As he is expected to stand down from the England job after the Euros this summer, the word on the street is that Sir Jim Radcliffe is interested in taking him to Manchester United for the start of next season. If I was a Man U fan, I'd be hoping he gets nowhere near the club.
His record for England is second only to Sir Alf Ramsey. In his three tournaments in charge of the first team he has a 4th at the World Cup 2018, a 2nd at Euro 2020 and a last 16 at World Cup 2022. The players seem to love him and he has created a bond between the players that was sadly lacking with the Golden Generation of the noughties. But his tactical faults are obvious and he has made no ground in trying to negate them. A strong argument could be made that his team are even better than that famous Gerrard, Scholes, Beckham, Owen team that won diddly squat, all those years ago. The pundits all agree that the starting team at this summer's Euros will include Bellingham, Foden, Kane, Saka and Rice, with Rashford, Bowen, Maddison, Toney, Watkins, Grealish, Gordon and Cole Palmer all fighting for a place, with Sterling not even in the reckoning. At full back he has Walker, Trent A-A, Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw and Chilwell to choose from.
What depth in talent England possesses! Maybe that is part of the problem.
On Saturday night England faced a poor Brazil team at Wembley. Brazil have lost their last 3 games and have gone through 2 managers in that time. With a new manager at the helm, this was England's chance to put down a marker with the Euros on a few months away. They lost. I noticed from the start that when England had possesion high up the pitch there was a distinct lack of passing options available. When you watch a Klopp/ Arteta/ Pep team playing there are always men available, forwards, sideways or back. Not England. I noticed that at the last tournament. I was so used to watching Sterling for City, that it was weird to see him getting caught on the ball because there was no-one near him in the same coloured shirt. 2 years on and the same problem exists.
There is also the problem with subs. He just doesn't know how to change a game. In the last world cup England were being held to a goalless draw by the USA. England looked devoid of ideas. The USA had the bus well and truly parked and there was FA the English could do get around it. Southgate had Trent A-A and Foden on the bench but didn't use either. Result 0-0. There are multiple examples of Southgate not making the right subs or not making them at the right time.
On Saturday night, with the score at 0-0 and in need of some oomph to break down the Brazilians, he brought on Gomez, Dunk and Bowen.
Maddison, Toney, Rashford and Mainoo, who were warming up, had to return to their seats. Brazil then scored and the necessary changes took place too late. Southgate famously brought on Grealish in the World Cup quarter-final when England were losing 2-1 in the 97th minute, as if that was enough time for him to turn a game around!
But arguably his worst fault is sticking with rubbish centre-backs. He was a CB himself so you would imagine he would know what he is doing here. Yet he stuck with Tyrone Mings and is now sticking with Harry Maguire, despite successive Man U managers deeming him surplus to requirements. Against Brazil, he was rubbish, unsurprisingly. Dunk, no better. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod against Belgium. If England are to win the Euros, Southgate will need to plug this hole.
Personally, I think England have been relatively successful despite Southgate not because of him. When England have won difficult matches, it's because the players have worked it out not the gaffer. I can't see how they can win a tournament with him in the job. As for Man U, are they about to make another catastrophic appointment?
His record for England is second only to Sir Alf Ramsey. In his three tournaments in charge of the first team he has a 4th at the World Cup 2018, a 2nd at Euro 2020 and a last 16 at World Cup 2022. The players seem to love him and he has created a bond between the players that was sadly lacking with the Golden Generation of the noughties. But his tactical faults are obvious and he has made no ground in trying to negate them. A strong argument could be made that his team are even better than that famous Gerrard, Scholes, Beckham, Owen team that won diddly squat, all those years ago. The pundits all agree that the starting team at this summer's Euros will include Bellingham, Foden, Kane, Saka and Rice, with Rashford, Bowen, Maddison, Toney, Watkins, Grealish, Gordon and Cole Palmer all fighting for a place, with Sterling not even in the reckoning. At full back he has Walker, Trent A-A, Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw and Chilwell to choose from.
What depth in talent England possesses! Maybe that is part of the problem.
On Saturday night England faced a poor Brazil team at Wembley. Brazil have lost their last 3 games and have gone through 2 managers in that time. With a new manager at the helm, this was England's chance to put down a marker with the Euros on a few months away. They lost. I noticed from the start that when England had possesion high up the pitch there was a distinct lack of passing options available. When you watch a Klopp/ Arteta/ Pep team playing there are always men available, forwards, sideways or back. Not England. I noticed that at the last tournament. I was so used to watching Sterling for City, that it was weird to see him getting caught on the ball because there was no-one near him in the same coloured shirt. 2 years on and the same problem exists.
There is also the problem with subs. He just doesn't know how to change a game. In the last world cup England were being held to a goalless draw by the USA. England looked devoid of ideas. The USA had the bus well and truly parked and there was FA the English could do get around it. Southgate had Trent A-A and Foden on the bench but didn't use either. Result 0-0. There are multiple examples of Southgate not making the right subs or not making them at the right time.
On Saturday night, with the score at 0-0 and in need of some oomph to break down the Brazilians, he brought on Gomez, Dunk and Bowen.
Maddison, Toney, Rashford and Mainoo, who were warming up, had to return to their seats. Brazil then scored and the necessary changes took place too late. Southgate famously brought on Grealish in the World Cup quarter-final when England were losing 2-1 in the 97th minute, as if that was enough time for him to turn a game around!
But arguably his worst fault is sticking with rubbish centre-backs. He was a CB himself so you would imagine he would know what he is doing here. Yet he stuck with Tyrone Mings and is now sticking with Harry Maguire, despite successive Man U managers deeming him surplus to requirements. Against Brazil, he was rubbish, unsurprisingly. Dunk, no better. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod against Belgium. If England are to win the Euros, Southgate will need to plug this hole.
Personally, I think England have been relatively successful despite Southgate not because of him. When England have won difficult matches, it's because the players have worked it out not the gaffer. I can't see how they can win a tournament with him in the job. As for Man U, are they about to make another catastrophic appointment?
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
Great to see Sven manage the Reds legends V Ajax last saturday . He is a lifelong Red fan & won't be with us much longer . Nice to see City players who were injured for international duty this week make miraculous recoveries in time for the Arsenal game next Sunday .
ReplyDeleteHeartbroken for Wales and Dan James.
ReplyDeleteSo near yet....
DeleteIf Mourinho was put in charge of that England squad they'd win a trophy. Just a fact.
ReplyDeleteAny decent manager could work wonders with that squad Steve.
DeleteGreat result at Hampden 😁
Bradley for Captain!
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