Mirth wrote:
I know this forum is on the fence about Southgate, and he's not someone who you'd want at Arsenal, but I think he's done an extraordinary job as a man manager. He's dealt with the media, the fans, the players and unified them incredibly well - certainly better than anyone else in my life time. When was the last time you heard about the WAGs? His game plan is rudimentary but no worse than Portugal 2016 or even France 2018. Ultimately he's significantly improved England's international record, year on year, that's all anyone can ask.
I think he just has the good fortune of being England manager at the right time.
They've had the years when the level of under-performance was almost beyond belief. Where 2/3 of the team were legitimate top drawer footballers, central to really top teams, and yet they'd come together and look like Tottenham in a knock-out match. Now they have young players that either haven't done very much, are not really top players, and/or not central figures in a really top team.
Of course it's easier to manage Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire etc., - these guys are nobodies in the grand scheme of things. Expectations were on the floor, allowances were (and still are) made for the lack of stars and the presence of younger players. In this tournament, it wouldn't have been hard to predict England making the final given how stacked in their favour everything is. It's almost built for them. And they've beaten a thoroughly passed it Germany team - that's it! No offence to Ukraine and Denmark fans, but it would be a scandal if they lost to those teams, especially with all the advantages.
Even with that said, I think Southgate oozes a loser attitude, and I wouldn't be at all shocked if, even in front of 60,000 mental England fans (even more of an advantage by virtue of it being the first live sport anyone has been able to attend) they lose to a fanless Italy.
Also, football, in my opinion, is a bit of a joke in terms of quality. I've said this consistently for a long time now, the quality of top players and top teams goes down by the year, and has done for a very long time now. And international football is levels below club football, it's easy to get sucked in and forget that. I wouldn't be confident Southgate could get Bornemouth out of the Championship if he rocked up there next season. Genuinely.
