I guess the opposite of risk-averse is reckless, and that is equally as dangerous, particularly so when we are not desperate for change.
There are obviously many more talented and experienced coaches out there than Southgate in world football, and many of those would leap at the opportunity, but that doesnt mean they are going to be better at this job. Too many people look only at on-pitch scenarios, and give little thought to what else it must take to not only be a mature face of English football but also to deliver a squad not loaded with pressure and the weight of consistent failure.
The very notable and most overlooked thing that Southgate has achieved is that he has reduced the doubters down to arguing about things that can't be misproven. Starting XIs, choice of subs, timing of subs. All very safe spaces for the armchair expert. The comfort blanket of never being proven wrong. Everybody can feel smug that, had the 'if only' they wanted to happen would have happened, it would surely have turned out well. Its universal.
For the record i do feel its time for a change, and i do see Southgate resigning in the next couple of months. Having said that, I also feel that its FAR from a guarantee that this will be a positive. Ask Sven or Capello or Hoddle or Venables how difficult it is to stop this whole thing from becoming a circus, and ask ourselves whether we want that back.
My choice is Pochettino. He's probably a better coach than Southgate but crucially IMO also the most likely personality to 'get' this job in its entirety. Likeable enough to get respect from the players (for the right reasons), talented enough to maybe squeeze that extra 5% through his ideas, but also humble enough to recognise and continue the work that Southgate has put in everywhere else.