Soccer

LEE CARSLEY is ready to take on the massive ­pressure that comes with the England job.The interim manager is increasingly likely to replace Gareth Southgate full-time after two wins in his first two games.Lee Carsley says the England job ‘ticks the box’ for himCredit: AlamyAngel Gomes is one of the new stars emerging under CarsleyCredit: GettyCarsley came  under fire for not singing the national anthem ahead of his first match against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.But asked whether he is preparing for everything, he replied: “Am I up for it? Yes. It is more about the football, definitely. “From a confidence point of view, I’ve shown I can do it, or we’ve shown we can do it as a staff.“It’s built up nicely for the next camp. The squad selection almost starts immediately, so there’s no rest.”READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSCarsley has six Nations League games to make his mark.England ran out 2-0 winners  against  the Irish on Saturday and then Finland on Tuesday.Next, the Three Lions are at home to Greece on October 10 before travelling to Helsinki to face Finland three days later.Although being manager of England has always been known as the impossible job, Carsley claimed: “I’ve not heard that one. It’s a really good job.Most read in FootballHarry Kane sunk Finland with a double in his 100th England gameCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“It’s one where, when you look at different opportunities, the first thing you think is: ‘Can you win?’“This job definitely ticks that box. We’ve got the players to not only  be competitive, but to win a major trophy.”England’s player ratings against FinlandCarsley, understandably, was in good spirits on Tuesday night after Harry Kane’s double finished the Finns at Wembley.The former Everton midfielder added: “Yes, it’s been a good week.“You play it out in your mind how it’s going to go and it definitely couldn’t have gone any better in terms of the way the players responded to some of the concepts we tried to put in place.“The way the new players have gelled with the old ones. It’s been an all-round positive camp.“I’ve been lucky enough to see the job up close over the last couple of years with me doing the Under-21s, so I could see some of the challenges that go with it.”Over both games, there was certainly a difference with the style of play, as illustrated by the brilliant move which led to Jack Grealish’s goal in  reland.Some of the overall style against Finland – with Angel Gomes in his deep-lying midfield role – was also extremely encouraging.Carsley added: “We’re really lucky with players we’ve got on the pathway. We’ve got some really exciting players.“The first thing I look at in a player is what they’re really good at, rather than what they can’t do. The stuff they can’t do we try and hide.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We’ve had that paid back with the performances the players have put in. It’s not surprising because of the quality we’ve got.”Carsley will be back at his other job tomorrow, coaching students aged 16 to 21  at an academy in the west Midlands.England ratings vs Finland: Kane bags double on his big day… but he’s not the Three Lions’ star manTRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD showed his brilliance as Harry Kane’s brace saw England beat Finland.Interim boss Lee Carsley maintained his 100 per cent win record in charge of England.SunSports Tom Barclay has given their ratings of the England players…Jordan Pickford – 6Had nothing to do.Trent Alexander-Arnold – STAR MAN 9England’s best player as he supplied some beautiful balls from deep that on another day would have led to a glut of assists.He did get one in the end, although that was more thanks to Harry Kane’s lethal finishing.Ezri Konsa – 6Showed his ability on the ball with a super ball through for Bukayo Saka on the half hour.Twisted his ankle early in the second half, surprisingly played on before being replaced on the hour.John Stones – 6Played at left-sided centre-back before shifting when Levi Colwill came on.Solid though not much to deal with. Now 19 short of 100 caps.Rico Lewis – 7In the right place to snuff out early danger from ex-Norwich man Teemu Pukki.Came close to a goal on his second England cap when prodding wide after the break.Declan Rice – 5Lost possession to give Finland their one and only big chance which Topi Kesinen should have squared to Pukki, but instead fired wildly over.Angel Gomes – 7Wanted the ball from the off, just like Lee Carsley thought he would. Deliciously drilled cross-field ball to Alexander-Arnold early doors showed his range.Bukayo Saka – 7Almost scored and almost assisted in a lively display.Unlucky that Kane was millimetres offside after the centurion had headed home the Arsenal man’s wicked delivery.Jack Grealish – 7Enjoyed being in the heart of the action at No10 again, as he did on Saturday against the Republic of Ireland.Carsley clearly likes him – it will be fascinating to see what happens when Mssrs Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all return.Anthony Gordon – 7Caused problems down the left with his rapid pace – how we needed some of that in the Euros.But did not have on his shooting boots as he fluffed a decent chance early in the second half.Harry Kane – 8Two blistering finishes took the centurion to an astonishing 68 goals in 100 caps.Was denied the chance of a hat-trick in front of his family when subbed off to a standing ovation for the final ten.Kane said he fancies his chances of reaching a ton of international goals – and it does not seem fanciful.SUBSLevi Colwill (on for Konsa, 61) – 6Next to no threat from Finland by the time he came on.Eberechi Eze (on for Gordon, 66) – 6Raced on to yet another special Trent pass but could not loop it over the keeper.Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 66) – 7Looked to make an impact every time he got the ball on debut. Excellent one-two with Trent saw the Chelsea man tee up Kane’s second.Marc Guehi (on for Stones, 80) – 6As with Colwill, little to do.Jarrod Bowen (on for Kane, 81) – 6Played up top after Kane went off for the final minutes, as he has done for West Ham. More

CHELSEA previously failed in a bid to move away from Stamford Bridge back in 2012, ultimately losing out to a shopping centre development.The Blues are once again considering waving goodbye to the Bridge as they look to build a new stadium.Chelsea are looking to upgrade on Stamford BridgeCredit: APThe Blues’ stadium has a much smaller capacity than many of their rivals’ groundsCredit: GettyChelsea proposed plans to takeover Battersea Power Station back in 2012Credit: Chelsea FCTheir plans would have made a spectacular stadium, keeping the historic chimneys in placeCredit: Chelsea FCChelsea have been keen to increase their capacity for decades with the London giants currently only able to host 40,341 fans in their SW6 home.And they thought they might have found the perfect place to move into some 12 years ago, when they eyed up Battersea Power Station.Chelsea execs tried to buy the then derelict coal-fired power station with plans to convert it into a 60,000 seat stadium in the heart of Southwest London.The stadium plans looked to include the iconic chimneys that have stood as part of Battersea Power Station since its construction in the 1940s.READ MORE ON CHELSEAWhile the building’s exposed brick was also set to be kept in place according to mock-up plans that were released at the time.Their plan involved building one stand in the existing structure of the building and then creating a new stadium around it.However, things didn’t go to plan and the sensational blueprints were ditched when their bid was rejected by the powers at be.Instead, a Malaysian company turned the Grade II listed building into a shopping centre filled with high-end retail stores, restaurants, a cinema and a number of luxury apartments.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThat development finally opened in 2022.That isn’t the only abandoned plans that Chelsea have had either with the club pitching a 60,000 seat redevelopment of Stamford Bridge just three years later.PREM RULE CHANGESThe club even received all the required planning permission from the local council and the Mayor of London to begin work on the plans.But that idea was ditched back in 2018 when the club released a shock statement announcing its decision to pull the development, citing the “unfavourable investment climate”.Any proposed move away from Stamford Bridge would be particularly difficult for Chelsea due to a fan group known as Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO).The CPO own both the pitch at Stamford Bridge and the name Chelsea Football Club Limited.That would mean that if Chelsea are to burn down the Bridge then they would likely have to change their club name to bypass the CPO group.Battersea Power Station was ultimately used in a different redevelopmentCredit: AlamyThe building is now filled with shops and restaurantsCredit: GettyChelsea will lose their soul by leaving Stamford BridgeBy Matt PennJUST what London needs – another £1billion bowl-shaped, soulless football stadium.No offence to Spurs, because theirs looks great, but it’s not like they had years of title-winning history to celebrate at White Hart Lane.Arsenal moved on from Highbury a couple of years after their last Premier League title win in 2004, and to no avail, they’ve been chasing that glory ever since.And the less said about West Ham’s move from Upton Park, the better. The Olympic Stadium pales in significance to Upton Park, where binoculars weren’t needed to see the pitch from Row Z.It’s no secret Chelsea fans have become disillusioned with the club since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich two years ago.The sacking of two full-time managers in that time, a 12th-place finish in the league, no European football, billions spent on Brazilian teenagers you’ve never heard of and civil war between the owners have turned the club into a laughing stock.Seems like the perfect time to revamp plans to leave Stamford Bridge, doesn’t it?According to The Guardian, Chelsea are in talks to move to a new 60,000-seater site in Earl’s Court, something they’ve attempted before.Chelsea are said to have made plans for the Lillie Bridge depot site as an area that could be developed in a move that could cost hundreds of millions.Forget that so much else still needs fixing on the pitch, that the results are still not going the way they should, that players still can’t seem to click on a consistent basis.The owners, who are said to be looking to buy each other out already, might not think it, and the seats might be a little rusty, but fans do value tradition.The Bridge has been a place supporters can call home every other Saturday. It’s raw, the stands are close to the pitch, it has four sides, and most importantly, it’s owned by the fans.For any deal to go through, Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), a group made up of over 14,000 fans, have to approve a move away from the 42,000-seater stadium.On the other hand, redvelopment of Stamford Bridge would see the team move away from the stadium for a number of years, likely double the three years Tottenham spent at Wembley.But why not overhaul each stand one-by-one? Both Liverpool and Fulham had stands refurbished and they were able to stay put. There are also plans for Crystal Palace to do the same.If Boehly and Eghbali are so desperate to put money at the forefront of their decision-making, then go about it in a way which will appease fans.Sadly, football isn’t really about fans anymore, and it’d be easy to say Chelsea will lose their soul if they leave Stamford Bridge.But you fear they already have. More