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

[cdbearsfan]

Argies doing their best to get themselves in trouble with that banner.

Not much, I imagine. They were fined £20,000 last time they did it and that was twelve years ago, so I'd imagine it'll just be another fine.

[SamTheMouse]

We looked like we were playing a back five - but with all five of them within about ten yards of each other.

We were screaming at the telly for Spence to get out to his man, and for Anderson and Bellingham to push up past the edge of the box and put some pressure on their midfielders. Fernandez was given a couple of bites of the cherry and it was only a matter of time with the space he had.

I think during the drinks break, Tuchel told the players to close the gaps in the box and head the crosses away, when what he needed to do was stop them coming in in the first place, or at least pressure the crosser a bit more.

The players clearly didn't know what they were meant to be doing.

[Somniloquism]

When Tuchel replaced Gordon with Konsa, a few pundits thought that England would go to a back 3 allowing the fullbacks to become wing backs.

Which might have been a sound tactic instead of forcing James into a DM role.

[Somniloquism]

How many will France put past England on Saturday?

[LeeB]

It's was utterly muddled and confused just when you need clarity and concentration most.

[adrenachrome]

When Tuchel replaced Gordon with Konsa, a few pundits thought that England would go to a back 3 allowing the fullbacks to become wing backs.

Which might have been a sound tactic instead of forcing James into a DM role.

Absolutely.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I blame Wonderwall.

[cdbearsfan]

I blame Wonderwall.

Finally, a sensible reaction.

[Dogtanian]

I blame Wonderwall.

*shudders*

[Pat McMahon]

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

Anderson I thought was doing fine, even after his yellow he put in some good tackles.

The problem was that when we needed changes because the likes of Rice were running out of steam, he did a reverse Lambert and chucked on pretty much every defender in the squad. We were under pressure, true, but all it needed was a tweak. Instead he panicked and resorted to what he did against Mexico. Letting the crosses come in and defending the six yard box.

But that was never going to work against Argentina with the quality of their delivery and no pressure at all on their midfielders.

And if you're going to insist on playing that way, at least replace Kane with someone vaguely mobile like Rashford or Ollie, who can give you an out ball.

Tuchel fucked it completely.

A thousand per cent this. In particular keeping Kane on with no possession when we needed an out ball and somebody to occupy a couple of defenders we needed pace and the ability to push the game up the pitch. Ollie or even Rashford would have helped.

[Pat McMahon]

PS Anderson was intelligent and diligent after his yellow. Better than I feared

[pauliewalnuts]

I blame Wonderwall.

Finally, a sensible reaction.

Too fucking right.

Singing along with that is the second worst thing the England team have done behind the Nazi salute.

[VILLA MOLE]

I wonder if Tuchel will now do a Steve Clarke

[Brazilian Villain]

PS Anderson was intelligent and diligent after his yellow. Better than I feared

He was at fault for the first goal as he got drawn in to Messi and left Fernández unmarked.

[AV82EC]

Yep got his substitutions completely wrong and seemed to change shape/formation about 3 times in 10 minutes.

Mainoo for Rice
Rashford for Gordon
Konsa for James.
Watkins for Kane
O’Reilly for Spence

Keep your shape but fresh legs and energy. We may still have lost but fuck me we’d have maybe laid a glove on them.