Transfers latest, Lee Carsley likely to be interim England boss & EFL build-up

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

One of the main criticisms of Gareth Southgate’s tenure was that he did not make enough of the attacking players he had at his disposal. It was the most hotly-debated issue of England’s run to Euro 2024, with plenty of debate about Phil Foden’s perfect position, Cole Palmer only being used from the bench and Anthony Gordon barely featuring.

When the England U21 side won the European Championship last summer, social media was rife with montages of the team’s attractive football dubbed ‘Cars-ball’.

Those homemade edits resurfaced in the days after Southgate stood down and Birmingham-born Carsley’s name was among the contenders to replace him.

In contrast with the picture of former Everton and Derby midfielder Carsley’s playing career as a central destroyer, he encourages his side to build up with the ball and to express themselves.

At the tournament in Georgia his side was packed with technical players such as Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.

He had a right-footed left-back in Bournemouth’s Max Aarons; Everton’s James Garner, a central midfielder, playing at right-back; and Jones, a number 10, as one of his two pivots in midfield.

Jones played alongside Angel Gomes – now at Lille – who had already transitioned from a number 10 to a deep midfielder. Carsley resisted the temptation to put a traditional centre midfielder next to him.

Moves often started with Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford passing out and players encouraged to express themselves and trust in their decision-making.

There was one occasion when Chelsea defender Levi Colwill stood still on the ball for more than 30 seconds as he waited for the opposition to press him so he could draw in pressure and then initiate the attack – something the team had worked on in training.

Image source, Getty Images