Revolution-gate…

Was Terry right to speak out? Do England’s players need to grow up? Has Capello lost the dressing room? Will any of it make a difference on Wednesday?!

Much has been made of John Terry’s public revelations on Sunday, and Fabio Capello’s subsequent reprimand.

Respected journalist Henry Winter has put together his thoughts in the below article and it makes for interesting reading. Personally, I agree with Winter. England’s players do tend to behave like schoolboys both on and off the pitch, and following two terrible displays, they need to take responsibility and confront their shortcomings. We want our footballers to be honest, speak from the heart, avoid deception, and behave like normal people. Yet when they do, they are often criticised. At the same time we obviously want to see unity, with everyone pulling together.

As ever, all thoughts and observations are welcome (and indeed encouraged). Is Winter right, or completely wide of the mark?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7844997/World-Cup-2010-John-Terry-was-right-to-tell-these-England-schoolboys-to-grow-up.html

World Cup 2010: John Terry was right to tell these England 'schoolboys' to grow up

England tournaments can resemble school outings where everything is organised for the pupils but they get lost on the nature trail when having to make a decision for themselves.

A depressing truth of England's draws with USA and Algeria was the absence of problem-solvers and responsibility-takers.

The academy system, which can mollycoddle young players, does not nurture leaders. The Football Association's highly respected director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, who is trying to modernise the nation's talent factories, talked at the weekend of the imperative of coaching more players able to make the right call under pressure.

So even more baggage accompanies England as they fly out to Port Elizabeth on Tuesday for the must-win meeting with Slovenia on Wednesday. A skip full of sadness travels with the squad, namely the tension between the two natural leaders of the party, Fabio Capello and John Terry.

Steven Gerrard wears the armband, and he wears it well, but Terry is the sergeant major sharply reminding players of their duties. If England are to pull off the Great Escape, they require strong direction from Capello in the managerial dugout and Terry on the field.

For England to get serious about this World Cup, they need more players to accept criticism, seize responsibility and grow up. The schoolboys on the safe outing need to become men on the dangerous savannah.

England must break out of this state of arrested adolescence and confront issues.

Terry did on Sunday, talking frankly about the troubled team which Capello told ITV was a "very big mistake", and David James also voiced concerns. Others are known to have whispered their disquiet over everything from the standard of sections of training to the frustration of Capello not partnering Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.

Players should be encouraged to speak their mind in front of Capello, a Terry theme that Frank Lampard agreed with. "I haven't met a manager, particularly in the modern era, that doesn't have dialogue with players,'' said the Chelsea midfielder. "He [Capello] is receptive of opinions, of particularly the bigger players.''

Terry got his message across without needing to make representations to Capello, having highlighted his hopes and fears in a memorable press conference. The public nature of such utterances irritated a few players but they shouldn't be so precious. Besides, Terry seemed to be at the centre of the banter during training yesterday.

Capello's later comment on BBC Radio Five Live that Terry should have shown more "respect'' to other players when promoting Joe Cole's case missed the point. Terry was merely suggesting what many senior players think. Having spent all tournament bemoaning his team's "fear'', Capello then censures a player for showing a touch of fearlessness. Odd. The moral of this World Cup is that England crave lions not sheep.

"John spoke from the heart and we should be thankful there are players who speak that way,'' said Lampard, who was shocked Terry had been described as a "traitor'' in one headline. That couldn't be further from the truth. I don't see anyone here trying to win the World Cup and representing your country can be branded a 'traitor'.

"Some people won't say too much. Others want to hit things head on. The message I had was that John was saying some very positive things. John spoke honestly about wanting us to turn this around and move on. John is very tough. I am sure he was p---- d off with the headlines and he will react in the right way.''

Lampard was also annoyed a mature discussion between team-mates over a beer after the Algeria game was depicted as naughty boys plotting. "There wasn't a rebel gang. It's the only way I've known a team be able to recover from results. If people just go to their rooms and don't talk, how are you supposed to sit down and say: 'What about when you did this or could you not have done better there?' That's completely normal. The fact it's actually become a 'rebel' thing baffles me, really.''

It's good to talk, to get problems out in the open. Lampard understood why Terry felt Joe Cole should start in Port Elizabeth as, like Rooney, he could unlock defences. "What he said was right. Wayne and Joe have that special ability. I'm sure if you want John to speak about Steven Gerrard or Aaron Lennon, then he'll tell you they can unlock defences. Players aren't that sensitive. I wasn't knocking John's door down and saying: 'Are you saying I can't unlock a defence?' I didn't take any offence.'' He concurred about Cole. "Technically he is very good and he brings that little bit of magic to the table.'' Will Capello now rebuke Lampard?

No. He'd look daft. Just as Lampard respected Terry's right to express himself so he also underlined his "respect'' for Capello. "I've really enjoyed working with him. I'd like him to stay.''

Lampard then sought to tackle the perception that England players were being treated almost like children at their Royal Bafokeng base. "It's not boot camp,'' he countered. "It's unfortunate we've got the most fantastic facilities but we have to be secluded. There's a security issue. We're up at 8am for breakfast, which is compulsory, but you can go any time between nine and 10.

"After training, we have lunch and the afternoon can be a bit of a golf day (as yesterday) but it's pretty much free until dinner. You can do what you want – massage, watch TV, watch games which most players do, play snooker, have meetings. We never get sent to our rooms. Sometimes you want to go to your room for a bit of peace and quiet and ring your family but that's your own decision.''

Lampard was 32 on Sunday and admitted: "it wasn't my most exciting birthday ever''. He sat in his room. "I actually got a birthday cake off the staff and they all sang Happy Birthday, the ladies and that. That was about as excitable as it got. They can be long days but we're here for a very, very good reason.

"We haven't been successful for generations going back to the World Cup-winning team really but we are fighting to win the World Cup. One day a World Cup or European Championship will come for us.''

The more leaders and fewer followers in the team, the better chance England will have.