3 reasons why Gareth Southgate shouldn’t become the new England manager

Done and dusted. The final international break of 2016 is over. But what remains very much undecided is whether The Football Association see Gareth Southgate as the right candidate to manage England on a permanent basis.

Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against 2010 World Cup winners Spain at Wembley Stadium concluded his unbeaten four-game interim spell in charge, although there was huge disappointment inside the nation stadium, considering the Three Lions were 2-0 up after 88 minutes.

However; a comfortable 2-0 win over minnows Malta, a solid goalless stalemate in Slovenia and a convincing 3-0 victory over rivals Scotland last Friday saw Southgate lead England to the top of Group F in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, having bagged 10 points from a possible 12 on offer.

Recent reports speculate that The FA are ready to hand the former Middlesbrough and England Under-21 boss a permanent deal as Three Lions manager.

However, here are Shoot!‘s THREE reasons why we think the 46-year-old doesn’t deserves the role on a full-time basis…

Lack of managerial experience

Despite his success as England Under-21 manager, where the Young Lions won the Toulon Tournament back in May and have easily qualified for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, Southgate’s only other managerial post came at Middlesbrough.

After Steve McClaren was appointed England boss, the Premier League side drafted in their defender to take over the reins in June 2006.

But, this was despite Southgate not having the necessary coaching qualifications to manage Boro, which the club had to defend until the end of the year.

Nonetheless; Southgate remained as manager at The Riverside, before leading his former team-mates to a 12th place finish in the top-flight, which included a hugely impressive 8-1 mauling of Manchester City.

However, his second season in charge went severely downhill. After 151 matches as Middlesbrough manager, he was sacked in October 2009 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, finishing 19th in the standings, despite being given the chance to try and secure an instant return to the top-flight in the Championship.

It took almost four years for Southgate to return to management, so it is fair to say the 46-year-old is largely inexperienced compared to his predecessors, such as Sam Allardyce, Roy Hodgson, Fabio Capello, Sven-Goran Eriksson and so on…

Better alternatives

There must be a reason why The FA only gave the job to Southgate on an interim basis. Perhaps, it is because they have other managerial targets in mind?

The likes of Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, Crystal Palace’s Alan Pardew and AFC Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe have all been tipped to be in contention for the Three Lions job.

It is no secret that The FA admire Wenger and his time at the Gunners, with chief executive, Martin Glenn, revealing that the Arsenal boss would “fit the criteria perfectly”.

Plus, his current contract at the Emirates Stadium runs out at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

*Hint, hint!*

Does he actually want the job?

This may seem like an odd question. But does Southgate actually want to become the new England manager?

All the expectation, pressure and hype, it might be enough to put him off.

When Roy Hodgson resigned after England’s embarrassing Euro 2016 exit to the hands of Iceland; the 46-year-old’s name was instantly thrown into the hat, although he admitted he wasn’t ready to take the Three Lions job, permanently or temporarily.

Yet, after Sam Allardyce’s very brief spell in charge, The FA handed Southgate a sort of four-game trial, in which he has succeeded, it is fair to say.

But even after defeating rivals Scotland last week, he told the media, “I want time to go away and reflect.

“I have loved doing it but it is an opportunity for everyone to have time [to think]. The FA can decide what they want to do.”

It seems Southgate is still in two minds…