Source: Man_City
Who fits into Capello's masterlan?
England hopeful Adam Johnson with Antonio ValenciaOne man sat through the Manchester derby without frazzled nerves and fraying fingernails. One man looked down at it all with a cool, calculating brain, not swayed by the tensions of the moment, not moved by the importance of every kick, touch and tackle. That one man was an Italian but it was not Roberto Mancini, who was pacing his technical area like a puppeteer whose strings ended up in a tangle. No, the scrutineer was Fabio Capello, inscrutable as ever, sitting in the East Stand, almost intruding on a strictly Mancunian affair. The England head coach was keeping a check on a couple of his definites for the flight to South Africa in June, in Wayne Rooney and Gareth Barry, and running the rule over World Cup wannabe Adam Johnson. But maybe he left with a hankering after a change of heart from Paul Scholes, who walked out on his international career six years ago and has resisted all attempts to get him back playing for his country. The biggest thing Capello will have learned from a derby which was as humdrum to the neutral as it was gripping to the passionate, was that Scholes is still a major English talent. It may have been the only thing he learned. The principal reason for Capello's appearance at Eastlands was probably the promising form of Adam Johnson, who has been keeping another England possible, Shaun Wright-Phillips, out of the City side. Mentally Johnson went into the game with Capello's encouraging words etched into his memory. It was clear that, with other right-sided players falling by the wayside and others struggling to convince that they are in the right shape - either physically or mentally - Capello hinted that he was considering a first call-up for Johnson to the full England squad for next month's Wembley friendly with Mexico. Johnson is a quietly confident young man, one who would fancy his chances of doing a job for England, either on the right or left flanks, if given the chance. And Saturday's high-stakes derby is the biggest game he has ever played in, while United left back Patrice Evra is the best left-back the modest Mackem has faced, and possibly the best left-back on the planet right now. Johnson got little change out of the Frenchman, but never hid, always looked for another chance to test himself, and gave Evra enough problems to soften him up for a late charge by substitute Wright-Phillips. More than all that, Johnson will have emerged from the game as a smarter winger. He is an avid learner, and that has shown by the strides he has made since joining City in January. Despite being asked to play on the right, when he prefers to use his stronger left foot to swing in crosses from the left flank, Johnson has adapted to life at the sharp end of the Premier League very quickly. He still has four games left in which to continue that education and make a late pitch for a place in Capello's plans. Snuffing City's England contingent and Mancini also have four games left in which to change Wayne Bridge's mind about ditching his England career. You have to respect Bridge's stance but the sight of him pretty much snuffing out the threat of United danger man Antonio Valencia, despite being out for five matches following a hernia op, reminded us why he would be a good addition to the England squad. He had begun to enjoy his best form for City before running into injury troubles but in his first game back, he showed all his athleticism and ability to get forward at the right times. Capello was also left with more questions than answers by the performances of United's England contingent. Gary Neville was viewed as a Red weak point going into the game, the veteran whose legs have gone to the point where he is on borrowed time. He rolled back the years, wrapping up Craig Bellamy with sensible, seasoned full back play, and could easily have made the England boss contemplate an unlikely recall. The man who Capello was watching more closely than any was, of course, Wayne Rooney. For all his outward unflappability, the Italian will have felt every ankle rap and sharp turn experienced by his most prized asset. No cotton wool overcoats for England's most precious player, especially in the heat of a derby. Another poser for Capello lies in the eternal England midfield conundrum, of how to fit Stevie Gerrard, Frank Lampard and A.N. Other into his engine room. Gareth Barry is the man in possession of the third spot. His work ethic, and tendency towards simplicity and efficiency allows the more dynamic Lampard and Gerrard freer rein. It doesn't work so well for City, where the rest of the midfield - as Stevie Ireland seeks to re-discover his place and his form - are similarly one-paced. Mancini tried to rectify that situation with transfer window bids for firstly McDonald Mariga and then Fernando Gago, and a top-class sparky, creative midfielder has to be the Blues' priority this summer. Capello's hopes of being able to weigh the conflicting claims of Barry and Michael Carrick against each other were dashed by the United man's place on the bench - where he was to stay, usurped by up-and-coming Irishman Darron Gibson and key man Darren Fletcher. Capello made a mad dash back to London after the game to take in the Spurs v Chelsea clash, none the wiser for his Mancunian experience. But the one name who he will have underlined on his team-sheet will have been Scholes - a man who has just 66 England caps and 14 goals, figures which will be eventually be viewed as a travesty for someone with such a long and brilliant career. What do you think? Have your say. | Submit Comments| PrintWhat's this? 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