Can England go to Euro 2012 without a permanent manager and still win?

Fabio Capello resigned on February 8th over the FA's decision to strip John Terry of his captaincy, a decision which left England players and fans in shock. With Euro 2012 only a few months away, can the England team go to Euro 2012 without a permanent manager and still win? We will look at arguments on both sides of the fence to find out the answer.

Why England Can Still Win Euro 2012

While Capello's departure is a blow, there are several reasons why England can still win Euro 2012:

    * No Rift Between Manager and Captain

After Fabio Capello expressed his views that John Terry was his only captain figure, any player expected to be captain in the future might have been disheartened by these remarks and perhaps even had a spat with the manager. How is a player supposed to be captain when he knows that the manager doesn't really see him as a 'true captain'? It would have been an uphill struggle trying to get the respect of the team.

England now has a chance to create a solid team instead of the mess that would have been created if Capello had stayed.

    * No Fear

One of Capello's biggest mistakes is that he played for the individual and not the team. He refused to take off Wayne Rooney, for instance, even when he was in bad form. Capello's mentality that a player is too big to be taken off affected England's performance in South Africa and can be a thing of the past now he is gone.

    * Better Managers

Whoever takes charge of England in the future, even if they are just in a caretaker role, might actually be better than Capello. Harry Redknapp, currently the favourite, and Jose Mourinho are two successful, proven managers. Redknapp has a great knowledge of English football and is loved by all. Mourinho is a fearless manager who commands the respect of players and coaches alike. Expect some exciting times ahead, unless the FA pulls another McClaren out of their hat, of course.

    * No History

This is a chance for England to start afresh. Even if they are just led by a caretaker manager (or don't have a manager at all), there is a chance to break with the past, pull together and make the country proud. If Capello had stayed and England fared dismally in Euro 2012, players would have looked back to South Africa and carried on suffering.

    * Nothing to Lose

There is no real expectation on England's shoulder now they don't have an established captain or manager. There is no pressure and that is what the team needs. They can relax, play some great football and enjoy themselves.

Why England Will Lose Euro 2012

It could go pear-shaped. Here are some reasons why England could lose Euro 2012:

    * No Motivation

A great manager motivates and drives the team. Without a manager, England will falter. Even if a captain pulled everyone together, I am not sure it would be enough.

    * Unproven Captain

England may lose if an unproven captain is chosen. A young, unproven captain needs time to build a rapport with the players and earn their respect. England is running out of time.

    * Poor choice of Caretaker Manager

If a caretaker manager is appointed, someone who lacks the panache of Redknapp or Mourinho, England won't have the strategy or attack needed for Euro 2012.

    * Clash of Personalities

If there are too many personalities not kept under control, England's team runs the risk of falling apart. A strong leader is needed to keep everything together and put egos in check.

Conclusion

Fabio Capello left at completely the wrong time. England, however, can move forward. The team has a chance to break with the past and show the world what they are really capable of. Even if they lack a manager, England can pull together and make their country proud.

Guest post contributed on behalf of Wink Bingo by sports writer Samantha Harvey.


Like O-Posts on Facebook
Follow the site on Twitter