Pretty balanced post, agree with most of your points, not sure about a foreign assistant though.For what it's worth, my take on it!!
Technically, I think our British players have struggled for years, not being comfortable with the ball, although over the years we have got much better, hence why I still think we struggle when passing it around looking for opportunity, quite often looks like, we are looking for ideas (maybe boring the opposition in surrender!!) Quite often it's like watching a City game when we struggle with creating opportunities.
When we finally progress up the field using one touch passing (patterns) we look good.
We do have some very good individual players, Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Grealish, Rice etc that can turn a game.....IMO it's getting there..
As for Southgate, I think he has been really lucky with the route Englands had to do well, in both World cup & Euros and with just that extra 10% could have seen us winning one.. Some of his decisions have to come into question, ie Subs made, selections etc, but he does seem to have a good relationship with the squad and am not sure, sacking him would be beneficial, unless we have a genius coming in to replace..
IMO, a good step would be to retain him but maybe get an assistant (maybe foreign) to give us a slightly different approach..
It's all very fine margins now with many nations catching up in the footballing world.... I think with what we have with the Premier league, we should be leading the way.....I believe we need that little push.... Just my view!!
You also kind of skate over us beating the so called weaker nations, this is an area we have vastly improved on under Southgate. I remember us always being nervous against weaker teams, and often losing or at least playing badly. At tournaments now we usually do well against weaker teams and usually win, often handsomely, ie Iran 6-2, Wakes 3-0 this time.
I can’t think of anyone that would make a better job of it than Southgate has, I hope he stays. I’d be more inclined to decide who his successor is going to be and use him/her as his assistant, and then pass the reigns on once Southgate goes, and at that point maybe use Southgate in a kind of overseer role.