Giving England an identity will be Gareth Southgate’s big challenge as full-time manager, Gordon Strachan’s future looks bleak and Lallana’s quality was keyForget the reality that the scoreline felt rather deceptive at times, with this far from pristine. The Football Association has a formal process still to undertake, which will now include the input of Howard Wilkinson, but the appointment of Gareth Southgate on a permanent basis is surely a formality. England head into the winter lull clear at the top of this group, unbeaten now in 33 qualifying games, with the interim manager having taken seven points from three matches. Even a humiliating defeat by Spain in Tuesday’s friendly is unlikely to damage his chances of being offered the...
The interim manager will now surely be appointed on a permanent basis but while England finished well against Scotland there were the usual deficienciesOver to you then, Gareth. On a cold, still night in north London England’s players pulled themselves up to their full height and produced a display that was enough first to see off a limited Scotland team and second to ensure, in all probability, that England’s temp-to-perm manager can now take the job on as permanent a basis as these things ever get.For England there was always a degree of additional self-inflicted tension about this World Cup qualifier. Having lost two managers in three months, they had the chance here to lose another by all-but declaring Southgate’s...
The midfielder’s retirement U-turn when a World Cup 2018 qualifier against England looms increases the pressure on his national managerThe intensely tribal nature of Scotland’s football scene means neutral analysis of Scott Brown is about as forthcoming as peace marches before an Old Firm fixture. The combination of Celtic captain and a confrontational playing style that is viewed as being favourably looked upon by referees means Brown is adored by one club’s supporters whereas rivals view the midfielder as an individual they love to hate. This is not a novel concept, as Barry Ferguson, Graeme Souness and Neil Lennon will confirm.On Friday Brown is expected to step back into the Scotland team after a brief absence that only intensified debate...
The caretaker manager could secure the job full-time with a World Cup qualifying win as well as end the reign of his opposite number, Gordon StrachanThere was a point when Gordon Strachan was hoping to persuade Andy Murray to deliver some words of inspiration before Scotland’s players walk out at Wembley on Friday. Not that Gareth Southgate seemed too concerned when it was brought up in his company before England’s final training session. “Unless he is playing at left-back he is not going to affect the game,” England’s caretaker manager pointed out. And that was the moment one of the Scottish journalists at the back of the room interrupted. “I wish he was,” came the response. Related: Wayne Rooney will...
Ramsey’s Wales return, Yiadom’s controversial Ghana inclusion, Southgate and Strachan heading in opposite directions and a fairytale comeback for FalcaoGareth Southgate is at the beginning, Gordon Strachan could be approaching the end. But both managers are under pressure before Friday night’s qualifier at Wembley. While Southgate has shown that he is not afraid to make big calls, dropping Wayne Rooney for the fortunate goalless draw in Slovenia, England’s caretaker oversaw underwhelming performances in hisfirst two matches and would not be seen as an inspiring permanent appointment if his team fails to convince against Scotland. The return of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling should enhance England’s threat, however, and it is Strachan who has bigger problems. Robert Snodgrass has been in...