Lee Carsley: Squad Selections Based on Merit

Lee Carsley emphasized that his squad selections will be based on merit, rejecting the idea of simply “copy and paste” choices. He announced a 25-man squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland which features Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke for the first time in seven years. Carsley made four changes to the previous squad which had achieved victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland in September.

He left out players like Eberechi Eze, Harry Maguire, Tino Livramento and Jarrod Bowen replacing them with Jude Bellingham, Kyle Walker and Solanke. Carsley highlighted the importance of making players feel they have earned their spot, stating, “I want them to feel like they have earned their place in the squad.” Addressing his decision to exclude certain players, Carsley noted he could justify their inclusion but stressed the need for players to come in “in top form.”

He acknowledged the significance of performing well in the Nations League to set up favorable World Cup qualification whether he remains in charge or not. At a recent UEFA conference, Lee Carsley discussed England’s wealth of attacking talent which includes Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. While some managers view this abundance as a dilemma, Carsley sees it as a beneficial situation.

He explained, “It’s a nice problem to have,” emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance in deploying these players. He acknowledged the current period of the season could impact decisions on starting line-ups but expressed a commitment to getting all players on the pitch and maximizing their potential.