Gareth Has What it Takes

Gareth Southgate may be short of a few paper qualifications (as indeed Sir Alf Ramsey was when he led England to victory in the 1966 World Cup final) and some people may be full of righteous indignation that he is being given special dispensation to continue as manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, but it’s unlikely that any of them are locals.

Interestingly enough, Steve McClaren had all the appropriate certificates, but on his promotion to the job of England manager he left Middlesbrough in precisely the same league position in which he had found them some years earlier. So fortunately, Gareth does not have a particularly difficult act to follow.

As for his potential as a top manager, he is intelligent, he has conducted himself with great dignity in the face of some very narrow minded opposition to his appointment, he has the respect of the players and the confidence of one of the best chairman in English football and he has produced a team capable of taking on high flying Manchester United and running them extremely close. Indeed, when Morrison levelled the game in the 65th minute, it seemed likely that the home side might earn a creditable draw against a team which has been beaten in the Premier League this season only by Arsenal, but two minutes later Fletcher dashed their hopes with the winning header.

Perhaps now Gareth will be given the time and encouragement he deserves.