from the air.
'Let's be a bit realistic here,' he said. 'We have gone 46 years without winning something. So were we the favourites this summer whether Fabio was in charge or not No. And I don't want to scare off anyone coming into this job because you are expecting them to come back with a championship or get to a final.'
Adrian Bevington, managing director of Club England, spoke of the tournaments beyond this summer's event in Poland and Ukraine. 'The 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Euros in France and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.'
Over to Stu: Pearce will take charge of England's friendly with Holland after Capello exit
Was that looking a bit too long-term for Harry Redknapp, who turns 65 in three weeks 'I'm 68 and I'm not too old,' added Bernstein.
While the FA were right to take the moral stance they did on Terry, and right to engage Capello in a 'frank discussion' about that off-message, unauthorised interview with Rai, it is extraordinary that the governing body suddenly found itself in the position it did.
At Christmas, Bernstein gave a speech to the media reflecting on a fine first year as chairman. He was particularly pleased to see England emerge from 2011 unbeaten, with six wins and three draws, a run that included a defeat of world champions Spain.
Presumably, Bernstein did not expect to be searching for a new manager two months later. 'It's hardly ideal,' he admitted.
Stony faced: Trevor Brooking, Adrian Bevington, David Bernstein and Alex Horne brief the media following Capello's resignation
It's hardly ideal to have Stuart Pearce now managing the side for the friendly with Holland, and not just because of some uncomfortable questions the FA had to deal with on Thursday.
Pearce might be the GB Olympic coach and manager of England Under 21s but he once put David James up front when he was in charge at Manchester City and he went very close to thumping an opposing player during a European Under 21 Championship final.
Heaven knows how the man formerly known as 'Psycho' will cope in the brightest spotlight of all, even if just for a few days. 'At this stage I don't have the experience for the job,' he said last September. Some would worry he does not have the temperament either, even if he was a damn fine full back.
For the first time, Bernstein explained why the FA felt it necessary to strip Terry of the captaincy once his trial for a racially aggravated public order offence had been adjourned until July 9.
Stand by your man: Capello wanted John Terry to remain England captain
There was a degree of inconsistency in the argument that it would have been appropriate to let Terry captain the side against Holland if his trial had been scheduled for 'March or April'. But Bernstein delivered quite a speech.
'There's something particular about an England football captain and actually, I believe, rather different to the way captains are perceived on the continent,' he said. 'When you look at the statue outside Wembley of Bobby Moore, you can hardly say more than that because the history of Bobby and Billy Wright – and so on – is the stature that one is looking for from England captains.
'This particular (Terry) accusation, of
course, is totally unproven – I must keep saying that. The FA board – 14
people who had a uniform view on this – felt that going into a European
Championship … it was an overhanging issue that was not appropriate.
It was not in the best interests of England for that to be allowed to
continue.'
A Lion roars: the patriotic Pearce will
lead England once again
FA general secretary Alex Horne echoed the chairman. 'At a tournament it's guaranteed that the captain has a number of media commitments to fulfil, so the role not only has that extra symbolism attached to it but it has an added expectancy and an added responsibility.'
One could not agree more, even if it that awkward distinction between a tournament and a high-profile friendly at Wembley only complicates the issue of a code of conduct; a code of conduct they might have to delay until after Euro 2012 if they do not want to exclude Terry from the tournament altogether.
Other issues were also tackled. Would Terry and Rio Ferdinand be able to play in the same side when Ferdinand's brother Anton is the player the Chelsea captain is alleged to have racially abused
'If there is a problem, it's for the manager to assess it and sort it out,' said Bernstein. But the biggest issue, of course, was identifying Capello's successor. Bernstein said all four men sitting before us yesterday had 'cleared' their 'diaries tomorrow' to begin the search but it sounds as if they will not have it all sorted by teatime. Not when they could even end up with a short-term appointment for the Euros and then a longer-term appointment after that.
Bernstein said they want someone who will 'excite the fans', and Bevington spoke of the importance of embracing the St George's Park project, the new national football centre, and England's junior sides.
LANCASTER ON PEARCE
England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster has described Stuart Pearce as ‘the perfect person’ to manage the nation’s football team.
The pair have become coaching buddies over the past two years, sharing ideas on how to improve young players. Pearce addressed England’s reserve rugby team — the Saxons — before a match last season, delivering a passionate
speech about the honour of playing for your country.
Lancaster said: ‘He will have great knowledge of all the young players because he’s coached them in the
England Under 21s. It’s a similar situation to me with the players from the Saxons. And when he’s not with the Under 21s he’s been on the bench with the senior internationals. He has been
sat in among it all and watched it, so I think he’s the perfect person for the job.’
Lancaster praised the willingness of Pearce to study coaching techniques from other sports.
‘He’s certainly very open to learning and has invested a lot of time. He has also worked with the Great Britain rugby league team.’
'Not someone who is going to set out the whole coaching philosophy for the organisation,' said Bevington. 'But someone who can go into the Under 17s dressing room and explain the importance of international football, someone who can go away with the Under 21s when the seniors aren't playing.
'Someone who can be a real motivator to the younger players, who can send out a real message about how important it is to play for England, someone who can also work closely and have a good relationship with club managers and coaches, maybe invite some people into our international development set-up so we can have a number of managers and coaches and build a pathway so we have a long-term plan.
'You are judged ultimately on how you do in tournaments but we are looking for those characteristics I've just talked about.'
It was then that Bernstein directed some criticism at Capello. 'I think we'd all probably agree that the quality of play and the level of confidence shown at Wembley is not quite where we'd like to be,' he said.
Never mind that backing Terry in the manner Capello did would undermine the next captain and cause divisions in the dressing room. It's time to move on, and fast.
