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'THE ONLY ONE'

Gareth Southgate is not just the right man for England… He is the ONLY man for the job

Sunsport's Phil Thomas says Three Lions chief passed his trial test and should now be FA's No1 choice

GARETH SOUTHGATE should have woken today with an early morning appointment in Greg Clarke’s office.

He should have been sitting down with the FA chairman to rubber stamp the fine details of a contract confirming him as new England manager.

Gareth Southgate should be given the England job after his impressive four-match audition
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Gareth Southgate should be given the England job after his impressive four-match audition

It should have been a case of dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s and shaking hands on a deal that ended any debate about who would be the next Three Lions gaffer.


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We all know Southgate is the right man for the job. Whether that’s because he is effectively the ONLY man for the job is irrelevant.

He has passed the test, as ludicrous as it was to put him on that trial period in the first place.

He has ticked the right boxes, said and done the right things, showed – perhaps surprisingly to some – that he is big enough for English football’s biggest job.

And when the FA panel DO finally go through the formalities of announcing such, they will be making the correct choice.

The problem is that the sport’s governing body have an unerring knack of getting it wrong even when they get it right.

Gareth Southgate has finished his four game temporary role as England manager
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Gareth Southgate has finished his four game temporary role as England managerCredit: EPA
Southgate will now discover if he is to get the job on a permanent basis
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Southgate will now discover if he is to get the job on a permanent basisCredit: PA:Press Association
Southgate has guided England to two victories and two draws in his four matches in charge
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Southgate has guided England to two victories and two draws in his four matches in chargeCredit: PA:Press Association

In their words, there are still names to consider, still choices to be made, still important questions to be asked.

Well here’s one to start with. Why on earth do they even need a blasted panel to decide on the bleeding obvious?

And who on earth came up with the bright idea of consulting Howard Wilkinson and Graeme Le Saux to do so?

One of them a 73-year-old whose last club job was to win two of his 20 league games in charge at Sunderland.

The other never anything but second choice England full back. A man who, in his days as a pundit, could have had even Garth Crooks claiming “he’s a bit drab and dull.”

If there had to be a panel for the “election” panel to consult, at least try and pick people with a bit of clout and respect.

Someone like Glenn Hoddle, a man still so revered that even now men such as Ian Wright call him gaffer.

Ex-players like Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, maybe even Paul Scholes. Men who are never frightened to give an opinion, and – crucially – whose opinion is relevant and respected.

The FA have drafted in Howard Wilkinson to help find a permanent England boss
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The FA have drafted in Howard Wilkinson to help find a permanent England bossCredit: PA:Press Association
Former England man Graeme Le Saux is also being consulted
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Former England man Graeme Le Saux is also being consultedCredit: PA:Press Association
Southgate now waiting to hear from the FA about the job
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Southgate now waiting to hear from the FA about the jobCredit: EPA

Southgate clearly won’t say “thanks, but no thanks” when that contract is placed in front of him.

But to be honest you couldn’t blame him if he did, because making him wait and dragging it out as they have is frankly insulting.

If it’s a case of having to tick all the boxes, making sure no-one is offended or left out, why not go the whole hog and stick Hope Powell on the selection committee too.

For once, all you blazers at the FA, don’t be so immersed in being seen to do the right thing.

Just get your fingers out and do it, instead.

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