to get the job?
Carsley followed up is debut 2-0 victory in the Nations League with another 2-0 victory in the Nations League, this time over the might of Finland, that again had moments but again had the same dullness and problems that Southgate’s England had.
After Carsley’s side beat 58th ranked Ireland and then 63rd ranked Finland, the question kept being asked what does he have to do to get the job full time, when he’s left playing such poor opposition, which doesn’t exactly prepare you for tournament finals.
Well, if he keeps winning, no matter how unconvincingly it is, all he has to do is not be found snorting coke off hookers and the path of least resistance will see the F.A. hand him the tracksuit permanently.
Carsley made four changes from the XI that started against Ireland, mainly in defence where there was three changes, along with one in midfield. It partly worked. It was back to having a right footed left-back, but while Colwill is left footed he barely got into the Ireland half, even with England having all the ball – his average position was more than 10 yards into the England half – Rico Lewis was all around the Finish box. Stones, and Konsa, were Stones and Konsa. Despite England having knocking on 80% of the ball, Finland had a couple of really good chances, chances spurned by the wrong choice and not playing Pukki in. That wouldn’t have looked good for either.
Angel Gomes replace Mainoo in the midfield. This worked. He generally looked to play the ball forward, when possible, didn’t take too many touches before offloading the ball. Was busy, moved about, and played some nice balls through the middle and out wide.
Gordon was back on the left wing and though he had the beating of the fullback cut inside too much. When heading to the byline he did get good crosses in but with Lewis higher up, and to the surprise of the ITV commentators, Grealish playing as an inside left – rather than a number 10 – it got a bit crowded over on England’s left.
Grealish was doing his usual, too many touches, trying the eye of a needle ball, slowing everything up. When he did play faster, minimal touches, he produced some good balls, but they were few and far between. While Saka put in one good cross that Kane finished off but was offside, he was again just being greedy for most of the game, running across the box looking for a shot rather than play anyone else in.
Alexander-Arnold was the one member of the back four not replaced. It was funny, for all the talk about how bad it was Southgate playing him in the middle of the part, all his best stuff came when he was in the middle. His best balls, through the middle. When he was on the right, he had numerous chances to put a cross in but no he dithered then passed it back instead.
England managed two shots on target in the first half. Kane with probably the best chance, on his 100th cap, but shooting straight at the keeper. Might have had something to do with his early shot being needed with the defender bearing down on him. That was something the Fins did quite well, just getting in there to stop an attempt with a last ditch foot or head. Nil nil at the break.
Early in the second half, Kane took charge and went for a free-kick, just outside the Finnish box, it took a great save by the Finnish keeper to stop Kane doing something you need a long memory to remember. Gordon then made the keeper save another attempt after some fine build up play, that was generally one touch stuff, though Grealish felt he needed more. From the resulting play Kane brought another save from the keeper with a cracking overhead shot
Kane scored just before the hour, Alexander-Arnold playing the ball through, but Kane really assisted himself, a lovely touch to send the defender the wrong way and gain the space to power in the shot above the keeper’s head.
Carsley then made some changes, Konsa had already been replaced by Colwill due to injury. Eze and Madueke replacing the two wingers. Neither of them offered much, repeating the greed we saw against Ireland, more interested in going for glory than playing the team role. Bar one. Again Alexander-Arnold was more central when playing the ball through the channel for Madueke to run onto, the Chelsea player – who doesn’t seem to be able to kick the ball with his right foot – side-footed it to Kane for him to sweep home his second.
Kane was then removed to let take the applause, rather than let him get the hat-tick.
Another 2-0 victory against a nothing team, with a performance that was better than at the weekend, but it still feels very Southgate. If he carries on like this the job is his no matter what… he could probably still to the coke and hooker thing…