“You or I could manage England”, claims Danny Murphy

Time is ticking until the 2026 World Cup - which means time is also ticking for Thomas Tuchel, England, and his pool of players. Every international break is now crucial; a chance for players to impress the England manager, build chemistry, and establish rhythm - all with limited time on the training ground. Each call-up between now and when Tuchel names his World Cup squad could offer clues about his thinking and which players he truly trusts.

Tuchel has already made some bold decisions with his selections - from dropping Phil Foden to leaving out both Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish for the latest squad ahead of fixtures against Wales and Latvia. Grealish’s omission, in particular, raised eyebrows, so we caught up with former England midfielder Danny Murphy to discuss Tuchel’s choices and assess his tenure one year into the job.

Grealish will have to remain consistent to impress Tuchel

Since his loan move to Everton from Manchester City, Jack Grealish has seemingly found joy in football. The joy in touching the ball, moving with the ball, moving with a freedom across the pitch to see where and how he can cause the most damage. Grealish is a centre piece rather than a piece around the centre. He’s the man again. The loved man by David Moyes and the Everton fan base and it’s made him at home. At Everton, he’s once again a central figure rather than a supporting act, beloved by Toffees faithful.

Despite this resurgence, Murphy believes Grealish will need to sustain his form over a longer period to truly convince Tuchel, who values consistency above short-term bursts.

“I wasn’t surprised Jack didn’t get a call up and it’s not because I’m not a fan of Jack because I am. It’s because the lift in form he’s had is in a small window. For Tuchel, he wants to wait longer to see how consistent he can be, which is the right thing to do. It probably will incentivise Jack because he was brilliant at the weekend (against Crystal Palace) in the second half.”

“You or I could manage England”

More than a year into Tuchel’s reign, Murphy believes it’s still difficult to properly judge his impact. For the most part, England’s qualification fixtures don’t offer much of a test - but with odds of 13/2 to win next year’s World Cup, clearly they are still expected to do big things in the near future.

While those who back Tuchel can use our bet calculator to see how much you could earn from a Three Lions success, Murphy argues that almost anyone could steer the team through successfully.

“I find it hard to judge England managers and the team for the most part because they’re up against poor opposition. You know they’ll put everyone behind the ball so you have to be patient and find a way through the game. Also, the players are aware they’ve got games for their clubs when they get back so you can’t get the same intensity. Games like those compared to facing France, Holland or Germany in a big competition, just isn’t the same.”

“You can only judge in the big tournaments on in game management, tactical tweaks and all the small things that matter in the small moments. You can tweak players and formations against small nations. You or I could manage England during the qualifiers. It’s not a difficult job. You can tweak players and formations and glide through most of the games.”

“The World Cup, in a warm climate, in a last-16 game will be the true test. It will put him on a pedestal or not. I like Tuchel’s forthrightness and his willingness to make receipts regardless of players' feelings or the media backlash. He doesn’t care and loves and dies by his decision. He’s got a steely determination.”

Harvey Elliott needs time to establish himself at Villa

Harvey Elliott had quietly been eyeing a senior England call-up after a standout campaign for the U21s, where he scored England's opener against Germany in a 3–2 win and was named Player of the Tournament with five goals. A loan move to Aston Villa followed in search of more regular football, but his start to life at Villa Park has been challenging. Elliott hasn’t featured since being subbed off at half-time against Fulham on September 28th - though Murphy urges patience as the attacker settles, whilst warning that Elliott’s chances of a Liverpool return are slim at best.

“I don’t see Harvey Elliott back in a Liverpool shirt to be honest. Not because he’s not super talented but more so the amount of talent Liverpool have at their disposal. Also, the manager has already made a decision on him. He didn’t play much last season. I think in time he’ll become an established member of the Villa team.”

“Harvey has great belief in his ability to impact games. He’s brave on the ball. He makes goals and scores goals. The problem he has is in a game that’s so physical and powerful, he can really play in the centre of the pitch.”

Villa manager Unai Emery has echoed similar thoughts, insisting Elliott just needs time to adapt to Villa’s structure - one that differs greatly from Liverpool’s and Arne Slot’s systems. Murphy also questions whether Elliott has yet identified his best position, or if his physicality or lack thereof will allow him to thrive in central areas.

“He’s got to find a position elsewhere. Is it an inside ten or a bit wider? His talent is unquestionable. It's about where he fits into the system. I think that's a problem he’s finding at Villa. We’ve seen some of the best ever like Messi and David Silva who are small guys and they’re some of the best the world has seen.”

“I’m not saying you can’t be big to be an impactful, talented player. But I think the way the game has gone, you’re up against powerful guys. He needs a position where he can impact games. He just needs time to establish himself and Villa is a great move for him.”

Read more as Danny Murphy gives his thoughts on Liverpool's start to the campaign