Lee Carsley believes England have to change their mindset to finally control midfield in elite international matches, hinting that he could even be willing to play Phil Foden or Cole Palmer in deeper roles. The interim manager insisted the country is producing players that can operate in that central area, despite long-term debate about the football culture producing proper No 6s.
Carsley was in a more expansive mood as he prepared for his second match as interim manager, against Finland at Wembley on Tuesday, insisting that the players shouldn’t call him “boss”. While he revealed he did speak to predecessor Gareth Southgate before taking the role, he also stated that he has only noticed slight changes in his life – like people telling him to pick certain players when at service stations.
Perhaps the greatest impact Carsley can have is solving England’s long-term midfield issue, and he illustrated he has certainly been thinking about it. The 50-year-old believes the surprise call-up Angel Gomes is already an example.
“I think we have produced them. It’s us just getting our mindset as coaches to understand that, to play a player like that you are going to forsake some of the physicality but you are going to have the ball. A lot of it is just the belief bit. I am not saying we didn’t in the past but I definitely went a different way with our team selection. Players like Angel, like Phil, like Cole, they are more than capable of playing in central positions and controlling games.”
He added he would fully trust Gomes in such a role.
“I spoke about it when we did the squad selection that I think that we have to get our eyes used to having this sort of player. He’s not box-to-box, he’s not massively physical but technically he can control a game from the middle of the pitch with his positioning and his technique.
“If we’re going to win a major tournament, we need variety. We need players who are multifunctional and I think he’s in that bracket.
“With the game on Saturday [against Ireland], we knew it was going to be physical. We knew there was a period looking at the game back where there’s maybe about 12 minutes where we didn’t quite have control of the game but it was a bit back and forward which is not how I want the team to play.
“I put Angel on then, he gets the ball, he slows things down and he gets you playing again. Even in a physical game like that. He’s more than capable of doing that. To get into the squad and already make his debut, as did Morgan [Gibbs-White], is a good achievement.”
Carsley spoke about the little changes on his life since taking the job – but insisted he doesn’t want to be called “boss”. That was what Harry Kane called the interim manager in the press conference before the Finland match, at which point it struck him that he hadn’t actually told the players what to call him.
“In terms of the boss bit, I’ve never really been comfortable with that. It’s really respectful that he is saying it but Lee or Cars is fine.”
He used the same words to describe the change in his life.
“It’s been fine,” Carsley says. “Someone asked me the other day ‘How’s your life changed?’ It’s the same. And I think maybe after, I’ll be a little bit more aware when I’m out and about. It’d be fair to say I’ve had a little bit more attention from random people that support teams, shouting: ‘Make sure you pick so and so — put him in the team. At Starbucks at the services. I think it would be fair to say that anyone I’ve met has been quite excited by the temporary appointment. I’m still keeping one eye on the Under-21s. They played the other night. But things are still the same.”
He spoke to Southgate before this camp, but hasn’t in the time since, and expects to do so in the next few weeks.