Mark Goldbridge is no stranger to a headline, and the host of The United Stand Podcast has come out in criticism of Gareth Southgate after Athletic journalist David Ornstein’s comments this morning.
Speaking on Sky on Friday, Ornstein said that he could not rule out Manchester United making a move for Southgate, given INEOS and Dan Ashworth’s connection to the England manager.
What did Mark Goldbridge say?
Goldbridge, as ever, was direct with his opinions. He said: “I know the positivity that’s out there [about the new part-ownership] and I’m writing that train as well. I like the [Omar] Berrada deal [in which the Manchester City chief football operations officer will join United].”
“But I’d question what Berrada thinks about [Graham] Potter and Southgate, I mean bloody hell. Berrada’s been working at Man City for the last 10 years. Would he want Southgate or Potter? Come on!”
Goldbridge was insistent that the story be shut down as soon as possible to ease United fans’ hopes.
“If you want to listen to the fans, Sir Jim [Ratcliffe], don’t go anywhere near Southgate and end this story now,” he said. “Kill it dead.”
“There’s no Man United fan out there that thinks this is a good idea.”
“Southgate cannot be a Manchester United manager,” he concluded. “Graham Potter cannot be a Manchester United manager. End of story.”
Goldbridge finished by giving his reasons why he did not want the England manager.
“Southgate is worse than Potter,” he said. “I’d give Potter the England job over Southgate. His club pedigree is abysmal. Most of his success is based around managing the top three national team in the world, with arguably the best squad of players in the world, in a slow footballing environment, where you basically win by throwing the best set of players you can together because you don’t train them in any style of play.”
If we're paying 20 million for Dan Ashworth to tell INEOS Gareth Southgate or Graham Potter is the guy, I can save the club 19 million straight away to tell them they definitely aren't.
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) March 7, 2024