The whole DNA thing from Tuchel clinches it for me: it's the story we tell ourselves that no England team can play like Spain (who of course didn't play "like Spain" for many years) and it simply isn't true: the 1990 England team, for example, had the most attacking quality on the ball in midfield of all the teams in that tournament - Gascoigne, Beardsley, Waddle - but we lost through bad luck - a deflection - and penalties. And then the story gets told and re-told, that England fail on the highest stage, or "we can't play possession football," and the self-consciousness around that poisons things at the root. At some level many England managers, and Tuchel absolutely, think as a first principle that English players aren't touch/possession players - so create a squad to cope with that, ignoring or benching the players who are or might be those sort of players, because they don't fit the team model that comes with that cope - and then the team aren't good enough on the highest stage, yeah, because that first principle is wrong.
@MaxRadwan He might not have been the solution in some games but when you needed a sense of calm and a player who can knit the number 6 and 10 when everyone around you had shat themselves, he is the man.
@_PaulHayward Tuchel committed gross misconduct. He was assigned a task and he decided to implement the exact opposite that was required. He berated what England was under Southgate but his England was so much worse given the increased talent.
@Lawton_Times@TimesSport Maguire has been a starting XI player in the last 3 or 4 tournaments and Tuchel felt that he woukdn’t be one this time and that meant an issue eventually. He wanted young and hungry players involved this time. Makes sense and i suspect in time Maguire will agree.
@NicoSchira Just looking through the comments it shows exactly why these nonsense tweets go out. Being “ready” does not equal an offer. I saw a house for £2m the other day and i was ready to make a bid. It was in negative equity. They needed millions urgent so i offered £5m 😂😂🤥
In today's fixture where Brentford faced Fulham, Calvin Bassey's hair was clearly tugged at yet no red card was shown.
What makes it even stranger is that it was officiated by the same referee that sent Martinez off vs Leeds.
Scandalous.
The girls were outstanding. Controlled the first half and could easily have been 3 or 4 up. Second half was a different task but they defended with incredible character and determination. Well in girls 👍🏻⚽️
We take all 3 points in the Wigan-St.Helens derby.
First goal inside 1 minute set the tone for a battling performance full of grit, guile & creativity. 🧠
Win handed @fcsthelenswomen their first league defeat & keeps the girls 🔝 of the @NWwomen_league. 📈
#WeAreAshton❤️🤍
🎆 Save the Date!
Saturday 1st November — Ashton Town take on @thorntonfc , followed by our post-match firework display!
It’s set to be a great night for all the family — message 07426 764945 to grab your tickets today! 🔴⚪
#UpTheTown#AshtonTownFC#TownIsRed
The Men’s Sunday Intermediate Cup draw is out!
View the graphics to see who your team will face in the next round of this season’s competition.
Who are you backing to go all the way this year? 🏆
Good luck to all clubs involved - the road to the final is closing in!
We've known for a while that clubs control the narrative, but the actions of Luke Edwards this summer highlight the issues with football journalism. He didn't do his job. He did the dirty work for Newcastle. https://t.co/AgDsHoP8FN