1/ We have no need to be afraid of experts.
Gareth Southgate’s approach to management has been a lesson in humility. He has no illusions that England’s illustrious history will work it’s magic. He has gone out and learned from experts worldwide.
telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018…
Gareth Southgate’s approach to management has been a lesson in humility. He has no illusions that England’s illustrious history will work it’s magic. He has gone out and learned from experts worldwide.
telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018…
If only our political leaders could see it. May/Johnson/Raab are suspicious of “foreign judges” and bang on about “sovereignty” - but Southgate knows the best way to work in the national interest is to open channels to learn from the best of the world, not close ourselves off.
2/ We can build unity around a positive, outward-facing national identity.
Southgate’s England is so diverse - by clubs (unknowns from lower leagues to Man Utd stars), heritage (many players from 1st generation immigrant families) and personalities.
Southgate’s England is so diverse - by clubs (unknowns from lower leagues to Man Utd stars), heritage (many players from 1st generation immigrant families) and personalities.
This could have backfired, as it usually does. But Southgate treats his players like adults (“we don’t ban phones - they are adults! - we just discourage them"). He respects individuals and builds team spirt based on positivity. It’s clear that more unites them than divides them
3/ A united team is more than the sum of it’s parts.
The UK has become consumed by division. Not just arguing amongst ourselves, but arguing *for* division: of the UK’s, from Europe, over parties. When will we learn the more we focus on our differences, the weaker we become?
The UK has become consumed by division. Not just arguing amongst ourselves, but arguing *for* division: of the UK’s, from Europe, over parties. When will we learn the more we focus on our differences, the weaker we become?
The England team quietly took the exact opposite approach. They cut themselves loose from our recent national identity - miserable, ex-empire, still-talking-about-Churchill moaners - and built something new, based on humility, accepting who we are and openness to new ideas.
And look what we have achieved. And what we could still achieve. Go on England. Go on Gareth Southgate. Keep doing us proud and show our political leaders how to transcend the past and build a future.
Whether or not football comes home, let's build our home around these lessons
Whether or not football comes home, let's build our home around these lessons
