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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, pundit Noel Whelan has shared his views on the current situation at Leeds, claiming that Marcelo Bielsa won’t walk away from Elland Road.

What’s he said?

As Leeds embarked on their tour to Australia last weekend, just 16 members of the squad, including youth team players were on the plane.

That flight didn’t include Bielsa either who will join up late for the clash against Manchester United on Wednesday, although he is yet to decide whether he will stick around for the next game against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 20.

Football Insider have specifically detailed in the past that the Argentine was unhappy with the tour going ahead, but despite that, Whelan still thinks Bielsa will stay.

Speaking to the website, he declared:

“I don’t think Marcelo Bielsa is walking away from Leeds. That’s not going to happen, but he is not scared to voice his opinion over the Australia tour.

“This is not his plan for pre-season. I can understand why he would be annoyed. Bielsa signed his new contract knowing the tour was scheduled, but that doesn’t mean he would have agreed with it.”

Bielsa must overcome prior history

As Leeds failed to achieve promotion back in May, there must have been a sense of worry among the hierarchy at Leeds.

A key figure at the club, Bielsa is someone who is famed for short stints at various teams he’s managed, but he perhaps put that stigma to bed by signing a new deal with the Yorkshire club at the end of last season.

The 63-year-old was in charge of Marseille for just 41 matches whilst his time at Lille ended after 14 games. At Lazio, he even quit after just two days in the job, showing his lack of patience.

And it appears, that by keeping himself and a number of first-team members in England, there’s been somewhat of a protest against the tour of Australia.

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However, you sense that Whelan is right on this occasion that Bielsa will stay and honour the contract he signed in May.

After all, Andrea Radrizzani admitted they had unfinished business with the Argentine, and if he was truly unhappy it seems unreasonable to think that he’d have signed new terms.

By dividing the squad into two, it could keep Bielsa occupied enough to remain focused on the job in hand, rather than quitting.

Crucial stands with Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge defy tenacious Amanda-Jade Wellington in rain-hit match

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-May-2025Surrey 306 for 7 (Smith 110, Dunkley 79, Wyatt-Hodge 44, Wellington 4-47) beat Somerset 215 (Knight 36 Wellington 36, Monaghan 2-43, Gregory 2-43, Stonehouse 2-47) by 101 runs DLS methodBryony Smith posted a superb hundred to steer Surrey to a convincing 101-run win over Somerset on the Duckworth Lewis Stern Method in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.Leading by example, Surrey’s captain scored 110 from 103 balls, struck 15 fours and dominated crucial stands of 100 and 134 with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley for the first and third wickets respectively as the visitors made 306 for 7 in a contest reduced by rain to 44 overs a side. Dunkley raised an attractive 79 from 81 balls and Wyatt-Hodge contributed 44 with eight fours, while Australian spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington returned figures of 4 for 47.Chasing a revised target of 317, Somerset came up short in the face of accurate bowling and sharp fielding, Heather Knight and Wellington top-scoring with 36 and Alice Monaghan, Danielle Gregory and Alexa Stonehouse claiming two wickets apiece as the home side were dismissed for 215 in 40.5 overs.Somerset’s seamers struggled with their lengths and Smith and Wyatt-Hodge took full advantage, raising 50 in just 6.3 overs amid a flurry of boundaries as Surrey got off to a flyer. Smith was especially severe on anything short and wide, accruing eight fours in a forthright 57-ball half-century, as the opening partnership realised three figures in 13.4 overs.Wyatt-Hodge took on Somerset’s spinners and was just six runs short of 50 when she finally came a cropper, attempting to carve Wellington through the covers and slicing high to backward point with the score on 100. Wellington then had Alice Capsey held at slip in the act of reverse sweeping to further reduce the visitors to 106 for 2.But there was no stopping Smith. Afforded a life on 80 when dropped in the deep by Laura Jackson off the bowling of Chloe Skelton, Surrey’s skipper made good her escape to register a buccaneering hundred via 96 balls with 14 fours. She found a willing ally in Dunkley, who scored freely all around the wicket in compiling 50 from 57 deliveries, and these two threatened to take the game away from Somerset.Under intense pressure, the home side made too many errors in the field and the third wicket stand was already worth 112 when rain forced the players off with the score on 218 for 2 after 32.4 overs. Desperate to take wickets and bring the DLS equation back into their favour, Somerset trusted in Wellington following the resumption. The Australian did not disappoint, persuading Smith and Paige Scholfield to hole out to Knight at long-off in quick succession.Having done her utmost to ensure the visitors would post a total in excess of 300, the resourceful Dunkley stepped across her stumps and was bowled around her legs by Skelton as Somerset continued to fight back. Charlie Dean then accounted for Monaghan and Alice Davidson-Richards, but not before these two, together with Kira Chathli, had added valuable lower middle order runs.Chasing a revised total of 317 in 44 overs at a required rate of 7.2 runs an over, Somerset suffered an early setback, Emma Corney playing down the wrong line and being bowled by Rhianna Macdonald-Gay with 19 on the board.Adhering to the tenets of line and length, Surrey’s seamers were able to create pressure and the required rate was above eight when Sophie Luff top-edged a pull shot and was brilliantly caught by Macdonald-Gay on the run at midwicket. Somerset’s captain had scored 15 and the home side were 56 for 2 in the thirteenth over with much work still to do.Having failed to defend big totals in matches against Warwickshire and Lancashire, Surrey needed to remove former England captain Knight for their own peace of mind. This they managed to do in startling fashion, Monaghan deflecting a Fran Wilson drive onto the stumps with Knight, having scored 36 from 41 balls, hopelessly out of her ground. There appeared to be no way back for Somerset from 73 for 3 at the end of the fifteenth.Surrey were fully in charge by the time Wilson was stumped by Chathli, pushing forward to Gregory and departing for 23, while Dean was held at backward point off the bowling of Stonehouse as the home side lurched to 117-5. The game was effectively up by the time Griffiths was bowled by Gregory for 14 with the score on 144, but nobody had told Wellington or Skelton, who staged a defiant alliance of 53 to hold up Surrey. Capsey ended Wellington’s innings on 36, holing out to deep backward square with a notional 120 more runs needed from eight overs.

George Dobell in Chennai20-Dec-20163:20

Trott: Perhaps England became lackadaisical

Perhaps it was fitting that it ended this way.Perhaps it was fitting that a year that has been characterised by England’s “positive” style of play ended with a defeat brought about by reckless batting.As if Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal, caught at deep midwicket – yes, deep midwicket – was not bad enough as England battled for a draw, Moeen Ali then wasted his previous efforts with an absurd attempt to loft Ravindra Jadeja over the top. The ball only made it as far as mid-on.Suddenly, the door that was almost closed on India was opened once more. England lost their last six wickets for just 15 runs.Defeat means they have lost four Tests in succession, five out of seven on this tour and six out of their last eight. It also means they have equalled their record for most defeats – eight – in a calendar year. It can’t keep being an aberration.Losing to India is no disgrace, of course. Just as losing to Bangladesh in Dhaka was no disgrace. Playing in Asia may well be the toughest test for England players and there was probably no combination of players available to England that would have won this series against a fine side.

England have to be prepared to grind and graft as well as thrash and bash.

But the manner of some of these defeats is a concern. Just as losing 10 wickets for 64 runs in a session in Dhaka, or 10 for 83 in the second innings in Vizag or six for 15 in Mumbai should not be accepted with a phlegmatic shrug, nor should this collapse.It came, after all, on a surface on which England laboured for more than 190 overs for seven wickets. And it came with the hard work almost done.But England seem to have lost the ability to bat time. They seem to have forgotten that defence is every bit as important as attack in Test cricket. They seem to have concluded that the way to deal with every challenge thrown their way in Test cricket is to smash it into the stands.It wasn’t just Moeen and Bairstow here. Joe Root was leg before attempting to sweep and Adil Rashid was caught at point attempting to flick into the leg side. Straight bat strokes might not have been as positive, but they would have been safer.You would have thought India had taught them by example. You would have thought they had proved that it is not 70s or 80s that win Tests, but 100s and 200s and even 300s. England have to be hungrier. They have to be greedier. They have to be prepared to grind and graft as well as thrash and bash.Why would Moeen be trying to hit over the top in these circumstances? Why, with no hope of setting India a target, would such an aggressive approach be appropriate or helpful? The answer is that it wasn’t appropriate and it may well have been a manifestation of a lack of belief in his own defensive technique. It was a point picked up by Virat Kohli in mid-series. England try to run because they know they can’t walk.It would be a mistake in such a situation to look for quick fixes. England have a structural problem when it comes to dealing with Asian conditions and it is probably beyond the whit of any individual in a captaincy or coaching position to change that. Alastair Cook may be the current target for those wanting change, but his sacking will alter almost nothing. It certainly won’t conjure two brilliant spinners out of the ether and it might overburden Root, who already plays all three formats and is still learning his trade as a batsman.But it won’t do to ring our hands and say ‘nothing can be done.’ For half the Test world play in these conditions (the Caribbean, increasingly, offers low, slow surfaces). These pitches were far from extreme and England had the advantage of winning the toss in four Tests. Unless England are to settle for a future where they mug sides at home on green pitches – as they did for much of the Sri Lanka series – and struggle away, they have to find a way to combat such surfaces.Trevor Bayliss has escaped some of the criticism hurled at Alastair Cook [file picture]•Getty ImagesPart of the problem here may well be the messages coming from the coach. Trevor Bayliss has made no secret of his view that he prefers “attacking-style batters” and that, at times this series, he feels England have suffered for being too defensive with the bat. “When we have been a little bit more defensive, we look like wickets waiting to happen,” he said in mid-series. “As soon as we’re a little bit more positive, rotating the strike and hitting a boundary when the opportunity comes, it puts pressure on the opposition. Yes, it might get you out once or twice. But with the batting order we’ve got, there’s going to be a number of guys that do score runs.”This is puzzling. You would have thought that a coach would want to point out that each batsman has to take responsibility to get the job done. As Moeen proved here, life for the new man can be far more difficult. Bayliss’ somewhat gung-ho approach seems to risk leaving the job to the next man. It doesn’t seem especially responsible.Indeed, increasingly Bayliss’ whole approach to Test cricket looks naive. It may well be fine for limited-overs cricket, where uncompromised aggression seems to have become the order of the day. But more subtlety is required in the longer-format and Bayliss hasn’t demonstrated much of that.The problem with his laissez-faire approach – he is well known for saying little and interfering less – is that sometimes a coach needs to interfere. As Australia have shown in recent times, creating a cosy dressing room environment is fine up to a point, but when the ball starts to swing or spin, a coach also need to be able to help with technique. Otherwise they are just a bystander.

Both Haseeb Hameed and, to a lesser extent, Keaton Jennings have impressed as old-school openers, not the aggressive type that Bayliss professes to prefer

It would be premature to say we are in this category with Bayliss. He really wasn’t dealt a handful of aces on this tour and it isn’t so long since England were a win or two away from becoming the top-ranked Test side.But, if he doesn’t know the players from county cricket, he can’t really select. And if he really is wedded to this aggressive approach with the bat, he isn’t going to help many of the batsmen. Meanwhile, since he took over and dispensed with fielding coaches to take on the responsibility himself, England have dropped a series of vital chances. And with an attack that creates so few, that is costing them dearly. His recent comment that the team “haven’t got a lot of natural athletes” sounds dangerously like a workman blaming his tools.It is an irony that one of the positive of this tour for England has been the emergence of two new options for batsmen at the top of the order. Both Haseeb Hameed and, to a lesser extent, Keaton Jennings have impressed as old-school openers, not the aggressive type that Bayliss professes to prefer. It would be no surprise if both of them featured in the top three when England next play Test cricket in July.Bayliss can’t really take credit for either of them. He had never seen Jennings bat until they reached Mumbai and he preferred Ben Duckett to Hameed at the start of the tour. Indeed, if you question which of the Test players have progressed due to his input, answers are not immediately obvious. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to consider appointing a different coach for the Test and limited-overs teams? England’s schedule is ridiculous. It might make life better for all concerned.There seems little chance that will happen in the short term. Andrew Strauss has too much staked on Bayliss and, to be fair, England’s limited-overs resurgence might vindicate his appointment. It’s the main reason he was hired and he is making a success it.But England’s Test squad leave India with many more questions than answers. They need to work out how to bowl on flat surfaces – in particular, how to gain lateral movement – and how to bat against the spinning ball. They need to develop spinners and start thinking about replacements for an ageing seam attack. And they need to decide if their coach and captain are the men to lead their progress. None of the answers are obvious.

A modern look to India’s all-time XI selected on the occasion of the country’s 500th Test

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2016ESPNcricinfo LtdThe XI had three changes from the one our jury had picked in 2010: VVS Laxman for Vijay Hazare, R Ashwin for Vinoo Mankad and Zaheer Khan for Erapalli Prasanna.Anil Kumble was nominated as captain when our jury picked a XI, but who would be your choice to lead the all-time India Test XI?

The captain

Ex-Manchester United star Teddy Sheringham has backed new coach Ruben Amorim to succeed, believing he could win three trophies this season.

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• Ruben Amorim takes charge of Man Utd
• Sheringham backs him to succeed
• Thinks they will end season with trophies

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  United announced their signing of Amorim from Sporting CP earlier this month after they sacked coach Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season that saw the Red Devils win only four games from their 14 clashes. Former United star Sheringham has now backed the former Portugal international to take the 20-time Premier League champions back to the top of the sport.

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• WHAT SHERINGHAM SAID

  Speaking to , Sheringham said: “Ruben Amorim can make an immediate impact at Manchester United with a style of play that is on the front foot, taking the game to the opposition. You cannot be sitting back at Old Trafford and hoping to hit people on the break, that is just not what the club has been over the past 50 or 60 years, the Busby Babes into Fergie’s era.

  “We're playing for Manchester United. Let the opposition worry about you and we'll see what happens from there. Obviously, you have to do your due diligence on opposing teams. But without a doubt, he's got to take the game to the opposition."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Speaking further, Sheringham added: "That is a key factor and if he does that, you’ll see the players motivated and playing for the badge again. I think you've got to see a massive improvement and you've got to see an understanding of what he wants to do on the pitch and it will be very evident very early on if he has sparked something, if he has brought enthusiasm.

  "If the players start playing at 100% then you could see him landing a new contract very quickly. Amorim could end up winning three trophies this season and doing well will give him the credibility to push for his own signings in the summer."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

  The Portuguese manager has joined the club officially on Monday, and will be on the sideline for his debut when Manchester United take on Ipswich Town on November 24.

West Ham United have reportedly made contact to sign an international left-back ahead of Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Defenders wanted at West Ham

New manager Julen Lopetegui has promised to put his own stamp on things at the London Stadium, saying after being announced as David Moyes’ successor last month: “I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big Club. We will try to put our stamp on the Club.

"I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.”

In the transfer market, the Hammers officially made Luis Guilherme their first summer signing, with the Brazilian costing a total of €30m. Guilherme looks set to be the first of many through the door at the London Stadium, with the Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten also agreeing a deal to sign goalkeeper Wes Foderingham for free when his Sheffield United contract officially expires at the end of the month.

£21m striker is now open to signing for West Ham

Julen Lopetegui is keen on a move.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 25, 2024

In defence, a new centre-back and left-back also appear to be high on Lopetegui’s wishlist. Centrally, Wolves’ Max Kilman appears to be the top target, with the Hammers already having two proposals turned down and are now preparing a third offer.

Meanwhile, at left-back, contact has been made for Ryan Sessegnon, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Tottenham. Another mooted target is Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce, with the Irons holding talks with the player’s representatives and are reportedly preparing an offer.

Now, a new name has emerged when it comes to Lopetegui bringing in a left-back to provide competition for Emerson Palmieri.

West Ham keen on Luca Pellegrini

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, both West Ham and Aston Villa have carried out surveys, and by extension, made contact with Lazio over left-back Luca Pellegrini.

The Italy international isn’t with his country at Euro 2024, and at club level, he’s currently on a two-year loan at Lazio from Juventus and have an obligation to buy him in 2025.

However, it looks as if both the Irons and Villa have made their first move to cut Pellegrini’s stay with Lazio short, although the Serie A side have sent those requests back and want to keep the 25-year-old, who cost Juventus £20m from Roma back in 2019.

Pellegrini, who can play further forward as a left midfielder if needed, made 34 appearances for Lazio last season, and by the looks of things, he’ll continue to represent the Biancocelesti during the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

That could leave West Ham focusing more on Sessegnon or Oosterwolde over the coming weeks, making the Hammers’ left-back search one to watch ahead of Lopetegui’s first season in charge.

Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo will not square off against one another in Friday's Saudi Pro League clash despite the former now being fit to play

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• Neymar has returned from ACL injury
• His Al-Hilal take on Al-Nassr this week
• Brazilian won't play against Ronaldo… yet

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 32-year-old was out for nearly a year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury but marked his return to football last week in a cameo display for Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League against Al-Ain. Ahead of his team's heavyweight clash with Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, the Brazilian will not feature in this Saudi Pro League encounter – and here's why.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  As GOAL previously reported, the former Paris Saint-Germain star is eligible to appear in AFC Champions League right now as this tournament has no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed. However, that cannot be said for the Saudi Pro League and, with Neymar not having been registered due to his long-term injury, the Brazil international can only play in this competition from January 2025. Therefore, his Saudi Pro League duel with Ronaldo will have to wait until April at the earliest, when Al-Hilal host the Al-Nassr outfit.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Although Neymar is back playing football, the medical team of the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) want to ease the ex-Barcelona ace back into action. Therefore, he is unlikely to return to the national team until March as he should be back to full fitness by then.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While Neymar will be absent for Al-Hilal's trip to Al-Nassr on Friday, in a battle between first and third in the division, the Brazilian could feature for his team against Esteghlal FC on Monday when the AFC Champions League returns.

After a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Newcastle United could now sacrifice one of their top stars in order to bring new players through the door at St James' Park.

Magpies eye up defensive reinforcements this summer

After struggling to settle on a nailed on back four last season, Eddie Howe appears to be in the market for players to reinforce his backline. One defender has already made the move to Tyneside with free agent Lloyd Kelly set to join the club at the start of July after leaving Bournemouth at the end of his contract.

Top target: Newcastle want to sign "unbelievable" PL star who's like Gordon

Newcastle looking to add more firepower in attack

By
Connor Holden

Jun 26, 2024

With one already through the door, the latest rumours out of St James' Park have linked Newcastle with a number of further defensive signings. AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori is one name linked with a move to the Magpies with the English defender potentially available for £42million this summer.

Another defender on PIF's shopping list is Juventus' Federico Gatti. The 26-year-old central defender is linked with a £25 million move away from the Turin outfit and Newcastle are reported to be ready to launch a formal bid for the player.

With fresh faces in defence clearly high on Newcastle's list of priorities, the club could now use the transfer window to sell one of their most reliable players in this area of the pitch.

European club target Toon star

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Turkish press are claiming that Trabzonspor are interested in signing Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar. The Swiss centre back has just one year left on his current deal at St James' Park meaning that he is likely to be moved on this summer.

The report goes on to state that Schar is now Trabzonspor's top target in their search for a new central defender after the 2022 Süper Lig winners failed to convince Marseille’s Samuel Gigot to join, and they have already reached out to the Magpies star.

Current Toon boss Howe spoke on Schar's unique abilities back in March, telling the press: “There won’t be many centre-halves like Fabby (Schar). He is a total one-off, he is a very good defender when he is absolutely concentrated and really well-trained.

"He is as good a defender as I’ve seen. But he would probably tell you that his biggest strengths are on the ball, and he can see things and execute things that I don’t see many other centre-halves capable of doing. That’s why he’s so important to us."

Schar made 36 league appearances for the Magpies last season, scoring four goals in the process. The 32-year-old's goal scoring prowess is well known with the player synonymous with well struck efforts that end up rippling the back of the net.

As he is currently away representing Switzerland at Euro 2024, Sport Witness states that any negotiations will not take place until the tournament has concluded.

With Newcastle eyeing up moves for a number of high profile defenders, shifting Schar's £45,000 per week wages off the books could be what allows the Magpies to go after some of their top targets.

England's abysmal defensive display against Germany on Friday highlighted a number of issues that need addressing before next summer's tournament

Until Germany came to visit on Friday, England had never conceded four goals in a single game under Sarina Wiegman. After letting in three before the break for the first time in almost 10 years, the fourth marked the worst defensive performance in the Dutchwoman's tenure – both statistically and on the eye. While the final score was eventually close at 4-3, it certainly flattered England.

In eight months' time, the Lionesses will start their European Championship title defence in Switzerland and so, in that sense, this defeat could be something of a blessing in disguise, as it could serve as a well-needed wake-up call for a team that has the ability to retain that trophy, but only with some improvements.

"None of us ever want to lose, but if we don't lose, we're never going to learn, and if we don't play top opponents like Germany, we're never going to be ready for the Euros," was the take of defender Jess Carter after the game. "I think we'd all take days like this now, rather than in however many months' time."

So, what will Wiegman, her staff and her players have taken from Friday's defeat? And, with three more friendlies in 2024 to come, how can those issues be addressed before Euro 2025 kicks off? GOAL picks out six areas that need attention…

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  Depth in midfield

  England have a whole host of options in the No.10 position, but what about the two roles behind it? Over the last few years, Keira Walsh has locked down the holding role and Georgia Stanway has done the same in the box-to-box position. They’ve formed a great relationship by playing together so often, and in so many big games, and they will almost always be picked if they are fit, not just for important matches in qualifying or at tournaments but also in friendlies. That’s part of the problem.

  Wiegman is well-known for playing her tried and trusted XI very often, with her not making a single change to her starting line-up through the Euro 2022 triumph. While that helps players build relationships, it does also prevent those on the fringes on the squad from having partnerships that are as strong, and it also hinders a national team’s ability to build real depth in certain positions.

  That’s the case in midfield for England. For a long time, Walsh’s main competition for the holding role was Katie Zelem, but she hasn’t been called up since December. The former Manchester United captain moved to the U.S. when she joined Angel City in the summer, a move that felt good for her career and progression as a player. However, last week, Wiegman was clear on where Zelem stands right now in her England team. “We keep an eye on her, but at the moment, she's not in our plans,” she said.

  As for Stanway’s competition, that has come from different players over time, albeit not in a particularly strong sense since Jill Scott retired after Euro 2022. Laura Coombs and Jordan Nobbs went to the World Cup last year, yet neither played much in the build-up to the tournament and only Coombs got game time at it, with two substitute appearances totalling 96 minutes.

  If something was to happen to Walsh or Stanway in a crucial moment, who would be there to step up? Some of those No.10s could adapt and drop deeper, as could Stanway to Walsh’s role, but there is no natural option to back-up either, and especially not one who has been exposed to the England environment properly.

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  Lack of a proper left-back

  One issue that has been prevalent throughout Wiegman’s tenure is the lack of options at left-back. There’s a reason why Rachel Daly, a No.9, played every game there at Euro 2022. Of course, it’s not entirely the coach’s fault that there isn’t a go-to player in this position. This is international football; you can’t just go out and buy a left-back. However, it’s hard not to feel like a better solution could’ve been found at some point in the past three years.

  There have been English players playing at left-back in that time who haven’t really got a look in. Gabby George has had a few call-ups but has never actually played minutes under Wiegman, Hannah Blundell’s last involvement with England came in 2019 and Poppy Pattinson wasn’t selected this month, despite starting the season strongly with Brighton in what is a position of need for England. None of these options are flawless. George’s position has changed a lot for club, Blundell is right-footed and Pattinson has been thriving as more of a wing-back. One way or another, none have suited Wiegman’s plans.

  At the moment, Niamh Charles, who is missing from the October camp due to injury, is England’s first-choice left-back. She is a practical option, given she plays the role at Chelsea, even if she started out as a forward. But that she is not left-footed does present a slight issue, especially given the rest of Wiegman’s defence is also usually right-footed.

  If Charles isn’t available, as she wasn’t on Friday when England faced Germany, there are a lack of suitable replacements, too. Jess Carter, who can play anywhere across the back line, filled in at Wembley, but she hadn’t played the role since doing so for England in July – and it showed.

  Is there something Wiegman can do to prevent this being an obvious weakness? Is there another option she could look at before the Euros next summer? Could a return to the 3-5-2 formation from the World Cup help mask the issue? Only time will tell whether she believes it is a big enough problem to find a solution.

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  Dependence on Bronze

  England also have a slight right-back problem. It’s a position Lucy Bronze has held down for years now, but with her celebrating her 33rd birthday just this week, it’s certainly fair to wonder who her successor will be, even if she is bullish about playing at the highest level for as long as she can.

  For a spell, Maya Le Tissier looked like the obvious choice. After coming through as a central defender, Hope Powell moved her to right-back in her third senior season at Brighton, pointing to her fitness and athleticism as reasons why she believed the youngster would thrive there. She was right, and Le Tissier excelled.

  However, in the last few seasons, she’s moved central again at Manchester United. Head coach Marc Skinner believes what Le Tissier contributes in possession makes her more influential for his team there, but that has cost her more opportunities with England. Wiegman sees her as a right-back but has been grouping her in with the centre-backs when choosing her squads, because that’s where she has been playing. That approach has certainly been questioned by many, given the coach has often played the likes of Daly and Carter in roles they do not play at club.

  That appears to be changing a little bit now. Le Tissier has twice started at right-back in 2024 and she replaced Bronze from the bench on Friday. Unless another player for this position emerges, Le Tissier is the best option Wiegman has to build up as a strong back-up for Bronze and she should continue to give her opportunities there ahead of next summer’s Euros to ensure she is ready to step up if needed.

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  Greenwood’s role

  It was both surprising and unsurprising to see Alex Greenwood among the substitutes on Friday against Germany. Surprising because she has been the best, most consistent and most in-form English centre-back for several years now, but unsurprising because she has struggled for starts for her country throughout 2024 despite all that.

  Only once Leah Williamson suffered her ACL injury last April did Greenwood really get a run in the team in her best position and she took it, easily marking herself out as England’s most impressive performer on the way to the World Cup final. However, since Williamson has returned and Wiegman has ditched the back three, which allowed her to slot more of the top quality centre-backs at her disposal into her XI, Greenwood has lost out.

  What made it more surprising on Friday was that Williamson has not been in good form. “That just kind of sums up how she’s been playing this season,” said Ian Wright on punditry for , referring to the sloppy pass from the Arsenal star which led to Germany’s first goal. "I know that's the England captain but Alex Greenwood is playing better at the moment and the way Alex Greenwood takes care of that ball, we probably don't give away that goal [if she plays].”

  It's difficult to know what to say anymore. Greenwood is clearly England's best centre-back right now, and has been for a while. She would only improve this team if given the opportunity on a regular basis.

Thomas Tuchel is set to be named as the new England manager after agreeing a deal with the FA this week.

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• Tuchel agrees to become Three Lions boss
• Unveiling expected this week
• Will end Lee Carsley's run as interim coach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a quick turn of events, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss is set to pick up the mantle from Gareth Southgate and lead England into the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel is widely reported to have finalised a deal with the Football Association, despite being a leading contender for the Manchester United job should Erik ten Hag be sacked in the coming weeks. Tuchel is a Champions League winner and specialised in tournaments and is favoured to finally get the Three Lions over the line in at a major competition.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tuchel's appointment marks a shift away from the English-born candidates that the FA had previously favoured. Reports suggest the governing body also sounded out Pep Guardiola for the job, but could not guarantee he would take it, even if it was at the end of the 2024-25 campaign and his current contract with Manchester City. Tuchel has plenty of experience working with Premier League players, including ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who he brought to Munich just over a year ago.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 51-year-old will become the first German-born manager to take charge of England. As well as this, Tuchel will be only the third foreign coach to lead the Three Lions after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TUCHEL?

  Interim boss Lee Carsley is due to take charge of two more matches in November before stepping aside, but his recent comments outlining England's need for a world-class coach may have ended his time in the dugout after just four matches. The Three Lions take on Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month and could see Tuchel step in immediately, though some reports suggest he won't start work until January 1, 2025.