Is Gareth Southgate a Lucky Clueless Manager or Simply Misunderstood?
Like many of us, our club loyalty comes first, and for me, that’s Newcastle United. However, when the World Cup or Euros come around, I take a keen interest in how England performs and the tournament overall. As we approach the 2024 Euros, I’ve been intrigued by the Gareth Southgate situation.
There has never been an England manager who has reached the later stages of tournaments and is seen by so many England fans as totally clueless. Or am I reading this wrong, is Gareth Southgate simply misunderstood?
The final Premier League clubs confirm their managers in place for the new season.
Trying to make sense of the Gareth Southgate situation, I asked myself two questions: Which Premier League fanbases would swap their current manager for Gareth Southgate? And which Premier League fanbases, if their current manager leaves during the 2024/25 season, would want Gareth Southgate to take over?
I can’t imagine any fan of a Premier League club wanting to swap their current boss for Gareth Southgate, and even if their current manager leaves during the 2024/25 season, I can’t imagine any club team supporter choosing Gareth Southgate as the replacement.
It’s quite extraordinary, an unparalleled situation, Gareth Southgate having taken England to a World Cup semi-final and a Euros final, now in a Euros semi-final again, yet I honestly can’t believe any fans of a Premier League club would want him.
Gareth Southgate’s England in a Euros semi-final again.
Maybe you can tell me differently in the comments section below. Do you think Gareth Southgate is a great manager and would be a great choice at St James’ Park?
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Tom Cleverley is waiting to land Premier League loanees for Watford. Although Watford have made two permanent signings, more are in the pipeline, and Cleverley is waiting to make his move into the loan market soon.
Tom Cleverley waiting to land Premier League loanees for Watford.
The Hornets boss said from the outset that bringing in hungry young players from Premier League clubs was something he intended to do, and he had his targets in place many weeks ago having identified what he needed.
“The profile of players I am looking at is largely young Premier League-standard players who would be joining us on loan from big Premier League clubs,” he said.
However, two major tournaments in Europe and America mean many of the clubs Cleverley is poised to do business with need to wait until their senior players have returned from international duty.
In other news, former Rangers star Ryan Kent is exploring all options as English Premier League clubs eye a swoop for the Fenerbahce outcast. Kent’s future is in doubt as one of his former teammates is linked with a move away from Ibrox.
Ryan Kent exploring all options as English Premier League clubs eye a swoop.
According to journalist Darren Witcoop, there’s plenty of English interest in Kent this summer - including from the top tier. He’s reporting that newly promoted Ipswich Town are keeping tabs on Kent with boss Kieran McKenna claimed to be a ‘big fan’ of his.
The report also claims two Championship clubs are in the mix with Kent currently ’exploring all options.’
