Capello urged to freshen up England after avoiding the axe

TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp has called on the country to get behind Fabio Capello as England manager – but implored the Italian to revamp his team.

The FA yesterday ended speculation over Capello’s future by confirming he would remain in charge despite England’s dismal World Cup in South Africa.

“After fully discussing our performance we remain convinced that Fabio is the best man for the job,” Club England chairman Sir David Richards said.

“We are all still extremely disappointed at our performance in South Africa but he went into the World Cup with a reputation as one of world football’s finest managers and we are confident Fabio will benefit from his first international tournament experience.

“Undoubtedly this will make us all stronger for the Euro 2012 campaign.”

England crashed out as they were thrashed 4-1 by Germany at the last 16 stage last weekend but the FA have said they will not be severing their £6million-a-year deal with Capello two years early.

Redknapp, who might have been a contender to succeed Capello had he left, said: “I wasn’t surprised, I couldn’t see them getting rid of him.

“He has kept it now and we have got to get behind him and get ready for the European Championship – and to turn in a better performance than we have at the World Cup.

“Going into the tournament you fancied us to have a big chance but it was a massive disappointment. He has got to make a lot of changes, as he has said, he needs some new blood.

“We have got to find some young players you can come in and play at that level. We keep playing the same way, we don’t change it.

“It is time we sat down and worked out a system and every team plays the same way from U17s, 19s, 21s all the way to the full squad so whoever comes into the team knows how to slot in.

At the moment I don’t think we have a stamp on what is his system.”

Former England captain Alan Mullery claims the size of a potential pay-off has deterred the FA from replacing Capello.

“It didn’t surprise me at all,” he said. “I think if they had offered him the money for the two years he has got on his contract he probably would have gone, and quite willingly.

“But I don’t think the FA have got that sort of money to pay a new manager, and if they have got to fork out £12million, I think they would rather keep him.”

Mullery also feels changes are essential to reignite the country’s enthusiasm for the England team. He said: “Unless he gets rid of four or five senior players of a certain age and brings in some younger players, then the crowd are just not going to turn up for the first game as far as Wembley is concerned.

“If they want to keep him that’s fine, that’s up to them, but I think he has got to do one hell of a lot more to bring back the crowds to watch his England football team.”

Another former England international, Gerry Francis, has given Capello his backing but stressed it is important he learns from his mistakes.

Francis said: “He has been a brilliant club manager and has a very good record as a club manager but international football is different.

“You have got to be a lot more adaptable in formations and systems. It is important that he learns from the experience of this World Cup.”

One former international far from pleased, however, is Paul Merson. The ex-Arsenal forward, who won 21 caps from 1991-98, said: “I’m not happy with that. What has he done?

“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 World Cup, in the finals.

“I could have got us out of the group and got us beaten by Germany, quite easily. It wasn’t good enough.

“Why would you keep the same person on? Keep on doing the same things and you’ll get the same results, nothing will change.”