Carsley’s England: What Have We Learned?

Lee Carsley was appointed as the interim manager of the senior England men’s team on the 9th of August, 2024. He was initially appointed for the two Nations League games in September, against Ireland and then Finland. However, it was also stated by the Football Association that the appointment was “with a view to remaining in the position throughout autumn while the FA’s recruitment process for a new permanent head coach continues”.

Quite what the future holds is unclear, and many believe Carsley will take charge of at least the next two Nations League games and very probably the next four, which is to say the rest of the campaign in this competition. The Three Lions seem unlikely to make a rushed appointment with a sense among some that they want Carsley to prove himself suitable for the job before they are forced to look elsewhere.

Assuming no permanent manager is announced, Carsley will take charge of fixtures against Greece and Finland in October, then possibly Greece and Ireland in November. Having been relegated to League B, the Three Lions are expected to win all six games, so in a sense the former Ireland international is on a hiding to nothing. However, another way of looking at things is that a run of six winnable games gives him the perfect chance to prove that he has what it takes, both on and off the pitch. So, two games into a possible six under the ex-Everton midfielder, what have we learned?

The Results

Ireland away and Finland at home were never likely to be overly testing and so it proved, with Carsley’s boys getting the job done. Two wins, two clean sheets and relatively dominant displays – the first half against Ireland was superb, with England creating more xG in the first 30 minutes of that game than they did in any 90 minutes at the recent Euros. The second half against Finland was also decent as the Three Lions managed 14 shots (six on target) and not allowing their opponents a single effort on Jordan Pickford’s goal.

In commentary for the Finland clash, the ever-negative Lee Dixon said he would give Carsley a C+ as a mark for the two games. That seems harsh, and whilst Dixon was right to point out the limitations of England’s opponents, the old adage that you can only beat what’s put in front of you has to be applied. England did that, with ease, despite missing some key players and opting to take a look at quite a few others, and so we would prefer to give Carsley a B, or perhaps a solid 7 out of 10.

Control Carsley Key

It is often instructive to notice what words or phrases a manager uses repeatedly in their press conferences and Carsley certainly mentioned “control” a great deal. His predecessor often spoke about progress, the team’s culture, togetherness and resilience, but the interim boss is certainly placing the emphasis elsewhere.

Midfield control is something that is central to the success of the world’s best teams, with Spain historically excelling in this area, and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City prioritising numbers and dominance in the middle of the park. It is also something that England have so often lacked, especially under Southgate and especially in the biggest games, against the best opponents.

Southgate was derided somewhat for his comments about how England had failed to replace Kalvin Phillips but it is certainly true that they lack a controlling midfielder. Rodri is the gold standard as a midfielder who knows exactly where to be, dictates the tempo of play and also offers plenty going forward. However, England would gladly accept a lesser version of the brilliant Spain and Manchester City star who was simply able to protect the back four whilst also keeping the ball moving with metronomic midfield passing.

One of Carsley’s big tactical innovations with the Under 21s was his conversion of Angel Gomes from an attacking midfielder, into that sort of Rodri/N’Golo Kante-type player. Gomes got his chance in these games and played well, but Carsley will also look to improve Declan Rice, whilst Kobbie Mainoo also has the tools required.

More Possession, More Pace, More Attack

There has been much talk of taking the handbrake off and quite why this motoring metaphor has been so popular is a mystery, but Carsley will certainly send England out with more thoughts of attacking. They will seek to control possession and play at a high tempo, with players keen to take the ball in tight areas, knowing they will always have passing options around them.

It was notable in both of the matches under Carsley how often goalkeeper Pickford played it short. At the Euros he was hitting a high proportion of passes long, far more than virtually all other goalies at the tournament. With more emphasis on retaining possession, Pickford will generally pass to one of his defenders, only opting for longer passes when they offer value.

Alexander-Arnold to Get Run at Right-Back?

Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the few players to play every minute of both games and it seems Carsley is keen to include such a talented footballer, even if he has limitations. The Liverpool man can play passes that few others are able to, and if he can keep improving as a hybrid right-back/midfielder he could be perfect for Carsley’s system.

Gordon and Grealish Also in Favour

Anthony Gordon was the player most pundits and fans wanted to see at Euro 2024 but for whatever reason Southgate was unsure. Carsley has started him, and Jack Grealish (who didn’t even make Southgate’s squad for Germany) in both games and it seems they are two more players the new manager wants to at the very least give a chance to.

Gordon offers pace, width and natural left-sidedness, three things the Three Lions lacked in Germany. He will run beyond defenders creating more space for others and his ability to check back in side also keeps the full-back guessing. Grealish is another player with the X factor who offers something different.

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were among the players missing from the recent England squads and how Carsley will integrate them further down the line remains to be seen. With the former Ireland midfielder also taking a look at Noni Madueke and others, it will be interesting to see what blend of his many attacking options he settles on.