The turnout for Lee Carsley's farewell drinks isn't looking particularly impressive. A viral case of knack has swept through the England squad, resulting in eight players being sidelined during this season's third international break. This has given the departing interim manager the opportunity to distribute some farewell honors, including Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who, along with a few other uncapped players from the under-21s, has been repeatedly reminded by HR to contribute to Carsley's farewell gift. Don't forget to sign the card.
One player who won't be missing Carsley's squad is Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis, unless he wants his future father-in-law, Roy Keane, to label him a 'BIG BABY!'. The defender, awaiting his first England cap, is set to become family with Keane. After his experiences on Saipan and beyond, Keane was very serious about international commitments during his time as Martin O'Neill's assistant with the Republic of Ireland. When asked in 2015 if Robbie Keane (not related) would be fit to play against Germany just days after the birth of his son, Roy's response was classic old-school: 'Why wouldn't he be? He didn't have the baby, did he? Unless he's breastfeeding, he should be fine.'
Harwood-Bellis hails from Stockport, a town that continues to build a reputation as a footballing hotbed, with talents like Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo, and Cole Palmer. 'We might as well move Wembley up here,' Stockport Council joked on social media after the 22-year-old's call-up. The area also seems destined for a cliched nickname, with Harwood-Bellis just a couple of strong performances away from being dubbed the Stockport 'insert legendary Big Cup-winning centre-half'.
Finally, Football Daily sends its best wishes to Carsley ahead of his final two matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. The 50-year-old has likely realized by now the toxicity of the position he inherited, one that demands manufactured fury if you don't perform, and one that lasts until you're deemed useless after a single loss. Can you really blame him for never being sure if he wanted the job? The comforting embrace of the under-21s—tournament football with less jingoism, experimentation without intense scrutiny, a place where he's already had significant success—awaits.
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