Fab-ulous approach

Looking back on my time, they're not always the most entertaining or crowd pulling.

I remember Cameroon being the attraction back in the early 1990s.

After they had had a fantastic World Cup, they were in great demand.

However, the weather was so cold their team assembled from all parts of the world in Paris.

The England travel man, Brian Scott, was sent over to take care of any admin problems.

He rang straight back saying the players were going on strike because they still hadn't had their bonuses from the previous summer. That was eventually solved, to a point.

He then managed to get them to London. The next shout of alarm was that the weather was so cold some didn't want to leave the hotel.

A quick decision was made to buy them overcoats and we were then greeted with about 20 players getting off the team bus in the Wembley tunnel all dressed in identical duffel coats with the hoods placed firmly on their heads!

It really was one of the coldest nights ever, and apart from a very dull, boring game, the man everyone was looking forward to seeing was Roger Milla.

He had starred in Italia 90 and entertained everyone with his goal celebration dancing around the corner flags.

However, after a while, we realised he was on the opposite bench to us still resplendent in his duffel coat with no intention of playing, allegedly still not happy with his World Cup bonus.

So to get 87,000 people to turn up this week for a game against Switzerland, not exactly in the top ranks of World football, was no mean feat.

Alright, some may have booked ahead thinking they would witness David Beckham's 100th appearance but mainly it was the interest and excitement generated by the appointment of Fabio Capello.

Most football followers wanted some more discipline and a much more professional approach.

I don't think they will be too disappointed.

Mr Capello does not appear to be someone who will be influenced or swayed by outside advisors, of which there are more and more the higher you go up the ladder.

Just one look at his record - nine titles in 16 years of management at clubs such as Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid - is enough to command the respect of everyone, including some of the players who have appeared to be primadonnas.

So in future it's not a question of which hotel will we be in' and where will our wives and girlfriends stay', it will be more like will I be in the squad?'.

That cannot be a bad thing.

The fact that the first 30 minutes or so showed a nervous approach from the England team told me that every one of them, even the well established internationals, were aware that the manager was looking at everyone on the same level starting with a clean slate.

There will be nobody who could take their place for granted. That was too apparent in recent years.

Also, he showed he is not worried about changing systems which the players are normally used to at their clubs.

It was not too pleasing on the eye because it entailed a packed midfield, lots of close passing and the sort of international football which requires patience from both players and supporters.

You would not have expected the likes of Wes Brown, Matthew Upson, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and Gareth Barry to start.

Also, one must say that David James - who some other managers may have decided was past it - apart from the last second or two, when he decided to go on a walkabout at a corner, had a solid performance.

Once the players settled down and got used to the system, particularly in the case of Jenas and Gerrard breaking forward, it showed that in Bentley and Cole England have two potentially top quality wide men where it matters - in the final attacking third of the field.

I'm sorry to say for some people, Beckham wasn't really missed.

Mr Capello used his substitutes to change the system with Peter Crouch becoming the target and Wayne Rooney, who is the manager's type of professional, revelling in a free roaming role which showed off not only his physical strength in shaking off tackles but his good eye for the killer pass and superb touch and control.

The Swiss put up a good fight but all in all it was a good start for the new management team.

The night before at St Mary's, for England under-21s' 3-0 win over Ireland, Sir Trevor Brooking introduced me to Fabio's number two, Franco Baldini.

He was charming man who spoke good enough English and related to me that between them in their short time in England they had covered about 60 games already.

They were really enjoying their time here, although he said to me his family was still in Florence but that's the nature of the business.

As far as watching the St Mary's fixture,, I am sure he will be able to report back that there are one or two youngsters pushing some of the seniors.

The whole evening was a huge success, with a fabulous crowd of nearly 32,000 proving to our own players and everyone connected with Southampton that there is a great interest in the game in our area.

If we can just get a run of wins and promotion eventually, we will certainly fill the ground again.

It was a credit as well to the ground staff that the pitch was able to play so well after one of the most severe rain storms seen down here for a long time right at the beginning of the game.

The nostalgia was certainly there for young Theo Walcott.

To score his goal was like something out of the comic books and the cameo appearance by Andrew Surman gave everyone something to cheer about and Andrew himself a target to try and hit.

Full marks to the Irish boys who, compared to the English, did not have too many Premiership players but played a good passing game.

The difference, as ever, was in which team had the most finishing power.

When Fabio and his entourage went to enjoy a glass of wine at their hotel and look back on the first team game, they would realise they are fortunate in having front players who can create and finish.

Probably on the night, the area giving most concern was in the defence.

But with plenty of other people lined up, such as John Terry, to come back in it will not be too big a concern at the moment.

After all, the Italians are noted for their work on tightening up at the back. I'm sure he will eventually make us one of the hardest teams to break down.