Summary

  1. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Q. Hi Phil, what would do you think of a manager like Bielsa coming into the England setup? The footage coming out of the England camps all looks a bit comfy and light-hearted. Would a manager like Bielsa inject some energy, urgency and competitiveness back into the setup? Or do you think he perhaps needs time to be able to “coach” the team? Simon, Milton Keynes

    Well Marcelo Bielsa is certainly very demanding with Uruguay, as we have seen from Luis Suarez’s recent complaints about his methods.

    He would certainly inject all of those things but I do not see him as a contender. And how good is his English? I have no objection to a foreign coach at all. I’m not in the “England manager must be English” camp but, as we saw with Fabio Capello, knowing the language is important.

    I did not hear Bielsa speak English when he was at Leeds United, although his message certainly got across. If it happened, it would not be dull though would it?

  2. Watch FA Cup first-round draw livepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 14 October

    FA Cup drawImage source, Getty Images

    The draw for the first round of this season's FA Cup takes place live on BBC Two from 19:00 BST on Monday.

    Hednesford Town are the lowest ranked club left in the competition, after the eighth-tier team held National League Gateshead to a 1-1 draw to earn a fourth qualifying round replay in the north east of England.

    It means the Staffordshire club, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One West, will join teams such as League One leaders Birmingham City and four-time winners Bolton Wanderers in the draw.

    The draw takes place at Bradford City's Valley Parade ground, with Kelly Somers presenting live coverage alongside former Bradford City player and manager Stuart McCall as well as Danny Webber, who played in the Premier League with Sheffield United and Portsmouth.

  3. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Q. Hi Phil, With regards to Carsley, does it concern you and should it concern the FA that he is never open about his stance on the England job if they had wanted to appoint him? Tactics and people’s opinion on the Greece game aside to me the England job should be something you’re all in on when asked rather than seeming unconvinced on the prospects of it. Tom, Nottingham

    Hello, Tom. I find it totally mystifying why Carsley cannot give a straight answer to the very simple question of whether he would like the job or not.

    We have also had mixed messaging, the prime example of which came after Finland when he said it was a job for a successful world-class coach, seemingly ruling himself out, then later insisting he wasn’t ruling himself out.

    It has led to a lot of unsatisfactory confusion.

  4. Monday's Nations League matchespublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 14 October

    All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated.

    • Azerbaijan v Slovakia (17:00)
    • Georgia v Albania (17:00)
    • Estonia v Sweden
    • Ukraine v Czech Republic
    • Belgium v France
    • Italy v Israel
    • Bosnia-Herzegovina v Hungary
    • Germany v Netherlands
    • Iceland v Turkey
    • Wales v Montenegro
  5. The Brits thriving in Finlandpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 14 October

    Alex Seftel
    BBC Sport

    While the England team head home following their win in Finland, this weekend marks the final fixture of the season for 12 players and three managers from the United Kingdom who are based in the Finnish league.

    These include Ashley Coffey - released by Bradford City aged 15 for being "too slow", he moved to Scandanavia on a girlfriend's advice. After signing a first professional contract aged 27, how plays in the Finnish top division at AC Oulu, where there are four British players.

    Alfie Cicale meanwhile left Norwich City's academy as a teenager as he wanted to focus on his GCSEs. He went on to study history at Oxford, but after graduating found no club would give a contract to a 21-year-old who hadn't played a minute of professional football. A work visa was denied in Switzerland, before a call from VPS Vaasa, offering top division and European football.

    We have been taking a closer look at their journeys and how they found an unexpected home in the Veikkausliiga - you can read all about it here.

  6. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Q. Good morning, Phil. I'm shocked at the criticism the defence is getting given Rice was often in the opposition box, Jude was floating everywhere and Gomes lost possession too much for international level football. You defend as a unit and the midfield repeatedly let them down. I feel with his experience Roy Keane should know that.J (a neutral) in Cardiff

    Hello, I totally agree re. Bellingham and Gomes, although the latter also provided a superb piece of creation for Jack Grealish’s first goal against Finland.

    I think the system Carsley employed against Greece left the defence badly exposed but at least he went some way to try to correct that against Finland.

    Jude BellinghamImage source, Getty Images
  7. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Q. While the media focus is on how best to make use of England's talent pool, isn't a more appropriate question how do you overcome the team's weaknesses i.e left back, single pivot, a replacement for Harry Kane, an inability to create chances in the right areas even when they dominate possession? Andrew

    Hi, Andrew. I’m sure all of those things are under the microscope of every coach, for instance we have seen Lee Carsley try Trent Alexander-Arnold at left-back.

    I was very surprised Ollie Watkins did not figure more as Harry Kane missed Greece through injury then did not look sharp in Finland.

    I think Carsley could have used Watkins more and the time will soon come when England must think seriously about a replacement for Kane, magnificent though he has been.

  8. get involved

    Gomes giving 'Makelele vibes'published at 12:06 British Summer Time 14 October

    Phil Jagielka
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    On the performance of Angel Gomes...

    When I first came to the Premier League we spoke about Claude Makelele - his role - not only what he did on the ball but he made people around him better.

    You're almost like a facilitator. You get the ball, you don't give it away ever, you stand in the right place and you give it to other people. It's not basic, that's just a very clever footballer.

    I think it's very similar vibes as what I'm getting in the early stages with Gomes.

  9. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Q. Hi Phil. Surprised that Ange is not mentioned very often with regard to the England job, particularly given his success with Australia and his attacking style of play. Do you think he’s a contender? Do you think he’d swap Spurs for it? Just a thought. Tom, London

    There has been talk that he has been mentioned but not sure he would want to swap Spurs for England.

    He would be under even fiercer scrutiny. His style of play is certainly easy on the eye but not sure he would be my pick - and he seems settled to life at Spurs at the moment.

  10. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions this morning...

    Q. Hi Phil. Why does Trent Alexander-Arnold get so much stick, especially his defending? He has won all the major club trophies, is the highest assist maker for a defender and has won three out of four man of the match performances in his last four matches in England. If this was any other nation he would be automatic choice and most likely their star player!Gurpreet

    Hello, Gurpreet. He has struggled with his defending at times but he is a world-class talent and offers so much more.

    I think, with England, Gareth Southgate never seemed to quite have full trust in him and the “experiment” – the then manager’s word – of playing him in midfield at Euro 2024 was ill-judged.

    Lee Carsley has shown great faith in him and it has been repaid. Hard to see him not playing now.

  11. Fifa accused of 'abusive conduct' over fixture calendarpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 14 October

    Laura Scott
    BBC sports news correspondent in Brussels

    The trade union for players and a collective of European leagues will jointly lodge a complaint with the European Commission today, accusing Fifa of "abusive conduct" over their dominance of the football calendar.

    The group, which includes the Premier League, argue that the governing body did not properly consult over the new calendar before it was announced in March last year, which Fifa denies.

    The issue of fixture congestion is once again at the forefront of football, with managers warning they might have to rest players mid-season, and footballers threatening to stage strikes. Now, the players' union, Fifpro Europe, and European Leagues, which includes the Premier League, are calling on the European Commission to investigate Fifa over what they are calling its "abusive" and unjustified conduct regarding the international match calendar.

    They say Fifa's approach - including the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup every four years - has resulted in the "cannibalisation of the competition calendar" and "harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players".

    Fifa rejects the claims. It accuses some leagues of hypocrisy, saying they arranged "a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours."

  12. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions this morning...

    Q. The win last night doesn’t quite paper over the glaring issues with the England team. Phil, I think what we all want to know, is why do coaches struggle to get the most out of such a talented group of players?! Why is it so painful to watch this team of world class players play 90 minutes of football? Zac, Leeds

    Agree, Zac.

    It is one of the great mysteries that a team with so much creative talent can be so dry to watch and have been for some time, even when making progress at major tournaments.

    This is one of the first tasks of the next England manager, to find a system, style and structure that gets the best out of these players and achieve the success that has eluded them for so long.

  13. Get Involved - What next for England?published at 11:41 British Summer Time 14 October

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    Being Scottish , it doesn't really bother me but from your point of view Tuchel is a no brainer! Champions league winner who constantly outmanoeuvred Pep at City....tactically you could not get better! Carsley has got to be a non starter!

    Ian McMorrin, Aberdeen

    Get Involved on #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

  14. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions this morning...

    Q. Hi Phil. Considering the start a couple of Premier League teams have had, have you changed your mind about who is going to go down this year? Rachel Fleming

    Hello, Rachel. I made the choice of Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town so I have to stick with that for now.

    From what I have seen, though, I can see Ipswich Town making a decent fist of it and then we have the struggles for Wolves, who I thought would be doing better than they have, so that’s always a bit of a wild card.

    I’m at Southampton v Leicester City this weekend so maybe I’ll learn more then.

  15. Wales in action on Mondaypublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 14 October

    There are more international fixtures to come later today, including Wales against Montenegro at 19:45 BST.

    Elsewhere Germany host the Netherlands, and Belgium face France in the two standout fixtures on Monday.

    Scotland are back in action again tomorrow, hosting Portugal, while Northern Ireland take on Bulgaria.

  16. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions this morning...

    Q. Do England need to choose a compromise? Seems like we look better in the current formation when Watkins stretches a defence. If we want the best out of Harry Kane, do we need to build the formation around him adding pace out wide, or with Watkins alongside in a 4-4-2? David, Birmingham

    If England are to stick with Harry Kane then he certainly does need more mobility around him as he can look laboured these days.

    I really like Ollie Watkins but not sure England will opt for 4-4-2 with the players they have so it may be just a case of getting players in and around Kane.

    There will be a day, of course, when England will have to pick someone other than Harry Kane as he is getting older, has had injuries and does not look as mobile as he once was, great goalscorer though he remains.

  17. 'Gomes is an interesting player'published at 11:22 British Summer Time 14 October

    Matthew Upson
    Former West Ham defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    On the performance of Angel Gomes and the Lille midfielder's sublime assist for Jack Grealish...

    Angel Gomes is a really interesting player.

    You see his stature and then you see him play the game and see that he's always creating time for himself.

    His anticipation is good and he has real discipline with what he does on the pitch, playing the ball sideways and backwards.

    It was a big moment for him to show that he can get into that position and create an assist with the quality that he did.

  18. Get Involved - What next for England?published at 11:15 British Summer Time 14 October

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    Carlo Ancelotti best in class and good overseas fit for FA

    Andy Rossiter, Cheshire

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  19. Get Involved - What next for England?published at 11:11 British Summer Time 14 October

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    Bring in Jose Mourinho! Someone needs to control the egos of some of our players. Bellingham scores big goals but when was the last time he actually had a fantastic 90 minutes. Foden is similar. Jose’s “old-school” style will suit international football, will be easier to implement compared to Eddie and Pep’s style and he’ll get the best out of certain players.

    Anonymous

    Get Involved on #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

  20. Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&Apublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 14 October

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions this morning...

    Q. Hi Phil. If you’re The FA, do you pursue a ‘win-now’ approach regarding the next manager - meaning chasing Pep/Tuchel for 2026 — or stay rooted to the process, knowing the 2028 Euros are in the UK, and focus on Carsley, Potter/Howe? Thanks.Ed, London

    Hi, Ed. My own view is that you need to have a manager who can do both but I think there is also a very strong element of being short-term as well, someone who can have a real crack at winning the World Cup in 2026.

    You can’t focus too far down the line. If that meant Thomas Tuchel, who can have a quick impact but has not stayed anywhere too long, then that would be fine with me.

    It is about winning tournaments and England’s senior mens’ team have not won one since 1966.