Simon Jordan responds to Leeds United fan live on talkSPORT on Friday
Simon Jordan has locked horns with a Leeds United fan about “mediocre manager” Gareth Southgate and whether England can win a European trophy with him in the dugout.
Speaking live on talkSPORT show White and Jordan (Friday 24 March), Leeds fan Ken called in to discuss the “perfect start” to the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 campaign, which saw the team defeat Italy 2-1 on Thursday night (23 March).
After the caller had made his case that Southgate wasn’t a mediocre manager, he opened up a war of words with Jordan surrounding his negative view of the national team.
Jordan hit back at the scathing criticism directed at him, saying: “Just because I don’t follow word by word your world view, doesn’t mean I’m being overly negative, I’m being honest and pragmatic.”
After the Leeds fan bit back that he wouldn’t want Jordan in his world in a million years, Jordan replied: “I mean we probably share something in common then, because I’m not particularly having you in mine.
“But in the interest of this pragmatic debate Ken, rather than insulting one and other, I think that Southgate is moderately mediocre when it comes to the big end of a tournament and winning something.
“If you’re not interested in winning something Ken, that’s fine. I am interested in winning things.”
Much improved
Although Jordan has a point that the Three Lions have failed to get the job done during the three major tournaments that Southgate has been in the dugout, there were signs of improvement against a strong Italy side on Thursday evening.
In a dominant first-half display, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham pulled the strings in the midfield and were happy to play progressive passes through the lines – something that was lacking at the Qatar World Cup.
And although Italy came back into the game in the latter stages, partly thanks to Leeds United star Willy Gnonto’s blistering cameo, the way Southgate’s team ground out the win was pleasing to see.
After winning away in Italy, the Three Lions will be favourites to top their Euro qualifying group, but then the real work will begin as they begin to mentally prepare themselves for the heat of a major tournament.
If England and Southgate can go one better than the Euro 2020, Jordan may have to eat a rare piece of humble pie.
In other Leeds United news, one player’s exit could depend on Javi Gracia remaining the man in the dugout at Elland Road.
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