Sam Allardyce reveals envy for England boss Gareth Southgate

Posted Thursday, June 14, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Sam Allardyce reveals envy for England boss Gareth Southgate
Sam Allardyce admits he is envious of England boss Gareth Southgate

SAM ALLARDYCE admits he would not have been as brave as Gareth Southgate when it comes to trusting in youth.

And the former England manager would have tried to get his successor on board if he had not been dismissed for comments he made to an undercover reporter about ways to get round third-party ownership.

He still believes his behaviour did not warrant his dismissal, and will watch this summer's tournament from Cannes, entertaining well-heeled guests on behalf of a client, rather than travelling to the heart of the action in Russia.

"Of course I feel envy, no doubt about that," Allardyce said. "But I am not there though. It will always be in the back of my mind, what might have been.

"This is life in football now – nothing is predictable. You deal with it and move on. I live my life very well though."

It was Sam Allardyce who masterminded the 1-0 win in Slovakia that saw England off to the perfect start in qualifying.

However, only six of the players on the pitch at the end of that match have made it as far as Russia with Southgate's flesh blood flooding through the team.

"I don't know how different my squad would have been if I had been manager," said Allardyce, speaking at the launch of the William Hill Arms Pub.

"But certainly a lot of the players that Gareth has picked on the basis of how much they have succeeded over the last two years, is something I would have done probably similar.

"But I don't think I would have followed every one he has done. What he has done is very, very successful up to now.

"The younger players who have stepped up and done well in the Premier League have then stepped up again and proved they could do well with the chances they have got with England. It leaves them with a very interesting squad.

"Even if I was still in charge, I would recognise that he is in the one who knows better than anyone who are the ones who would be worth a look at in the long time.

"And a link between the senior side and the Under-21s is vital, in terms of having somebody who could advise who was ready and who was not to play in the senior team.

"I would certainly have him alongside to help out along the way.

"When I first got into the English management job, Gareth was already working with the Under-21 squad with a sports psychologist, systems of play and development.

"Like myself, he would have moved that into the first-team boys as well.

"The key point as we all know between England's success and failure has been the psychological barrier which various England teams have failed to break down and perform at this level. That is the whole thing he has to look from."

Allardyce says his input was too small for him to share any part of a successful campaign but has no qualms about setting the bar high for Gareth Southgate.

"Quarter-final would be a success," he says. "We have not been there for a long time. Any less than that I would not call a 'failure' but it would definitely be a disappointment."