Lee Carsley was FA’s first choice to be England manager – Thomas Tuchel didn’t win the job, he lost it
IF we’ve learnt anything from Lee Carsley’s time as interim boss, it is this — he’s not cut out to be an England manager.
A great coach, yes — his record with the Under-21s is proof of that. Not scared of making bold decisions, either, as he showed by leaving Harry Kane on the bench in Greece on Thursday.
I wasn’t the only one surprised to see Ollie Watkins in the side instead. But after a win like that, you can’t argue with him.
It was a fantastic result, for sure. But, with all due respect, it doesn’t mean he should have got the job on a full-time basis. There’s no doubt he could have done at one stage.
However much the FA insist Thomas Tuchel was always their first choice to replace Gareth Southgate, it’s obvious he wasn’t.
It was Lee’s to lose and he did exactly that with the first result against Greece — and his interview afterwards did even more damage.
Yes, Thursday’s 3-0 win was superb but it doesn’t alter the fact that if Carsley wasn’t the answer now, he won’t be next time around either. And the next time might not be that long away.
Tuchel has an 18-month deal — it’s all about winning the World Cup. Not about building for the future, about unearthing young talent, the next generation.
It’s about a trophy and then, after that, quite probably looking for another boss again. So if that’s the case, where does that leave us?
As Under-21 chief, Carsley should be a shoo-in. Only he’s plainly not. The pathway system, the coaching conveyor belt supposed to produce managers as well as players, will grind to a halt.
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Now it may be Newcastle’s Eddie Howe is the obvious choice anyway.
He’s certainly the only one on the horizon right now, if they want an Englishman at least.
Yet that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be alternatives. Others in the set-up passing on their knowledge, their expertise, while all the while putting themselves in the frame.
And there are some obvious candidates, too. Men who never let their country down as members of England’s Golden Generation as players but now kicking their heels.
I know one of them, Ashley Cole is part of the FA’s coaching team and bringing him in on a full-time basis was a great call.
But there should be others alongside, like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, if he fancies coming back from Saudi Arabia.
A trio with close to 300 caps between them, who would offer so much to the national set-up. Why someone hasn’t given Terry a job is beyond me.
My God, what a winner, what a leader! A brilliant organiser, a great talker, but kicking his heels out of the game.
And although the other two haven’t had the greatest time as managers, there are reasons for that.
Alternative managers for the future
Yes, Stevie struggled at Aston Villa after huge success with Rangers but he certainly shouldn’t be written off for one failure. Every manager has at least one on the CV.
Don’t forget that Gareth Southgate wasn’t a roaring success at Middlesbrough but look at the job he did with England.
It’s the same with Frank. He’s taken over basket-case clubs where he never really had a chance, so the same applies with him as well.
All three have such great knowledge, you only have to listen to them talk. So bring them into the system.
Have them working alongside Carsley. Maybe even have one on Tuchel’s backroom team although I realise that’s unlikely.
But for Heaven’s sake, make some use of them. If not, we won’t be back at square one when the hunt begins for the next England manager, we’ll be a mile behind it.
It may be, as I say, that appointing Howe is a no-brainer by then and, if so, then fine. But the FA have got to make sure he’s not the only cab on the rank.