Posts Tagged ‘Blunder’
Capello should stick with Green to avoid uncertainty
Fabio Capello had a number of issues to ponder after England’s 1-1 draw with the USA last weekend - none more so than who to pick in goal.
It can’t be denied that we currently have the weakest set of goalkeepers for a generation. With no obvious candidate for the number one jersey, fans and pundits alike are divided as to who should start for the Three Lions in South Africa.
However, that lack of faith should not be displayed by the man who matters - Fabio Capello. It seems obvious that he wasn’t sure who should start England’s first game, playing all three ‘keepers in the warm up matches. Even as the squad touched down in South Africa any of them could have started in Rustenberg.
When the Italian did decide to pick Rob Green as number one for the America game it may have been helpful to let his choice be known earlier than just two hours before kickoff. That way Green could have mentally prepared for the match and taken confidence from his manager’s faith. Anyone who has placed an England World Cup bet will want to see a confident performance, after all.
A similar show of decisiveness could prove advantageous in the run up to England’s second match against Algeria. Green will no doubt be dwelling on his horrendous error and will be anxiously waiting whether he has kept his place. All those worries, which have festered over the past week will not dissipate in the two hours prior to kickoff. Similarly those waiting in the wings - David James and Joe Hart - could do with longer to prepare to take the gloves.
Once the players take to the field I agree there is relatively little Capello can do to influence the game - he was certainly powerless to prevent Green’s blunder on Saturday. But he can do everything in his power to send the players out as mentally and physically ready as possible. The World Cup betting makes the Three Lions strong favourites for the match, and Capello must ensure they take their chances.
In short, the manager must back his man between the sticks, even if in private he, like the rest of the country, remains uncertain as to who that should be.
Tags: America Game, Blunder, Confident Performance, Decisiveness, Dwelling, England World Cup, Fabio Capello, First Game, Gloves, Goalkeepers, Joe Hart, Kickoff, Match, No Doubt, Pundits, Rustenberg, Three Lions, Waiting In The Wings, World Cup Bet, Worries
Algeria coach on way out
England were not the only team to watch their World cup 2010 favourite odds suffer from a goalkeeping mistake during the first weekend of the World Cup as their Group C opponents Algeria coughed up valuable points against Slovenia in similar fashion.
They appeared set to claim a 0-0 draw from a dull clash with the European side until an error from Faouzi Chaouchi allowed a weak shot from Robert Koren to bounce past him and leave them pointless. Much like the Argentina world cup betting odds, Algeria’s odds of progressing changed after a single goal in their opening match.
Moments before, the Desert Foxes had been reduced to ten men when Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off, giving coach Rabah Saadane yet another headache to think about ahead of their clash with group favourites England on Friday.
Saadane, back as coach for a fifth time, has already gone public with his backing of an under-fire keeper, unlike Fabio Capello, but his problems might be more deep-rooted after admitting that he was quitting his role again at the end of the World Cup, claiming as one of the reasons a lack of commitment from his players.
“I will quit after the World Cup, come what may,” Saadane said before the clash with Slovenia. “I will never set foot in the national team camp again. I am not happy with the lack of discipline and professionalism shown by certain players.”
But at least he backed up Chaouchi in the wake of his blunder in the tournament opener, as he continued: “Faouzi is our best keeper at the moment and dropping him is out of the question unless he asks for that himself. He’s aware of what he did so he said sorry to the team but he’s a keeper with a great future in front of him.
“I don’t think it would be appropriate after somebody makes a mistake to change them. I think these two mistakes are part of learning. This is what happens in high-level matches. Football has mistakes.”
But Saadane now has to rally his squad together in the next couple of days because defeat against England in Cape Town could just bring an early end to his final stint in charge – surely he wouldn’t come back for a sixth time?
Tags: Algeria, Argentina, Ascii, Blunder, Cambria, Clash, Couple Of Days, Desert Foxes, Discipline, Div, Fabio Capello, Fareast, Favourites, Fifth Time, Fire Keeper, Font Definitions, Footer, Headache, Match, Mistake, Mso, Opponents, Orphan, Panose, Paper Source, Professionalism, Props, Robert Koren, Sans Serif, Slovenia, Style Definitions, Style Name, Style Type, Theme Font, Times New Roman, World Cup 2010, World Cup Betting Odds
Arsenal v Barcelona preview
What better way for Arsenal to put the agony of Birmingham’s 90th minute blunder goal behind them than a look forward to a massive Champions League tie against Barcelona.
In truth most Gunners fans will have wanted to avoid the Catalan club until at least the semi-finals, but the prospect of the two best footballing sides in the competition going head-to-head is a mouth-watering one. Since the draw has been made there has been nothing but excitable expectation from Gunners fans. The Champions League odds suggest Arsenal will struggle, but they are sure to give it their all.
There are plenty of sub-plots wrapped round this fixture, not least the return of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who will play against his old club for the first time.
The man who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups in eight years at Arsenal still calls the place home and will no doubt receive a rapturous welcome from the fans. He has already said he will not celebrate should he score on Wednesday and I’m sure the supporters would find it hard to be hostile to their former hero should he find the net.
The two sides also met in the 2006 final, when Sol Campbell’s early goal was cancelled out by two late Barca strikes, with a controversial Jens Lehmann red card somewhere in between. The Arsenal players won’t openly speak of revenge, but it is bound to be on their minds.
The two star players on either side are both Barca Academy graduates. Cesc Fabregas, of course, moved from Cataluna to London at the age of 16 and has flourished at the Emirates. And we all know about the recent exploits of Lionel Messi, who has sent sports writers into a frenzy as they try to come up with new superlatives to describe the Argentinean.
Arsene Wenger has pledged not to man mark Messi, claiming they have too many good players to single out just one, and instead has challenged his players to show what they can do to worry Barca.
No team has averaged more possession of the ball than Arsenal and Barcelona in this year’s Champions League, while The Gunners are the joint top scorers and Barca have the best defence.
One thing is for sure, the game will be easy on the eye.
Key player Arsenal - Alex Song
It may seem strange to pick song given the amount of attacking, creative players on show but with Arsenal seeking to play their way past Barca it is vital Song holds firm in front of his back four - especially if Messi has the ball.
Key man Barcelona – Lionel Messi
Who else? Eight spectacular goals in a week added to the growing belief that Messi is the best player in the world right now. Although the World Cup betting makes him a 16/1 shot to be top scorer at the competition, he will doubtless set the tournament alight with his skill and flair. He the ability to score and create in equal measure, the crowd will rise in expectation every time he picks up the ball. Arsenal will hope he has an off day this time round.
Tags: Agony, Arsenal Players, Arsene Wenger, Blunder, Cataluna, Fa Cups, Fabregas, Gunners, Jens Lehmann, League Tie, League Titles, Lionel Messi, Premier League, Rapturous Welcome, Semi Finals, Sol Campbell, Sports Writers, Star Players, Superlatives, Thierry Henry