Lee Carsley discovers England job is about more than coaching

It was surprising to see Lee Carsley, the temporary England manager, setting up the training equipment on the Aviva Stadium field before his debut game against the Republic of Ireland.

The head coach usually doesn't do this, he lets an assistant handle it. However, in this case it was Carsley who took charge and set the tone for the team. "I do have the necessary qualifications," he said with a smile after leading the team to a 2-0 win, giving hope for the future despite the weak opponent.

Every day, we are discovering more about Carsley, observing his every action. It still feels "odd" - as Harry Kane, the England captain, put it - to have a new leader after so many years with Gareth Southgate. Comparisons are bound to be made. It will take time to get used to the change.

"I really don't want to give up that role. One of my greatest skills is coaching," Carsley expressed, discussing his role as the pre-match cones man. "It allows me to interact with the players and have a positive impact on them. Even the possession drill we did had a strategic purpose. It is beneficial. I have previously mentioned how limited the time is to work with the players."

Morgan Gibbs-White, who played for England Under-21s under Carsley's management, made his debut as a substitute in the 77th minute. The 24-year-old player from Nottingham Forest described Carsley as a very involved and attentive manager.

I think this shows his confidence in his own ideas, and when we see that, it makes us have confidence in him. It's really positive to hear directly from the manager both on and off the field.

Carsley is more focused on comfortable athletic wear rather than formal, three-piece suits. He prefers coaching over managing. This brings up a question, especially after the controversy before the Ireland match - where he refused to sing the national anthem, causing a stir before the game even started. Can the England manager be solely focused on coaching on the field? Carsley wanted to emphasize that he is independent and will not change for anyone. He will do things in his own unique way.

"I don't consider myself a manager, definitely not," he explained. "I see myself more as a head coach. I have a great support system that helps me and takes a lot of the pressure off. This allows me to focus on coaching and being on the field, hopefully making a positive impact. That's how I have to approach it, I couldn't see myself doing it any other way." When asked if he had been clear with the Football Association about his approach to the job, Carsley responded, "I am fortunate to have bosses who understand my strengths and won't push me to be someone I'm not."

I am best at coaching and being on the field. Talking to journalists right now is not my strong suit. I know it's part of the job, like I saw on Friday...

A quick mention of the anthem controversy, which must have been quite surprising for Carsley - some of it has already been talked about. When an England manager, someone from Birmingham, says they will not sing before a game, it becomes a notable story because it is uncommon and catches people's attention; it will probably spark conversations.

In an ideal situation, the blog would examine and analyze Carsley's rationale for his viewpoint, exploring the circumstances as well - including his dual citizenship; he has a deep connection to his Irish roots. With England being a diverse country, there are numerous strong opinions expressed on the matter.

Carsley handled the aftermath of the game very well, without any anger or blame. He joked about his mistake of sitting on the Ireland bench before the match, saying he has had plenty of experience sitting on the bench himself.

In 1998-99, Ron Atkinson was called from a holiday in the Caribbean to help Nottingham Forest avoid relegation. He accidentally went into the Arsenal dugout at the City Ground and saw Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars, two of Arsenal's top players. He was surprised that a team with such talent was at the bottom of the league.

Carsley is easy to like; he is willing to answer questions as honestly as he can. However, can he follow in Southgate's footsteps in terms of addressing difficult and controversial topics and using his influence to make important statements? Is it important for him to do so?

Carsley will rely on his trusted group of coaches for assistance, as well as the FA's technical director, John McDermott, whom he shares a strong bond with. Their relationship began at a crucial point in his career, following his departure from the assistant manager position at Sheffield United in October 2013.

Feeling disappointed and discouraged, Carsley landed a position with the Premier League where he examined the coaching initiatives of Arsenal, Aston Villa, West Brom, and Tottenham, the team where McDermott was employed.

Carsley acknowledges that McDermott has helped him see many things, particularly when it comes to player development. McDermott has been instrumental in guiding him and it is clear to everyone that McDermott is playing a key role in the search for England's upcoming permanent manager.

McDermott was seen talking to Carsley after the Ireland match next to the field. What was their conversation about?

"That's great progress, but let's focus on getting the win on Tuesday," Carsley responded. He is also excited about the upcoming match against Finland at Wembley.