Say one thing and do another - The curious case of Fabio Capello

Waking up and flicking on the sports news this morning, I was greeted with a headline that read - "Fabio Capello considers John Terry for England captaincy" - a story that shouldn't raise any eyebrows. After all, John Terry is a natural leader, captaining his beloved Chelsea side in the Premier League every week, as well as previously wearing the armband for his country.

This would be all and well if the Chelsea skipper hadn't publicly been stripped from the position 13 months ago, surrounded in embarrassment and shame. Even more so is the fact that it is the same man that took it from him that is giving him the duty back - Fabio Capello.

I am all for retribution in football. After all, footballers are only human like the rest of us, and I will be pleased for John Terry should be be given the honour back. However, it seems to me that his boss, Fabio Capello, comes out of this affair having completely undermined himself - and not for the first time. 

Let us go back to the January of 2007. It had just been announced that David Beckham had signed a multi-million pound deal to join the LA Galaxy at the end of the current La Liga season, allowing him to honour his contract with Real Madrid. A certain Mr. Capello was his manager at the time.

It looked to have  effectively ended the England mans stay in Spain, with the Italian boss telling the media "We can't count on him and we won't count on him because he has committed himself to another club" telling Beckham that he wouldn't even train with the first team squad ahead of games.

In the end, Beckham was re-called to the Real Madrid side just a month later after a 'period of reflection' from the coach. Madrid went on to win the Liga title that season, with Beckham instrumental in his sides success. 

Beckham: The Capello master plan? 

The Beckham saga ultimately ended as a success, but how about Capello's  promise to pick players on form and not because of their reputation? 

Everybody has differing opinions on how well players play, but not taking Theo Walcott to the World Cup, who by most peoples understanding, had been playing better than his replacement Aaron Lennon, was surely a mistake. As well as not taking Michael Dawson instead of his injury prone Spurs team mate Ledley King, leaving his side short at the back once Rio Ferdinand had picked up an injury. 

Darren Bent was overlooked as well, despite being the 3rd highest scorer in the Premier League in the last 5 seasons - only Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba scoring more goals than the Aston Villa man. Instead, he opted for the spectacularly un-prolific Emile Heskey. 

Others such as Parker, Huddlestone, Nolan and Barton have all seemingly been ignored by the England boss, which is surely puzzling for the fans after the lack luster performance at last summers World Cup - not to mention the humbling defeat by France in November. 

So to see John Terry wearing the captains armband once more for England shouldn't come as much of a shock to us, whether we see a man who isn't afraid of holding his hands up and admitting he's wrong, or a hypocritical coach doing what he can to appease the masses.

Having won 9 trophies in 16 years of management, who am I to argue with Don Fabio's methods? If John Terry is lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy in 16 months time, who will care?

Capello and Terry?