FEB 11 — So Fabio Capello has finally made his exit from the England team. Under the circumstances, it was an understandable move as he could not have the English FA deciding on who is team captain, just four months before a major tournament.

I won’t go into the whole drama that the FA are embroiled in now with their shortlist of candidates, let alone interim choice(s). There is no end to their short-sighted ways and all they will do is blow their own trumpets if results are achieved, and pass the buck if England fails ... yet again.

Instead, I will let you in on a conversation that I had with my colleague Andy Penders in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a day before Capello’s fateful decision.

We decided to start picking our own England team and we naturally agreed to disagree on occasion with our choices.

Mr Penders decided on Messrs Johnson and Cole as his two fullbacks, that’s Glen and Ashley for the less-informed. In my selection, however, I had young Spurs sensation Kyle Walker at rightback and Glen Johnson at leftback.

Giving me a chance to explain, Andy eventually felt that my justification for leaving Chelsea’s Cole out of the first 11 was fair enough when I mentioned Philip Lahm as an example of how a fullback should be good enough to play on either flank.

This season, Kenny Dalglish has allowed Johnson to play on the left for Liverpool and I would put him in the England team ahead of Everton’s Leighton Baines, nevermind Cole.

With England, as with any team, there is only ever the problem of team formation and this is where I think Capello had let down most England fans.

His failure to realise that changing the side to a 4-2-3-1 formation would have given England solidity besides explosive attacking power, will always be hanging over his now-shortlived England career.

It is not too late of course, with whomever the FA chooses to succeed him.

Getting back to my selection, as told to Mr Penders, obviously, there will be a place for Danny Welbeck as the lone striker, what with his energy and movement.

The three players that will supply, as well as bring their own venom, will be Wayne Rooney in the middle with Ashley Young and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on either flank.

The pace and trickery of Young and Oxlade-Chamberlain, with both being comfortable on either flank, is guaranteed to trouble any opponent in the world.

Not to mention, the understanding between the three Manchester United players combined with the young Arsenal star’s adaptability is a plus-point in helping a team to settle in sooner rather than later.

Holding the fort in midfield will be Scott Parker, only now recognised as the best defensive midfielder England have had since, wait ... can’t really remember one! 

If Harry Redknapp is eventually thrust into the England role, then Parker, who was transferred to Spurs by Harry last August, is going to get the biggest boost to his England career that he could possibly hope for.

Alongside Parker, it should be Steven Gerrard. The lesser leg power, which has been evident in recent months, means the Liverpool captain is using more of his cunning to direct the game. And certainly his experience as the elder statesman in the team will be invaluable.

This leaves us with the two centreback positions – the fullback pairing has already been picked above – to be filled and with an eye to the future, i.e. a good showing at Brazil 2014, I’m going with the Manchester United duo of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

The both of them have good technique and are happy with the ball at their feet and will not have any problems developing an understanding.

Obviously, Manchester City’s Joe Hart starts in goal.

The Euro 2012 was to have been Capello’s swansong but it is good that any “new” manager, be it an interim one or for the long-term, will have a chance to correct the selection errors of the past by the Italian. Some of his choices have simply failed at the international level time and again.

So, come the end of February, it will be the Netherlands visiting Wembley and a great chance for the new man – for now it is Stuart Pearce – to showcase the future of English football.

I feel his starting XI should read ... Hart, Walker, Jones, Smalling, Johnson, Parker, Gerrard, Young, Rooney, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.