by RedRedWine » Wed Jul 17, 2024 1:38 pm
Could somebody pass on Neils regards to Gareth Southgate? I'm not sure if he reads Shrimpsvoices
I think that overall you have to give Southgate credit - he has done a great job, falling just short of winning the big competitions but going much further than any of his predecessors did. He does have a great squad of players to pick from on paper, but so did many others - when you compare the 2004 squad that Sven had with this team, I don't think many current individuals would get in.... but that's the thing about football; it is a team sport and collectively that is what Gareth has built; a solid team that shows more togetherness and effort than we have seen from other more talented generations. The club allegiances have largely gone (possibly because Manchester United are now completely shite and the make-up of the squad is drawn from a wider pool of clubs that aren't as self-interested).
That said, I do think it is time for the team to evolve and move forward under a new manager. Whilst it would be a brave man to drop the likes of Harry Kane and Kyle Walker, both played particularly poorly/didn't suit the formation/tactics Gareth was looking to implement at the Euros - and I think this cost England; who didn't impose themselves as I'm sure they would have liked to throughout the competition despite reaching the final.
I would favour Eddie Howe if he can be persuaded to leave Newcastle, or a good tactical coach such as Graham Potter over a foreign import (unless you can get a Klopp or a Pep, but with both earning big bucks - I think they are out of reach). With Southgate the highest paid coach in the Euros (reputedly £5m per year) - finances would surely rule either of these candidates out. Whoever does get the job, if they go on to finally end Englands long wait for a trophy - it will largely be because of the groundwork achieved by Southgate, not despite it... and because of that he deserves the utmost respect for a job well done.
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