I am patient. I might be opinionated in front of the telly, but I am patient

I had high hopes a long period of Big Sam would create an England style. Something we’ve lacked and something that I think allows players to grow and express themselves within a team shape. It is exactly what Pep Guardiola has. A framework to support his plans. Alas an insatiable greed of a man used to a life steeped in the football trough of backhanders did for Sam Allardyce. The reason he didn’t think to run a mile from that meeting, was because the situation was nothing out of the ordinary for him. Meetings over a good lunch to ensure money flows is all part of football. Nothing will really happen, because FIFA and UEFA are cut from the same cloth. He’ll surface somewhere to slurp again

I felt a bit sorry for the FA loosing their man so quickly. They are partly to blame by not introducing robust enough systems to control transfers – the root of the issue. After all, they control the licence to play. But even they would have expected Sam to stay a year or so. I agree the short term answer was to appoint Southgate, whilst they think a bit harder. The money slopped into St George’s is wasted if you don’t pick your internal coach. I think the FA Chief Executive should be on his guard. He seems too used to a climate of corporate yes men if he thinks the players “respect Southgate”. Say anything else and you wouldn’t get picked. He is your boss for now, so you play the game. They are all professionals.

Within two turgid uninspiring games of the Southgate reign, I understand why Middlesbrough suffered so much and what we have to fear. Make no mistake England will qualify from this group. I think even a second eleven could qualify, but that is not the point. It is our growth into a team capable of winning games in Championships that is our goal. I fear the next World Cup.

When Southgate took over at Middlesbrough, not only did he not have the required coaching badges, but he’d not managed before. It was a risk and the Premier League overlooked that. He did very well in his first season. I can still remember a thrashing of ManCity. He almost took Middlesbrough down in his second season. He made a better job in his third season winning only 7 of 38 games. The team had no direction and seemingly no clue how they wanted to play. No worries, the out of touch Trevor Brooking got him into the FA three years later to manage the U21’s.

Southgate has had two games. Not enough to really see what he is capable of, but enough time to see the seeds of direction

I will applaud his decision to drop Rooney. Roy Hodgson should have done it two years earlier. Rooney is no longer the first choice striker, No10 or holding midfielder. For that reason he should be a substitute at  best. When Sam Allardyce said “it wasn’t for him to tell Rooney where to play”, my heart sank. Of course it was, he was the bloody manager. Hopefully with that sideshow over, it will help England concentrate on winning games. I am also very mindful that if a player isn’t picked, then someone has to do that job. It is interesting that the last three managers have all basically picked the same players for their squads; so maybe that is our talent pool

Looking at England’s front three – Sturridge, Walcott, Lingard – we already see the issues. None of them are the first name on the team sheets at their own clubs. Indeed Walcott rarely plays for Arsenal at all and has had over 34 substitute appearances in the last two seasons. It’s a miracle if he takes a defender on, preferring to run onto a ball – a ball that never comes. It appears that every time he passes back to Walker, he runs inside and behind a defender. He can’t tackle, rarely fills in and is anonymous most games. The fact he’s been substituted in both games should tell the manager not to start him . Lingard has some drive to him, but like Walcott, is a bit player at his club. Sturridge is an injury nightmare and his general play shows it preys on his mind, as he avoids contact and drifts out of games. He is selfish at the wrong times. He is wasteful as a forward. Again two substitutions in two games should tell the manager that Rashford is the future and should start now, so that by the time a Championship comes along he is blooded. By then Kane may not be able to get back in

Henderson as Captain. Oh dear. At times he is very good. At times he is very poor. You get a mixture every game. I am looking for 95 minutes of consistency, not a few flashes. If he can do that, I can see him and Dyer doing a good job. Walker and Rose are fine. There are others, but they seem at ease. Walker still scares me sometimes with his back to a defender, but his relationship with Walcott is just not there. John Stones is getting there. Maybe Pep is doing us a favour. Cahill is still the weak link. How he’s got as many caps as he has eludes me. He always looks scared and when the pace is picked up, he is toast. Alli is great, he just needs to get involved more. Why play Townsend on the right. Everyone knows he cuts in to his left foot or he tries to cross with his right and you get a poor cross. Put him on the left if you are going to play him, because he will go by defenders; otherwise stop playing him. I felt sorry for Rooney. He’s not an impact player, so all he is doing is racking up caps. We can definitely thank Jo Hart; without his saves England would have lost. His brief time in Italy is already paying dividends. He looks a bit calmer. He can even pass a ball

But beyond all of that, where is the style, the shape, the England way. Southgate wants the players to express themselves and play with urgency. All well and good Mr Southgate, but within what shape, how and please with players who actually play week in week out