Simon Jordan argues Gareth Southgate has made the scapegoating of Harry Maguire somehow worse by attacking ‘faceless pundits’, rather than the England manager taking responsibility or blaming fans for the scrutiny on the under-fire centre-back.
The England boss came out with a passionate defence of Maguire after the Manchester United defender scored an own goal in England’s 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday night.
Southgate hit back at the pile on surrounding the £80m defender and how pundits were the reason for it all.
Jordan was speaking on his talkSPORT show with Jim White when he questioned Southgate’s decision to address the situation publicly. He insisted Maguire has become a victim of parodying, but claimed the blame should be pointed at United and England fans rather than pundits.
But Maguire doesn’t get booed by United fans at games like he does when he plays at Wembley for England. There has been a few embarrassing occasions when a few United fans let us down on pre-season tour, but it doesn’t happen enough where Jordan can blame us. Of course, social media is different.
“I’m not quite sure why Gareth felt the need to address it yesterday, because the more you address it, the more you amplify it as people will be defiant,” Jordan said. “I don’t understand where he is going with that.
“You can turn around and diminish the argument by not having it and not giving it the credence, at the end of the day destructive voices in the background will only become louder and more vociferous if you amplify it.
“There is an element of vitriol to Southgate in that mix as well. If there was a complete and utter buy in to Southgate this would be less of an issue as well.
“Gareth aiming barbs at people who are faceless and can’t name, suggesting pundits and commentators are the reason for this is slightly cowardly, because he knows it is the fans.
“He knows ultimately it is the Man United fans who started this wildfire, the England fans have jumped on it and the Scotland fans think it is funny to do it in this particular game.
“The reality is he goes for a soft target and blames the media.”
United gave Maguire every chance to leave the club this summer and build on his career elsewhere if he really wanted to be putting all of this past him by playing regularly at another club. He didn’t want to leave for West Ham which is fine, but to blame United is a bit crazy on Jordan’s part.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by that.
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