John Terry's "Big mistake"

[Macmoish]

Agree or disagree. At least John Terry is acting like a captain and serious man

Guardian

World Cup 2010: Fabio Capello crushes John Terry's England revolt• Senior players unhappy with former captain's outburst
• Squad demands recall of Joe Cole in crisis meeting
(59)Tweet this (65)Dominic Fifield in Rustenburg The Guardian, Monday 21 June 2010 Article history
John Terry addresses the media yesterday as signs of tension grew in England's World Cup squad. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Fabio Capello moved to reassert complete control over the England set-up last night after successfully deflecting a proposed challenge to his authority by disgruntled players at a scheduled team meeting.

The former captain John Terry suggested the time had come for the players to speak their mind after a stuttering start to the side's World Cup campaign but ended up in danger of being left isolated within the England camp after senior team-mates reacted with dismay to him going public with their desire for a clear-the-air meeting with the manager.

Terry was eventually persuaded against speaking at the meeting by a member of Capello's coaching staff and with no guarantee that other players would fall in line behind him, even though they had agreed in principle with the need to air their opinions. The manager nevertheless made some nominal concessions to appease his squad. There were suggestions last night those could include abandoning his controversial policy of informing the players of his line-up only two hours before kick-off, though that would represent a radical change of policy.

Capello also expressed a willingness to enter into more dialogue with his squad but, while player power appears to have been largely nullified, Terry's earlier comments had served to expose the tension within the England set-up. Frustration has mounted after successive draws left them needing to beat Slovenia on Wednesday to avoid elimination at the group stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

The 29-year-old had faced the media yesterday "on behalf of the team" and suggested he would head a group of players in expressing their concerns to the manager in the evening's get-together at the side's hotel at Royal Bafokeng. "The players can say how they feel and, if it upsets him, then I'm on the verge of just saying: 'You know what? So what?'" said Terry. "If we can't be honest with each other, then there's no point us being here."

The centre-half made no mention of David Beckham, whose role at present is that of a liaison between players and management, but had named a group that included the current captain, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, who had all stayed up in the wake of Friday's dismal draw with Algeria to discuss the team's shortcomings and their frustrations with the World Cup campaign to date. The players had been keen to let Capello know their grievances but an uneasiness surfaced within the squad that Terry's outburst had gone too far.

The defender had clearly felt he had a mandate to speak for the squad at the time. There had been murmurings of discontent from some within the set-up at a perceived lack of preparatory work – most notably a lack of planning on how to break down Algeria's three-man defence – and a desire to switch to a 4-5-1 formation that would include the as yet unused substitute, Joe Cole.

There was dissatisfaction, too, in the manner in which the staff dealt with the goalkeeping situation after Rob Green's error against the USA, with matters not helped by the team being closeted away in their training camp for long periods.The build-up of tension appeared to be showing on the pitch, with Rooney reacting furiously to the chorus of boos that greeted the goalless stalemate at Green Point stadium on Friday.

Terry had hoped a meeting would have a similar effect to that in 1990 when a delegation of senior players including Bryan Robson, Gary Lineker and Peter Shilton had urged Bobby Robson to switch from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 after the opening draw against the Republic of Ireland. "We owe it to ourselves and to everyone in the country that, if we feel there's a problem, there's no point in keeping it in," Terry had said. "If I say something tonight, and I probably will and a few others will, then I'm doing the best for England.

"With previous managers, I've stood up and others have done the same. It's not one of those things where the manager calls the shots and that's it. People have got this picture of him where you can't say stuff in meetings. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to the manager and everyone else to voice an opinion and hope he takes it on board."

Capello himself has appeared at a loss as to why a team that breezed impressively through qualification are now struggling to impose their quality at the finals proper. The England manager has already had to field questions over his future should the team fail to progress out of the group, with the Football Association moving to reaffirm its support last night in the wake of suggestions that the manager may consider resigning should Slovenia not be beaten on Wednesday.

Asked whether he felt the side's current travails made the last two years of hard work count for nothing, the Italian replied: "Yes, it does. I don't know why or how the players have arrived at this point. The training is good, so I can't understand why they don't transfer that form on to the pitch. It is simply the fear that stops the legs, that stops the mind, that stops everything. I'm not criticising them for that. I know the problem, it happens sometimes in important matches, this pressure. This is a big challenge, and a big pressure for me and the team."

Terry had rejected Capello's notion that the side was gripped by anxiety. "That's a little bit insulting, because we are not," he said. Yet he admitted they had needed to relax in the wake of Friday's draw. "I don't want to say it was me but I went to see [the general manager] Franco Baldini after the game and said: 'Look, let everyone have a beer and speak to the manager. Flippin' hell, let's just switch off.'

"We did. The manager was sitting there with a bottle of red wine and his staff. It was more relaxed from him and us. For the first time since the manager has taken over we sat there and he let us have a beer. Seven or eight players sat there talking about the game. It was good to get things off our chest and express how we felt. The discussions between the players will stay private, but it was really nice to unwind. That togetherness has been missing maybe at times.."

The suggestion of a weight of support behind Cole within the squad was fuelled by Terry's assertion that "only he and Wayne can open up defences" in the current set-up, though Capello has made it clear he will not concede ground to player power.

"It's the manager's decision," added Terry. "Listen, Joe is one of the best players in our country. He has come back from an injury and showed great form for Chelsea. It still amazes me how the club have come to the conclusion of letting Joe go. That is another story but he can surely do things whether he starts or comes on for England."
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/21/john-terry-england-squad

World Cup 2010: John Terry's revolution is merely a one-beer putsch• Squad discussed changes over a beer on Friday
• Widespread backing for Joe Cole to play
(2)Tweet this (15)Paul Hayward in Rustenburg The Guardian, Monday 21 June 2010 Article history
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The drama started with a classic English request. They wanted a beer and a chance to discuss the mess they had just served up against Algeria. This was the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town, after midnight, and John Terry, the former captain, was ready to make his move.

Terry approached Franco Baldini, Fabio Capello's No2, and said: "Look, let everyone have a beer and speak to the manager. Flippin' hell, let's just switch off." Soon, this valid request for some respite from the swirl of anger and ridicule was taking Capello's senior players in a new direction. Terry hesitated before sharing the tale. "I will probably get in trouble now," he said, turning to the Football Association's press man, but ploughed on anyway.

It was Capello's 64th birthday and the evening was convivial. "It was nice to see that side of the manager," Terry said. "He was sitting there with a bottle of red wine with the staff and it was nice. It was more relaxed from him and us. For the first time since the manager has taken over we sat there and he let us have a beer. Usually everyone goes straight back to their room and stays there until breakfast the following morning. Seven or eight players sat talking about the game. We had a beer each, nothing more than that, and went to bed."

Here the intrigue starts. In his group, says Terry, were "Lamps, Wazza, Aaron Lennon, Jamo, Crouchy, Jonno, Jamie Carragher, Stevie, probably a couple more". For non-students of nicknames a translation might be helpful: Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Aaron Lennon, David James, Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, the captain, in theory, though Terry's answer to a television reporter's question about whether he still felt he was the leader is instructive: "One hundred per cent. Since I lost the armband, nothing's ever changed for me. Off the training field, in the camp, in the dressing room, I'll still be the same. No one will take that away from me. I was born to do stuff like that."

Terry will not say what the drinkers talked about – and late tonight the FA was attempting to portray him as a lone wolf. "The discussions between the players will stay private but it was really nice to unwind and get things off our chest."

Some are known to be unhappy with aspects of Capello's training and the mishandling of the goalkeeper issue. But if one grievance stood out, it was their preference for a 4-5-1 formation, and the manager's cold-shouldering of Joe Cole.

Cut to Saturday night and Baldini is trying to decide which player to send into the media tent the next morning to catch the bullets. This was the most unenviable of all media call-ups so far at this tournament. Whoever went would have to answer for the dismal performance against Algeria and raise the public's spirits. Terry says Baldini asked him to go in. But neither he nor Capello could have known what Terry was about to say.

First, the broadcast interviews. Live TV. Terry opened up: "Normally we get a little briefing in the car [en route]. I just wanted to come and be myself, be honest and open. That is what I am here to do today." Later he said he was "coming here on behalf of the players". Then: "I'm here on behalf of the team." At first he emphasised "we're all fully behind him" but another agenda soon became apparent.

"As a group of players we owe it to ourselves and to everyone in the country that, if we feel there's a problem, there's no point in keeping it in," he said. A team meeting was scheduled for this evening to review the Algeria performance. Then Terry blurted out his most confrontational phrase: "If it upsets him or any other player, so what?"

Was he, the broadcasters wondered, frustrated at losing the captain's armband? "Stevie's captain, Frank's vice-captain, but even when I was captain the other players had a big influence.

"I'm not distancing myself from responsibilities. I'm here as captain of Chelsea and as a big personality in the dressing room. Responsibility falls on me, Stevie, Lamps – all the experienced players – to get things going again."

Could Joe Cole's recall help? "I think so. We saw that at Chelsea. I personally think he and Wayne are the only two who can open up things and open up defences. If he's called upon, Joe will do a great job." If this sounds treacherous – a Chelsea insurrection – it came with an a strong undercurrent of the loyal subjects beseeching the king: "We really need to go out there and just think: 'Sod it, we've got one game where we can make or break our tournament.'"

The expulsion by France of Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka was raised and Terry said: "I see he was sent home for voicing his opinion, so maybe a few of us will be sent home after this evening."

By any measure this has been the biggest demonstration of England player power since Italia 90, when Bobby Robson came under pressure to switch to a three-man defence after an unconvincing start - and late tonight Capello's players appeared to have won concessions on the timing of the team announcement and improving lines of communication. Robson maintained to the end that the sweeper system was his idea and that he would never have allowed himself to be dictated to by players. Conversely Terry broke ranks alone: raising the possibility that he mistook Cape Town for Cobham, the Chelsea training ground where he wields so much power.

The backdrop to the current agitation is that several players resent Capello's assertion that they cannot cope with the "pressure of the World Cup" and that they are failing to obey his orders. They feel this obscures his own selection errors: principally 4-4-2 and the omission of Cole.

Capello said today: "I look in the mirror in the morning and say: 'You worked hard, yes. You studied everything, you prepare everything, yes' – but then the football is so different."

Talking to newspaper writers later, Terry described at greater length the team's relationship with Capello: "He is quite calm and when he's calm, he's calm but when he's angry, he's really angry."

Was he cold, sometimes? "Maybe, a little bit. But after the last few weeks, maybe we are seeing a different side to him. I was a bit tentative. I told him I went to a local vineyard. I thought he was going to tell me off for going."

Terry's gamble, on Father's Day, was to display himself as the big daddy of this squad and take the discord to the public. At the meeting itself Terry was persuaded to take a back seat.

Earlier, he had said: "Whether he [Capello] starts it or finishes it, the players can say how they feel and, if it upsets him, then I'm on the verge of just saying: 'You know what? So what? I'm here to win it for England. He's feeling the same, the players are feeling the same and, if we can't be honest with each other, then there's no point in us being here. You can't hold grudges. If I say something tonight, and I probably will, and a few others will, then I'm doing the best for England."

Historians may remember this as the one-beer, one-man putsch.

Here, in all its fizzy glory, was the power of the English pint
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/21/john-terry-england-world-cup-2010

[Macmoish]

Guardian


World Cup 2010: Rifts appear as players grow tired of Capello regimeJohn Terry and Wayne Rooney have said players are bored and isolated in England's remote base camp in Rustenburg
\
Owen Gibson in Johannesburg The Guardian, Monday 21 June 2010 Article history
John Terry said players are struggling with boredom in England's remote base camp in South Africa. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

The night before they returned to Green Point Stadium for the drab draw with Algeria that precipitated last night's summit, the England coach drove away after training accompanied by six police cars and a helicopter. Inside, the players wore haunted looks. Michael Dawson, who a fortnight ago could not stop grinning after being called up to replace injured captain Rio Ferdinand, looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The extent to which the psychological pressure on the England players has been exacerbated, rather than minimised, by the decision to base the team in a remote camp in Rustenburg is one only they can answer. But in recent days, as the problems have mounted and the scrutiny has become ever more forensic, they have lined up to talk about the boredom and isolation they feel.

"We're in a hotel, we finish training and have lunch at one o'clock, but then we have hours to spare," John Terry said yesterday. "There are things to do around the training camp: mini darts tournaments, snooker and pool. But a bit of boredom kicks in. It's six or seven hours until we meet up for dinner again."

Wayne Rooney, who looked tormented on Friday, has also spoken of the pressures of being cooped up in the Bafokeng compound. "Lying in bed at two in the afternoon, that's quite boring, he said. "Thankfully the games are on now and we can watch them. Takes a bit of the boredom away. It's brilliant to be training and playing but we need to watch our legs. Breakfast, train, lunch, bed, dinner, bed."

By contrast, the Holland coach, Bert van Marwijk - under pressure from his own press pack for the style in which his men have qualified despite securing a maximum six points - can occasionally be seen tinkling the ivories in the lobby of their team hotel in central Johannesburg. The Dutch players, no strangers to internal strife at major tournaments, witnessed the Bafana Bafana parade that passed by their hotel, can be seen happily wandering around the area with limited security and are at least aware that they are playing at a World Cup in Africa.

At Dutch press days, and those of most other countries, a sizeable contingent of players line up to talk to the press. In Rustenburg, one a day is paraded through and they often look as though they would rather be anywhere else.

Fabio Capello has repeatedly lauded the facilities at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus and the ability to control the conditions in which the players live, train and eat. His right-hand man, Franco Baldini, was instrumental in choosing and preparing the facilities. There is also a security factor, argues the FA. Given the high profile of England's players, the presence of David Beckham and the size of their travelling support, the FA would face serious – but surmountable – logistical issues if the camp was based closer to civilisation.

An FA spokesman said: "We knew this would come up at some point during the tournament. But it only comes up if you're not winning games. Dealing with being away from home and the periods between matches is part of tournament football. The bottom line is, it's about the performances on the pitch and that's how we'll be ultimately evaluated."

He stressed that it was "not a boot camp", noting that players have had full days off after both matches and have been to Sun City to play golf. They also enjoyed a day on safari, although that turned into a tense standoff with photographers. Capello's decision to ban the players' families, much lauded at the time, has also come under scrutiny. In attempting to avoid the circus of Baden-Baden in 2006, some believe the Italian has swung too far the other way.

The fact that another of Capello's key World Cup decisions has become a talking point at all is instructive. The extraordinary thing about the deterioration of the relationship between players, fans, media and management is how quickly it has happened.

The Terry affair, which most judged was handled as well as could be expected by the FA and Capello, may have left residual discontent. But the collapse of the Italian's much vaunted authority can perhaps be traced back to the Capello Index.

In hindsight, the aborted launch of the online player rating venture was perhaps the point at which not only a hitherto supportive media began to question Capello, but so did the players.

Then came the well documented abandonment of long held principles surrounding picking players in form and not gambling on those who are injured, and the chaotic squad announcement.

Then the last minute flare-up over the break clause in Capello's contract, which could yet come back to haunt an already cash-strapped FA, and the rumblings of discontent from within the squad.

And all this against a backdrop of constant flux above him at the FA, which lost its chairman and chief executive within two months of one another, and the creation of the new "Club England" set up.

Club England managing director Adrian Bevington said yesterday there was "certainly not any disharmony" and refused to discuss Capello's future.

"Anyone who works on media or football knows that when the results or performances are not quite what they want them to be – and when the whole focus of attention is on you – people look for certain angles and we have seen this many times over the years," he said.

As in any situation where results are going the wrong way – be it football or business – the race to deflect blame has begun. If things improve on Wednesday, England's remote base camp could yet be seen as a testament to Capello's eye for detail and obsessive desire to win. If not, it will be used as another stick to beat him with. FA insiders point out that the team are not in South Africa to win a popularity contest but to win a World Cup. The problem is that, at the moment, there seems to be precious little chance of either

www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/21/england-john-terry-fabio-capello

[Macmoish]

The Independent

Trouble for Terry as coup plan backfires

Former captain's positioning as leader of rebellion against Capello angers team-mates

By Sam Wallace and Ian Herbert in Phokeng

The former England captain John Terry faces the media yesterday

England's desperate World Cup campaign was thrown into further disarray yesterday when an attempted challenge by John Terry on Fabio Capello's authority was met with an angry backlash by the former captain's team-mates.


Terry, who was sacked by Capello as captain in February, promised in his press conference yesterday that he would challenge his manager in last night's crucial team meeting and said that he did not care if he "upset" the Italian. But his comments at the press conference, which were watched live by England players on television prompted derision and disbelief among the squad.

Apparently emboldened by the weakness of Capello's position after draws against the United States and Algeria, Terry, who was sacked as captain in February over the Vanessa Perroncel scandal, said that he was ready for a no-holds-barred team meeting at the team's Royal Bafokeng base. He said: "If it upsets him [Capello] then I'm on the verge of just saying: 'You know what? So what? I'm here to win it for England.'"

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Having positioned himself earlier in the day as the man to take on Capello at all costs and claiming that he would challenge him over tactics when the meeting took place, The Independent understands that Terry said nothing to the manager last night. He was forewarned by Capello's coaching staff that it would not go down well.

Capello's staff and many of his senior players were astonished that, three days ahead of the crunch game with Slovenia, Terry had put himself up as their leader and the man to challenge the manager. There are misgivings among the players about the boredom they endure spending enforced periods "resting" in their rooms but they do not believe that Terry has the right to become their unofficial spokesman.

Many of them also privately noted that Terry had been disruptive himself in recent weeks. There was also disquiet that Terry had made public the fact that the players were allowed to have a beer in their hotel after the Algeria game – given that it was a private moment and could be misinterpreted by an already disillusioned English football public.

Terry said: "We've got a meeting [last night] to watch the game and see where we went wrong. As a group of players, we owe it to ourselves and to everyone in the country that, if we feel there's a problem, there's no point in keeping it in. If we have an argument with the manager and it upsets him – us expressing our opinions – everyone needs to get it off his chest. That's exactly what we'll do."

Later he said again that he was going to tell Capello where he was going wrong. "We are in a meeting with the manager, whether he starts it or finishes it, the players can say how they feel and if it upsets him then I'm on the verge of just saying: 'You know what? So what? I'm here to win it for England. He's feeling the same, the players are feeling the same and if we can't be honest with each other then there's no point in us being here."

Terry also said that he had been instrumental in persuading Capello and his key assistant Franco Baldini, the team's general manager, to relax one of their main rules after the Algeria game and allow the players to drink alcohol. Terry presented himself as the prime mover in forcing Capello and Baldini to back down.

Terry said: "I don't want to say it was me but I went to see Franco after the game and said 'Look, let everyone have a beer and speak to the manager. Flipping hell, let's just switch off'. We did. It was nice to see that side of the manager. Obviously it was his birthday. He was sitting there with a bottle of red wine with the staff and it was nice."

He added: "There was me, Lamps [Lampard], Wazza [Rooney], Aaron Lennon, Jamo [James], Crouchy, Jonno [Johnson], Jamie Carragher, Stevie [Gerrard], probably a couple more. The staff were there. They were having a glass of wine and the medical team, who obviously work very hard as well, and everyone was just sort of unwinding, which was nice."

"Since we have been here I know me and other lads have been to him [Capello] and Franco and asked for certain things. Sometimes it is a 'Yes', sometimes it is a 'No'. More football than anything else. [At the meeting] if we see anything that needs to be changed we will go and do our job whether he says 'Yes' or 'No'. It is down to the manager at the end of the day and he will make the final decision."

There are understood to be concerns that Terry's behaviour within the camp has been disruptive over the World Cup campaign. He has had differences of opinion on the training ground with members of Capello's staff.

Much of Terry's frustration seems to be connected to a misunderstanding on his part when he was sacked by Capello as captain in February that led him to believe that he could one day get the job back. He was understood to be furious when Capello named Steven Gerrard as the replacement for the injured Rio Ferdinand this month.

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/trouble-for-terry-as-coup-plan-backfires-2006187.html

[cpr]

Terry must have spoken to Anelka and thought it was a good idea.

Being from a dumbarse family and being a dumbarse he's taken it upon himself to open his mouth when he wasn't speaking on behalf of all the players, he is not the captain ffs!

Could be Upson and Dawson on Wednesday if this carries on!

[Lonegunmen]

Then again where is the England Captain? Shouldn't he be speaking up on behalf of the players to the coaches and manager? It is clearly an unsettled squad. Capello could solve that by opulling his head out of his arse.

I said it before, after watching ENGLAND in two games now, I see no difference between them and a Championship side. Oh hang on, a Championship side scores - unless its QPR.

[Zamoraaaah]

Watching the Fabio interview in shITV.

"John Terry made a BIG mistake".

I agree. Fark the scumbag back off to Chels***.

[Zamoraaaah]

Capello exclusive: Terry has made a big mistake
www.itv.com/sport/football/fifaworldcup/news/capellolaysdownthelawtoterry/

England boss Fabio Capello has astonishingly hit back at his former captain John Terry after the Chelsea man called for Joe Cole to be picked in a press conference.

Terry also used his audience with the press on Sunday morning to say that players had issues with Capello's management that would be addressed in a team meeting that evening.

But in an exclusive interview with ITV Sport the Italian disciplinarian has said Terry's decision to go public with his concerns was a "big mistake".

Capello believes Terry has been disrespectful to other players in the England squad by calling for Joe Cole to be picked. He says he can't understand why Terry did not speak to him directly.

And he reveals that at the team meeting, he merely played a tape of the first half of the Algeria game. He says he did not speak to individual players about mistakes, but merely watching their performance should have been enough for the players.

[Zamoraaaah]

Fabio Capello hits out at John Terry's 'big mistake'
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8751854.stm

Fabio Capello has reacted swiftly to John Terry's public criticism of England's World Cup campaign by saying his ex-captain made a "big mistake".
Capello 's comments came just 48 hours before Wednesday's Group C game against Slovenia, which will decide if England reach the knockout stages.
"When you speak you have to speak privately," the England coach told ITV.
"This is the big mistake - a very big mistake. It's not revolution. It's the mistake of another player - no more."
France's World Cup campaign has been hit by in-fighting, with striker Nicolas Anelka expelled from the team, but the disciplinarian Capello has moved to underline his authority within the England camp.
Terry said on Sunday that the players planned to hold clear-the-air-talks with Capello, with several reportedly unhappy at the Italian's tactics, but the Chelsea captain backed down after he discovered he did not have the support of other players.

"I spoke with some players and I think it's only John Terry said this," added Capello, who stripped Terry of the England captaincy over allegations he had an affair with team-mate Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend.
Capello appointed Rio Ferdinand as Terry's replacement, but after the Manchester United defender was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was handed the captain's armband.
"No-one speak with me about the problems," said Capello. "My door is open always. If they want to speak with me they can speak with me.
"Every time we have a meeting I ask the captain, 'Problems? you want to say something?' Never. I read that John Terry said this. I don't understand why he don't speak with me every time."
England's poor start to the World Cup, a 1-1 draw with the United States followed by a 0-0 draw against Algeria, has left Capello's side in a precarious position in their group.
A defeat against Slovenia would mean England are eliminated, while a draw would leave their fate depending on the result between the US and Algeria, and only victory would guarantee England make the last 16.

PHIL MCNULTY'S BLOG
Any suggestion the coach has let England's squad escape his iron grasp can now be dismissed
Their performances in South Africa are in stark contrast to those during qualification, when England played with fluidity, flair and freedom.
Capello was also riled by Terry's comments that his Chelsea team-mate Joe Cole was one of only two players - the other being Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney - in the England squad capable of breaking down defences.
"It is another mistake when you speak about one player because there is no respect for the players that play before," said England's 64-year-old Italian coach.
"Always the players think individually, I have to think about the team, it's important. When you speak you have to be careful. I respect Joe Cole. But he is one of the 23 players I have here.
"I think he is more disappointed. I know sometimes players want to speak more with you [the media] than with the other players.
"But the mistake is that you have to speak with the players, with me, with the dressing room."
Capello addressed another supposed bone of contention with his squad - his policy of naming his team just hours before a game.
That became a talking point following following goalkeeper Robert Green's gaffe in the 1-1 draw with the United States.

No player unrest at team meeting - Lampard

The Italian has apparently agreeing to give his players more warning of his starting line-up for the Slovenia game, but Capello expressed his astonishment that this is now a topic for debate.
"After 26 games this is a new problem," he said. "Before it was OK and the players played well every time. Now they have to know the first XI. I don't understand why. In my career I use this system always, why change?"
Despite England's stuttering campaign and Terry's "big mistake", Capello is confident his team can overcome Slovenia.
"Sometimes from a big mistake comes a big performance," said the former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus coach. "The next performance will be good. I am 100% sure"

[cpr]

Now he's apologised, what a cock.

Why has Rooney got off so lightly eh?

Both need a slap.

[Zamoraaaah]

Exactly Baz. Both played shoite and think it's OK to blame everyone but themselves.

Drop Terry for a game and bring Rooney on at half time. That'll make 'em play properly.

[klr]

Agree with Terry 100% on this one.

Although I think this has been blown out of all proportion by the media, basic crux is that this manager cannot speak English & hence cannot communicate with his players, not bad work for £6 Million a year if you can get it.

Players have a duty to speak out, I agree with John Terry on this one, you are representing your country, its your duty to speak out, Capello will be back at his mansion on Lake Garda in a couple of months time, these players will have to live with this for the rest of their lives.

[Zamoraaaah]

Speaking out via the press is not the way to go about it. Obviously bitter about losing the armband.

Bottom line Terry's performances were shocking.
He couldn't even pass the ball 10 yards. No point talking about opening sides up if the so called stars can't even do the basics.

Ditto Rooney. Moaning at the fans when he couldn't control the ball let alone hold it up or find space to receive it.

[Lonegunmen]

KLR is right and so too is Zed. Not something to go to the press about but he's right to express some concerns. However the so called "stars" including Gerard have so far under performed you could see it building.

[klr]

I think Terry did the right thing, at least he made noises that things werent right or acceptable in the camp.
All this the lads are behind the gaffer b ollocks isnt fooling anyone.

This manager cannot communicate with his players.

Things are not all Hunky Dory in the England Camp & its insulting to the fans to suggest that they are.

Fair play to John Terry on this one.

[obk]

Can't say I agree with Capellos tactics BUT, if you don your national colours and play for your country, it is an honour. If you go with the squad to the World Cup you have said yes to this and it is your duty to put aside differences and gibbering for a month.

You clear the air either before you say yes or after the tournament is over, to build better for the future. You don't do things the way Terry and the french team has.

Overpaid crybabies, that is what they are. Let me tell you, both the english and the french teams are a laughing stock now and it spills over on the nations themselves.

[klr]

I really dont feel any kind of animosity towards Terry over this particular issue.

There should be more honesty of this sort, the Algeria performance was simply unacceptable.

Capello is starting to resemble something out of Fawlty Towers IMO.

One good thing here is that we can literally not play that badly tommorrow & no one can deny that this is an absolutely massive sink or swim moment for English Football & the whole credibility of English Football.

Who is going to stand up & be counted ?

Who is going to take responsibility & take the bull by the horns ?

I guess in 24 hours we will find out one way or the other.

[Macmoish]

Maybe give Crouch an actual chance?

[magyarangol29]

Fair play to JT, I'm with him on this one at least he is speaking out and admitted that they were very poor.

Where is our Captain? He's gone awol much like the players.

Crouch & Defoe upfront.

Bring on J Cole and remove lampard. Play Stevie G where he should be played FFS.

Come on

[obk]

If they have so much trouble with Capello now (and they might very well have) then they must have known about it before the World Cup and should have cleared the issues before going to South Africa. His tactics, for instance, can't have come as a shock to the team.

[Lonegunmen]

Not since the Turnip was in charge has I seen so much crap in an England set-up.

[Macmoish]

The off the field (or coming off the field) is far more pathetic than a couple of not great results - and it's really the Algeria performance that was THE disgrace

[klr]

Jun 22, 2010 10:24:10 GMT Lonegunmen said:

Not since the Turnip was in charge has I seen so much crap in an England set-up.

Agreed, but I doubt the Turnip was on £6 Million a year & the Turnip could speak English & didnt refuse to discuss tactics with his players.
The Turnip also had to pick cr ap like Carlton Palmer, cos thats all that was around in those days.
Carlton Palmer looks like a member of the Brazil 1970 team compared to any of that lot on the pitch against Algeria.

[Macmoish]

Don't think one should forget the England fate of Marsh, Bowles, Osgood, Worthington, George, Hudson, etc.

[klr]

Jun 22, 2010 10:33:47 GMT Macmoish said:

The off the field (or coming off the field) is far more pathetic than a couple of not great results - and it's really the Algeria performance that was THE disgrace

Agree, it was a DISGRACE, I have never seen anything like that before & I've watched some cr ap England performances before like we all have, they really raised the bar the other night.

The only positive is that we quite simply couldnt play that badly again even if we tried, & there simply MUST be a reaction against Slovenia.

This really is Sink or Swim time for English football, this is THE MOMENT.

We have all been there before & probably most of us have little or no faith in the England team, its the little 8 year old kids & 12 year old kids that I feel sorry for, a proper Father Christmas doesnt exist moment & no mistaking.

Money has completely destroyed English Football.

[magyarangol29]

It was a disgrace. I just cannot believe we only managed a draw against a sh!t team we should easily have beaten them.

Im ashamed to call myself Algerian!

[Lonegunmen]

Jun 22, 2010 14:16:42 GMT magyarangol29 said:

It was a disgrace. I just cannot believe we only managed a draw against a sh!t team we should easily have beaten them.

Im ashamed to call myself Algerian!

So true. Thr Alegerians played England off the park and could not score.

[Zamoraaaah]

Jun 22, 2010 14:16:42 GMT magyarangol29 said:

It was a disgrace. I just cannot believe we only managed a draw against a sh!t team we should easily have beaten them.

Im ashamed to call myself Algerian!

;D ;D

[obk]

I bet England will win the world cup now though.

[Zamoraaaah]

I wouldn't put your house on it OBK.

England are rubbish. ;D

[Zamoraaaah]

England boss Capello backs John Terry despite criticism
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8754947.stm

England boss Fabio Capello says he never contemplated dropping John Terry following the defender's public criticism of the World Cup campaign.
Capello stated on Monday that Terry made a "big mistake" in questioning his training methods and tactics.
But the Italian said on Tuesday: "John Terry is one of the most important players [for England]."
England must beat Slovenia in their final group match on Wednesday to reach the knockout stage of the tournament.
Capello admitted it was "possible that I made some mistakes" in England's first two matches of the tournament - disappointing draws against the United States and Algeria.
However, the 64-year-old insisted he had a good relationship with the squad - including Terry, whom he stripped of the England captaincy in February after allegations the Chelsea defender had an affair with an England team-mate's ex-girlfriend.

606: DEBATE
Is there a single person who agrees with Mr Capello's decision not to use Joe Cole so far?
cfcolly
"Every time when I speak with the players they follow me," said Capello.
"The players are happy. They trained very well. I think it's normal to have pressure at the moment. We have a play-off to be in or out. We have to win."
England go into Wednesday's game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth amid concerns about the state of its pitch.
Heavy rain a week ago is thought to have affected the surface, and the team were not permitted to train on it on Tuesday.
The stadium was last used in Chile's 1-0 victory against Switzerland on Monday.

The pitch during Chile's match with Switzerland on Monday
England captain Steven Gerrard stated there were "a few problems" with the pitch. However, he added: "I've played on worse. We cannot use the pitch as an excuse."
Gerrard also denied that some players had put pressure on Capello to pick Joe Cole for Wednesday's fixture.
Terry had said on Sunday that the Chelsea midfielder was one of only two members of the England squad - the other being striker Wayne Rooney - who is capable of breaking down defences.
"The manager picks the team he thinks best to do the job," said Gerrard. "And obviously the players aren't in any position to question who the manager picks.
"Whoever he picks, we go with that and we give it our best shot."