Henry Winter

After the FA gave Thomas Tuchel a contract extension to 2028, the governing body announced it was focusing even more on developing English coaches. “It’s always the intention to have a home-grown coach to lead the national team,” says Lee Carsley, English-born former Republic of Ireland international, now England Under-21s head coach (and senior caretaker for six games). “The more opportunity we can get in the Premier League and the top leagues (the better). It’s very difficult if we’ve not got a lot to choose from. You can count on one hand the amount of English managers who are currently in any of the top leagues.” Frank Lampard should be going up with Coventry City, Eddie Howe’s at Newcastle United, Scott Parker at Burnley and Michael Carrick a caretaker at Manchester United. “Liam (Rosenior) as well at Chelsea. We have to make sure we don’t look out of the window at what’s out there (abroad) too much and remember to back ourselves. I can only do my best and put myself in positions (to be considered by winning trophies). The Under-21s is a bit different to club football but it’s still a trophy.” Carsley’s portrait is not on the wall of England managers at St George’s Park. “I’m not on that wall but I am on the wall in the boardroom! It says caretaker in brackets. I’m not offended by it.” #ENG

Lee Carsley explains the reason why Dowman's club-mate Myles Lewis-Skelly is with the 21s, not seniors. “I think the chance for him to get some minutes, some game-time. It puts him in a stronger position going back to Arsenal. "I noticed how enthusiastic he is. That’s always in the back of your mind, when you go from the seniors back to the 21s that the motivation may not be there. But we’ve never had that from any player since I’ve been doing the 21s, so that’s a real positive. He’s been really good around the group, showing his qualities.” #ENG

Max Dowman is an incredibly exciting talent, brimming with potential, developing well at Arsenal. He's also being promoted at a sensible pace through the age groups by England. Not being rushed despite calls for Thomas Tuchel to pick him for the World Cup or Lee Carsley to select the 16-year-old in the Under-21s. Dowman is in England's 19s for three forthcoming matches against Serbia, Poland and Portugal. Under-21s head coach, Lee Carsley, explains why Dowman is not with him or Tuchel. “Max is the player on everyone's lips at the moment. It's important we make sure we don't rush it just because he’s getting so much attention. He's going to play for the 21s at some point if he keeps on the trajectory he's on. He'll be fitting into the senior team, and, hopefully, part of a successful senior team. “We think it would be good for Max to get some game-time with the 19s. There’s enough time for him to get in the 21s. We’ve tried not to push players through too quickly. In Max’s position, where he could play for us, we’ve got Tyler Dibling, Ethan Nwaneri, Josh King. Jack Hinshelwood as well has played as a 10.” #ENG

More running #ENG

#ENG training SGP

… be interesting to learn the reaction of some of the players training at SGP today. White’s a good player but Livramento and Spence vying for r-b, the hope is that James could regain fitness for the World Cup, Trent overlooked etc. Column #ENG 2/2 henrywinter.football/p/three-lions-…

Mood amongst some England fans is that Ben White didn’t deserve a recall after his self-imposed exile. “Mostly (the mood is) that he shouldn’t be in the squad. He’s made his bed…” says one top-capper. #ENG 1/2

@ItsMarkWebster @IYKYHPod Heroes both.

The Bowie of football. Mercurial. I can have no higher praise. cc @IYKYHPod

Jordi and the Cruyff family do so much life-changing good for so many people in providing facilities such as the 250+ Cruyff Courts and promoting the humanitarian and sporting principles of the late, great Johan🧡🙌

@mustaphamusa_ Good points. Plus we occasionally forget how young he is.

Agreed with all the points you have highlighted. Khusanov is privileged to continue his development around those experienced defenders in the likes of stones, Ake, Josko, Marc. Only 22 yo, he’s got so much juicy years ahead of his career. And also privilege to work under one of the best coaches, Pep. Khusanov was really outstanding together with Ake against Arsenal. And that performance earned the rest of the players the encourage to go forward trusting their back four. And all thanks to the fans for their supports and unending trusts in him. More to come

In praise of Abdukodir Khusanov. The Manchester City centre-back turned 22 only last month, is still developing his game, still ironing out mistakes, but increasingly impresses with his speed, athleticism and determination. Also his simple but effective distribution and love for the physical fray. At Wembley, his sprint back to dispossess the breaking Kai Havertz was pickpocketing at pace. Khusanov did well in the Carabao Cup final as he gradually got to grips with Viktor Gyokeres. Still prone to a rash challenge. He took out Gyokeres but the booking didn’t faze him. Re-focused on winning his duels for the next hour. His character has never been in doubt. On his City debut in Jan 2025, he didn’t speak the language and had had only two training sessions. He made two early mistakes, gifted Chelsea a route to goal and was then booked for fouling Cole Palmer. But he got on with the game and his career at City. “Our Uzbek warrior” the club calls him. Good scouting. City recruited him from Lens for £33.6m after he’d played only 31 games. Also great initial scouting by Lens when he was at Energetik-BGU in Minsk. Khusanov still has elements to improve, especially in aerial challenges (he’s 6ft 1in), but looks to have many of the strengths to mature into a top centre-half. And he is only just 22. Khusanov is in competition with some heavyweight names such as Ruben Dias and John Stones (when fit). Josko Gvardiol was playing well before suffering a tibial fracture to his right leg. Gvardiol better at left centre-back where Marc Guehi has landed successfully. Gvardiol also plays left-back well (where Nico O’Reilly, who prefers, is flourishing). Nathan Ake, 31, partnered Khusanov at Wembley. Guardiola has outstanding options at centre-back, great role models for Khusanov to learn from. Guardiola Also academy graduate Max Alleyne. Khusanov can also play right-back. He seems very humble. Khusanov had to be encouraged by Foden, Haaland and Donnarumma to go across to take the acclaim of the City fans at Wembley. Almost bashful. Nothing diffident about his defending, though. Khusanov looks a big prospect for City. #MCFC

@Mularisback Thanks for the reply. I’ve done a long pod on the subject on The Football Boardroom (City deny all charges etc).

@henrywinter Fair points henry but forgetting that City should be relegated to league 2 for cheating 115 times

Thoughts with Igor Tudor and his family following the sad news about his father Mario. RIP.

@bodenknights 🤷

Tuchel doing himself few favours here, White ahead of Trent? Ludicrous

@abridge75 recovering, thanks, Adam, and checking on England fans who were unimpressed with his decision

Ben white in England squad as a replacement over Trent! 😮 can someone check on @henrywinter

@carpbedlam depends whether you talk to England fans, Carp. Those I talk to were unimpressed by White turning his back on his country

@henrywinter If Tuchel doesn't believe Trent is going to get in his side, where's the problem? He is picking HIS squad, not yours!

Ben White's return to the England fold after his lengthy self-imposed exile borders on the insulting to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be overlooked by Thomas Tuchel at right-back. Reece James injured, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier retired internationally and now the withdrawal of Jarell Quansah (seen as right-back cover by Tuchel). And Alexander-Arnold still not called. Real Madrid's right-back in the Champions League. A player whose passing can change games. A tournament shootout penalty-taker. White drafted into squad because of injury to Quansah. Be interesting to see the reaction of England fans - let alone Alexander-Arnold. White has to explain why he turned his back on England for three and a half years. Expect some skilled FA video content. Gareth Southgate said in March 2024 that White had indicated to him that he didn't want to be considered for England. There's always been speculation about a fall-out between White and Southgate's assistant Steve Holland (Southgate denied this). Tuchel clearly doesn't rate Alexander-Arnold, a situation that gets ever stranger. White obviously a more defensive full-back; can get forward but lacks Alexander-Arnold's impact. He did well when coming on for Dani Carvajal against Atletico last night. Made Vinicius Junior's second goal. Harvey Barnes, who has one cap, comes in for the injured Eberechi Eze for the squad to face Uruguay on Friday and Japan on March 31. #ENG

@goonergazzell @RichardEllidge it moves pretty quickly, tbf. done in waves to hard against overcrowding on steps and in station

@henrywinter @RichardEllidge now that’s an image where I’m thinking thank fuck I said no to going 😂😂😂

Wembley scenes #CarabaoCupFinal

@MarkEglinton they just have to wake up to the possibility, Mark. regards

@henrywinter Odds are massively against it, Henry.

Tottenham Hotspur are going down unless they show some fight. Spurs fans played their part backing the team, giving the squad that powerful greet before the Forest game. A few players like Archie Gray play their part, fighting for the cause, a 20-year-old showing more commitment than some senior players. It’s not about ability or reputation now, it’s concentration and commitment. It's about fight. Forest showed it. Morgan Gibbs-White, a player Spurs were desperate to bring in for his character as well as playing calibre, highlighted what Spurs miss. “They have got that incredible talent but we showed that fight, hunger and desire more than them,” Gibbs-White told Match of the Day. That fight, hunger and desire to stay with a runner, to block a cross, to compete for a cross, for a ball, for a loose ball, to rage against the dying of the Premier League light. Djed Spence, Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso switched off for the Forest goals. Others culpable, too. Blame also lies with the recruitment for bringing in some individuals who have the flair but not the fight. It’s not new, it even pre-dates Antonio Conte’s lambasting of players and the club culture. It’s a lack of leadership. It’s an issue of mismanagement from on high, as much as poor management from the dugout. Igor Tudor is out of his depth, clearly, but he’s only part of the problem. The whole club needs a reset. A proper, independent all-areas review of the club should come in the summer. For now, it's about players waking up from this sleepwalk towards the Championship. It’ll be one of the biggest stories in the 34 years of the Premier League if Tottenham go down with their history, stadium, fanbase. Spurs were one of the “big five” clubs whose chairmen drove the original breakaway from the Football League in 1992. Damaging financially, £150m minimum. Damaging for recruitment – of players and coaches. Would Mauricio Pochettino return if Spurs were in the Championship, a world away from the Premier League, let alone Champions League? It would trigger an exodus/sale of players. The only ones who can stop the drop will not suffer long-term - beyond having the stain of relegation on their playing records. Spurs are currently 17th on 30 points, without a PL win since Dec 28. They probably need a minimum of eight points from Sunderland away, Brighton home, Wolves away, Villa away, Leeds home, Chelsea away and Everton home. Eight points from seven games. Sounds doable. But do they have the fight, hunger and desire? #THFC

@1matthewburgess @CitizenSuburbia just looking at fixtures, Matthew, West Ham's and Spurs', some people going for 40 points.

@CitizenSuburbia @henrywinter Where's this eight points coming from? They just need to equal West Ham over the remaining games.