- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,921
True but:The rumours are Southgate is very popular with the players so I don’t think it would benefit the team midway through a tournament. This will be his last tournament anyway he has said as much.
And whether we like it or not will leave as the second most successful ( but country mile) England manager of all time.
He reached a World Cup semi final losing three times and to the only quality teams they played
He reached a final on home soil
He reached a World Cup Quarter Final losing to the only decent team they played.
This is not to say he hasn't achieved, but to say he is a poor tactician, very negative and his chief selling point is the fact he is liked by the players. Which is probably the reason why the marks look good. 50% of international football is likeability.
Of course, it would be absurd and disrespectful to sack him in the middle of tournament and there is no good reason to do it. But England need to move on if it doesn't work out again and they can't get past a decent side. Still, long way to go. I do like Gareth, he's a decent bloke who doesn't deserve the ire he gets from folk who aren't as decent as him.