Without reading the previous 12 pages ill pop my two cents in:
Southgate from day 1 was unpopular with most fans. Most fans seem to think the England job can only go to a well-known and successful domestic manager. The fact that Southgate's only well-known role was getting relegated with us was never going to make him a popular choice. However, like all managers, judgement should have been reserved until we started to see games and the outcomes.
The facts are simple, Southgate has taken us to three major tournaments - two world cups and one European championships. In the latter he has produced our best ever result as runners up. In the World Cup he got our joint second-best performance in reaching the Semi Final, not done since 1990. Yet, throughout all of this the excuses have been thrown at him, the draw was easy, you still did not win anything - Both true, however we can only play what is in front of us. Perhaps if some of the so called big teams he avoided performed as they should our path would not have been as straight forward.
Coupled with the above you have the belief that this is one of the best crop of youngsters we have had in a long time and so many of them are attacking players so we should play them all and blow every team away - Except, how do you play them all? In the Euro's everybody cried for Grealish, this time its Foden's turn. The reality is the performance does not change that much regardless of the personal, the positive is we can replace with players just as good and we often then see real impact when the changes are made.
We have all seen the so called 'Golden Generation' fail to deliver. Despite the fact they had no team spirit or even liked each other that much, we had an arrogance back then in major tournaments where we believed the 442, fast pace of the Premier League (best league in the world dont you know) would win us something. In reality by the 60th minute we where blowing out of our backsides and getting beat of much better technical players even if there names didn't suit.
Southgate is the first England manager in my life time that is treating tournament football how it should be treated. Dull at times, of course but what nation isnt it. But its productive and it works. I cant remember ever being so comfortable in a group stage and not being the slightest bit nervous, i have never had that in the past.
His selection and subs have been questioned and sometimes justified but he has also got a number of selections correct.
I am sick of hearing so called experts pull him apart for not playing this player, playing two holders etc. Jamie O'Hara on talksport saying he would rather get eliminated and be excited in a game than this are pathetic.
So far Southgate has passed his first task, getting through the groups. The USA game helped us realise that Rice and Bellingham as a two will not be enough in the knockouts, so he changed it. Foden and Rashford have taken their chance - despite a fairly average first half, Southgate swapped them over and it was much better. We have also scored 9 goals (more than anyone else for the most defensive and negative side ever) and Kane hasn't got one yet.
Do i think we will win the World Cup? Absolutely not but Southgate has got us a to a level we have all dreamed off since Euro 96 and we finally play like an international team should. He won't be there forever so get behind him, enjoy it and be happy that England are a contender again.
