Carlsey appointed new England U21s boss

He'll have all those young kids pointing all over the place, like an old time copper on traffic duty, that's how I remember him as a player, good with his hands not so much his feet, best remembered for his goal in the Derby game at Goodison, when all the players piled up on top of each other, with Cahill at the top, I think.

Dave, surely Lee was much more than a traffic cop. We have missed his midfield industry from all the ponsey millionairos we have had and continue to suffer!

Derek (2), not to me Derek, he had a good shot in him, now and again. He was the master of a three or four yard pass to another player then start pointing at the player telling him what to do with it, most probably because he didn't have a clue what to do with it himself, but now he is the coach for the England 21's, I wouldn't mind watching that set up, especially when he said Ashley Cole has the same mind set as himself, maybe Lee will give the balls, bibs and cones out and let Ashley do the talking, now that might work.

Good luck to Carsley, he was a grafter and I'd say a good judge of players character.

Let's see what happens with the England U21s.

The sort of player we could do with now - but stopped buying when we got all excited about having a few quid to spend.

Really hope he does well.

Have heard nothing but good things about Carsley as a coach and was very highly regarded at Man City.

Unsworth and Ferguson could learn from Lee. He is doing a great job learning his coaching, at different levels.

We should have pursued him as part of our coaching staff!!

I remember Lee as a great reader of the game, as a defensive midfielder. The number of times he popped up in just the right place to break up an opponents attack has been largely unmatched since, perhaps with the exception of Gueye.

If the club decide to appoint a former blue as successor to Benitez, in due course, Carsley would be the most credible candidate, I expect.

Exactly Dennis. A team is made of 11 people all with different roles. Just think the goals we would score if we had 10 James Rodrigues or Duncan MacKenzies or how few we would let in with 10 Tony Hibberts or Brian Labones.

Carsley's job was to get the ball back and protect the back four. That is why the Moyes teams could play KITAP1.

I do wonder at times with some on here who moan we never win anything and yet want to set us up to conceed 3 every match because it is more exciting but when we did that without the solidarity at the back (2014-15) we fell away from the coat tails of the Sky 6 and now struggling to get back.

BTW - talking of Sky 6 and the European Super League. How many saw this?
22/1/1901 - Queen Victoria Died (day 1)
17/4/1961 - Last Time Spurs won League Title (day 22001)
26/4/1961 - Half Way between 22/1/1901 and today and so anything before this date is nearer the Victorian Era than today.
29/7/2021 - Today (day 44019 since the Victorian Era)

Leave it with you all to tell your Spurs mates that your last league title was nearer the Victorian era than today. 😀

Didn't Gravesen say Real Madrid had gotten the wrong bald headed midfielder from Everton?

Eric,

You beat me to it. I also heard that. Lee was the Rottweiler in midfield we sadly lack today. Good engine, totally committed, and a great reader of the game. He also knew his limitations so, when he won the ball back, he gave it to the more creative players. Gana was the nearest we had in recent time.

Unfortunately, from some of the comments, it would appear we value more of the James type, all silky skills but no engine and not up for the battles which are the Premier League.

You need both, Neil. Just better quality, even in the engine room.

It's not a reflection on individuals, but I find it sad that a generation of Evertonians look to the likes of Lee Carsley as to what we lack. And no disrespect to Carsley.

I guess that's more a reflection of where we've been the past few decades and what the younger of our fan base has grown up with, that has curtailed expectations.

Now if you're talking we're missing a Peter Reid, I'm with you. But he had the silkiness of Sheedy and Steven around him.

Balance. A football team is like a good recipe. It needs a mix of ingredients.

Danny
I believe we are making the same point.
I have often used Reid to make this point. I have been said for many years is that every team needs somebody to do the hard graft for 90+ minutes, breaking up opposition attack and hence rhythm. These are rarely the most gifted of players re ball skills so once possession is gained they can read the game and give the simple pass to gain control of the ball.
We haven't had that sort of player for many years, Gana was close but often gave the ball away cheaply after all the hard work by trying to be ambitious.
Reid was in that mode as was the ultimate Rottweiler Keane. No silky skills but the engine of the team keeping everything moving not the boring, high risk pedestrian paced football we have witnessed under the past few managers

Agree Neil, which is why I always talk about blend and balance.

Graveson too? And players like Phil Neville for influence and leadership?

Danny

It is said that one baldy Carsley, made the other baldy Graveson look good. Hence his transfer to Real Madrid, and also maybe the reason his impact was not as effective there.

Not sure about Phil, thought his passing was woeful but did provide leadership.

Neil, not sure I totally agree with Peter Reid having no skills. I have a few videos of him from the mid 80s team weaving his way through defenders and some astute through balls.

Sorry, just getting goosepimples remembering the Easter Saturday 1985 match at home to Sunderland – when Everton's 1st three goals were 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Goal of the Month.

Phil @17,

Peter Reid, always looked to get the team on the front foot, always looked to drive his team forward, and he most definitely was a warrior, but had enough skill to be more than a mere water-carrier or workhorse, and there haven't been too many of his type seen at Goodison for far too long. Ratcliffe was the captain of that team, but Reidy was the General.

Phil,

Not saying no football skills but, for me, his value to the team is well described by Barry.

Again, my main point is that we haven't had a player like that for some time. We have wasted so much money on so-called skilled players when one workhorse may have made all the difference.

To be clear, Phil and all. Peter Reid could play a bit too. The difference I am making between him and Carsley is quality.

Carsley was a fine player for Everton. But no Peter Reid.