Sport
Carsley reveals he does have plan for England’s Bellingham-Foden-Palmer riddle as he says reputations count for nothing
IT says much about the Cole Palmer phenomenon that he has been named as England’s Player of the Year without having ever started in a competitive international.
In Thursday’s Nations League clash with Greece, Lee Carsley will finally give the Chelsea talisman his chance to shine in a meaningful match for his country after a sensational start to the new season.
4
4
Palmer’s first-half quadruple against Brighton earlier this month has raised his figures to an extraordinary 28 goals and 16 assists in 41 Premier League games for Chelsea.
Underused by both Pep Guardiola and Gareth Southgate, Palmer now has two true believers to manage him at club and international level.
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca and Carsley — under whom Palmer won the European Under-21 Championship last year — both seem ready to build their teams around the sublime gifts of the 22-year-old Mancunian.
On and off the field, Palmer appears supremely unruffled.
As Carsley says: “Whatever you throw at Cole, he deals with it.”
That includes the England Player of the Year award after just nine caps, seven as a substitute.
Though he did deliver a goal in the Euros final defeat by Spain and assist for Ollie Watkins’ dramatic late winner in the semi-final win over Holland.
If that gong, voted for by fans, feels like a cuff around the ear for Southgate, then it is also a rare slight on Guardiola, who allowed Palmer to join Chelsea last year because he could not guarantee him regular starts at Manchester City.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Interim boss Carsley is careful not to openly criticise Southgate but, asked about the player’s lack of starting chances, he replied: “I can’t really talk, from a seniors point of view, about what’s gone on with Cole.
“But I’ve seen the impact he has had when he’s been given the opportunity.
“He had a similar role for us in the Under-21 Euros where he built into the tournament and then started in the final.
“Cole is in a brilliant position. He has really found his feet at Chelsea, he is highly-rated, he’s getting minutes, he’s showing that he can handle the intensity of playing game after game.
“So that’s been a real plus for him and we’re getting the benefit of that.
“Because when you talk about players who are in form, the fact that he’s getting so much exposure and his numbers in terms of goals and assists is brilliant for us.
“Ultimately, he’s still a young player, he’s still got a lot of improving to do.
“Even though he’s at an incredible limit at the moment, I still think he can get better.”
4
Carsley spoke last week about the difficulties of trying to fit Palmer, Real Madrid Galactico Jude Bellingham and Footballer of the Year Phil Foden into the same eleven, as all of them covet the No 10 role.
That trio all missed last month’s Nations League 2-0 wins over Ireland and Finland.
And Carsley now faces a fascinating selection dilemma against the Greeks, who top the group ahead of England on goal difference.
While Foden has often started wide for club and country, Carsley — who worked with the player as a City youth coach — is adamant that his best position is in a more central role.
Carsley said: “It’s been a few years but I spent a lot of time with him at Manchester City with the Under-18s and also England Under-21s.
“Phil’s an unbelievable player, we’re very lucky to have someone with his talent and mentality.
“And we now need to make sure we put him in positions where he can really affect the opposition.
“Playing him in the wider positions, he can do it, but we’d have to change the way we play to get the best out of him.
“In central areas, Phil’s at his most effective.”
4
Whether Foden, Palmer and Bellingham can start together, we are unlikely to find out either at Wembley or against Finland in Helsinki on Sunday, given that all three are having their workloads managed after injuries.
But asked about this selection conundrum, Carsley said: “I’ve definitely got a plan in place.
“The beauty of this job is you get a lot of time to think.
“In between driving from game to game, you are constantly thinking about combinations and relationships.
“Those three are brilliant players but we have a squad of really exciting, talented players.
“So you have to have that feeling you’ve earned your place — rather than try and shoe-horn players into positions.
“You get diluted as a head coach if you’re picking players who are out of form, based on what they’ve done in the past.”
That sounded like a veiled criticism of Southgate at the Euros — and it’s an opinion shared by the voting public.
Just imagine how good England’s Player of the Year might be once he’s actually starting matches.
England ratings vs Finland: Kane bags double on his big day… but he’s not the Three Lions’ star man
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD showed his brilliance as Harry Kane’s brace saw England beat Finland.
Interim boss Lee Carsley maintained his 100 per cent win record in charge of England.
SunSports Tom Barclay has given their ratings of the England players…
Jordan Pickford – 6
Had nothing to do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – STAR MAN 9
England’s best player as he supplied some beautiful balls from deep that on another day would have led to a glut of assists.
He did get one in the end, although that was more thanks to Harry Kane’s lethal finishing.
Ezri Konsa – 6
Showed his ability on the ball with a super ball through for Bukayo Saka on the half hour.
Twisted his ankle early in the second half, surprisingly played on before being replaced on the hour.
John Stones – 6
Played at left-sided centre-back before shifting when Levi Colwill came on.
Solid though not much to deal with. Now 19 short of 100 caps.
Rico Lewis – 7
In the right place to snuff out early danger from ex-Norwich man Teemu Pukki.
Came close to a goal on his second England cap when prodding wide after the break.
Declan Rice – 5
Lost possession to give Finland their one and only big chance which Topi Kesinen should have squared to Pukki, but instead fired wildly over.
Angel Gomes – 7
Wanted the ball from the off, just like Lee Carsley thought he would. Deliciously drilled cross-field ball to Alexander-Arnold early doors showed his range.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Almost scored and almost assisted in a lively display.
Unlucky that Kane was millimetres offside after the centurion had headed home the Arsenal man’s wicked delivery.
Jack Grealish – 7
Enjoyed being in the heart of the action at No10 again, as he did on Saturday against the Republic of Ireland.
Carsley clearly likes him – it will be fascinating to see what happens when Mssrs Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all return.
Anthony Gordon – 7
Caused problems down the left with his rapid pace – how we needed some of that in the Euros.
But did not have on his shooting boots as he fluffed a decent chance early in the second half.
Harry Kane – 8
Two blistering finishes took the centurion to an astonishing 68 goals in 100 caps.
Was denied the chance of a hat-trick in front of his family when subbed off to a standing ovation for the final ten.
Kane said he fancies his chances of reaching a ton of international goals – and it does not seem fanciful.
SUBS
Levi Colwill (on for Konsa, 61) – 6
Next to no threat from Finland by the time he came on.
Eberechi Eze (on for Gordon, 66) – 6
Raced on to yet another special Trent pass but could not loop it over the keeper.
Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 66) – 7
Looked to make an impact every time he got the ball on debut. Excellent one-two with Trent saw the Chelsea man tee up Kane’s second.
Marc Guehi (on for Stones, 80) – 6
As with Colwill, little to do.
Jarrod Bowen (on for Kane, 81) – 6
Played up top after Kane went off for the final minutes, as he has done for West Ham.
Who has more caps – Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard? Does Bukayo Saka have more England goals than Phil Foden? Have a go at our England higher or lower quiz.
Sport
Jude Bellingham set for shock position change for England as Lee Carsley experiments with new formation in training
LEE CARSLEY could opt to play Jude Bellingham in a new position for England’s Nations League clash with Greece tonight.
Interim boss Carsley has been experimenting with using Bellingham as a STRIKER in training this week, according to the Mail.
5
5
Bellingham, who normally forms part of a midfield trio for the Three Lions, has reportedly been tested as a deep-lying striker in the training session’s building up to tonight’s game.
The news comes after it was confirmed that Harry Kane wouldn’t be starting against the Greeks after picking up a knock with club Bayern Munich.
Carsley even hinted that there may be a different look to how his team sets up as a result.
He said: “Along with a few of the players who can play at No.9, we’ve got plenty of options in that position.
“Harry’s been the outstanding player for so long for us now, but I feel like we’ve definitely got a Plan B.”
Carsely isn’t short of options if he did want to play a conventional striker, having called both Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke up the squad.
However, Bellingham could be a viable option with the 21-year-old occasionally playing in a more advanced role for Real Madrid last season.
While the former Birmingham City star has certainly proved he has an eye for goal, netting 23 times for Madrid last term.
5
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
The absence of Kane won’t just leave a gap up top, but also means Carsley has to find a new man to wear the captain’s armband this evening.
The former England U21 boss has decided that role will be filled by John Stones.
On being given the honour of captaining his nation at Wembley, Stones said: “It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid. It’s a special moment and I cannot thank Lee enough.
“It was a great conversation but I didn’t know what to say. I was a bit speechless.”
Fans will be also eagerly watching on across both tonight’s clash against Greece and Sunday’s face-off with Finland to see if Carsley can find a way to play Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in the same squad.
Carsley is expected to start Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon from the off under the arch this evening.
While Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is reportedly in line to partner John Stones at centre-back.
5
5
Ranger’s promising career was almost over before it had even started.
He signed for Crystal Palace at the age of 10 but was released two years later for bad behaviour at school.
Aged 15, he was sentenced to 11 weeks in a young offenders’ institute for his part in an armed robbery in north London.
“We weren’t going around shooting or stabbing people,” he says. “We wanted to get some quick money so we said ‘let’s just take phones off people’.
“One of our entourage had a knife but I don’t know why because he wasn’t using it. We were acting like idiots.”
There is regret for the hurt he caused.
“Armed robbery is terrible. I wasn’t wanting to hurt them,” adds Ranger. “I was just thinking about getting the goods and running off.
“Now I’m older I do think I must have caused people trauma. At times I was a lunatic. I don’t know what else to call it.”
Ranger was a highly-promising £110-a-week player at Southampton’s academy when he was sentenced but the club supported him following his release and moved him into a flat with his mum, Karen, so she could keep an eye on him.
“My mum has had to come to meetings at every club I have been at to discuss my behaviour,” he says. “It’s been like that since my schooldays.”
Ranger was eventually kicked out of Southampton when he stole boots, training kit and even a staff member’s box of chocolates.
Where was his dad when all this was happening?
“He was around but I lived with my mum. Dad was in my life but what is he going to do? Punch me in the face? He could only speak to me.
“I’m my own man and he used to try to talk sense into me but I just didn’t listen.”
Ranger joined Swindon Town on trial before Newcastle came calling with a two-year contract and a £20,000 signing-on fee.
The 17-year-old headed to the north east hoping to put his troubled past behind him and make a name for himself playing alongside the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Andy Carroll and Alan Smith.
“I went from nothing to something,” he says.
Stefano Domenicali has been president and CEO of Formula 1 since January 2021. Born in the Italian motorsport heartland of Imola, he oversaw huge successes at Scuderia Ferrari as team principal from 2008-14.
Leading F1 in to a new era of commercial opportunities, the 59-year-old spoke to BBC Sport’s Matt Warwick as part of the F1 in 10 Years series, about how “keeping the attention of the sporting action on the track” is crucial when competing in a crowded global entertainment marketplace.
Read more: F1 in 10 Years: Is the cost cap leading to better racing?
Sport
George Baldock’s heartbreaking summer farewell message to Sheffield Utd fans re-emerges after star found dead aged 31
GEORGE BALDOCK’S heartbreaking summer farewell message to Sheffield United fans has re-emerged after the star’s tragic death on Wednesday.
Baldock, 31, was found dead in a swimming pool at his home in Greece after joining Panathinaikos over the summer.
2
2
Police are now investigating the cause of Baldock’s death after his wife, who lives in England, alerted his landlord while struggling to contact him.
Baldock’s passing has come as a huge shock to the world of football, especially for former side Sheffield United.
He spent seven seasons playing for the Blades between 2017 and 2024, scoring six times in 219 games,
And in that time Baldock helped United get promoted to the Premier League on two separate occasions.
Indeed, the defender had only recently departed Bramall Lane for his new adventure in Greece.
And Baldock’s farewell message to fans has now re-emerged in the wake of his tragic death.
After agreeing a free transfer to Panathinaikos in May, Baldock said on the Blades’ X account: “To all you Sheffield United fans, it’s a huge thank-you from me.
“You’ve been absolutely amazing. Your support has been so much more than I ever expected. Like I said, you’re the best around.
“Keep supporting the team and the staff and hopefully the club can get back to where we all want it to be.
“I leave here as a massive fan of the club. Good luck and thank you.”
George Baldock career stats
George Baldock has tragically died aged 31
2009-2017 – MK Dons 125 games (2 goals)
2011 – Tamworth (loan) 3 (0)
2012 – IBV (loan) 18 (1)
2012 – Tamworth (loan) 15 (1)
2015-16 – Oxford United (loan) 47 (3)
2017-2024 – Sheffield United 219 (6)
2024 – Panathinaikos 4 (0)
Following the news of Baldock’s passing, United posted a tribute online.
It read: “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player George Baldock.
“The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and teammates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.
“The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.”
United’s owner Prince Abdullah added: “Devastating news, speechless — my condolences to his family and to all of us who loved him.”
Now fully recovered, Reid says he is “absolutely delighted” to be back with Northern Ireland.
Somewhat of a late bloomer to the international stage, Reid scored on his debut against Romania in March at the age of 29, and has now won four caps.
After missing September’s matches as he recovered from the blood clot, he says he can “put it behind me”.
“I haven’t really had a pre-season, so it’s like I’m playing League One games to get fit, which isn’t ideal.
“But I’m feeling better with each game and each training, so hopefully I can get back to a place where I was.”
Northern Ireland travel to Hungary to face Belarus, a game that will be played behind closed doors due to Uefa restrictions, on Saturday before Bulgaria visit Windsor Park on Tuesday.
“I love it here and being in this set up. It’s a real privilege,” said Reid.
“I don’t have a lot of international experience, these young boys probably have more than me. But I’ve played a lot of games, through the lower leagues and up to League One, and I feel like I’ve adapted everywhere I’ve gone.”
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoHow to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoHyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science
-
Womens Workouts2 weeks ago3 Day Full Body Women’s Dumbbell Only Workout
-
Technology3 weeks agoWould-be reality TV contestants ‘not looking real’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoMaxwell’s demon charges quantum batteries inside of a quantum computer
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago‘Running of the bulls’ festival crowds move like charged particles
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoITER: Is the world’s biggest fusion experiment dead after new delay to 2035?
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoHow to wrap your mind around the real multiverse
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoSunlight-trapping device can generate temperatures over 1000°C
-
News3 weeks agoOur millionaire neighbour blocks us from using public footpath & screams at us in street.. it’s like living in a WARZONE – WordupNews
-
News3 weeks ago
the pick of new debut fiction
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoLiquid crystals could improve quantum communication devices
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoQuantum ‘supersolid’ matter stirred using magnets
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoQuantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoPhysicists are grappling with their own reproducibility crisis
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoLaser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoWhy this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoCaroline Ellison aims to duck prison sentence for role in FTX collapse
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoTime travel sci-fi novel is a rip-roaringly good thought experiment
-
News3 weeks agoYou’re a Hypocrite, And So Am I
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoNuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdles
-
Sport3 weeks agoJoshua vs Dubois: Chris Eubank Jr says ‘AJ’ could beat Tyson Fury and any other heavyweight in the world
-
Business2 weeks ago
Eurosceptic Andrej Babiš eyes return to power in Czech Republic
-
News3 weeks ago▶️ Hamas in the West Bank: Rising Support and Deadly Attacks You Might Not Know About
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoNerve fibres in the brain could generate quantum entanglement
-
News3 weeks ago▶️ Media Bias: How They Spin Attack on Hezbollah and Ignore the Reality
-
Science & Environment2 weeks agoX-rays reveal half-billion-year-old insect ancestor
-
Technology2 weeks ago‘From a toaster to a server’: UK startup promises 5x ‘speed up without changing a line of code’ as it plans to take on Nvidia, AMD in the generative AI battlefield
-
Football2 weeks agoFootball Focus: Martin Keown on Liverpool’s Alisson Becker
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoRethinking space and time could let us do away with dark matter
-
MMA2 weeks agoConor McGregor challenges ‘woeful’ Belal Muhammad, tells Ilia Topuria it’s ‘on sight’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoA slight curve helps rocks make the biggest splash
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoA new kind of experiment at the Large Hadron Collider could unravel quantum reality
-
Business2 weeks ago
Should London’s tax exiles head for Spain, Italy . . . or Wales?
-
News3 weeks agoNew investigation ordered into ‘doorstep murder’ of Alistair Wilson
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoFuture of fusion: How the UK’s JET reactor paved the way for ITER
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoWhy we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoUK spurns European invitation to join ITER nuclear fusion project
-
News3 weeks ago
Israel strikes Lebanese targets as Hizbollah chief warns of ‘red lines’ crossed
-
Technology2 weeks agoQuantum computers may work better when they ignore causality
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoCardano founder to meet Argentina president Javier Milei
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoA tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
-
News3 weeks ago
The Project Censored Newsletter – May 2024
-
News3 weeks agoWhy Is Everyone Excited About These Smart Insoles?
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoMeet the world's first female male model | 7.30
-
News3 weeks agoFour dead & 18 injured in horror mass shooting with victims ‘caught in crossfire’ as cops hunt multiple gunmen
-
Womens Workouts2 weeks ago3 Day Full Body Toning Workout for Women
-
Technology2 weeks agoRobo-tuna reveals how foldable fins help the speedy fish manoeuvre
-
Technology2 weeks agoGet ready for Meta Connect
-
Health & fitness2 weeks agoThe 7 lifestyle habits you can stop now for a slimmer face by next week
-
Sport2 weeks agoWatch UFC star deliver ‘one of the most brutal knockouts ever’ that left opponent laid spark out on the canvas
-
Technology3 weeks agoThe ‘superfood’ taking over fields in northern India
-
Health & fitness3 weeks agoThe maps that could hold the secret to curing cancer
-
Health & fitness3 weeks agoThe secret to a six pack – and how to keep your washboard abs in 2022
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoLow users, sex predators kill Korean metaverses, 3AC sues Terra: Asia Express
-
Politics3 weeks ago
UK consumer confidence falls sharply amid fears of ‘painful’ budget | Economics
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks agoBest Exercises if You Want to Build a Great Physique
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks agoEverything a Beginner Needs to Know About Squatting
-
TV3 weeks agoCNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoCNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Servers computers2 weeks agoWhat are the benefits of Blade servers compared to rack servers?
-
Technology2 weeks agoIs sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship?
-
Business3 weeks ago
JPMorgan in talks to take over Apple credit card from Goldman Sachs
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoQuantum time travel: The experiment to ‘send a particle into the past’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoBeing in two places at once could make a quantum battery charge faster
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoBitcoin miners steamrolled after electricity thefts, exchange ‘closure’ scam: Asia Express
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoDorsey’s ‘marketplace of algorithms’ could fix social media… so why hasn’t it?
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoDZ Bank partners with Boerse Stuttgart for crypto trading
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoBitcoin bulls target $64K BTC price hurdle as US stocks eye new record
-
News3 weeks agoChurch same-sex split affecting bishop appointments
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoBlockdaemon mulls 2026 IPO: Report
-
Sport3 weeks agoUFC Edmonton fight card revealed, including Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi headliner
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoEthereum is a 'contrarian bet' into 2025, says Bitwise exec
-
News2 weeks agoUS Newspapers Diluting Democratic Discourse with Political Bias
-
Technology2 weeks agoThe best robot vacuum cleaners of 2024
-
Business1 week ago
Ukraine faces its darkest hour
-
Politics3 weeks agoTrump says he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoDecentraland X account hacked, phishing scam targets MANA airdrop
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoRedStone integrates first oracle price feeds on TON blockchain
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoHow one theory ties together everything we know about the universe
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago‘No matter how bad it gets, there’s a lot going on with NFTs’: 24 Hours of Art, NFT Creator
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoHow do you recycle a nuclear fusion reactor? We’re about to find out
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoTiny magnet could help measure gravity on the quantum scale
-
Business3 weeks ago
Thames Water seeks extension on debt terms to avoid renationalisation
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoCoinbase’s cbBTC surges to third-largest wrapped BTC token in just one week
-
Business3 weeks ago
How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean image
-
Politics3 weeks ago
‘Appalling’ rows over Sue Gray must stop, senior ministers say | Sue Gray
-
Technology3 weeks agoiPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Review: Depth and Reach
-
News3 weeks agoBrian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
News3 weeks ago
Brian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
MMA3 weeks agoRankings Show: Is Umar Nurmagomedov a lock to become UFC champion?
-
Travel2 weeks agoDelta signs codeshare agreement with SAS
-
Politics2 weeks agoHope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power – podcast | News
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoLouisiana takes first crypto payment over Bitcoin Lightning
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoCrypto scammers orchestrate massive hack on X but barely made $8K
-
Science & Environment3 weeks agoMost accurate clock ever can tick for 40 billion years without error
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks agoSEC asks court for four months to produce documents for Coinbase
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago‘Silly’ to shade Ethereum, the ‘Microsoft of blockchains’ — Bitwise exec
-
Politics3 weeks ago
No 10 fears ICC will ask UK to sign Benjamin Netanyahu arrest warrant | Israel-Gaza war
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks agoHow Heat Affects Your Body During Exercise
You must be logged in to post a comment Login