Tried and trusted or tired and rusted? The England debate.
Not since Don Revie compiled his famous dossiers for England players in the 70s has a report stirred so much interest in FA circles. Thomas Tuchel is to receive a “detailed handover” report on England from the outgoing interim head coach, Lee Carsley. Carsley’s review of his six games in charge will inevitably focus on player development, those promoted from the Under-21s. This deepens the talent pool available to Tuchel and brings more hope for Operation New Jersey, targeting the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. So here are nine thoughts on this dossier (and one on Scotland)…
1.New or old. Carsley and his Under-21 staff will recommend players to Tuchel to step up but he needs ready-made, tournament-hardened. The clock is ticking. Tuchel’s not about development. He’s about ending 60 years of hurt. So Kyle Walker, who will be 36 at the World Cup, or Tino Livramento? Experience or potential? Harry Kane, talking to Sky Sports, mentioned Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to return. But Maguire or Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Shaw or Lewis Hall? Indeed, Kane or Ollie Watkins? Callum Hudson-Odoi told the Athletic in 2022 that he left Chelsea on loan at 21 because he felt Tuchel didn’t believe in him.
The average age of the Argentina starting XI that won the World Cup was 28.4 years to defeated France’s 27.9. You’ll win nothing with kids? It’s a balance. Argentina had Lionel Messi (35), Angel di Maria (34) and Nicolas Otamendi (34) but also Enzo Fernandez (21), Julian Alvarez (22) and Alexis Mac Allister (23). (Argentina’s bench was 28.4 to France’s 26). Tuchel may go with the tried and trusted, some critics might say tired and rusted. England’s squad needs refreshing, and the established like Walker and Kane need challenging. Even if Tuchel sticks with the old order, and it’s impossible to see him sidelining Kane, the player he took to Bayern Munich, England’s record scorer and captain, for all the mobility issues, at least they know they are under pressure.
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2.“The next squad will be a challenge to pick.” Carsley’s right. Just off the top of my head I came up with 33 names, realised I’d missed some and reached 44. Deep breath…
KEEPERS: Pickford, Henderson, Ramsdale, Trafford.
DEFENDERS: Livramento, James, Alexander-Arnold, White, Lewis, Walker, Gomez, Konsa, Guehi, Maguire, Tomori, Harwood-Bellis, Branthwaite, Colwill, Shaw, Chilwell, Hall.
MIDFIELDERS: Angel Gomes, Wharton, Jones, Mainoo, Rice, Gallagher.
NO 10s: Bellingham, Palmer, Foden, Gibbs-White, Maddison. Saka, Madueke, Bowen, Rashford, Grealish, Eze, Gordon, Rogers.
STRIKERS: Kane, Watkins, Solanke, Delap.
Then I remembered how much Tuchel rates Mason Mount, who played the sublime pass to Kai Havertz that won the Champions League for Tuchel’s Chelsea in 2021. So make that 45. Then I was rightly reminded I’d forgotten John Stones. And he’s a likely starter for Tuchel, so make that 46.
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3.A study in Scarlett. Those 46 are not even taking into account another bolter from the field of thoroughbred colts in the Under-21s. Carsley will keep recommending them to Tuchel, even if he does not promote them. Keep an eye on the development of Dane Scarlett, the 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur forward on loan at Oxford United (three goals in his last six in the Championship). England staff are certainly keeping a close eye on Scarlett. Of the other England Under-21 attackers, Liam Delap is already firmly on the seniors’ radar. But Tuchel’s focus is the here and now. It could be a case of arrested development for some of the youngsters.
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4.Good support. Carsley made the point about how England fans stayed with the team at half-time at 0-0 against Ireland at Wembley. Tuchel will swiftly appreciate the depth of support. Given that the Irish sent some of their allocation back, a gate of almost 80,000 was reflective of England’s enduring attraction to the public. Almost 3,000 fans travelled to Athens. More would have travelled if the allocation had been bigger.
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5.Bad support. Carsley’s too diplomatic but he could warn Tuchel not to expect to hear the opposing national anthem. England fans once again booed the Republic’s Amhrán na bhFiann. God Save The King was jeered in return. Both national associations will get tiny fines from Uefa. Until the players plead publicly with fans to stop disrespecting the opposition anthem, the embarrassment will continue. Be interesting to see – and hear - what happens if England play Tuchel’s Germany.
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6.Cole fired or Cole-fired? England need Ashley Cole. Carsley will doubtless discuss staff in his report. Tuchel is being quietly encouraged to include a member of the FA’s coaching staff in his team. Cole is the obvious candidate. He’s popular with the players, a winner, a good coach (Colwill talks of being improved by Cole’s one-on-ones coaching) and, as an international centurion, Cole was England’s most consistent performer for a decade. He was also part of that respected Chelsea coaching cadre that Tuchel and Anthony Barry know. Cole’s also a symbol of St George’s Park and belief in English coaching that the FA needs to maintain.
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7.Don’t thow players under the bus. That’s not Tuchel’s style. He’s popular with players but events at Wembley highlighted the importance of player-coach relations. Carsley is too diplomatic and too focused on England to mention it but he could certainly recommend in his dossier that Tuchel never responds as Ireland’s frustrated, vanquished coach, Heimar Hallgrimsson did, criticising his players. “Six minutes of madness, we lost our heads, we gave up, embarrassed to lose 5-0”, Hallgrimsson lamented. True, but don’t say that in public. Don’t risk losing the players.
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8.Combat fatigue. Warn Tuchel about fatigue levels in players. This affects all players but particularly those in the relentless Premier League, a point Kane made in his campaign for a winter break in England. They tire after a long season, especially those Manchester City and Chelsea players being dragged to the Club World Cup next summer. Kane and Bellingham are also going but have more sensible club workloads at Bayern and Real Madrid respectively.
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9.Warn him about media scrutiny. Probably a third of the media are against the German simply on grounds of nationality. The argument that it should be a home-grown manager is a sound one, but the problem the FA faced was the lack of elite-level English coaches - beyond the inexplicably overlooked Eddie Howe - so it turned to Tuchel. A winner. It’s a gamble. New Jersey or bust. So Tuchel will have pressure on him, examining his tactics and team selections, understandably, and also into his private life as all England managers have found.
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10.OK Doak. A quick detour north. Ben Doak is doing well for Middlesbrough on loan from Liverpool, assisting twice in the 5-1 demolition of Luton, and doing very well for Scotland. The speedy right-winger gave Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol an uncomfortable evening at Hampden. Doak’s rise is no surprise. He was in Scotland Under-21s at 16. Formerly of Ayr United and Celtic, Doak flew up the 18s, 19s and 21s in his first season at Liverpool. Steve Clarke described Doak as bringing “something a little bit different” when first drafting him into his squad. Pace and fearlessness for a start. He’s only just turned 19, already has five caps and looks a huge prospect.
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Enjoy the week…
Ashley not Andy Cole I assume?
Excellent points Henry. As usual for a Monday. The next squad if everyone is fit does leave plenty to choose from. Amazing really. Can’t believe you admitted you left out Stones from original list. Although considering he hardly plays these days it’s probably understandable. Chilwell has no chance of getting near the squad unless he moves and I can’t see Mason Mount ever getting another game for England. He is going to be on the bench at best at Man Utd and he has had to many injuries anyway now. Weak body. England have moved on from him. It would be some recovery if Rashford ever came close to the squad under Tuchel. His work rate is non existent most of the time and the hunger has gone and the stories you hear about this attitude now are concerning. What a waste.
Tuchel is his own man and he will do what he wants. Can’t see him playing 3-4-3 like at Chelsea. Played a four at Bayern and players prefer this. Some great young talent in that squad though. Hope Hall gets a run at left back now. Madueke was superb in the two games and Jones belongs at this level. Can he keep it going now with more expectations on him.
Despite Harry Kane getting his 3 week winter break last season at Bayern people still said he was tired and sluggish at the Euro’s. The excuse will never leave England at tournaments.
I wish Tuchel all the best. Nationality makes no difference. Howe would have been my choice but I really don’t think he wanted the job and FA were never going to pay.