We don't play 442 imo. We effectively play 4231, we have 1 big front man (Heskey) and then let Gerrard Rooney and Lennon in last nights case do whatever the **** they like, while Lampard and Barry are expected to be more strict in their positioning. I agree with Trent that, in Lampards case in particular, that leaves him doing sod all because I don't think in the time he's been a mature successful player, he's ever played in the manner Capello wants him to.
And the fact that letting Rooney have that freedom and him last night doing absolutely nothing with it just damns him further. Can do whatever the **** he likes, and he undoubtedly has the talent to make the most of that freedom, and he does **** all.
Beyond the problem with Lampard, I don't think I can place too much blame at the feet of Capello - the failure of the team last night is down to the players and the players alone. It is unacceptable that a player like Rooney cannot control the ball, as he was failing to do so often last night. That was an incompetant display. Pressure hasn't caused that - these are players that are pressured constantly in their club careers requiring high performance week in week out, often in massive games, and they handle it, often with aplomb. It isn't especially the formation, it's the same one we've played with with success in the qualifying games. The loss of some players has affected it, undoubtedly, but that doesn't explain the limpness of this side at the moment either - losing Ferdinand doesn't make Rooney's touch vanish.
I'm utterly convinced there's a problem with the players. I don't think they are quite as good as many would think, not to say that they are bad, they obviously aren't, but they aren't quite all amazing. As a team they certainly aren't. Occasionally it clicks, more often than not it simply gets by on what talent there is in the side.
And that sneaking suspicion in me remains. I don't think they like Capello. It's the first tournament they've had with him and I suspect that now they are at the World Cup with him, they've realised that they don't like him, that theres a lot about him that they dislike, and thats come out in the performances that have happened.