A lot is placed at Southgate's door, but I think he is just the tip of a bloody big spear. He is effectively the media mouthpiece, but the real work is done by a team comprising head shrinkers, data bashers, diet/sleep coaches, team selectors, those who actually coach etc. etc.

Incidentally, ahem, Maguire. I am throwing this one out there as it is pure guess, but after he scores Kane takes the hugs from his team mates in a standard manly bravado captain kind of way, but his face lights up when it's Maguire. Their body language gives the appearance that they are close and beyond good team mates. Could Kane as captain and vital cog be insisting that his mate plays? Could they indulge him as Maguire is not that bad for England; and if Kane plays better?

Probably rubbish, but ...

Italy are a shadow of their former selves. the likes of Totti, Vialli, Cannavaro, Mancini, Pirlo are a thing of the past, and for some reason they are not producing these players. Even the Team that we played in the WC Final had the likes of Bonucci and Cheisa. Southgate said it himself; this is a young Italian team, and where Id be amazed if it didn't improve, the team put out on Tuesday weren't all that.

And that's where these kind of games are so frustrating. We could have won by a hatful last night. Too often I was asking why, with all the attacking force at our disposal, and when we'd finally got Italy slightly out of position no movement, desire, no one taking a chance or making the runs or trying to make something happen. It was all safety-first patient build up culminating in us playing it backwards and allowing them to regroup. We could be so much more than this.

Southgate is the best Manager we've had for ages - but that particular list isn't that great and credit to him for getting us where we are. Since our own RH's reign we have most definitely moved up a notch. We now convincingly beat the 'poor' teams, where previously we would struggle. We need to transition that to beating the 'best' when we need to - in a tournament situation. We will still inevitably fail valiantly against anyone who has anything about them. Fortunately (for us), that particular list of teams is diminishing.

It just feels as though he has taken us as far as he can. but you're right, I have no idea who wed go for next.. I guess My ideal candidate would be Howe.
Although, there may be a piece of 'the grass is always greener' clouding my thinking.

Edited by CrazyBadger (19 Oct 2023 11.16am)

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

Amen to this, good call.

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.