Core issue with Montgomery is most of the war he lead a poorly equipped war weary army which lead to his being very cautious.
Boats
I don't particularly like Montgomery and feel history has been kinder to him then it should have, but to be fair Montgomery was very much a methodical planner who was at his best in getting the Germans to break themselves on the British defenses before Montgomery would go on the offense. I will also add that by the summer of 1944, the British (and the rest of the Commonwealth) were out of men. While they would get some replacements, they had no more formed and trained divisions available for Europe. Montgomery could not afford to be daring, even if it was in his nature.
Patton came up through the cavalry where speed, shock and surprise were key to a successful cavalry engagement and he applied that mindset through out his career. Almost every other Allied Army commander came up through the infantry and did not share that training or mindset.
