English FA had 12 million reasons not to sack Fabio Capello, blasts ex-England captain Alan Mullery

Jul 3 2010 Craig Swan

FORMER England captain Alan Mullery last night blasted the FA and said there are 12 million soiled reasons for keeping Fabio Capello.

Mullery was stunned by the FA’s decision and claims the size of a potential pay-off has deterred them from replacing the England boss.The FA announced last night the Italian would remain in charge despite flopping badly at the World Cup in South Africa.He has two years remaining on a £6 million-a-year contract that was renegotiated just a month ago to remove an escape clause.Mullery reckons that is the reason why Capello is keeping his job and said: “It didn’t surprise me at all.”I think if they had offered him the money for the two years he has on his contract Capello probably would have gone. And quite willingly.”But I don’t think the FA have that sort of money to pay a new manager.”And if they have to fork out £12m I think they would rather keep him.”England struggled through the World Cup group stage then crashed out in a 4-1 thrashing by Germany in the last 16 last Sunday.Mullery feels Capello must now revamp his side and has demanded wholesale changes for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.Mullery – who won 35 caps and played in the 1970 World Cup – added: “Unless he gets rid of four or five players of a certain age and brings in some younger players the crowd are not going to turn up for the first game as far as Wembley is concerned.”Everyone I bump into says, ‘Weren’t we a load of rubbish?'”If they want to keep him that’s up to them. But he has got to do one hell of a lot more to bring back the crowds to watch his England team.”If Mullery was agitated at the news former England player Paul Merson – who won 21 caps from 1991-98 – was simply angered. The former Arsenal forward said: “I’m not happy with that. He took us to the World Cup, which was made to look good because of the job Steve McClaren had done before that.”I wasn’t great as a manager at Walsall but I could have taken us to where we went in the finals.”I could have got us out of the group and beaten by Germany quite easily. It wasn’t good enough.”But there were words of support for Capello from England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.He said: “Bobby Robson went out on a high in 1990 but a few tournaments didn’t go too well for him.”That’s part of the game. I am sure with the experience of this tournament hopefully the lads will get to the next one and be a lot better for it.”I don’t think there are many managers out there with the record he has. He certainly deserves another crack at the England job.”I do think with England when things don’t go well people are always looking for different reasons why.”But the bottom line is we just didn’t perform well as a football team rather than anything else.”Former England skipper David Beckham also backed the FA decision.And he vowed to help make Capello a success by leading England on the pitch to help his country to the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine.The former Manchester United star was a member of Capello’s backroom team in South Africa after suffering injury in the build-up.He was even mentioned as a possible successor to the Italian.But Beckham said: “I’m flattered to be talked about as a coach and I’m always available for my country but I still see myself as a player and remain supportive of the manager.”And he admitted England were just not good enough in South Africa.He added: “We didn’t play at the level we knew we were capable of. “We have to learn from everything that’s happened, come back stronger and play to our potential.”

(BBC Football )

Toure lost his place to Sergio Busquets for much of last season

Manchester City have signed midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona on a five-year deal for a fee of about £24m.

The 27-year-old, who played for Ivory Coast at this summer’s World Cup, was told he was surplus to requirements at the Catalan club last week.”This is another fantastic signing for Manchester City,” manager Roberto Mancini told the club’s website.Toure’s arrival follows deals for Spain midfielder David Silva and Germany defender Jerome Boateng.The transfer fee for Toure, who will enjoy a three-week break before joining his new team-mates for pre-season training, takes the club’s summer outlay to about £60m – still some way short of last season’s £120m spending spree.

(BBC Football )

Chelsea have given Yossi Benayoun a three-year deal

Premier League champions Chelsea have signed Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun on a three-year deal.

The Israeli, 30, who had a contract tying him to Anfield until 2013, has been signed after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed transfer fee.Benayoun told Chelsea’s website: “I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player.“Benayoun joined Liverpool in 2007 and scored 29 goals in 134 games.The Israeli’s arrival follows the departure from Stamford Bridge of midfielders Michael Ballack and Joe Cole.He will meet up with his new Blues team-mates when he reports for pre-season training on Monday.”Everything looks lovely. It is a great training ground and you can see it is one of the best clubs in the world from the way the people here treat you,” he added.

( BBC Football )