JazzG I'd argue the 2004 lot were probably more talented
Interesting...I know what you mean but that midfield also had no balance. Similar to this tournament, a few players playing in the same spaces (hence why a lot of us wanted Hargreaves in the midfield). Like you say, Southgate wasn't firm enough to get a grip on that.
I'm still not sure I rate the '04 team as highly, simply because we now have a more creative, more technically competent group who can compete against Europe's best (where in the past, that wasn't true of the majority of our squad and we got found out at international tournaments).
Mirth yeah, I should have caveated that pre-WC there was merit to what he achieved and I think the man-management/new culture Southgate brought in was undoubtedly successful and not something his predecessors had ever really got to grips with. But he should have gone after the last Euros in my opinion; there were already signs of his limitations tactically and the fact he wasn't getting the best out of our attacking players.