Gareth Southgate

[better dead than red]

Do you have to start going down this road? It's a slightly different opinion that really isn't outrageous.

 

[Dazzle84]

We probably won't do as well as we have under Southgate - admittedly due to some ridiculously easy draws. He definitely switched the mood around the England team, but probably stayed on a tournament too long.

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

That's a Holland side that France couldn't beat this tournament and a Swiss side that battered Italy and held Germany - The predicted outcome on the match day polls on here had England to lose against both these sides.

That had little to do with how good either of those sides were/are - and was a fair reflection of how inept England's performances had been to that point.
Let's face it we squeaked past Slovakia and Switzerland and were lucky to run into a bang average Dutch. If we'd been the other side of that draw there's no chance we make the final.
I'm glad for England fans who care that Southgate left, but don't expect the FA to get the next appointment right!

 

[blue by birth]

Very disrespectful to many good teams we have beaten, including Switzerland and Holland this tournament.

I wouldn't class Holland or Switzerland as decent teams to be honest but you can only beat what's in front of you..

 

[Gordyola]

No they wouldn’t, but you can’t if and but about the draw it’s a proper Red herring TBH we all know with a better manager we may well have won against Italy and probably reached a World cup final, it is what it is Sven had a great squad got us nowhere, Venables was a good manager with the best side in Euro 96 couldn’t make the final, England were arguably the best side at Italia 90 unlucky not to make the final. Southgates style of play made him a target but it almost worked and we lost to best side at the tournament by a mile.

Almost? But it didn't, because as soon as they came up against a better team it no longer worked and that is a fact so, its not a red herring at all its relevant to what they achieved when he was manager
Regardless of how well the other managers did the country were enthused there were flags and those stupid car banners everywhere, this time hardly any even during final weekend

 

[GortonBlue62]

Sorry but it’s just so funny seeing people who get angry about the FIFA world rankings every time they come out suddenly pretend they actually matter how they sort of (but not actually) help your argument.

Southgate is Englands most successful manager in 50 years, fact.

If you can’t admit that no FA would ever fire their most successful manager in living memory because they *only* achieved the best results in 50 years then perhaps you need to recognise you’ve lost all sense of rationality about Southgate.

The 'most succesful manager in 50 years' argument is too simplistic.

The PL's commercial success has brought about an influx of top foreign coaches and players which has had a massive positive influence on English football.

The PL academies are churning out large numbers of technically gifted players who are the equal of any other country.

Globally it seems that the gap between the traditional giants (Germany, Italy, Brazil etc.) and the minnows is greatly reduced.

All these factors have almost guaranteed that England will go deep into major tournaments.

This is the situation that GS found himself in and in crude statistical terms it gave him a huge advantage over previous England managers like Robson, Taylor etc.

I don't hate GS, I pity him. He was clearly out of his depth and while I wish him well, I'm glad he's gone.

 

[TonyM]

He's not even bald ffs.

 

[i kne albert davy]

Almost? But it didn't, because as soon as they came up against a better team it no longer worked and that is a fact so, its not a red herring at all its relevant to what they achieved when he was manager
Regardless of how well the other managers did the country were enthused there were flags and those stupid car banners everywhere, this time hardly any even during final weekend

Plenty near us tbf club we watched quarters semi and final in was rammed to rafters, for final they squeezed 10 extra tables in and 70 more chairs and opened upstairs function room another 300 seats and by half 4 there wasn’t a seat to be had, there wasn’t a lack of interest for sure.

 

[lancs blue]

Very disrespectful to many good teams we have beaten, including Switzerland and Holland this tournament.

Not disputing that both were very decent teams, but player for player England were a much better side on paper but both matches were very even, largely down to Southgate's inability to get the best out of his players.

 

[inchy14]

Sorry but it’s just so funny seeing people who get angry about the FIFA world rankings every time they come out suddenly pretend they actually matter how they sort of (but not actually) help your argument.

Southgate is Englands most successful manager in 50 years, fact.

If you can’t admit that no FA would ever fire their most successful manager in living memory because they *only* achieved the best results in 50 years then perhaps you need to recognise you’ve lost all sense of rationality about Southgate.

Successful is winning things, not taking teams to finals and losing.