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Henry Winter has given his views on the England vacancy and talked about the likes of Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Eddie Howe as potential successors.
Gareth Southgate having resigned on Monday and the clock ticking, as England start the qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup in only seven weeks time.
Former top man at The Times (now working freelance, for himself), Henry Winter gives an overview of the situation.
Coming down to Eddie Howe as his first choice preference.
Some interesting responses (see below) from England/club fans to the Henry Winter overview…
Henry Winter writing about the England vacancy on Twitter/X – 16 July 2024:
‘There is a general acceptance now that Gareth Southgate has taken England as far as he can, and that a finisher is required. But who?
For the past two years, the obvious three potential successors debated on this timeline have been Eddie Howe and Graham Potter, if the FA goes English, or Mauricio Pochettino, if the FA acknowledges that St George’s Park is not developing sufficient English managerial talent – yet – and/or it is not finding the pathway into elite club level (where foreign owners often go foreign coach and the talent is obvious).
Potter is admired at the FA, but will the Chelsea failure count against him, and how will the players respond?
Howe, a more obvious choice, was linked with the England job in 2016 when Roy Hodgson left, is popular, plays good football, but would he leave Newcastle United now?
Pochettino is available, has a good track record of working with young English players (at Southampton and Spurs), plays good football, and very popular with players, staff and media.
My choice fwiw: Eddie Howe.’
Some of the replies to what Henry Winter concluded…
‘(Stoke fan) Would hate Eddie Howe in charge. His cheating and time wasting tactics along with signals for players to go down with fake injuries is not what i want to see from the national team. No thanks.’
‘(Arsenal fan) Has to be English but Potter or Eddie Howe does not fill me with confidence’
‘(Torquay fan) Thinking Howe or Potter would be an improvement over everything Southgate has achieved is crazy to me.
Klopp would be the perfect choice if they can convince him, but I guess unlikely.
Poch is probably the next best choice imo.’
‘(Man U fan) Eddie Howe will take it, he’s doing a good job at Newcastle but you get the feeling the owners will eventually replace him regardless.’
‘(West Ham fan) Wrong choice. Don’t get me wrong, Howe is a good club manager but will never excel at the highest level internationally.’
‘It has to be Mourinho.’
‘I’d go for Rooney, Lampard or Gerrard. All been in management.’
‘(Newcastle fan) Hands off Eddie Howe. He’s busy at Newcastle.’
‘Southgate always looks so glum, he’s not a good advertisement for the job, managing Newcastle is much more exciting and challenging.’
‘(Man U fan) How can you look beyond Klopp?’
‘(Coventry fan) Eddie Howe would be my choice, assuming that he would be prepared to leave Newcastle of course.’
‘I’d add Dean Smith, Rob Edwards and Gary O’Neill to the potential list. If we are committed to an English coach they have managed in the PL so must be as qualified as Howe…’
‘I think Potter or Howe would be at best standing still and at worst (and more likely) a backward step.’
‘Please could you explain what evidence there is that any of Poch, Howe or Potter is a ‘finisher’?’
‘(Villa fan) Howe or Potter PLEASE! They have great CV’s, learned, projects: game setters not betters, thinkers not drinkers, & are definitely in the calm, composed & well-spoken mould of Southgate. There’s a patriotism to it: a non-English manager would see it as just another job.’
‘I do like Eddie Howe but they need a manager with a winning mentality.
Give it to Mourhino or Anchelotti.
Born winners.’
‘Potter or Howe- probably an easier process to get Potter. Both good coaches who should be able to get the best out of the group. Southgate should have gone after the last Euros. Been a steady decline in the quality of football since that point.’
‘Personally i don’t see Howe taking it. Potters style at Brighton was enjoyable but you are right does Chelsea go against him.’
‘It has to be Klopp.’
‘Howe by a country mile. But he won’t leave the Newcastle project.’
‘(Cambridge fan) If Eddie Howe was offered it, I reckon he’d take it. He hasn’t done anything wrong at Newcastle but the likelihood is he’s on borrowed time at SJP.’
‘(Luton fan) Howe won’t leave Newcastle for England and nor should he. The timing might be perfect for Poch, that’s where I’d be looking.’
‘(Man U fan) Howe is the obvious choice. But this is a huge appointment. We have the best set of players we’ve had for 60 years. The FA must get this right.
I feel we at least have to ask the question of Klopp. Ancelotti won’t leave Real. An Argentinian managing England? No thanks.’
‘(Bournemouth fan) Eddie raised our club beyond our wildest dreams forever grateful for that . If I had to be hyper critical , I’d say he can , like Southgate , have his favourites and is , or was , loathe to drop them . Get that out of him and he’d be great . England boss needs to be ruthless .’
‘(Liverpool fan) I think Howe is the best choice – think he’ll know his time at Newcastle is only limited as well. Owners will change next year from Staveley etc. and new ones will likely want their own man who can compete in the UCL, attractive name etc. if they’re to push to the next level.’
‘(Arsenal fan) Newcastle seem to be moving into another phase with Amanda Staveley now moving on. Most new owners prefer to choose “their own” manager so might not object if approached by the F.A.’
‘Has to be eddie howe and let newcastle shoot for their inevitable big name manager – reckon they’ll be gutted mourinho isn’t available.’

 
