F365's Top Ten: Winners From Capello Exit

Not everyone is sad to see Capello leave the England hotseat. In fact, there's quite a few players who stand to gain from the Italian's departure. Here's the top ten...

Last Updated: 20/02/12 at 16:28 Post Comment

10. Joe Cole
Poor form and injury meant that Cole only made nine appearances under Fabio Capello, just three of which were starts. At 30, the one-time England prodigy didn't have much hope of breaking back into the squad for Euro 2012, but if Redknapp is appointed manager all that could change. 'Arry was Cole's mentor at West Ham and may look to his former protégé to add creativity and glorious volleys v Sweden to the squad. The Lille loanee is in good form as well - with eight goals in 30 matches for his new club, it looks as if he's regained some of the old spark.

9. Grant Holt/Danny Graham
Capello always said (sob sob) that he'd select players who were in form and Wayne Rooney is the only Englishman to have scored more Premier League goals than Holty and, er, Grahamy this season. Realistically, the chances of either player being given a late opportunity to impress were incredibly slim. However, a new manager will want to look at all the options available, and if these two keep up their current levels of performance, who's to say they won't get a call-up?

8. Peter Crouch
Crouch threw a bit of a wobbler after being dropped for the Euro qualifier against Switzerland and went straight to the papers to cry about it, saying, "Capello keeps himself distant. He's not the sort of manager who puts an arm around his players." We imagine then that England's tallest will be chuffed to bits now the Italian Stallion is no longer manager. Despite Crouch's impressive goalscoring record at international level, Capello never had much faith in him. Indeed, the Stoke forward started in just five of the 18 matches he played under Capello and was left twiddling his thumbs on the bench for 90 minutes on a further eight occasions.

7. Aaron Lennon
It looked as though Capello had given up on Lennon, failing to select the winger in any of his last five squads. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd lost faith either, after Lennon was sacrificed following England's abject displays against USA and Algeria at World Cup 2010, and was substituted off in six of his eight starts under the Italian. At one stage the Spurs wide-man seemed set to make the right-side berth his own, but injuries have hampered his progress. A new manager, perhaps one he's worked with before (hmm hmm), could give him the boost that's needed in the lead up to Euro 2012.

6. Michael Dawson
Considering Dawson was instrumental in Spurs' rise to fourth in the 2009/10 season, it came as a surprise to many that he wasn't included in the World Cup squad, or indeed given a chance to prove himself beforehand. After Rio Ferdinand was ruled out, the centre-back was eventually called up, but was again overlooked when firstly Ledley King and then Jamie Carragher succumbed to injury. The fact that Matthew Upson was selected ahead of Dawson for the Germany match shows how little Capello rated him at the time, although four caps followed in the World Cup fall-out. At 28, Dawson is at the perfect stage in his career to secure a starting spot for England, if only he can remain fit.

5. Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand's England days looked numbered under Capello. Stripped of the captaincy because of his injury woes, the defender's fitness problems seemed set to further marginalise his involvement as Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott were all being primed by Capello as long-term replacements. Despite being as brittle as cinder toffee and a yard slower than he used to be, Ferdinand is still England's best centre-back and if he stays fit he should be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up by the next England boss.

4. Frank Lampard
Although a regular in Capello's starting XIs, Lampard's stock was beginning to slide. The midfielder was often substituted long before the end of matches, with the Italian's reliance on him beginning to wane. Scott Parker looked like a certain starter as long as Capello remained in charge and with Steven Gerrard returning to full fitness and Jack Wilshere receiving a favourable prognosis, Lampard's place in the middle was under threat. Luckily for him, Uncle 'Arry's here to save the day with his 'vision of a golden triangle'.

3. Daniel Sturridge
Is there anyone who doesn't want Danny boy to go to the Euros next summer? After a brilliant loan spell at Bolton last season, the forward has become a key member of Chelsea's squad this campaign, notching 11 goals in the process. His rise was largely overlooked by Capello, though, who only gave the striker 32 minutes to prove himself during his tenure. After impressing for the under-21s under the guidance of Stuart Pearce, it's likely Sturridge will be given a better opportunity to show what he can do under the England caretaker manager.

2. Michael Carrick
It's no wonder Carrick didn't call Capello to let him know he was fit before the Hungary friendly; the Manchester United midfielder was an unused sub on ten occasions during the Italian's reign and made only eight appearances, just four of which were starts. England's perennial midfield back-up has found form recently, coinciding rather nicely with Capello's exit and the late jostle for Euro 2012 places. Carrick is on the fringes of the first team and now Capello's left town he stands a greater chance of staking a claim for a starting spot.

1. Micah Richards
The biggest loser of the Capello era has the most to gain from the Italian's premature departure. Of all Capello's curious decisions, his refusal to select Richards over the last 18 months was possibly the most peculiar. The Manchester City right-back played a pivotal role in his team's qualification for the Champions League last season and has continued his excellent form as City challenge for the title. For all the money Mancini has had to spend, Richards has remained his first choice. Now is the defender's chance to show why many think he's a better option than Glen Johnson.

Matthew Stanger - he's on the Twitter.

Rio predictably getting a slating despite being excellent at two world cups (unlike captain fantastic when Rio wasn't there in 2010 to hold his hand like Carvalho used to for Chelsea) and having got himself fit at last. If he's so bad, who plays in his place? Terry? Never better in their respective primes and consistently exposed at international level without the likes of Carvalho and Makelele whiping his overrated backside. International football is about more than chest beating and scoring from corners. Lescott - Aerially dominant, quick enough on the floor, good balance with the others as he's left footed and reliable, the closest available contender and should be a starter. Great v Spain Dawson - Has been the equal of Terry performance wise for the last couple of years not that that makes him international class. Jagielka - Has that bit of extra pace others lack but a bit old to emerge as a key man now. Cahill? Massively overrated for being decent with the ball at his feet but presided over a year of shocking defending at Bolton and is carrying that on at Chelsea. Smalling & Jones? Bit early yet but Smalling has consistently looked good in the middle for United. Jones isn't ready to be playing centre half for England and will probably be the utility man in sht squad King - rolls royce of a centre back but surely his time has passed. Give him a break!
- McLovin82

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