ITV panel was too nice... we needed hard-hitting views

GARETH SOUTHGATE left a few big names on his bench and by the end of the evening it was hard to shake the feeling that ITV had made the same error. That’s not to necessarily say the pundits were poor. But just as you’d rightly ask questions of Ian Wright and Gary Neville’s shirts, so too do you have to wonder what Roy Keane or Slaven Bilic might have made of this game. Because this, let’s face it, was always going to be an occasion ripe for the outspoken. So while it’s all well and nice deploying folk who found Southgate ‘brave’ or ‘clever’, there was definitely another view to take of eight changes to his line-up and unfortunately it wasn’t especially heard on the panel of Neville, Wright, Lee Dixon and Ryan Giggs (right) ht) ahead h d of kick-off. Dixon was sound enough in reasoning that game time and fatigue needs to be managed. Wright spoke of the squad getting this far together. Giggs emphasised that Southgate should only think about winning and the momentum it breeds, without going a step further and questioning if that was being jeopardised. The strongest view came from Neville. He sided with Southgate, but knew from being part of the England shambles at Euro 2016 what kind of a risk he was taking. ‘He’s brave,’ Neville said. ‘Everyone says, “England must play their strongest team, one or two changes, keep momentum”. Two years ago people said we shouldn’t have made six changes against Slovakia and we lost momentum (with a 0-0 draw) and were too clever. Gareth has gone up in my estimation. He has taken a risk. If the resul result doesn’t go well he will g get crucified. But I think it is a good plan.’ Fair log logic. Bu But here’s the thing — yo you never just want the g guy who thinks it is a go good plan. You want th that editorial balance, you want someone who, whet whether you agree or not, might h have said something about b tS Southgate th treating this game like a Premier League boss might handle a League Cup thirdround tie. Where was the strong voice representing the significant chunk of viewers who felt Southgate played a little fast and loose? Where was the voice before or after the game saying that four changes is squad rotation, eight is misguided? Surely they had someone on their bench willing and able to state what felt obvious.