Gareth keeps clubs sweet

GARETH SOUTHGATE will not risk a fall-out with clubs by arranging an england squad gettogether over the winter, as predecessor roy Hodgson did. The clubs blocked Hodgson’s move on the first occasion and the next year FA chief executive Martin Glenn had to plead his case at a PL summit. Southgate said he was not sure about the value of one meeting, saying he preferred to visit players at their clubs. england are not in action again until late March.

THE Brazilian football federation, who aggressively commercialise their friendly matches, went to the extent of bringing their sponsors’ backdrop into the managers’ press conference after the England game. The team operative who set it up then spent so long interpreting Brazil coach Tite’s comments that he ensured the TV cameras lingered on the team’s roster of sponsors for the maximum time. THE FA invited media representatives from all 20 Premier League clubs to the Brazil game. Pity that none of them stayed to watch how the FA organise post-match player interviews far more successfully than the clubs do, with Arsenal the worst offenders. c.sale@dailymail.co.uk and twitter.com/charliesale