Thursday, June 28, 2007

"Winning is not all that matters"


The board of Directors of the Spanish Champions have decided to axe their title winning Coach Fabio Capello after one season in charge. Sounds familiar at Real Madrid? oh sure... Carlos Quieroz, Luxemburgo, have all see less than one full season in charge in the past few years.

As Beckham once said " If we had as many titles as the number of coaches we would be the best team in Europe"...he has a point.

You look at this decision and feel is Real Madrid crazy? Well a new coach every year is less than appealing. From a player perspective you get used to one style of play, a sort of discipline and again it changes. There is no way they would perform well togther.

Here is my perspective on Capello's term in charge:

"Van The Man"

Undoubtedly number 1 in the list is the signing of Van Nistelrooy. It was heard last year that Madrid was contemplating Drogba over Ruud and it was Capello who fought for the dutch striker. 25 goals later in the league and 33 in total that definitely was an outstanding choice.

"The Beckham Saga"

Winning the Spanish league is not small achievement, but it was not easy. At the winter break in January Madrid's last game was a 0-3 home drubbing. How did the turn around happen?
Well in the Winter David Beckham announced his multi million dollar move to MLS side LA Galaxy and Capello jumped in and claimed that Beckham will not play again for Real as he would not have the commitment to do so. Well wrong call that is the simple answer. Lack of commitment from Beckham hard to digest right? But Capello convinced everyone but not the dressing room. Raul the influential captain met with Director and the Chairman and the decision had to be reversed. Capello has tried to save face by admitting multiple times openly that it was a mistake. The result-Beckham in the best form in 4 years, though he might not agree it was almost as if he was on a mission to prove Capello wrong.

"Italianization of Real"

Emerson and Cannavaro may have come to Real as part of their team building sporting decisions but no doubt they had support from Capello. Emerson for that matter was under constant scrutiny from the Bernabeu fans. Well the term Italianization became so common in the press because of Capello's tactics. Playing two defensive midfielders and playing one lone striker. January-March Robinho never was on the starting line up, he came off the bench to score some crucial goals. Fabio Cannavaro the World player of the year and the European player of the year was starting every game though he was having some mediocre games. Well the question who else does Capello have in defense? Helguera, is he not the one who Madrid put on the transfer list and no one was interested?

"The Transformation"

The transformation happened after January. Madrid got some luck definitely in their favor to win some crucial points. Capello got the injured Roberto Carlos back, Beckham was spectacular and Van Nistelrooy scoring in almost all games. Madrid even came up with a spell of the most away wins in their history. Capello gave charge of the dressing room to the Spaniards and the team had more of Raul, Helguera, Guti and Miguel Torres the find of the season from the B team. Ronaldo who was being more of a burden for Madrid was sold to Milan and in came two youngsters in the form a defensive midfielder Fernando Gago and a striker Gonzalo Higuain both from Argentina. The South Americans did have a decent run in the team and also provided to be excellent signings, but always a possibility of being loaned out as what happened to the two unknown lads from Uruguay.

"What is left behind"

Now the decision is public, what is left behind by Capello. The biggest strength of Capello is the discipline that he brings to the team and also instilling the feeling that no one has a secure position in the team, which naturally raises every one's performance. A team which was having more off field news than on field has been transformed into a team that gels and is believed toward the last 8 games that they could win the League. A new coach that come in will have an easier job than what Capello had summer last year.

"Possible replacements"

Getafe coach Bernd Shuster is definitely number one. He has transformed Getafe and he is in pole running for the Madrid coach role. Getafe president has claimed that if Real approaches Shuster directly they will report Real to UEFA.

Pedro Mijatovic has definitely announced a brave decision-the reason boils down to the fact that though Real won the league they did not play in a way that would thrill anyone. A club like Real with the history cannot play the style of football that Capello was using. The fans that fill the Bernabaeu week in week after do not want to see a defensive style of play, and the outspoken nature of Capello definitely does not go well with the Club. There are numerous clubs across Europe who have been successful in a similar style, such as Liverpool, Milan.

Capello would be a man who will be in Madrid history books. A man who has coached Madrid twice the last time in the 96/97 season and has won the League on both occasions. Now he walks away with a load of money as Madrid will have to honor the remaining two years in his contract.

Capello would be the first to openly learn the hard way that "Winning is not all that matters"

5 comments:

nik said...

Capello..he is a winner..has won cups for all the clubs he has managed. 2 years he managed RM and both those years he lead them to glory. I would like him see coach a Premier League club...it would be fascinating to watch all the master tacticians at work...Jose, Benitez, Capello and Sir Alex.

Unknown said...

Capello was considering retirement after two more years with Real. But when his place was in jeopardy he had claimed that he would be taking an early retirement....

Not sure about your dream of him taking over any Premiership clubs...

Spartan said...

Capello was good in the LA Liga but that does not guarantee any sucess in the Premier league which is a very different ball game.Look at Benitez liverpool do well in europe but when it comes to the premier league they falter

Unknown said...

I agree with Spartan and Capello would be smart enough not to jump into anything and everything now. He has a reputation to protect the one he built in Italy with Juve and in Spain with Madrid....

Since you brought up Liverpool, to last 38 League games there should be depth in the team and that is one major reason for Liverpool faltering and also they rely too much on Captain fanastic...

Spartan said...

yeah ,this is the team i support yeah they depend too much on stevie and Carragher.They have a lot of potential though if they scout the right players and not waste money on the likes of Sissoko.