Key events
Lee Carsley decides to end his job interview.
A Stateside view of Jurgen Klopp’s new job.
Peter Cormack 1946-2024
A real star of the 1970s, for Hibs and Liverpool.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former midfielder Peter Cormack, aged 78.
Rest in peace, Peter.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 11, 2024
Everyone at Hibernian FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former Hibee Peter Cormack at the age of 78.
Rest in peace, Peter. pic.twitter.com/H1G3cDUg16
— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) October 11, 2024
Cormack’s Liverpool pomp here.
Last night’s Football Weekly – it was recorded last night – is here.
Should the game have gone ahead?
Some quotes from Dominic Solanke, who came on against Greece and set up Jude Bellingham’s goal.
It was good, it would have been a lot better if we managed to get the win tonight, but it didn’t quite go to plan. We didn’t play how we wanted to. I am over the moon to be out there, last time was a long time ago so a lot has happened since then but I was happy to be out there.
It was amazing, every cap for your country you need to cherish it because there is so much competition, so it is another cap.”
On our day we are good enough to beat anyone, we have got good players all over the pitch. Some games are difficult, we didn’t quite manage to get it right. We are lucky enough to have another game in a few days so we have a chance to go out there and get a win. We need to rest and recover and go again.
Jacob Steinberg was unsparing with his ratings from Wembley.
Elsewhere, great win for Ireland in Finland. If you can, try and find Robbie Brady’s goal. Here he is speaking in Helsinki.
🗣”Winning games is the only way you’re going to build confidence.”
🗣”There’s millions of pounds of talent in that dressing room.”
Robbie Brady reacts after his Man of the Match display against Finland.
Football on Off The Ball with @WilliamHillIre pic.twitter.com/jS3jz6a24k
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) October 11, 2024
Then, that very odd press conference from Lee Carsley:
“I was quite surprised after the last camp in terms of the job’s mine and it’s mine to lose and all the rest of it,” the 50-year-old said. “My remit has been clear. I’m doing three camps, there’s three games left and then hopefully I’ll be going back to the 21s. It’s had almost no impact.”
Carsley, who stepped into the senior role following Gareth Southgate’s departure, was asked to clarify his comments on three more occasions. “I said at the start I wouldn’t rule myself in or out,” he continued. “That’s still the case. I’m more than comfortable in my position, where I am. The remit was clear. I’m comfortable and confident with that. After the first camp I didn’t get too excited or believe too much. I’m very aware that this job is one of the best jobs in the world.”
Let’s start with Barney Ronay’s withering verdict.
No doubt Carsley has the best intentions with these games, one of them being to try and get the England job by making people like him and think he’s a new thing. But this was also the most shapeless, weirdly arrogant attempt to reinvent the basic notion of international football against a team that can actually play.
Preamble
So then, Lee Carsley may not be the answer. And England will never play a false 9 again, after doing without once since 1872. What an odd, and actually rather exhilarating defeat to Greece that was. First of all, congratulations, Greece. If that one was for George Baldock, then all credit to them. It’s quite amazing they managed to put together such a coherent performance.
Meanwhile, England were the opposite of coherent. A mess, frankly, and here’s where the recriminations begin. Carsley will take the blame, and Gareth Southgate will be yearned for. Not easy, this, is it? There’s Finland to play yet but Carsley’s post-match words seemed to suggest he’s happy to go back to being Under-21 manager. So there’s a vacancy. And that’s where the fun starts.
All that, and the various international reaction, plus the continuing adventures of Manchester City’s lawyerball team/the Red Cartel (delete as applicable). And whatever else we can find.
Join us.
