Clinton Morrison on Lee Carsley's future, facing former clubs and Chris Wilder's celebrations
Will Jackson 
Popular pundit Clinton Morrison has joined up with the Freebets.com team this season to discuss the biggest games and talking points each week in the EFL.
The former Crystal Palace, Birmingham and Republic of Ireland striker will be giving his views and predictions on the pick of the matches each week, as well going over some of the hot topics in the football world.
This week Clinton discusses former international roommate Lee Carsley's future after he handed the England reigns over to Thomas Tuchel, what sort of reception Gustavo Hamer and Callum O'Hare can expect at Coventry and partying after big wins and why Chris Wilder may have gone too early with his own celebrations.
Here's a full transcript of everything discussed this week.
Take advantage of Clinton's predictions using the best football betting offers from our top football betting sites.
Lee Carsley's England Success
Q: Lee Carsley’s time with England has come to an end. How do you rate the job he has done overall?
I spoke to him and he said it was challenging, but not the coaching part. He loves the coaching. But you've got to realise the England job is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world, so of course it can be very challenging.
I thought he did ever so well. He did an interview after the Greece game and he said the most disappointing thing was the loss to Greece. That is it. He wants to win everything, and that is the confidence of the man and that's why I love it.
I think that will be his only disappointment, losing to Greece but I thought he was bold. He played (against Greece in October) without a number nine, he played all the attacking players like Palmer, Foden and Bellingham like everyone wanted them to do - and they moaned at Gareth for not doing it - but when he did it, everyone moaned at him.
I think the job he's done is fantastic. I saw him after the game and I told him the only way is up. I know he will probably go back with the England Under 21s, but he will probably get a lot of job offers.
There is pressure on Tuchel, because if Tuchel doesn’t deliver, then Lee’s name might come back into the reckoning again. You have got to give Tuchel time, but I think Lee Carsley can walk away with his head held high.
I think he has given a lot of options for Tuchel by bringing in a lot of players from the under 21s who have come in, excelled and done brilliantly. Someone like (Noni) Madueke, now he's putting pressure on people to be in that squad because he's been exciting.
Q: You could say that playing all of those attacking midfielders was a bit of an easy option because it’s what everyone wanted, but he also showed he can make tough calls like dropping Harry Kane against Greece last week….
He might have been resting him, but he didn't come out and say that. He said, basically, he's looking at a different way to play because when England get to the World Cup or qualify, you have to have different options.
If Harry Kane's not available and you're playing against a different team, you have to have different players available. Ollie Watkins is that guy, he goes in behind, he wants to stretch where Harry Kane is better coming deeper and collecting, as you saw, for his pass to Bellingham for the penalty.
Hardly anyone in the England squad could do that.
I think only the two players that were involved in it could pick a pass like that, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, but Watkins is a different threat and it works, because he scores the first goal, so it's a master stroke from him, and they go on and they win 3-0.
He's not afraid to make big calls like that. He's been like that since the day I've known him, I was so happy for him.
Q: Which of the young players that came in made a real impression for you?
I thought him and (Anthony) Gordon combined really well. (Morgan) Gibbs-White came in, (Tino) Livramento came in and did well, (Taylor) Harwood-Bellis came in and scored an important header, and centre-back is a problem position, even though they have got some good ones.
I thought Mark Guehi was fantastic in the two games. I think he's made that spot his own alongside John Stones and then Ezri Konsa as well comes into the reckoning. They're exciting players.
But there were two players who I thought were outstanding.
One who came off the bench in Morgan Rogers, I think the pass he did for the goal in Greece where he plays it inside when he's beating the press, is fantastic. He must have eyes in the back of his head, because he sees someone. And I know there's still a lot of work to score, but he just looked natural.
Sometimes you go into international football and you don't look natural. Rogers, he just looks like a natural player. He should be there or there abouts, which is why he gave all these players opportunities, and it's food for thought for Thomas Tuchel.
The other one was Curtis Jones - what a player, by the way - I thought he was outstanding.
I thought even before he scored the goal in Greece, I thought he was brilliant. But then after he scored the goal, and he did the little flip-flap on the side of the pitch - it was outrageous. I've seen him a lot at Liverpool. I think he's a talented individual, and there's competition for places in that midfield now because he stepped up to the mark and threw his hat into the mix and said, ‘I'm here for it’. I thought he was brilliant.
The way he can control the game. He can play as an eight or as a six. For me, he's a top player. And I thought he was outstanding and bossed it in both games.
So that's why I credit giving these players opportunities. They've grabbed it now over to Thomas Tuchel, you've got the big decisions to make now.
Q: You have mentioned that you’re close to Carsley. He said after the game that he hadn’t really enjoyed the media side of being England manager - do you think he will definitely be back with the under 21s or will he fancy a proper manager’s gig?
Me personally, I think he'll probably go back with the England Under 21s. I think he enjoyed that, working with Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott.
I don't know, if a big Premier League team came in for him then it'd be hard to turn down, but I think the job he's done for England Under 21s is developing these young players. I think it's great for him as a person to see these youngsters come through under him now go and flourish in the first team, because then he's played a part of their development going into the first team.
I would say he’s going to be with the U21s. And that's what all the talk was around Wembley when we were going into the stadium, a lot of journalists around saying they hear he will go back to the 21s, which is not a bad job for him.
I would have liked for him to have got the England job, I've said that many times.
The England job is just as big as being the Prime Minister of the country! I don't care what anyone says. You get scrutinised everywhere you go, and you've got people following you down the street, people telling you you're not good enough. It's one of the biggest jobs ever.
I feel like he would have been ready for it, in my eyes. But I just feel like him going back to the England and the 21s is good for him, and then, as I said, the only way is up for him, and we'll have to see what happens.
Q: With Tuchel only being on an 18-month contract, it puts Carsley in quite a good position to be the next in line…
Gareth got a lot of criticism but the way he got the players together, got them involved on the media side as well, it was fantastic so huge credit must go to him.
But everyone wanted a manager who has won stuff, and Tuchel has done that. He has the experience, and he is no nonsense.
He has 18 months now to prove himself, and it’s going to be about qualifying for the World Cup and trying to win it. He is ruthless, so I’ve heard. He will do it his way and won’t listen to what people say. You have seen the confrontations he has had with managers before and how passionate he is on the touchline, so he will do it his way and has the experience for that.
You have to wish him well and good luck, but I’m happy for my mate Lee Carsley, I thought the job he did was brilliant. I did ask him why he had to beat Ireland so heavily!
Hamer & O'Hare back at Coventry
Q: Club football returns this weekend and one game that caught the eye is Coventry v Sheffield United. It's the first time back at their old club for Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, what sort of reaction will they get and how easy is it to deal with that?
I don’t think either player asked to leave. Maybe they offered Callum O’Hare a contract but he didn’t sign it and left on a free, but he had been brilliant there and had an injury. He was one of the best number 10s in the Championship that year when he played.
And as for Hamer, I think he will he get a brilliant reception.
For me he’s one of the best midfielders in the Championship and I think he can go and play in the Premier League, he has the ability to.
I was at the Sheffield Untied v Sheffield Wednesday game last week and there wasn’t much quality on show, but he showed the best bits on the day.
I think both of them will get a good reception. I think Hamer in particular will get a really good one, but so should O’Hare because he served Coventry ever so well.
They’re two good players and I think Coventry fans would have them in their team in a heartbeat at the moment.
It is a big game though, because you don’t know who is going to be in charge.
There are a lot of rumours that Frank Lampard is in advanced talks, so could he be in the hotseat come Saturday? If so, then it is a different football match because you have a new manager and players that are wanting to impress, and Sheffield United are in good form at the moment so it should be a good game.
It’s a hard one to call.
Q: What difference does having a new manager make? Is the ‘new manager bounce’ literally just down to wanting to impress the new guy?
He (Lampard) would have watched a lot of Coventry games if he thought he was getting the job, so he will know the players.
It is a good, talented group of players that Mark Robins has left, so if Lampard does get the job he will have his ideas already, and the players will have to buy into his ideas because if you don’t; you’re not going to play.
They will all want to impress him if he does get the job because he has got a great CV.
If you’re a midfielder then you go and lean on Frank Lampard, especially as a goal-scoring midfielder because of the amount of goals Lampard scored in the Premier League was better than most strikers. I’d go and lean on him if I was a midfielder at that club, if he gets the job.
But as I said, if they want to be kicking on this season then they should be getting a manager in before the Sheffield United game, because this is a huge match for the club.
Post-match celebrations
Q: It’s four wins on the bounce for Sheffield United. We saw Chris Wilder dancing on the tables in the pub after the derby win. Can you remember any big celebrations after specific wins over the years?
When we got to the night of the game, I was like ‘wow’. I managed to score the first goal when we beat them after not playing for seven years and it was brilliant.
Then you’d go out into town and you’d be worshipped. I remember going out partying and stuff and I don’t drink, but all the drinks that night were free. All the orange juices were free all night! We partied, had a sing song and stuff, so yeah you do do that.
But I think it’s a little bit too early for Chris Wilder (to be celebrating) because they have to go back to yours, so he needs to be a bit careful. I made sure I did it after playing them (opponents) twice and beating them twice!
But he was in the moment, it’s a big derby game so why not go and celebrate?
I think if Danny Rohl was doing that, then with my Sheffield Wednesday hat on I would be clapping him as well. It wasn’t the most entertaining game but Sheffield United managed to get the goal that decided it so why not go and celebrate it?
Q: So how do you see this Coventry v Sheffield United game going then?
(Ollie) Arblaster could be injured, it looked like he had a bad knee injury so we’d have to wait and see on that, but I don’t think the defending has been great recently so I reckon 2-2.
Marc Guehi & Crystal Palace's struggles
Q: What game is it for you this weekend?
I don’t think (Adam) Wharton is back and it is going to be a hard game anyway, I’d rather it be at Selhurst Park. I would bite your hand off for a point right now if you asked me. It will be difficult but I’m still not worried about Palace, I think we’ll be alright come the end of the season
Q: Just on Palace, how impressive has Marc Guehi been. He has made that England spot his own hasn’t he?
There’s a reason why he captained the England U21s and is Palace captain now, because he is a leader. He leads by example, is very mature in his interviews and stuff and with John Stones as a partnership, he has been brilliant and has just grown.
He’s so clam and collected on the ball. He will probably be disappointed he didn’t score with the header from the corner but his mate Conor Gallagher scored so it goes down as an assist. He will be going back to Palace full of confidence, but I do believe he has made that spot his own alongside Stones.
I’m just so impressed with how Guehi has done.
Best Free Bet Offers
Content on this site will contain reference to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners. We may receive compensation when you view ads or click on links to those products or services.
