Football
Paul Merson Claims Six Wins Will Ensure Lee Carsley Becomes The Next England Manager
Ben Horlock is a sports news and features writer who holds a degree in sports journalism (BA Hons) from Southampton Solent University. Ben has been published across a wide variety of news outlets and websites including HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport, Betfair and Zoo Magazine. As well, Ben has worked in social media for four years in the sports gambling industry. For his sins, Ben is a QPR fan and is a keen follower of all the major European football leagues.
Get to know Ben Horlock betterPublished04 Sep 2024
Football expert and columnist Paul Merson believes that Lee Carsley will become the next England manager. That’s assuming he wins all six UEFA Nations League games.
Carsley will be taking charge of the senior Three Lions side for the very first time on September 7 against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
The former U21 boss has been drafted in as a temporary replacement for Gareth Southgate. He will also be in the dugout against Finland on September 10 at Wembley.
Merson is a firm believer that the full-time job is Carsley’s. Securing maximum points in group F will almost certainly strengthen his claim.
Lee Carsley Next England Manager: Paul Merson’s Comments
“The England job is Lee Carsley’s to lose. The games coming up are all winnable where you can go and let the players express themselves while knowing you won’t really get hurt at the other end,” Merson explained.
“And if he won all six, why would you get rid of him and who would want to take over? It’s in his hands, otherwise they’d have got someone else.
“They’re well-winnable games, all of them. And he could easily win all six of these. Easily. I like what he’s done with the squad already – he’s done it his way.
“He’s brought players in that he’s worked with that are in form, but you can’t always keep on picking in-form players because they lose form and then we’d never have a solid team.
“You’ve got to trust in the people that you’re picking and he’s done that,” Merson concluded.
England’s Group F Fixtures
Naturally, many will believe that all six UEFA Nations League fixtures are winnable. Therefore, if Carsley does secure maximum points, it’ll be hard to look past him.
After Ireland and Finland, England will also play Greece. Subsequently, it’s hard not to see Carsley and England not winning the group with a 100% record.
Following on from the game against Greece in October, the Three Lions will play against Finland and the Greeks away from home before finishing up against Ireland at Wembley.