West Ham midfielder's absence the first of many recent blunders by Capello (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

ON THE BALL: Capello loses the plot with England

3:03pm Thursday 18th November 2010

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FABIO Capello really has lost the plot.

Another shambolic performance coughed up by England against France at Wembley on Wednesday night was, I'm afraid, depressingly predictable.

Once I saw the Italian's squad selection it was clear that we were in for a beating from France's drastically improved team, led by the impressive Laurent Blanc.

And for those who had not already foreseen what was about to occur needn't have doubted the game's outcome when Capello plodded out with that comical baseball cap perched awkwardly on his head. It could yet become his 'wally with a brolly' moment, with the Sun newspaper labelling the hapless coach a 'prat in a hat'.

Unlike us, France have learned from their World Cup debacle in South Africa, removing their potty coach Raymond Domenech and replacing him with someone brimming with ideas and charisma in Blanc.

We have persevered with the same boring coach, playing the same boring football, and producing the same boring results.

The sole up side is that we only have to put up with Capello for another 18 months when, after a poor Euro 2012 campaign, he will leave these shores, never to return.

His latest blunder, before the tripe on the Wembley pitch, was his selection.

Where, oh where, pray tell, was Scott Parker's name on the list of players selected for international duty?

Anybody who has followed the Premier League intently so far this season will agree that the West Ham player has been the best of all England's midfielders.

Steven Gerrard has improved recently but has not been consistent; Lampard has been out; Jack Wilshere comes closest to rivalling Parker but has, understandably, dropped off a tad in recent weeks; Jordan Henderson has been a bright spark for Sunderland; Gareth Barry must be consigned to the scrapheap after some shocking performances for both club and country over the past few months, which includes the World Cup; Paul Scholes, despite an electric start, has faded (and has, in any case, retired from international football); and Tom Huddlestone has done well without standing out for Spurs.

It's a crying shame that, just because Parker is toiling away with a seemingly lost cause at the foot of the table, he is ignored by Capello.

Parker could easily play an anchoring role at the centre of a midfield three for England, even though he is afforded more freedom at Upton Park.

He is tenacious, has more heart than most of the starting XI v France last night combined, an engine that rivals the Duracell bunnies and bags of ability.

It's a ridiculous oversight, by anybody's standards. And one that is only rivalled by the disregard for Kevin Davies. The Bolton striker would have been forgiven for pencilling November 17 into his diary after scoring two excellent goals and laying on another in front of the watching England boss against Spurs just two weeks ago. Who does he plump for instead? A Championship journeyman who, while impressive for Cardiff so far this season, does not have the pedigree to be considered for international selection.

For those tiring of these anti-Capello rants, I apologise. And I will cease when Harry Redknapp is appointed national team manager.