England manager really has become the impossible job

The mood around Gareth Southgate has dramatically shifted - Getty Images/Richard Pelham

In the Cologne Stadium, after the goalless draw against Slovenia, after the beer cups were thrown at him, after the criticism again came in waves, there was a telling statement from Gareth Southgate.

He commented on the “unusual environment” England are operating in at the European Championship, how “it’s taken me back to the days when I played” and said that the “fun” was disappearing for the players. In essence, Southgate warned that being the England manager could – once again – be in danger of becoming the impossible job and the sadness for him is the realisation that, potentially, it has simply come full circle.

Punditry

Here is a story that most people will be unaware of. In 2016 England hit rock bottom in losing the last-16 tie at the European Championship to Iceland under Roy Hodgson. That much is known. What might not be though is that afterwards there were talks with the Football Association about trying to improve relations with the media. There needed to be a greater understanding with some players, such as Joe Hart, not even concealing their hostility and it clearly affecting performance. Gary Neville, Hodgson’s assistant, was also complicit in that closed approach.

Gareth Southgate bought into the idea of being more open and – guess what? – it worked. The media remained impartial but there was more engagement, more understanding and the atmosphere undoubtedly improved.

It helped that expectations had been lowered so that a strategy was allowed that England were on a “journey”. That would never last forever, of course, especially as England went deep into tournaments. They know they have to deliver but it remains ridiculous to state they have to win the Euros. This is knockout football.

England have not played well in the group stages and deserve to be criticised for their performances. It is how that criticism is pitched, by some, that is different.

Alan Shearer, once perceived as a bland commentator and pundit, was withering in his criticism - BBC

There has been a significant change in the media landscape with the rise of the former player – often a big-name former player – making increasingly cutting comments and using strong language.

They are being encouraged to do so with the jackpot of ‘going viral’ on social media with a remark that is clipped up. At the same time, there is a proliferation of podcasts in a crowded market and they need to make an impact to make money. As Telegraph Sport reported this week, the riches on offer in the podcast world can eclipse lucrative million-pound-plus salaries.

There is nothing wrong with that but the former players have shifted the dynamic. The words of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer – both former England captains – and Neville carry added weight. They may not be wrong but the increasingly aggressive way they are expressing it has certainly taken aback the England camp and not least because they were once in their shoes and complained about the pressure they felt they were put under by the media.

Their approach has only made it more difficult for Southgate, who cannot shut everyone off, and it is for him to deal with. It is also for them to consider the consequences.

Expectation

The FA has long voiced the opinion that the great thing about when England play, especially in tournaments, is that the focus is solely on England. The FA has also voiced the opinion that one of the terrible things about when England play is that the focus is solely on England. That is the difference between winning and losing.

Right now England is the only game in town. Against Slovenia in the Cologne Stadium, there were banners ranging from Bristol Rovers to Barnsley to Barnet, Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale. With the best will in the world, the chances of the fans of those clubs actually seeing their team win something rests with England. So, they are expectant.

Southgate has even spoken to his squad about this, especially as for 12 of the 26 players this is their first tournament. He explained that with England, as happened against Serbia, you can win and still be criticised. That rarely happens in club football.

The bookmakers made England favourites for the Euros – partly because they are creating a market and feeding off hope and expectation – but there is no doubt England should be one of the favourites.

England won their group which is the first target reached. In previous tournaments they often limped through in second place and despite the disappointing performances that should not be forgotten.

And that is the quandary for Southgate. He has done not the easy bit but the straightforward bit. He identified the problems, he created the route map to success, he gradually restored confidence and belief. And eventually, that old devil expectation returned. It is always going to be the case with an England manager especially one who has been in the job for eight years but it does not warrant the disrespectful way he is being talked about.

England fans have reacted negatively to Gareth Southgate during the Euros - Getty Images/Ryan Pierse

Coaching

Should Southgate quit as England manager after the Euros, the FA already has a clear profile of who they want to succeed him. Part of that is the reality that they can only pay what would be considered a salary commanded by a manager towards the bottom of the Premier League. A ball-park figure? Around £4 million-a-year but ideally less. It is fabulous money but not what the top coaches would expect to earn.

It still makes the England manager about the highest paid in international football but neither should it be forgotten that the FA is a not-for-profit organisation and cannot and should not splurge cash.

So forget Pep Guardiola. While trying to prise a coach in a job at a leading Premier League club is almost impossible – unless he quits – because of the finances involved. The compensation payments alone would be prohibitive.

England is not regarded as the pinnacle of their career by managers. They look at clubs and they also look at the scrutiny and aggravation that comes with England.

Therefore an England manager probably needs to be a young coach on the way up or an older one who wants to go into international football and is not so money-oriented. The FA cannot compete with leading Premier League clubs. It is the same not just with the manager but with backroom staff who can earn far more at a club than with England.

The England job is also different in that, in a sense, it is a more man-management job than a coaching one because the players are available for so few days a year. This is where Southgate has come into his own even if he has faced criticism over his tactics and in-game and whether, indeed, he defers too much to his assistant Steve Holland. As with managers who stay for a long time there is also always the suspicion that the squad might outgrow them. Maybe that is happening with England and Southgate.

Gareth Southgate has had Steve Holland by his side throughout his reign - Getty Images /Richard Pelham

Flawed tournaments

England won their first group game. After the first half an hour it was not great against Serbia. But they won. They followed it up with an unconvincing draw against Denmark but that meant they were already through to the last-16 which brings us to the format of modern tournaments, and especially the Euros where it is harder – it seems – to be knocked out than to progress.

With 16 out of 24 nations going through the jeopardy is quickly taken away. It is not for nothing that the most exciting round of group games was the first round when teams tended to approach it with the knowledge that three points might be enough.

Take, for example, Turkey’s 3-1 win over Georgia which remains, arguably, the best game so far of the Euros. Both sides attacked because they reasoned it was their best chance of getting the points to take them through.

At the other end of the scale, Slovenia basically knew that if they contained England and got a draw – to make it three draws and three points – that would be enough. And England knew that while they wanted to win they did not have to. Hence another goalless draw.

It requires teams and managers to think harder in working out stubborn opponents, yet do so while knowing they do not have to worry about defeats. And as we’ve seen, games inevitably fizzle out, to the angst of supporters watching at games and on sofas.

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