The FA’s decision to revamp and revolutionize the youth system in this country has been slow, but progress seems to be coming along gradually. Gareth Southgate is pushing for the restriction of 11-a-side football to U13 level, the main focus being an improvement of technical skills that are necessary in 5 and 7 a-side games and to allow hidden potential to not be overlooked due to some players physically maturing later than others.
There is a clear and understandable logic to these plans as the FA attempts to support and nurture more young technical talent with great English character. Jack Wilshere of Arsenal is the focus of the England team currently and represents the mould of intelligence, confidence and skill that the FA would like younger players to follow.
The midfield partnership of Lampard and Wilshere, most emphatic during the 2-2 draw with Switzerland, shows the contrast of a player getting past his peak as one of the ‘Golden Generation’ and a youngster full of life, not involved with media reactions and focussed on one thing: doing his best for his country on the day.
The management style of Fabio Capello seems to be filled with Italian contradictions. No doubt, his track record as a winning coach is faultless, but his native country of Italy, where he successfully challenged for and won honours as a player and a manager, is famous for their tactical prowess and discipline.
The hard thing to get to grips with is the fact that neither of these attributes appeared to have incorporated themselves into the team over the course of Capello’s tenure. He has labelled Wilshere as one of most exciting young talents he has ever seen and giving him a season to prove himself with Arsenal, is now ready to fully build the team around him.
Lampard, poses the other side of the coin. Playing next to Wilshere in the heart of the English midfield, he represents the old guard in which so much trust and faith is placed in Serie A. On the other hand, one can argue that it is not the over reliance as an Italian manager, but a combination of that and commitment to playing good football at club level. Lampard is a major component of Chelsea’s spine and his 4 months spent injured cost them dearly, especially in addition to Didier Drogba contracting Malaria.
It has been argued that Capello is not concerned with the development of youth players since his contract finishes at the end of the European Championships next year. No matter how true this is, the Italian is a winner. He is a man who took his days from the rugged midfield of AC Milan, where his career was abruptly ended by recurring knee problems, to a managerial career spanning twenty years where he has compiled 9 league titles with clubs in Italy and Spain.
Whether he cares more about his own record or the England team itself appears to be irrelevant. Those of us who are either too apathetic to care about the national team or maybe just too tired of disappointment, he is the best we have at this moment in time.
The youth system is not going to be overhauled in a few seasons, it is an ongoing battle with sponsors, managers, regulations and finances. Capello is here to stay for another year, we might disagree with some of his decisions here and there, but do not for a moment start thinking that he does not care.
A man so used to winning trophies will see an unsuccessful national stint with England as nothing more than failure on his part. The media and the nation can berate him all they like, but it will be Capello himself who will be carrying all the hurt in such an eventuality.
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