Capello’s Next Move: Drop Wayne Bridge

Never mind the fact that England don’t have a first-class goalkeeper – or at least one who starts for a top-half-of-the-league club. Never mind the fact that England don’t have anyone to partner Wayne Rooney up front. And never mind the fact that John Terry’s successor as captain, Rio Ferdinand, may not be fit enough (or even good enough) to start in South Africa. The issue in question here is team unity – and it remains unresolved. Despite the change in captain, we are still exactly where we were before – with supposedly ex-best mates John Terry standing in one corner and Wayne Bridge seething in the other.

Will the tension become untenable? Will the rest of the squad start taking sides? Will the divisions manifest themselves on the field?  If there’s been one strength to the England national team over the years, it’s been team unity.  The boys have tended to perform best under a siege mentality, especially when the rest of the world is flogging their backs (See Euro ‘96.)  This time around, however, the discontent is coming from within – and shuffling around the captain’s armband isn’t going to change anything.

Unless Bridge and Terry can reconcile – a remote possibility – then one of them has to go. It’s that simple. And it breaks our heart to suggest this, but we think the only feasible course of action is for Fabio Capello to drop Bridge from the squad.  It’s not like England’s World Cup hopes rest on the left back’s shoulders. Just the opposite. He’s already on the fringes of the squad and would only play if Ashley Cole, who is in the form of his life, gets injured. There are other full-backs who could assume this understudy role. Stephen Warnock, for instance.

We understand that axing Bridge would be utterly unfair – and that Capello would no doubt be massacred in the court of public opinion. After all, Wayne Bridge is the victim in this incident and John Terry is the scumbag who warrants punishment. But the bottom line is, Bridge is dispensable and Terry is not. These are the cold hard facts. And if Fabio Capello is, as he claims to be, solely focused on doing what’s best for England, then he’ll ignore the sentimentalities and send Wayne Bridge packing.

This way to the exit Bridge

—

Time to replace Captain John Terry

In Defence of John Terry

2 Responses to “Capello’s Next Move: Drop Wayne Bridge”

1. Roger says:

   February 6, 2010 at 1:09 pm

   Dear Footy Factor,

   JT gone. Rio elevated. Gerrard second in line.

   Now let’s see if I understand that?

   JT, a great leader on the field, is removed because of (apparently) morality issues. (Huh? Remember the Prince of Wales and Camilla?). Even if all the allegations are true, he didn’t do anything illegal.

   Rio, a so-so leader who skipped a drug test. We have to assume the worst when someone skips a drug test, and the regulatory authorities did so in Rio’s case. Drug taking, as you know, is illegal.

   I rest my case.

   Roger Willis
2. britlog says:

   February 7, 2010 at 4:28 pm

   what a mess. i would have thought that missing a drug test is worse then scoring with a mates ex (let’s remember bridge had broken up with the woman when jt bedded her). plus let’s not forget rio’s famous lack of concentration on the pitch. dropping bridge will just give more fuel to the tabloid press–so that’s not a good idea. best thing to do is ensure bridge and jt focus on their football not their extra curricular activities and demand peace in the dressing room.