5 reasons why Gareth Southgate should get the England job

England interim manager Gareth Southgate oversaw a lacklustre performance from his side in their goalless draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night.

The former Middlesbrough boss watched on as his England side struggled to get anything going against the 67th best team in the world, with goalkeeper Joe Hart the only reason that the Three Lions remain unbeaten in the early stages of their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign.

Nevertheless, Southgate did win his first game in temporary charge at Wembley on Saturday, albeit against minnows Malta, but it’s worth remembering that the 46-year-old has only been in charge for little over two weeks following the departure of Sam Allardyce.

Southgate is two games into his caretaker role and, with many seeing it as a month long job interview, the former defender knows that he has two more games, against Scotland and Spain next month, to try and secure the job full-time.

Here are SHOOT‘s FIVE reasons why Southgate should be given the job permanently…

He’s calm, composed, and exactly what the FA needs after Big Sam

With everything that went on with regards to Allardyce in the few days leading up to his departure, the FA needed someone they could trust to steady the ship after a turbulent few weeks.

That man, if thus far has proven, is Southgate.

He is familiar with the way things are run based on his time with the Under-21’s, and he has dealt with everything in an assured and confident manner, including the decision to drop captain Wayne Rooney for the Slovenia match.

He deals excellently with the media, and conveys a calm persona which can only benefit the FA in what has been a difficult few weeks and months.

He has shown a ruthless side not many knew existed

A lot has been made about how some players are guaranteed to start for England, even if their form and recent performances have not been up to scratch.

Yet Southgate has set a precedence with regard to that issue.

He made a particularly interesting, and in some people’s view a long overdue, decision to drop Rooney against Slovenia.

Citing tactical reasons, the former Middlesbrough boss proved that regardless whether you wear the captain’s armband or are England’s highest scorer, you are not guaranteed a starting berth.

Southgate has set a precedence now which some of his predecessors didn’t, and it’s one that, if he maintains, can only benefit England in the long run.

Players seem to like his methods

A number of players have spoken glowingly about Southgate’s impact since taking over as interim boss, and it is praise that is going to do him good in his bid to get the job permanently.

Captain Rooney, defender Gary Cahill and forward Daniel Sturridge have all come out and spoke highly of Southgate’s early influence on the national team, which the FA will surely listen to as they bid to have a settled England team.

Players want a manager they enjoy playing under and, more importantly, respect, and it appears that Southgate is already beginning to earn that in his first few weeks in charge.

Excellent management experience with Under-21s

Southgate’s three-year stint in charge of the Under-21 side is sure to help him in his quest for the senior job.

Seen as a natural step up, the 46-year-old has both qualification and tournament experience at international level, something many other candidates, especially the English ones, do not have.

He is also well aware of the exciting talent coming through and, based on his decision to include Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, and Michael Keane in his squad, he’s not afraid of giving them a chance.

Everyone was scared against Iceland, and to a certain extent against Slovenia, yet a number of those young players are playing without fear for the Under-21’s and their clubs, and that’s exactly what England need in their present state.

He wants them to play football

Although there were many times when England carelessly, and in some instances almost crucially, gave away possession last night, Southgate still wants his side to get the ball down and play.

John Stones did not have his best game for England last night, and was sometimes guilty of overplaying it at the back and running into trouble, yet that is his game, and he should not be deterred away from that. He wasn’t the only one guilty of overdoing it.

Stones could become one of the best defenders in world football playing that way, and Southgate hasn’t deterring him from that. He wants his side to continue playing that way.

Inevitably, there will be mistakes, but England could also reap the rewards by persisting with it.