By Graham Thomas
He may not have quite matched Billy McCandless’ 1948 record of winning his first three games in charge, but Graham Potter did okay as manager of Swansea City.
There was no promotion from the Championship to the Premier League – the Swans finished 10th in his one season in charge in 2018-2019 – but there was enough to admire to realise why England may now be keen to make him their successor to the departed Gareth Southgate.
Put simply, Potter has many of the Southgate character traits, plus a few useful add-ons.
He shares the calm, unruffled demeanour in public, the level-headed reaction to praise as well as mockery, and his slim frame makes him look just as good in an English FA suite.
Graham Potter's England links could save Chelsea a lot of moneyhttps://t.co/jJFf86homE
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 20, 2024
The extras – though much more apparent at Brighton than they were at Chelsea – are an ability to build a winning team through progressive, attacking football which does not break down entirely under the pressure of strong opposition.
