THOUGHTS ON CAPELLO STATEMENT AND CHELSEA - ARSENAL

Posted on: Fri 05 Feb 2010

England manager Fabio Capello has taken the England captaincy away fromJohn Terry.

Capello issued the following statement:

'After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry.

'As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad.

'What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

'John Terry was notified first.

'When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision.

'I would like to take this opportunity to thank The FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team.'

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As much as I disagree with the decision, I have to say that I am not surprised at all. In this media-hyped world, Don Fabio was put in a very awkward position. He would have been criticized either way. Had he chosen to keep Terry as captain, the tabloids would have redirected their abuse toward the England manager. The saga would have continued for months to come, and the consequences would have been damaging to the squad and their chances in South Africa. However, taking away the captain armband from Terry for what he did in his private life is hypocritical at best. Are we now saying that the England captain has to be a saint? Give me a break! They are footballers they cheat, gamble, lie, and sin like other human beings. He was awarded the armband because of his qualities and leadership traits on the football field and in the locker room, not for what he did in his private life. If you are going to pick the captain based on his moral values, good luck finding one. I doubt anyone in the England squad will pass that puritanical test.

I am disappointed to see Capello do this to JT as this might damage the player's confidence and role in the England squad; and will certainly affect his performance and lead to him being dropped from the squad. JT is not used to being told what to do, he is only comfortable being the leader. I doubt it will be easy for him to get used to this new reality just months away from South Africa. Having said that, he is a true professional and I hope he can sort things out in his private life quickly so he can adjust to his new role in the England team, as a non-leader. I hope he responds to this decision by 'battering the Arsenal,' in the words of Fergie, this Sunday.

CHELSEA VS ARSENAL

Arsenal has a season-defining trilogy of matches. They played ManUre last week and got battered at the Emirates, will come to the Bridge this Sunday, and will play Liverpool next week. Earlier this season, the gunners managed to earn only three points from this three-game series. They lost away to ManUre, lost at home to Chelsea (the game that seemed to put them out of contention), and resurrected their season with a surprising coming-from-behind win at Anfield after an excellent second half performance. I predict that history will repeat itself, sorry Fergie. Fergie wished that Arsenal will come to the Bridge and batter Chelsea! Wishful thinking. I am sure the gunners will play so much better against us, but we have enough quality, depth, and experience in the team to deal with that threat and dispatch them as we did Sunderland and others. So, for a second time this season, we will put them out of the title contention. But this time it will be for good, and even a subsequent win at home to Liverpool will only cement their position as third in the league.

This will also mean that the rest of the season will be a two-horse race, and will make the trip to Manchester even more vital for both Chelsea and ManUre. I believe that we will win this Sunday's match comfortably after a tight first half. It will be a rerun of the Emirates' encounter with Drogba the protagonist, terrorizing the gunners' defense and scoring goals.

Carlo Has Got It Right!

Blues fans were very skeptical during the month of December when Chelsea lost to Man City and seemed to struggle to win games. The slump started actually with a league cup exit after losing on penalties to Blackburn, followed by a loss away to Man City in the league, and a 2-2 draw at home against Apoel Nicosia in Champions League. The disappointment increased after another draw at home against Everton, where Chelsea's defense was exposed in set-piece plays.

The rot seemed to stop with a win at home against Portsmouth; however, two back-to-back draws away at West Ham and Birmingham seemed to confirm that the slump was not over. Fears that things will get worse increased as Chelsea lost four key players, including top scorer Drogba, to the Africa Cup of Nations. This added to speculation that Carlo Ancelotti is not able to get it right; and some even suggested that he might lose his job to last season's hero, Guus Hiddink. The only positive Chelsea could take from the month of December was that other title contenders, ManUre and Gooners, were not able to capitalize on Chelsea's slump. Notably, ManUre lost to Fulham while the Arsenal snatched a draw in stoppage time at home against Everton. This kept the blues fans hopeful as they were desperate to see the slump end soon.

Sure enough it did, the turnaround seemed to happen at the last match in December, where Chelsea beat Fulham at home by the score of 2 to 1. That win was followed in January by five other convincing wins, three in the league and two in the FA Cup. What's even more impressive was the manner in which Chelsea won the games; Carlo seemed to revert to a 4-3-3 formation that had the fullbacks bombing forward with plenty of success. This was conspicuous in the destruction of Sunderland and Birmingham City, where Ashley Cole seemed to be in top form.

Chelsea finally closed the month today with an impressive coming from behind win away against the resilient Burnley. If you are like me, a blues fan, let's hope that this form will extend to the next few months as we are still strong contenders in three competitions.

Come on Chels!

African Cup of Nations - Ayew's header sends Ghana through

Andre Ayew's header ensured Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Burkina Faso.

The Black Stars, who were without injuredChelsea star Michael Essien, had to win to stay in the tournament after suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast in their opening fixture.

And Ayew's 30th minute goal handed Milovan Rajevac's side the three points they needed while Burkina Faso head home without scoring a goal.

Serb coach Milovan Rajevac made four changes to the side that lost to Ivory Coast but failed to trouble Burkina Faso goalkeeper Daouda Diakite until Ayew's opener.

Despite standing at only 5'9" tall, the midfielder rose above Burkina Faso's static defence to guide his header past Diakite.

Burkina Faso's best chance came after the break when Babary Kone controlled a long free-kick with his knee but shot over on the turn from only eight yards out.

But Ghana remained in control and should have put the game to bed when Mamadou Tall was sent-off for a challenge on Asamoah Gyan.

And Dramani should have doubled Ghana's lead with 15 minutes remaining but his wayward shot hit the side netting.

The World Cup qualifiers will now face hosts Angola at the 11 November stadium on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals.

Theme of the Week: Does Arsenal have a chance of winning the title?

WENGER: GUNNERS HAVE FIREPOWER

Arsene Wenger maintains his young Arsenal side have both the required hunger and mental strength to continue their march towards the top of the Barclays Premier League table.

The Gunners could move to within a point of leaders Chelsea by beating relegation battlers Bolton at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

It is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes since being outmuscled 3-0 at home by Chelsea at the end of November.

In that period, Arsenal have recorded five wins from six Premier League games, while both Chelsea and second-placed Manchester United have struggled for consistency.

Wenger, though, never lost faith in his young Gunners to deliver.

"We have a good opportunity to come back very close to Chelsea, and we want to take it, to make it more interesting for everybody," he said.

"One month ago we were far from the top teams, and since have created momentum.

"We refused to give up and continued to fight and believe in our strengths.

"The biggest test in our camp was the mental strengths of the players and the solidarity of the players. That has been tested.

"What we have realised in one month gives us a good springboard to go even further. Why should we stop here?

"The next two months will determine how ambitious and how hungry we are."

Wenger added: "It does not mean Chelsea or Manchester United do not have hunger - but what I know is that within our team we have a great hunger for success. We have great solidarity and team spirit.

"We are a team who has grown up together and wants to achieve things.

"We have not won anything yet together and that makes us hungry for success."

Wenger believes his faith in the promise of youth is finally about to bear fruit this year.

"There are many ways to be successful," said the Arsenal manager, whose last trophy was the FA Cup in 2005.

"I want to show that our way can be successful as well.

"In the modern game, there is a lack of patience and one response when you lose a game - people say to you 'buy, buy, buy'.

"I believe sometimes when you have players who are 21, 22, that they can only become better.

"When they are 33, they can only be worse at 34 and that is why we are in a position where we need to have the needed strengths to be patient because we have the quality.

"Hopefully we can show until the end of the season that we can be successful."

Wales international Aaron Ramsey impressed again in the FA Cup third-round victory at West Ham with a second goal in as many games when standing in for injured captain Cesc Fabregas - who will need another two weeks to recover from a hamstring injury.

Arsenal will, however, be without combative midfielder Alex Song this month while he is away with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup.

Denilson is fit again following a back problem, and Wenger has no doubts the young Brazilian is up to the challenge.

"Denilson is an all-rounder, but he can play in this position and will come in for Song," said the Arsenal boss.

"He is very strong in reading the game and winning the ball back.

"Denilson has 150 games in the Premier League. People do not notice how important he is for us and he can play in every single position in midfield."

Wenger is on the market for some fresh talent to strengthen the squad, particularly with Holland international Robin van Persie a long-term absentee after suffering a knee injury.

However, the Arsenal manager maintains as yet, there are no fresh developments.

"Ideally because of the number of games you have in January, you want to act as quickly as possible, but at the moment it is very quiet," he said.

"You hear here and there a player is going, but there is always more talk in the media than movement and more speculation than acting."