Rather like Potter, the dweebiness makes him a target for bullying. It is a visceral reaction in a context where old blokes like me are used to football managers either being 'mens' men' like Venables, or oddballs like Bobby Robson. Beardy librarian types trigger an abreaction. I feel it myself. Put it this way, if I were a young lady, I'd never shag him.
All that said aside, when I take my old school spectacles off, he's done a decent enough job in the qualification and tournament context, and gets most of the pelters on here for daring to not pick the lord Dunk, and instead selecting an oaf from ManU. But....it's his call. We forget so quickly how the German manager stuck with Miroslav Klose when he was a plodder at Kaiserslauten and Bremen. Fifteen goals for Bremen in 2006, and thirteen for Germany. One may raise an eyebrow at Southgate for this, but in the great scheme of things he's been treated outrageously by many. Myself included.
i have done us to win tonight.....its shit or bust in the short term and if we loose there will be a run on pull ups and tena products up and down the country , not that i really care any more , it's purely financial ....UP THE ALBION....!!
He has the opportunity to experiment tonight. I hope he does so and that people will lay off him if it doesn’t come off. That said, if he picks the usual suspects then he seriously needs to be looking over his shoulder.
His boring and excitementfree team has been lucky to be filled with such hard-to-nobble talent and such a generous run in tournaments. The luck has run out. His instance on ignoring players coming through and leaving JWP at home despite having players to be a real threat from set pieces (not to mention wankering them in for himself!) is inexcusable. He has the tactical flexibility of a potato and the charisma of celery.
His tenure must end after the World Cup and he must not be picked up as a pundit. He's out of date, out of touch and out of time.