Other Games - 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Edition (+ warm-up matches): Villa-watch

[Monty]

I thought Tuchel did a rather excellent Southgate impression to be honest.

[Somniloquism]

All 2nd half the Argies were playing better (tactical tweak at half time from one of the managers that either did or didn't work). We scored slightly against the run of play, and also had some good chances after that although they also got through few time as well (Spence tackle, Pickford save). Drinks break was when it fell down though with the Konsa change for Gordon who was pinning back some of that side.

[enigma]

Weird. Clever people have told me for ages that Southgate was the problem, and that a Proper Manager who made Proper Substitutions at the Proper Time was the missing piece of the puzzle.

That still seems to be valid TBF, just put Tuchel at the helm. That was an absolutely shocking example of how not to manage a game. When you’re sat at home being utterly bewildered by the subs, I think everyone knew what was going to happen.

Maybe when England have hoovered through another four managers who all do the same thing, the penny might drop that maybe when they were getting really angry at the one who actually did really well with the tools at his disposal - they were being a bit silly.

Why would they all do the same thing? If the next four England managers all swapped out players for centre backs with that much time left I'd just give up on England completely.

[tomd2103]

It wasnt just the sitting back, we became so ridiculously narrow with 5 at the back - allowing Messi (of all people) and others to pick their crosses - beyond inept by TT. And 5 at the back with nobody marking is a new one on me.

Along with Kane being the one left up top on his own when they needed to stretch the Argentinians, despite being the most ill-suited of all the options to do so.

[Brazilian Villain]

Exactly. Tuchel has the same problem Southgate had, namely that he sends the message to his team that they aren't good enough and so the only way to win is to play like a non-league team defending a one-goal lead against a Premier League side.

Anthony Barry made a strange comment in his half-time interview about telling the England players not to have an inferiority complex against Argentina. Seemed a bit odd, given the players England have.

[London Villan]

I felt for konsa, attacking right back he is not. His two crosses at the death were terrible.

[Somniloquism]

Tuchel, post game - "We were too passive after our goal"

YOU CAUSED THAT YOU FUCKING KNOB!!!

For almost 20 mins he made no changes and we were under the cosh and getting worse. But the momentum had changed and he could have swung it back the other way with a different midfield option or a better outlet then Kane. To take off an attacker for a CB out of position at RB, and then move that RB into midfield just played totally into their hands and then he though throwing on even more defenders would help. You could see all the players asking where they needed to play.

[Sexual Ealing]

It's not not amusing how often, and how expensively, they chase 'philosophies', always only to end up back to the status of the nearly-men they were always destined to be.

[frank black]

Weird. Clever people have told me for ages that Southgate was the problem, and that a Proper Manager who made Proper Substitutions at the Proper Time was the missing piece of the puzzle.

That still seems to be valid TBF, just put Tuchel at the helm. That was an absolutely shocking example of how not to manage a game. When you’re sat at home being utterly bewildered by the subs, I think everyone knew what was going to happen.

Maybe when England have hoovered through another four managers who all do the same thing, the penny might drop that maybe when they were getting really angry at the one who actually did really well with the tools at his disposal - they were being a bit silly.

He was awful tonight, you surely can’t argue against that?

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I felt for konsa, attacking right back he is not. His two crosses at the death were terrible.

Yeah, they were pretty embarrassing attempts.

[andyh]

I would have thought that at the very highest levels of international football, the very last tactic a manager would use would be ‘send the big man up and whack the ball up to him’ ?

[frank black]

Sad music montage incoming, then on to expectations again

[Chris Harte]

I felt for konsa, attacking right back he is not. His two crosses at the death were terrible.

Yeah, they were pretty embarrassing attempts.

They were, and Alan Shearer was calling them out, but at the same time I was screaming at the TV 'He's a fucking centre-half, ffs'.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I felt for konsa, attacking right back he is not. His two crosses at the death were terrible.

Yeah, they were pretty embarrassing attempts.

They were, and Alan Shearer was calling them out, but at the same time I was screaming at the TV 'He's a fucking centre-half, ffs'.

He's no Pau! 😀

[Hillbilly]

He tempted the fates by dropping Konsa. England have never lost when Konsa has played the full 90 minutes.

But the big mistake was bringing Henderson rather than Wharton.