The John Terry news story has dominated both the front and back pages in the last fortnight. But now the situation has cooled slightly, maybe now is the time to assess it more objectively.
The injury to Ashley Cole at Goodison Park last night will, in all probability, mean that Wayne Bridge will be in England’s starting line up against Egypt next month. Chelsea skipper, Terry, is of course odds on be in the team as well.
The press build up to the game will be, to put it mildly, unique and the team as a whole will be under intense scrutiny for probably the first time under Fabio Capello.
But what does this actually mean for the England team and their World Cup hopes?
And is Capello justified in making an example of the (now former) England skipper and stripping him of the captaincy?
I personally think there are arguments for and against keeping the 29 year old as captain.
Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, had his usual, un-called for say on the situation today. He suggested that Terry would be applauded in other countries’ for his misdemeanors. The Swiss said that in places such as France and Italy, the centre half would be admired, not vilified.
If this is the case, then I have to ask why did Capello act so quickly in sacking Terry? He obviously deemed the situation to be unacceptable, but he is Italian.
This was yet again, another ill-informed Blatter rant. How much longer do we have to listen to this clown? Let’s just hope, for his sake, the South Africa Would Cup is successful, as this will be his true legacy.
Now I am ranting.....
I do believe that Capello’s decision was the right one. The England captaincy is the greatest honour you can receive as a sportsman in this country, and if any position in football carries the ‘role model’ tag, then this is the one.
Terry was made captain for a reason and whether or not the position is so important on the field of play is irrelevant. You are expected a leader off the pitch and you must be fully respected by the other players.
As the player who gives the most press conferences, he must be prepared to take the brunt of the pressure. The England captain is surely better off having a balanced home life without any distractions.
In World Cup year, in my opinion, it is vital that Terry is fully focused on his football and this is clearly not the case.
But there are notable examples of players performing against the odds and being inspired by outside pressures, thus spurring them on to greater heights.
Paolo Rossi in 1982 is the prime example. He entered the tournament having barely played for two years following a match fixing scandal and many thought he shouldn't have even been in Spain. But the Italian striker finished the tournament as top scorer and claimed a winners medal.
I have heard suggestions from fans suggesting England are being hypocritical in dismissing Terry. Sven Goran Eriksson was notorious for more that one affair during his six year spell as England boss, but he wasn’t sacked.
The difference, I guess, is that the Swede wasn’t married and didn't have an affair with a girlfriend or ex girlfriend of a member of his team. He was also on a huge, long term salary, which probably played a big part in the outcome.
In Terry's defence, it is also important to remember that previous England captains have not always covered themselves in glory either.
Alan Shearer 'appearing to' kick Neil Lennon in the face shortly before the 1998 World Cup is a famous example of an England captain acting in a 'thuggish' matter on the football field.
Another former captain, Tony Adams, had been in prison for drink driving five years before he was made England skipper. In most people’s eyes this would have to be deemed a far worse sin than John Terry’s, but it was quickly forgotten due to Adams' strirring displays in the England strip. Maybe the same can happen to Terry.
On a far more contemporary level, is Rio Ferdinand (the new England captain) the ultimate role model?
He missed a drugs test and has been convicted of drink driving, but that was a long time ago. Does it make any difference? Maybe it does, but Ferdinand is 31 now, and has certainly matured off the pitch, as well as on it.
Perhaps Capello believes that Terry is not as mature as he first thought, and this event, coupled with his not so squeaky clean past has tipped the Italian over the edge. This was obviously Terry's last chance even if he wasn't aware of it, but I, like many, thought he had matured sufficiently.
The defender has certainly let himself down, not to mention his family and he needs to show all of his trademark mental strength to pick himself up from such a tirade of media speculation.
It's important as a football journalist, not to elevate too much of a moral high ground here. Terry is certainly not alone in making errors of judgment, and there are several other members of the England team who have certainly not covered themselves in glory during their careers.
Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Defoe, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are just a few high profile squad members who have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons during their careers. In this context, it would be unfair to label Terry as a monster who has embarrassed his family and let down his club and country.
But the rumours are that Terry tried his upmost to hide the story of the affair from the papers. When he was stripped of the captaincy he reportedly weeped and begged Capello not to fire him.
If this is true, is he really fit to be England skipper? Integrity and bravery are surely key traits required for such a high profile position, and perhaps he is too self-centred to be England skipper.
This is not something any football fan would have previously associated with Terry. He throws his body on the line week after week for Chelsea, but maybe we all over-estimated him.
One factor that has to be applauded is Capello’s efficiency. He made the decision ruthlessly and susequently refused to comment on it afterwards. He is moving on (in his own mind) and has once again given the impression that he will take no prisoners and demands respect.
In that aspect he is very different to both Eriksson (who seemed to be too close to David Beckham, giving him too much power) and Steve McClaren who, initially attempted to come across as a strong leader in dropping Beckham. In fact he was not doing it for the good of the team, it was just a facade. Beckham was later recalled.
Capello expects his players to be role models and respect the Three Lions shirt to the upmost.John Terry abused that privilege and obviously did not respect Capello enough to adhere to his demands.
He has paid the ultimate price. The other players will certainly has taken note.
Today, Terry has reportedly headed off to Dubai in an attempt to save his flagging marriage, which includes two children. His mistake against Everton last night perhaps illustrates that he is not one hundred per cent focused. But he needs to be.
With Chelsea fighting for the title, Terry will need to be at the top of his game in the coming weeks.
In all honesty, Wayne Bridge is not as vital as John Terry in the England set up. But the Manchester City full back is, according to multiple sources, a very popular member of the squad.
We, as England fans, will just have to hope that team spirit has not been affected.
With less than four months to go until the ‘greatest show on earth’ we should have known after such a fantastic qualifying campaign, that it couldn't all run so smoothly.
Something had to give, and it has, in volcanic proportions.
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