Steak and ale pie clenched in one hand, watered down Carlsberg in the other, a beastly belly swinging frivolously between the two. Bob, the typical England punter, roars out ‘God Save the Queen’ preceding a 1-0 win in a friendly against Norway. The goal? A 68th minute penalty.

Bob trudges home, wondering why he keeps bludgeoning his bank account ticket for these international friendlies that reward nothing- not even three points for a result despite a dreary game- even Stoke offer that much.

But hold on Bob. Lift those chins of yours, because it looks like the UEFA Nations League is here to spare you of the tedium fans have endured for a life time.

The Nations League is offering a lifeline to the culture of international football. It is implementing a value in victory. It is forcing teams to produce worthy, competitive football. I found myself daring England to do more, pushing my country on from a pub in the knowledge that there is reward and something to gain by pushing 10 men up for the last-minute corner.

The beauty lies in the simplicity. 4 leagues, promotion-relegation system. I am an immense admirer of the underdog- the 2015/2016 Leicester story was my red-letter day! And, for the first time, I cared about the San Marinos, Gibraltars and Luxembourgs of the world.

These teams are white washed every qualification period, confidence is subterranean! But by pitching them against each other, the true footballing standard becomes clear-thus creating some form of bench mark for the minnows to work from, rather than be rooted to rock bottom of the world standards. It sets them a more achievable goal.

Since the golden era, England have constantly strained to develop young players only for them to fall under pressure. My thesis is this: England managers have far too much time on their hands. They have too much time to plan and swap and change as they please. Slaven Bilic himself claimed he spent more time meticulously planning at an international level than in the Premier League. What this does is give the manager too many options.

Premier League managers have a rigid week in, week out system. Perfect. A team has a consistent starting eleven, barring one of two tactical changes, and they have a flow. Roy Hodgson, was a demon when it came to not knowing his own starting eleven. He had too many options and ended up taking us to the Euro’s with no inclination of which system to choose. Breaking down Wales was laborious and unimaginative, the tactics against Iceland were neither stick or twist, god forbid he’s as indecisive when choosing which colour bread clip he will use to pin sagging facial skin back to his neck.

Southgate no longer has time to do too much, because the games have too much value. Form now plays a bigger role than chance, take Callum Wilson for example. There is a reinstated belief in the country that founded the beautiful game, and after the elation from the summer, England can channel that momentum into something worthwhile, instead of another friendly against Germany.

I love the Bobs of this country, I am one! I want to hear my potbellied counterpart’s bellows of pride reverberate around stadia across the world in awe of a competitive, structured team battling it out in a league with purpose and incentive to succeed. No more 1-0 wins against Norway from a 68th minute penalty.

I like it, and this is why you should too. It’s all food for thought.