Questions for Southgate

With two World Cup qualifiers coming up, Gareth Southgate doesn’t have long to settle into the role of England manager following Sam Allardyce’s departure.

But what are the decisions the new man faces ahead of the games against Malta and Slovenia? We take a look…

How much does he change?

Southgate is the continuity candidate but with four games to oversee – the aforementioned matches plus a further World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against Spain – this represents a genuine audition for the role on a full-time basis.

As a result, in contrast to the short-term duties fulfilled by the likes of Howard Wilkinson, Peter Taylor and Stuart Pearce in the past, Southgate is entitled, perhaps even obligated, to steer things in a new direction. His direction. But what will that be?

Allardyce might be leaving with a 100 per cent record but all 100 of that came in a last-gasp win over 10-man Slovakia and there was little in that performance that demands the incoming coach must proceed down the same path.

With Roy Hodgson having offered no template for success either, Southgate finds himself in a job where there’s an appetite from the public for change but question marks over how much authority he has to implement it.

For example, would Southgate really be so contentious to reverse the decision to continue with Wayne Rooney as captain? It’s a matter some feel needs addressing, while this is also potentially a period of change in other key positions such as goalkeeper too.

Youth or experience?

With a number of young players impressing, stasis isn’t really an attractive option. That’s the crux of it for any England manager at this stage. A decision is needed on the issue of whether to stick with a squad that’s struggled or trust others to take up the mantle.

Ostensibly, Southgate is ideally placed to make those judgements having worked within the Football Association for many …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com