At a recent UEFA coaches’ conference, it was put to England’s Lee Carsley that he has too much creative talent at his disposal. Nice problem to have, as they say.
For now, Carsley’s greatest puzzle is how to fit the gilded trio of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer into the same team.
In naming his squad for forthcoming Nations League games against Finland and Greece, Carsley confirmed that he envisaged a moment down the line when he would be doing it.
There are those who may baulk at the idea of Bellingham, Foden and Palmer strung across the field behind captain Harry Kane.
They may wonder about a vulnerability out of possession. They may question whether we should have a ‘flyer’ on one side of the field. Anthony Gordon or Bukayo Saka, perhaps. They are all sound arguments.
At a recent UEFA coaches’ conference, it was put to England ‘s Lee Carsley that he has too much creative talent at his disposal
If there is a time to dispense with caution and experiment a little, then it may soon be upon us. And this feels like Palmer’s moment
In a fast-forward year, he has established himself as one of the most astonishingly exciting attacking talents in Europe
England have an opportunity at the moment, though.
There is almost two years before the World Cup in North America. Having been relegated to level B of the Nations League, England’s opponents — Finland, Greece and the Republic of Ireland — are not daunting.
If there is a time to dispense with caution and experiment a little, then it may soon be upon us. And this feels like Palmer’s moment.
In a fast-forward year, he has established himself as one of the most astonishingly exciting attacking talents in Europe.
Chelsea paid Manchester City £40million for Palmer 13 months ago. What would his value be now? Three times that?
Where he plays for England is more complicated. He has done much of his damage for Chelsea from the right.
I would like to see him play at No10, just behind Kane. Get your best player on the ball as often as possible. At the moment, that player is Palmer.
No 10 is Bellingham’s position and the Real Madrid superstar is the England squad’s alpha male
There are those who question whether we should have a ‘flyer’ on one side of the field. Anthony Gordon, perhaps
I would like to see Cole Palmer play at No10, just behind Harry Kane
No 10 is Bellingham’s position, of course, and the Real Madrid superstar is the England squad’s alpha male.
Asking him to move or to be a ‘finisher’ from the substitutes’ bench would be an interesting call from Carsley. These are the decisions that international managers are tasked with making, though.
Welcome to the game, Lee Carsley.