I’m sorry but no other General could have stopped in the middle of one attack and immediately move several hundred miles to help relieve Bastogne, like Patton did. That was pure balls on his part.
If he was alive today, he wouldn’t say it took balls, he KNEW he would succeed through his preparedness and superior intellect.
No doubt he was a great general, he knew that the nazi’s were spread too thin and went for the jugular. He read the situation correctly with clarity. He knew what his men were capable of and took advantage of it. Because he was already prepared, his decision was made before he was asked to do it. The decision didn’t make him great, being prepared for that eventuality made him great.
He was the right man at the right time.
Not so sure it could happen in today’s structured world.
Once he saw the bulge forming, he had his folks create a plan and execute it almost immediately.
You need well trained, supplied, and motivated forces to do that.
I think Patton’s focus on discipline and planning had a ton to do with it. Also, his personal discipline to NOT micro manage his officers. That, above all else, is one of the things about him that I admire.