Capello claiming to have been 1st to "put Gerrard into a free role up front"

[Ben_Itez]

Well there doesnt seem to be a direct quote of Capello saying that in that piece. Not saying he didnt say it but it could quite have easily been added by the journalist. Surely he must know Rafa has been playing Gerrard off Torres for nearly two seasons now?!??!

If anyone can claim credit maybe it's Sven Goran Eriksson as he experimented with Gerrard up front in 2006

[barnes10]

i think its an overreaction. he didnt say 'I was the first to put him there' he said 'why are you so surprsed? i played him there a year ago and you never said how great he was then'

he didnt say 'i beat rafa to identifying stevie's best position'

[dom9]

I couldn't care less to be honest.

[Neil Young]

Capello's cracking up!

[Neil Young]

Come on, Neil is ok.

[Neil Young]

OK, it all just seemed like everyone was getting a bit hot under the collar about not very much. I can't say I'm the least bit bothered about it but if others see it differently that's fine of course.

[DannyMan2006]

People are reading this wrong, or at least the newspapers are printing it wrong.

The point he is making is that he decided to play Stevie behind the striker, before all the recent clamour in the media for it, for the france game. And that at that time he had been derided for it in the press and had been laughed at and criticised.

Now all the media are asking for Stevie to be put behind the striker, and Capello is saying "I already thought of that, before you lot". He then said tongue in cheek - "But thanks for your support".

He's simply having a go at them in the press asking why he hasn't tried Stevie behind the striker for England.

A point well made by Fabio Capello.

[aa4f4fsd47]

I also will not care the least if Capello also be the first to claim credit for liverpool EPL and CL titles at the end of the season too

[Vermilion]

Ben Foster will definitely get one half, so too Aaron Lennon. Capello confirmed Gerrard would play in a "free role", presumably coming from the left and he pointed out that it was him, not Benitez, who first played the Liverpool captain in that role behind the striker that he has occupied to such effect lately.

Does Capello even mention Rafa, it implies that he does above, but below is where he is in "quotes", and he says nothing about 'Benitez' at all.

"I like this question, when I put Gerrard as the second striker against France [last March], all the journalists asked me 'Why are you playing one forward?'. Now you ask if I will play him in the same position. When I did it, you criticised me and now you're asking if I have to put him in his best position." That was the second score Capello settled yesterday.

[Vermilion]

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/03/29/International-Capello-on-Fergie-and-Rafa/gnid-46349/

Capello thanks Fergie and Rafa
by Tom Kell , 29 March 2009


Fabio Capello laid thanks at the doors of Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez in the wake of England’s 4-0 win over Slovakia.

Rooney was, without doubt, the standout performer at Wembley on Saturday but it was the smoothness with which he interchanged with Steven Gerrard that impressed most.

With Gerrard and Rooney swapping duties on the left as well as regularly drifting inside, and Frank Lampard also coming up trumps with a goal, Capello seemed to have come closer than most to accommodating England’s most dynamic players.

"I always said the important players, the big players, can play together," said Capello. "You just have to find their position on the pitch.

It is not really down to me. I am manager of England but when I choose the players it is because they have done very well at their clubs.

"It is the managers of Manchester United and Liverpool who have been the most important."

[Craig_H]

I couldn't care less to be honest.

There's a couple of threads around right now for which the basis is basically a nothing story. I guess it's international week

[Vermilion]

There's a couple of threads around right now for which the basis is basically a nothing story. I guess it's international week

Come on....there's loads of them threads around every day, and you me and everyone else has started one of or more of them.

[Craig_H]

Come on....there's loads of them threads around every day.

i dunno, there's usually SOMETHING worthwhile to discuss in most threads.

This one and the '62 man squad' one are the most 'nothing stories' i've ever seen in recent memory, that have manifested themselves into fairly long threads.

It's not a criticism by any means, the lack of proper football has made this weekend very boring.

[Vermilion]

i dunno, there's usually SOMETHING worthwhile to discuss in most threads.

This one and the '62 man squad' one are the most 'nothing stories' i've ever seen in recent memory, that have manifested themselves into fairly long threads.

It's not a criticism by any means, the lack of proper football has made this weekend very boring.

Anyway, this thread is now about how Capello has come to his senses & realised that his success with England is really down to our manager.

[Craig_H]

It's nice to see he's grateful.

He should show his gratitude by never picking Gerrard again and convincing the Spain manager to do likewise with Torres, Alonso and Reina.