LION IN WAIT
Eddie Howe’s hint he could succeed Gareth Southgate as England boss shows job is more attractive than ever before
There had been hope that Howe would walk away from Newcastle
EDDIE HOWE, the bookies’ favourite to become the next England manager, is an avid fan of the 80s Norwegian pop group A-ha.
And while this may not be a ringing endorsement of his personal tastes, the idea of Morten Harket & Co performing a secret gig for our brave Three Lions at the next World Cup is surely still an improvement on Ed bleeding Sheeran.
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Howe’s response to links with the England job wasn’t quite a ‘take on me, take me on’ plea to the FA.
The Newcastle boss insisted he has an ‘unwavering’ commitment to his club, that he is ‘happy’ on Tyneside, which is ‘the best place’ he could be.
But then came the caveats.
Asked if he would still be Newcastle manager at the start of the season, Howe replied: “As long as I’m happy in the position that I’m in.
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“As long as I feel supported by the club and free to work in the way that I want to work, yes. That is the crucial thing.”
This was not typical of Howe — usually extremely measured in media interviews — and it sounded like a prime example of a man speaking to two conflicting audiences simultaneously.
There were hearts and flowers for the Toon Army — the self-styled ‘loyalest football supporters the world has ever seen’.
But for the FA — who want an English successor to Gareth Southgate — it was also a major suggestion that Howe might be open to a move.
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Howe has been unsettled by a summer of boardroom upheaval in Geordie Arabia — the arrival of sporting director Paul Mitchell and the departures of Amanda Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who had provided the key link between Howe and his Saudi paymasters.
There are also Profit and Sustainability restraints, which mean Newcastle’s inevitable rise to the Premier League summit is likely to be a long-term project.
Footage resurfaces of what Eddie Howe said about England job as he is tipped to succeed Gareth Southgate
Southgate's England legacy should be celebrated, not torn down
By Tom Barclay
Gareth Southgate claimed that only winning Sunday’s final would earn England the respect of the footballing world.
Spain proved a last-gasp comeback too far in Berlin, but defeat did not change the fact that Southgate’s eight-year transformation put respect back into the world of England football.
Critics will pick apart his cautious tactics, his selection choices and his record in the most high-pressurised games - with some legitimacy.
Yet what is quickly forgotten is the laughing stock our national side had become before he took over in 2016.
A shambolic Euros exit to Iceland that summer had been followed up by Sam Allardyce quitting just one game into his tenure thanks to his pint of wine with undercover reporters.
Then came Southgate, with his decency, his humility, his understated eloquence and his vision for a better, different future.
He had analysed why England had so often failed in the past, from lack of preparation at penalty shoot-outs to players being bored out of their minds during major tournaments.
Southgate took those findings and implemented a culture where players wanted to play for their country again - and it led to back-to-back finals for the first time in our history.
Instead of going to war with the media, he opened his doors to them and discovered, shock, horror, that it was met, generally, with support.
It did not stop him from being criticised when required - we are no cheerleaders, here - but the vitriol of yesteryear - or today on social media - was largely gone.
No manager is perfect and neither was Southgate. We cannot pretend his teams played like those of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.
But in the fullness of time, his feats will likely be revered because the results speak for themselves.
Hopefully his successor can go one step further and bring football home.
To do that, they must show respect to what Southgate has created and build on it, rather than rip it down.
To read more from Tom Barclay click HERE.
But this was still a bold public statement to make for a man who has just failed to qualify for Europe at the club with the richest owners in world football.
Howe ought not to be in a position to call any shots — and he surely wouldn’t be doing so if there wasn’t an England job that’s probably his for the taking.
Last week, SunSport revealed Howe had stated his long-term ambition to manage England in an interview conducted before Southgate’s resignation.
And the fact that Howe clearly holds some interest in succeeding the outgoing Three Lions chief is a huge compliment to Southgate.
Because eight years ago, this wasn’t a job the boss of a filthy-rich top-flight club would have regarded as any sort of step up.
Especially given that Howe would have to take a hefty pay cut if he were to leave Newcastle for England.
Not since the launch of the Premier League has the national team been truly regarded as ‘bigger’ than the biggest clubs.
Although, admittedly, there have been fewer Englishmen operating at top clubs over these past three decades.
It’s 42 years since Bobby Robson and Brian Clough duked it out to succeed Ron Greenwood — and Clough, a two-time European Cup-winning genius, was left unfulfilled by never having managed his national team.
Southgate has raised the status of the England job back to those levels by leading his team to two Euros finals, a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final, and by changing the national-team environment.
The FA are right to prefer an English successor and, given Howe is pretty much the only English candidate whose Prem record must be regarded as an overall success, he is the best man for the job.
While his Newcastle predecessor, Steve Bruce, referred to Howe as ‘the fella who got Bournemouth relegated’, he had previously guided the Cherries from the Football League basement to the top flight, then led Toon to the Champions League in his first full season at the North East club.
Howe possesses many of Southgate’s better qualities — a good man-manager and an able media communicator — but also a tendency for the more positive footballing approach which England will need if they are to finally win a trophy.
Some in the FA had hoped Howe would part ways with Newcastle at the end of last season, avoiding the need to pay compensation to the Saudis.
But the positives far outweigh the negatives when it comes to Howe’s candidacy.
Even if the dressing-room playlist might still not be an easy listen.
TEE 'N A FAG
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SMOKING isn’t big or clever but plenty of sportsmen — and many more managers and coaches — still do it. Although only privately.
So it was amusing, and strangely heartening, to see English debutant Dan Brown leading The Open with an oily rag on the go while standing on the tee at Royal Troon.
Darts and snooker stars used to puff away while playing and there were plenty of elite football bosses — including World Cup winners Cesar Luis Menotti and Marcello Lippi — who used to light up in the dugout.
Meanwhile, cigarette companies would sponsor F1 teams and several major sporting events.
But now golf is pretty much the only major sport where smoking on the go is still vaguely acceptable.
A major boon for all those treated as social pariahs due to unfashionable addictions.
RAY HAD ALL FANS ALL SHOOK UP
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IT’S easy to forget just how famous leading snooker players were in the 80s.
On a childhood holiday, I watched Ray Reardon play at Butlins in Barry Island and it felt like watching an Elvis residency in Las Vegas.
Reading obituaries to the legendary Welsh cueman — who has died aged 91 — reminded us of a life far more varied than those of most sportsmen.
Reardon was not just a six-time world champion, and mentor to Ronnie O’Sullivan, but a man who defied death in both of his
previous careers as a coal miner and a policeman.
He was also a better entertainer than any holiday camp Redcoat.
SHO FAITH
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THERE was a Test match to be won at Trent Bridge on Sunday and — in the fourth innings, when the pressure is always on a front-line spinner — Shoaib Bashir went and won it for England.
The 20-year-old off-spinner isn’t even first-choice for his county Somerset.
But after decimating the West Indies at Nottingham, he has three five-wicket hauls in his first five Tests.
If England are to have any chance of regaining The Ashes in Australia 18 months from now, the continued progression of Bashir will be crucial.
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PAR BLIMEY
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THE Olympic Games are always a joyous opportunity to showcase some weird and wonderful sports — and stop us from obsessing about football for a fortnight or so.
But the best thing about boarding a Eurostar and travelling to watch the Paris Olympics live and in person will be not having to view wall-to-wall cheerleading TV coverage on the BBC.
Southgate's highs and lows as England boss
GARETH Southgate took charge of 102 games for England before quitting in the aftermath of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
But what were the best - and worst matches - from the popular gaffer's eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.
THE HIGHS:
Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World Cup
This was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.
Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.
It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.
Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations League
Following on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.
Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.
Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.
England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-final
Southgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.
Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.
Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.
England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16
England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.
The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France - what could go wrong?
Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023
On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.
It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.
England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-final
The nation doubted Southgate's men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.
Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane's penalty drew us level.
And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.
AND THE LOWS....
Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018
Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.
But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.
Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.
Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 final
Will probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.
Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.
Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.
The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.
England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023
A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.
It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.
England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finals
Another case of what could have been.
Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.
We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.
Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.
But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out.