Lee Carsley’s England future continues to dominate the back pages, with the latest reports suggesting he’s not going to get the job on a long-term basis.
The interim manager hardly helped his cause by sending out mixed messages following Sunday’s 3-1 Nations League victory in Finland following the Wembley shambles against Greece and the dust had barely settled before Pep Guardiola was again linked with the challenge of succeeding Gareth Southgate at the helm.
In a surprise to absolutely no one involved with football, the situation was immediately booted back up in the air with other reports claiming the Spaniard is going to sign a one-year contract extension at Manchester City.
Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich head coach was installed as the 4/7 ON favourite with Ladbrokes and Coral to take the permanent position but he has drifted out to 13/8 with William Hill while Pep is 5/1 with Betfred and Carsley is as big as 8/1 with bet365.
Carsley made front-page news from the off when it was revealed he wouldn’t be singing the national anthem before his first game in charge against the Republic of Ireland, who he represented as a player, but his squad appear to enjoy his refreshing approach and it shouldn’t be forgotten he led many of them to victory at last year’s European Under-21 Championship.
It could be that he doesn’t want the hassle of being in the constant spotlight as England head honcho and he suggested the job should go to a world-class manager who has won trophies.
That may not have gone down too well with the bigwigs at the Football Association as that philosophy would mean another foreign appointment with leading home-grown candidates Eddie Howe, 10/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair, and Graham Potter yet to win any major silverware.
Our original selection was for former Chelsea and Brighton manager Potter to get the job at 5/2 with several bookies and he’s now drifted out to 11/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Punters can double down at the bigger price as his brand of football would suit the international game but a decision is unlikely to be made until the end of the year at the earliest and the concern is if the currently unemployed Potter really is the FA’s man why didn’t they give him the job in the first place?
Maybe they really want Guardiola or were hoping Jurgen Klopp would jump at the chance. Football, eh?
• Jon Rahm is the 11/4 favourite with bet365 to win this week’s Andalucia Masters while England’s Sam Bairstow, involved in a four-way tie for second at the Open de France on Sunday, appeals at 70/1 in their each-way market which pays out on eight places.
• Two of the worst teams in the NFL lock horns at Wembley on Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars entertain the New England Patriots. Both sides have 1-5 records and there have been over 42.5 points in seven of their combined last ten games. BetMGM offer 9/10 that will become eight on Sunday while Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence is evens with William Hill to throw over 1.5 touchdowns.
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