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

[Somniloquism]

If Argies win the world cup, Emi will be three times winner of the Yavin won't he? (Euro trophy and World Cup winner usually trumps anyone else).

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

No offence to big Emi but I hope he fucking doesn't.

[AV82EC]

If as the old adage goes all the big games are won in midfield then we just don’t have the quality in the centre of the pitch to get over the line. Rice and Andersen is okish as a 2 but certainly not to dictate the tempo of a game and do we actually have a proper 10 in front of them?

[Somniloquism]

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.

Especially as Henderson was brought because of his cheerleading in the dressing room. Pay him to turn up for that then and his dive over the hoardings wouldn't have mattered. But also taking Mainoo and him not appearing with defenders playing there instead was also a shit decision.

[Dave]

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?

I've not suggested he wasn't.

[Somniloquism]

No offence to big Emi but I hope he fucking doesn't.

As with anything, I'm supporting the team with the Villa players in it.

[VILLA MOLE]

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.

Especially as Henderson was brought because of his cheerleading in the dressing room. Pay him to turn up for that then and his dive over the hoardings wouldn't have mattered. But also taking Mainoo and him not appearing with defenders playing there instead was also a shit decision.

Crying out for legs in there if we were doing to just defend ,  Watkins at least to chase hopeful balls

[andyh]

If Henderson was there as a cheerleader, put him in with the coaching staff, or the kit man and use the squad place for a proper player.

[frank black]

We were somewhat stuck when Anderson got his yellow and then retired into his shell for the second half. Ideally he should have been subbed. I feared the worst when Gordon went off for Konsa

[adrenachrome]

On the plus side that's ruined Keir Starmer's retirement day out, the down side is the chances of the Trump/Milei love-in on the podium just rocketed

[Somniloquism]

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.

Especially as Henderson was brought because of his cheerleading in the dressing room. Pay him to turn up for that then and his dive over the hoardings wouldn't have mattered. But also taking Mainoo and him not appearing with defenders playing there instead was also a shit decision.

Crying out for legs in there if we were doing to just defend ,  Watkins at least to chase hopeful balls

I would have done Rashford who has more pace instead of Konsa for Gordon, and if needed Watkins who can defend as well as Kane and might be able to get up the pitch to support him. Kane and Bellingham being on the pitch after 70 mins showed the plan was to hope one of them does something.

[CorkVilla]

Trying to defend a 1 nil lead for 40 mins. Irish posters on here will remember Brian Kerr, those were his tactics when in charge of Ireland.

[Dogtanian]

I had high hopes for Tuchel, who is clearly a much better manager than Southgate - you only have to compare their CVs.

But while international management suited Southgate more than club management, I think it’s clear the opposite is true of Tuchel.

He needs to go, it’s not his forte. From squad selection, to the team playing like they haven’t been coached, to a complete lack of structure… he got it totally wrong.

[LeeB]

Horrible way to lose, commiserations guys

Yeah, that's going to sting for a long time, especially when it was largely self-inflicted.

I've plenty of friends who are England fans. I'll leave them be after that one.

We were fucking shite, you should be having a field day you bloody wet lettuces.

[Karlos96]

All on the manager tonight Tuchel should just be sacked he's been dreadful.