Fabio Capello's arrival could spell some major changes in the England dressing room. But who will be a teacher's pet and who an outcast?
GOOD NEWS
Paul Scholes - Capello is known to be a big admirer of the Manchester United man, and has already said he wants to bring some players out of retirement. Assuming he isn't talking about Andy Cole, a place in the squad is Scholes's - if he wants it, which is by no means certain. His short, quick passing would be a welcome antidote to the direct and hitherto unsuccessful style employed by Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
David James - England's goalkeeping situation is a mess. Capello is a pragmatist and his first priority will be to win. Who is the best keeper available? James. Yes, he has a dodgy history but so, it seems, have all English keepers. The Italian has pledged to shift the national mental block. If he succeeds with James he will have a tremendous goalkeeper, even at the age of 37.
Owen Hargreaves - Capello's reputation for dull football is based mainly around his love of the defensive midfielder. He played two in his Real Madrid side to howls of protest, and will certainly employ at least one for England. Gareth Barry is a superb player but not the ballwinner required. Hargreaves - when not injured - should be an automatic choice.
Peter Crouch - Crouchie is big in Italy. Well, he's big everywhere, but especially in Capello's homeland, where he is the surprisingly frequent subject of transfer rumours. It might be stretching the point to call him England's answer to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Don Fabio certainly likes big strikers who can use their feet and will be impressed by Crouch's record for his country.
BAD NEWS
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard - It may be one, it may be both, but these fellas could be coming to a bench near you soon. Sven-Goran Eriksson established who his best players were and tried to fit them into a system, but Capello looks at the system first, which means the days of the Lamps-Stevie G tandem are most definitely over (No mention of McClaren since he picked whomever the tabloids told him to).
Stewart Downing - England fans are down on the Middlesbrough winger, but they should blame McClaren, not the player. Decent at club level, out of his depth in internationals, Downing was a regular desperation substitute, most notably in Moscow. He might have a sweet left foot, but that won't be enough to win over Don Fabio.
Michael Owen - If he can stay fit, Owen shouldn't have a problem, but that is about as likely as Titus Bramble morphing into the new Bobby Moore. Capello will have no truck with the practice of sticking Little Mickey straight into the side with no club football under his belt. Expect only players who are playing frequently to make the grade under the Italian.
John Terry - It is hard not to admire the England skipper's blood-and-thunder approach to the game, and nobody wears the shirt with more pride. But Terry has not won any friends with his frequent rants at officialdom, and is very much an up-and-at-'em captain rather than the thoughtful, tactically aware likes of Franco Baresi or Fabio Cannavaro. A change of skipper could be in the air.
MIXED NEWS
David Beckham - Will be granted his 100th cap but Capello won't fancy him as long as he plays on the other side of the world.
Wayne Rooney - Capello knows how to get the best out of his best players, but any notion of a roaming, fantasista free role can go out the window.
Rio Ferdinand - Wins points for his pace, composure and technique. Loses them for his concentration lapses. Will hope Jamie Carragher doesn't fancy a comeback.
Joe Cole - His skilful, short-passing game is similar to that of Capello favourites Mauro Camoranesi and Pavel Nedved. But he'll be for the high jump if he doesn't track back.
What your not going to give scott Parker a look in after all of his great work so far for west ham this term