Ask any Englishman if they would want the England national head coach job and it would be a relatively quick, short and emphatic answer.
Yet for the man currently sitting in the dugout, the only answers he has given have been confusing, muddled and caused plenty of distraction.
After England beat Finland 3-1 in their Nations League clash on Sunday, it has given Carsley a record of three wins out of four since taking interim charge from Gareth Southgate.
The 50-year-old has two more games in charge before returning to the Under-21s but he has expressed nothing but a lack of clarity over the full-time position - one that many coaches would be lucky to have a shot at.
Lee Carsley has hardly jumped at the chance to become England boss
Reuters
"I keep saying the same thing. My remit was six games and I'm happy with that," he said after being asked if he wanted the Three Lions job permanently.
"This is a privileged position. Really enjoying it but I didn't enjoy the last two days. I'm not used to losing in an England team, I don't take losing well.
"People are always going to try and put their chips on one side. I'm in the middle. My bosses have made it clear what they need from me.
"This job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and I am still on the path to that."
The lack of a clear answer over his intentions has proved a major distraction since his first day in charge.
If he came out immediately and said he was only keeping the seat warm before the FA made a decision, case closed.
JUST IN: Paul Gascoigne says Gary Lineker is 'leaving Match of the Day' and names his two picks to take over
If he said he wanted the job, then the intention is clear and the FA can work on a list of possible candidates including Carsley.
Instead, Carsley is 'keeping an open mind'. Frankly, that answer is not good enough.
Now the FA look rudderless and racked with indecision and a process that should have appeared diligent and thorough now has all the characteristics of a mess.
Time might be up for Lee Carsley to make an impression as England coach
Reuters
It has made Carsley's position exactly what it is - interim - he cannot be given the full-time position when he was once considered the favourite when he stepped up from the Under-21s.
Indeed, it was his team that won the Under-21 European Championship last year with many stars in the current squad including Cole Palmer, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White.
It seemed only natural that the man who masterminded that success should coach the next generation in charge of the senior side to go one step further than Southgate, who admirably helped the Three Lions reach two finals but, ultimately, lacked that killer instinct to get over the line.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
England beat Finland 3-1 but lost to Greece on Thursday
Reuters
But the FA cannot hire a manager who does not appear to 100 per cent want the job, no matter how much sense it would have made, and will have to look further afield.
Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are the obvious choices if they wanted an Englishman in charge but big-name coaches like Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola have even been mentioned.
Whatever the result, Carsley has talked himself out of what could be the best opportunity of his career.
You may like
