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No Gray Areas: Terry won't lose the armband
The furore currently surrounding John Terry is the last thing England wanted in a World Cup year and Fabio Capello has a big decision to make over the next few days: does he back his skipper or does he axe him?
The reassuring thing for me is that Fabio hasn't rushed into making a decision but then again, he doesn't strike me as the sort of man who would. He's well aware of everything that has gone on, will know what's being said in the papers and that the country is split down the middle as to whether Terry should remain as captain or step aside.
The next step is to meet his skipper in person, see what the lad has to say about it all and then go away and make the decision that's best for English football and his side's chances of winning the World Cup.
The word on the grapevine is that the three most likely candidates for the job - Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney - are all reluctant to make themselves available before any sort of announcement on Terry's position has been made.
Of course, if JT resigns or is forced to resign, someone will have to step up to the plate and lead their country but my instinct is that it won't come to that. The fact this trio of senior players are effectively backing their skipper is an indication that the dressing room as a whole is ready to forgive Terry and in the process keep disruptions to their World Cup campaign to a minimum and that could be the deciding factor.
He may get a rap on the knuckles from Capello and be told he's in last-chance saloon but I'd be surprised if he's not leading out the side when England play the USA in the opening match of their World Cup campaign. He's currently available at [2.3] on Betfair's "England Captain" market to do just that and that's where my money would be.
Do you agree that Capello is likely to stick with Terry? Have your say below, as well as posting any questions you want us to put to Betfair Football's star tipster in our next podcast later this month.
Published: 5 Feb 2010 - Tags: Andy Gray , Fabio Capello , John Terry , Wayne Bridge
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George (February 5, 2010 9:18 AM) said:
Fabio Capello will do whatever is right for the team and will ignore the media hype, rumours etc. etc. If JT has lost the respect of some key players in the squad then it's best for JT to step down/be told to step down. If JT isn't captain I'm all for Rooney stepping up to the plate!
James P (February 5, 2010 11:23 AM) said:
I don't see that JT losing the captaincy would have as unsettling an effect on the team as is being made out. And we've heard about the England players who have publicly backed him but what about those who are keeping numb but secretly think he sholuld be axed? Maybe there are more of the latter than the former. Can't see Rooney getting it though if there is a change; with the exception of Beckham the England captain is normally club captain before he becomes national captain. And Rooney is still young and as England's key player has enough on his plate without having to deal with extra photoshoots and press conferences. Can't see past Gerrard if Terry goes; 3.6 available on him but I'd be surprised if you don't get matched at odds of at least 4.0.