Next England Manager

[Galfon]

Howe to Apply..
https://careers.thefa.com/jobs/vacancy/ ... scription/

This is a 'highly targeted process', but also 'open' - need a license though.

FA will have to wait for Pep and Jurgen, for different reasons ,
Howe appears committed to Newcastle for now, so the 2 recently shown the door at Chelsea (Potter, Poch) may get a chance for now.

[Galfon]

Klippety & Howe appear very distant possibilities now,
so Potter or even Poche, as interim, seem faves.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... p2y79xy0wo

[Galfon]

FA going for the well-trodden path from the U-21's for the 'Interim Head Coach' (Lee Carsley).
At least he has a trophy under his belt, and has worked with some of the senior squad before.
His preferred style of play is different to GS, apparently (fourfourtwo)

Carsley’s teams usually set up in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation and are instructed to dominate possession, but not in the static way we saw England’s senior side do too often at Euro 2024. His teams consistently look to move forward and a front-footed double pivot is often employed.

[Puja]

FA going for the well-trodden path from the U-21's for the 'Interim Head Coach' (Lee Carsley).
At least he has a trophy under his belt, and has worked with some of the senior squad before.
His preferred style of play is different to GS, apparently (fourfourtwo)

Carsley’s teams usually set up in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation and are instructed to dominate possession, but not in the static way we saw England’s senior side do too often at Euro 2024. His teams consistently look to move forward and a front-footed double pivot is often employed.

I don't hate it. International management is a different kettle of fish to club management (and I'm not loving that the frontrunners from the club world haven't won anything of any note in the English game) and, if Carsley's experience can translate from the U21s, I'd have no problem with giving him a go.

Puja

[Galfon]

Made his mark already in first squad selection..
Gomes, Madueke, Livramento and Gibbs-White called up, all seasoned age-group internationals but new to seniors.
A few ither notable inc- & exc- lusions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 85q16jrn4o

[Puja]

It's impossible to tell from games against Ireland and Finland, but I'm still on the Carsley-wagon. I don't think any of the other contenders has a compelling pedigree and he's probably got the most experience in the odd format of internationals, even if it is mostly age grade. His side so far have looked happy to work for him and willing to express themselves on the pitch, and I don't hate that we found an answer to Finland shutting up shop and putting 11 players in the box - yes, it is "only Finland" but it's the kind of hurdle that Southgate's teams used to struggle against (let alone those that came before him).

Assuming he doesn't shit the bed over the rest of his 6 games trial, I'd be keen for him to get the job full-time.

Puja

[Galfon]

Assuming he doesn't shit the bed over the rest of his 6 games trial, I'd be keen for him to get the job full-time.

Puja

If he keeps turning out victories in this period with the team looking comfortable and dominant, it would be a surprise to see the FA go elsewehere, especially with the support he is getting from within the squad.
Poch. now firmly off the list..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... d1ewle7z1o

[Stom]

It's impossible to tell from games against Ireland and Finland, but I'm still on the Carsley-wagon. I don't think any of the other contenders has a compelling pedigree and he's probably got the most experience in the odd format of internationals, even if it is mostly age grade. His side so far have looked happy to work for him and willing to express themselves on the pitch, and I don't hate that we found an answer to Finland shutting up shop and putting 11 players in the box - yes, it is "only Finland" but it's the kind of hurdle that Southgate's teams used to struggle against (let alone those that came before him).

Assuming he doesn't shit the bed over the rest of his 6 games trial, I'd be keen for him to get the job full-time.

Puja

Every coach who has spent time in the Brentford system is going to be a good coach

I like Carsley, even if he does pick players I wouldn't sometimes.

He understands systems and structure in a way Southgate did not. I think he's a great fit.

[Galfon]

Let down by the players big time tonight.
Ill disciplined and lack-lustre, especially defending.
Another defeat in Finland at the weeken will seal his fate.
Hopefully those selected will knuckle down.

[Puja]

Let down by the players big time tonight.
Ill disciplined and lack-lustre, especially defending.
Another defeat in Finland at the weeken will seal his fate.
Hopefully those selected will knuckle down.

It is great having such quality players as Grealish, Foden, and Bellingham. I do not believe that more than one of them should be on the pitch at the same time

The only possible exception who be if you tell Bellingham he has to play as a central midfielder and don't allow him forward, which seems like a waste, but would be the only way that they're not going to get in each other's ways like the Marx brothers going through a door.

Puja

[Stom]

Let down by the players big time tonight.
Ill disciplined and lack-lustre, especially defending.
Another defeat in Finland at the weeken will seal his fate.
Hopefully those selected will knuckle down.

It is great having such quality players as Grealish, Foden, and Bellingham. I do not believe that more than one of them should be on the pitch at the same time

The only possible exception who be if you tell Bellingham he has to play as a central midfielder and don't allow him forward, which seems like a waste, but would be the only way that they're not going to get in each other's ways like the Marx brothers going through a door.

Puja

I’m going to disagree slightly with that.

It’s very possible to fit them in, they just need better, clearer tactical instructions.

Last night, they did not. Bellingham just wanted the ball and went where he could get it. Foden and Palmer were playing the same role, and there was no one for Saka or Gordon to play off.

And then when we lost the ball, we’d pushed Lewis high up, Trent high up, and we were left with 3 defending a counter.

That didn’t work, and it was incredibly naive.

You could play the same team and have a very different result system wise simply by having clearer, more rigid attacking roles. Lewis and Trent should have inverted to form a 3 with Rice. You get the width from Gordon and Saka. Foden as a false 9 who stays high, Bellingham starting deeper and without the remit to roam, and Palmer given that roaming 10 role.

But the positioning of Bellingham is incredible for me. He has everything needed to be a brilliant midfield powerhouse, but we never play him there.

[Puja]

Let down by the players big time tonight.
Ill disciplined and lack-lustre, especially defending.
Another defeat in Finland at the weeken will seal his fate.
Hopefully those selected will knuckle down.

It is great having such quality players as Grealish, Foden, and Bellingham. I do not believe that more than one of them should be on the pitch at the same time

The only possible exception who be if you tell Bellingham he has to play as a central midfielder and don't allow him forward, which seems like a waste, but would be the only way that they're not going to get in each other's ways like the Marx brothers going through a door.

Puja

I’m going to disagree slightly with that.

It’s very possible to fit them in, they just need better, clearer tactical instructions.

Last night, they did not. Bellingham just wanted the ball and went where he could get it. Foden and Palmer were playing the same role, and there was no one for Saka or Gordon to play off.

And then when we lost the ball, we’d pushed Lewis high up, Trent high up, and we were left with 3 defending a counter.

That didn’t work, and it was incredibly naive.

You could play the same team and have a very different result system wise simply by having clearer, more rigid attacking roles. Lewis and Trent should have inverted to form a 3 with Rice. You get the width from Gordon and Saka. Foden as a false 9 who stays high, Bellingham starting deeper and without the remit to roam, and Palmer given that roaming 10 role.

But the positioning of Bellingham is incredible for me. He has everything needed to be a brilliant midfield powerhouse, but we never play him there.

The problem is that you're trying to fit several square pegs into round holes and international football managers don't get much time with players. Foden's especially the problem - as seen in the Euros, even when he's given a specific role and specific task and specific area of the pitch to be in, he still got bored and drifted inside to get in Kane and Bellingham's way. He can't be trusted to do anythjng but 10.

I agree with you on Bellingham to an extent, but the problem is Real Madrid - they've developed him as a 10 and I think it's safe to say he's had a little bit of success there. He's still got the skills and ability to be a midfield powerhouse, but it's not his usual role anymore and there is also the question of whether he'd be willing to sacrifice the more glorious role for country, when he could reasonably say, "I'm better than Foden/Grealish/Palmer, move them instead."

Puja

[Stom]

It is great having such quality players as Grealish, Foden, and Bellingham. I do not believe that more than one of them should be on the pitch at the same time

The only possible exception who be if you tell Bellingham he has to play as a central midfielder and don't allow him forward, which seems like a waste, but would be the only way that they're not going to get in each other's ways like the Marx brothers going through a door.

Puja

I’m going to disagree slightly with that.

It’s very possible to fit them in, they just need better, clearer tactical instructions.

Last night, they did not. Bellingham just wanted the ball and went where he could get it. Foden and Palmer were playing the same role, and there was no one for Saka or Gordon to play off.

And then when we lost the ball, we’d pushed Lewis high up, Trent high up, and we were left with 3 defending a counter.

That didn’t work, and it was incredibly naive.

You could play the same team and have a very different result system wise simply by having clearer, more rigid attacking roles. Lewis and Trent should have inverted to form a 3 with Rice. You get the width from Gordon and Saka. Foden as a false 9 who stays high, Bellingham starting deeper and without the remit to roam, and Palmer given that roaming 10 role.

But the positioning of Bellingham is incredible for me. He has everything needed to be a brilliant midfield powerhouse, but we never play him there.

The problem is that you're trying to fit several square pegs into round holes and international football managers don't get much time with players. Foden's especially the problem - as seen in the Euros, even when he's given a specific role and specific task and specific area of the pitch to be in, he still got bored and drifted inside to get in Kane and Bellingham's way. He can't be trusted to do anythjng but 10.

I agree with you on Bellingham to an extent, but the problem is Real Madrid - they've developed him as a 10 and I think it's safe to say he's had a little bit of success there. He's still got the skills and ability to be a midfield powerhouse, but it's not his usual role anymore and there is also the question of whether he'd be willing to sacrifice the more glorious role for country, when he could reasonably say, "I'm better than Foden/Grealish/Palmer, move them instead."

Puja

I don’t think Foden was given specific enough instructions. You don’t become a trusted player for pep without being able to stick to his instructions.

The thing about England is that we have a large selection of pep players available, and then the others are top level.

As much as I like TAA, I still think I’d pick Walker. Unless we play Colwill at lb. Then you find a way to get Foden and Palmer and Grealish into the system. You back that up with rice, Bellingham, Saka, and Kane.

The structure has to be 4-2-3-1, with the second 6/8 given reign to get forward (Bellingham in my system). The wide players stay wide (Saka and Foden/Grealish). The 10 can roam (Palmer or Foden), and the 9 should stay high so we can play off him. One FB inverts into midfield, the other stays back to make a 3. Or stones move forward and both fb stay back.

[Puja]

I’m going to disagree slightly with that.

It’s very possible to fit them in, they just need better, clearer tactical instructions.

Last night, they did not. Bellingham just wanted the ball and went where he could get it. Foden and Palmer were playing the same role, and there was no one for Saka or Gordon to play off.

And then when we lost the ball, we’d pushed Lewis high up, Trent high up, and we were left with 3 defending a counter.

That didn’t work, and it was incredibly naive.

You could play the same team and have a very different result system wise simply by having clearer, more rigid attacking roles. Lewis and Trent should have inverted to form a 3 with Rice. You get the width from Gordon and Saka. Foden as a false 9 who stays high, Bellingham starting deeper and without the remit to roam, and Palmer given that roaming 10 role.

But the positioning of Bellingham is incredible for me. He has everything needed to be a brilliant midfield powerhouse, but we never play him there.

The problem is that you're trying to fit several square pegs into round holes and international football managers don't get much time with players. Foden's especially the problem - as seen in the Euros, even when he's given a specific role and specific task and specific area of the pitch to be in, he still got bored and drifted inside to get in Kane and Bellingham's way. He can't be trusted to do anythjng but 10.

I agree with you on Bellingham to an extent, but the problem is Real Madrid - they've developed him as a 10 and I think it's safe to say he's had a little bit of success there. He's still got the skills and ability to be a midfield powerhouse, but it's not his usual role anymore and there is also the question of whether he'd be willing to sacrifice the more glorious role for country, when he could reasonably say, "I'm better than Foden/Grealish/Palmer, move them instead."

Puja

I don’t think Foden was given specific enough instructions. You don’t become a trusted player for pep without being able to stick to his instructions.

The thing about England is that we have a large selection of pep players available, and then the others are top level.

As much as I like TAA, I still think I’d pick Walker. Unless we play Colwill at lb. Then you find a way to get Foden and Palmer and Grealish into the system. You back that up with rice, Bellingham, Saka, and Kane.

The structure has to be 4-2-3-1, with the second 6/8 given reign to get forward (Bellingham in my system). The wide players stay wide (Saka and Foden/Grealish). The 10 can roam (Palmer or Foden), and the 9 should stay high so we can play off him. One FB inverts into midfield, the other stays back to make a 3. Or stones move forward and both fb stay back.

I like the idea in general, but it is asking a lot of players into roles that aren't their natural ones and aren't the ones they play week-in-week-out for clubs which led to them showing the form that got them picked. Foden and Grealish aren't left wings, Kane isn't a "stay high" type of 9, Bellingham doesn't play 6/8 midfield anymore. I mean, they're all technically capable of doing it, but why would you pick Kane whose strength lies in dropping deeper sometimes and then tell him he can't do that?

It's the footballing equivalent of shoving locks into the backrow.

Puja

[Stom]

The problem is that you're trying to fit several square pegs into round holes and international football managers don't get much time with players. Foden's especially the problem - as seen in the Euros, even when he's given a specific role and specific task and specific area of the pitch to be in, he still got bored and drifted inside to get in Kane and Bellingham's way. He can't be trusted to do anythjng but 10.

I agree with you on Bellingham to an extent, but the problem is Real Madrid - they've developed him as a 10 and I think it's safe to say he's had a little bit of success there. He's still got the skills and ability to be a midfield powerhouse, but it's not his usual role anymore and there is also the question of whether he'd be willing to sacrifice the more glorious role for country, when he could reasonably say, "I'm better than Foden/Grealish/Palmer, move them instead."

Puja

I don’t think Foden was given specific enough instructions. You don’t become a trusted player for pep without being able to stick to his instructions.

The thing about England is that we have a large selection of pep players available, and then the others are top level.

As much as I like TAA, I still think I’d pick Walker. Unless we play Colwill at lb. Then you find a way to get Foden and Palmer and Grealish into the system. You back that up with rice, Bellingham, Saka, and Kane.

The structure has to be 4-2-3-1, with the second 6/8 given reign to get forward (Bellingham in my system). The wide players stay wide (Saka and Foden/Grealish). The 10 can roam (Palmer or Foden), and the 9 should stay high so we can play off him. One FB inverts into midfield, the other stays back to make a 3. Or stones move forward and both fb stay back.

I like the idea in general, but it is asking a lot of players into roles that aren't their natural ones and aren't the ones they play week-in-week-out for clubs which led to them showing the form that got them picked. Foden and Grealish aren't left wings, Kane isn't a "stay high" type of 9, Bellingham doesn't play 6/8 midfield anymore. I mean, they're all technically capable of doing it, but why would you pick Kane whose strength lies in dropping deeper sometimes and then tell him he can't do that?

It's the footballing equivalent of shoving locks into the backrow.

Puja

Foden and Grealish regularly play lw for city. It’s where Grealish usually plays.

Kane plays high for Bayern.

This season, Madrid have changed into more of a 433 after the signing of Mbappe and Bellingham is more of a hybrid 8/10.

So no, I don’t think the roles are that different from their club roles.

[Galfon]

Klippety & Howe appear very distant possibilities now,
so Potter or even Poche, as interim, seem faves.

Klopp has done a hop to Red Bull in Austria as 'Head of Global Soccer' (c. 10 M p.a.).
Pochettino is on a 2 year contract as 'Head Coach, USMNT' (c 6 M p.a.)
( Southgate was reportedly paid c 5 M p.a. at Eng. )
LC strangely stated on Wed. he expects to return to the U21's after his 3 camps.
Tuchel now appears to be the next cab off the rank.

[Galfon]

Normality returns of a sort.
2nd defensive MF in front of back four and a real 9 giving structure.Still lacking vim in final third until the subs. and error prone in dangerous areas; Grealish keeping posession and Guehi positioning a plus after the previous debacle.

[Galfon]

Tuchel it is.
Pity Pep not available, suspect the squad was aware of movements, that may explain the lack-lustre showing at Wembley.
Pity for LC who demonstrated a positive approach and popularity with the players.
TT not that sparkling at his last job (Bayern) though always appears to be tactically astute in big games.

[Puja]

Not sure about Tuchel - not loving him having been sacked at Chelsea and Bayern in quick succession, or that he's not won much in the way of top-drawer trophies. Winning Ligue 1 with PSG and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich is very much playing the game on easy mode and he only did those once each before falling back the next season and getting dismissed. Champions League with Chelsea is impressive, but it's not a guarantee of quality - we could hire Di Matteo for that CV.

I'll freely admit though that I don't know enough about the sport to say whether he might be perfect for the international stage. We'll have to see.

Puja

[Stom]

Not sure about Tuchel - not loving him having been sacked at Chelsea and Bayern in quick succession, or that he's not won much in the way of top-drawer trophies. Winning Ligue 1 with PSG and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich is very much playing the game on easy mode and he only did those once each before falling back the next season and getting dismissed. Champions League with Chelsea is impressive, but it's not a guarantee of quality - we could hire Di Matteo for that CV.

I'll freely admit though that I don't know enough about the sport to say whether he might be perfect for the international stage. We'll have to see.

Puja

I also don't like Tuchel, but I also feel like his downsides will be hidden a bit better in international football. He's also not likely to get England playing "exciting" football. He will, however, get a song out of Saka and Kane, imo, and that will be key.

As ever, though, with the calendar like it is, we're screwed whatever, unless we get Kane, Saka, Bellingham, Stones, and Rice all "injured" so they play no football for the rest of the season. lol

[Galfon]

Not sure about Tuchel - not loving him having been sacked at Chelsea and Bayern in quick succession, or that he's not won much in the way of top-drawer trophies. Winning Ligue 1 with PSG and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich is very much playing the game on easy mode and he only did those once each before falling back the next season and getting dismissed.

For these reasons it appears a bit of a panic decision in that if Tuchel was picked up by Man U and Pep sorted out a mega-money deal elsewhere, there's not many around to meet their job spec. TT was shown the door at PSG, Chelsea and Bayern after bringing titles, so he does have baggage. Whether it is challenging personality related or other stuff, who knows.. agreed International management is completely different so hopefully the FA know what to expect and can work with it.

[Galfon]

Pleased for Carsley - top of the group, automatic promotion and handing 8 debuts to young talent coming through.He'll feel more comfortable out of the spotlight for now and Tuchel has plenty of good options.

[Stom]

Great. So all the excitement about possibilities and we get Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Kyle Walker, and Marcus Rashford.

Lovely.

[Banquo]

Great. So all the excitement about possibilities and we get Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Kyle Walker, and Marcus Rashford.

Lovely.

Dan Burn had a great day yesterday, but yes, what's all that about

[Galfon]

You'd like to think TT is picking horses for courses and gone 'solid/physical' for two reatively easy home games. Not much there to scare any of the bigger teams.