Hypothetical question, do we think, even in the position we find ourselves, swap NP for GS? ...... my guess would be not many!! One of the reasons why he's decided to remain!!!
Ive looked back but cant find my post when I said would make a good manager for us ... in 5 years or more before LJ.........
It's the skill set he had before taking over the national team....the question is still there.....which wasn't answered!
For me, my opinion of Southgate's reign with England is very similar to my opinion of LJs reign with us. Southgate has stabilised England and we now regularly make it to (or beyond) the quarter finals of major international tournaments. We no longer worry about not qualifying. However, his overly defensive approach on occasions is frustrating and (IMHO) unnecessary. He is master of qualifying and getting through the group stages. However, once into the knockouts we seem to bottle it - and penalties are STILL our undoing - they always have been - not just under Southgate. Same with LJ and us - we stabilised and after the first season were always battling in the top half of the table. We flirted with the playoff zone but bottled the big last few games. LJ (like Southgate) set us up very defensively - not to lose, rather than to take the game by the balls and go for a win. Consequently, we were safe - but never ending the season as serious promotion contenders. We won nothing under LJ and England has won nothing under Southgate. It's about whether we will settle for (virtually) guaranteed presence in the quarters/semis at major tournaments but always failing in the same old way, or whether we go '**** or bust' to try and win something by bringing in a new face but risk things going horribly wrong. There comes a time when 'safety' is no longer satisfying and we need to really go for it. Southgate has signed up for the next tournament so we'll have to give him that, but I think if we don't win that then it's time for a fresh face. As always with every England (and City) manager, I wish him success whilst he's in the job.
That’s a bit of a flippant response, obviously they aren’t, but the dynamics of the two are completely different.
He will always be the nearly man-England will never win anything under his tenure. Plays far to defensive and sideways and backwards football. Where have I said that before ahhh reminds me of Bristol City playing.
