Carsley's gamble leads to an audition with a difference

One of the game's brightest coaches has the chance to show he's more than a 'safe pair of hands', writes Miguel Delaney

- Miguel Delaney

It wouldn’t have taken too many different turns for Lee Carsley to be on the opposite bench in Dublin this afternoon, for what is now his first match as interim England manager.

The Irish federation maybe just needed to go a bit stronger. The Football Association of Ireland had made Carsley its top target for the manager role, on account of his fine coaching reputation, as well as his background of having 40 caps for Ireland. The 50-year-old has a grandfather from Cork, which gave him a similar decision to make to the time when Jack Charlton’s coaching staff approached him about joining the Irish Under-21s back in 1995. Carsley decided to go for it then. This time, though, he wasn’t so sure.

Those who know the former midfielder say the sort of offer the FAI was talking about didn’t reflect his status as a top target, or even his true worth. This week, the Irish federation and England may start to really see the latter. Carsley’s decision to stick with the Football Association may even end up one of those moments of happenstance that has huge effect, a bit like Gareth Southgate temporarily taking the job in late 2016. When Ireland first came in for Carsley last year, one of the justifications for staying was that he might eventually get the England job. It was seen as outlandish at the time. No more.

Games away to Ireland and at home to Finland on Tuesday are the start of one long audition, extending to next March at least. Carsley didn’t acknowledge that in last week’s introductory press conference but his words were seen as an indirect pitch for the job. He described himself as a “safe pair of hands”, although everyone else sees him as much more than that. “Safe” is even an ironic word to use because one hope is that he finally gives England the more adventurous approach many have long craved; he is widely seen as a more progressive coach than Southgate.