Tim Myles

Volunteer, IT Consultant, Traveller, Geek (sometimes!) - maybe not in that order...

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Everybody expected the Spanish inquisition. Narrow defeat to the European and world champions is hardly a humiliation. England produced periods of belief, boldness and threat but not enough. Didn’t sustain momentum. Again, against good technical opponents. Too many mistakes. Again, some poor in-game management from Thomas Tuchel. Spain have too much strength in possession and strength in depth; their use of the ball intelligent, their subs terrific. Spain now 39 games unbeaten. That’s why they’re champions. Seven thoughts from Wembley …

1.Doesn’t Tuchel learn? Don’t take Anthony Gordon off. Just don’t. He was flying, as against Argentina in the World Cup in Atlanta. England’s left winger and best player was a constant threat, scoring one, involved in another, and then subbed. At least it was for an attacker this time, Morgan Rogers, but still. A tale of two Barca boys: Lamine Yamal stayed on for the full 90 minutes and was a constant threat.

2.England’s style. Would England “go for the kill” to borrow Harry Kane’s phase? They did eventually but didn’t maintain it. Trailing 1-0, they pressed, they countered, they went for the jugular. Elliot Anderson, excellent, was up for this. Seized on Neco Williams’ slip, and didn’t hesitate. Attack. Anderson-Gordon-Bellingham-Gordon. Goal. O’Reilly-Gordon-O’Reilly-Kane. Goal (via Marc Cucurella; cue huge cheers). England led. But then failed to maintain momentum. Games last 90 minutes, not moments.

3.Cut out the mistakes. Spain's first two - England punished for defensive caution. No 1. Summed up the defensive culture – rather than release Gordon, who was open down the left, Marc Guehi turned back and got robbed by the electric Yamal. No 2. Nico O’Reilly turned back and Dani Olmo pounced, teeing up the sub Alex Baena.

4.Spain’s style. Briefly worried when England pressed. Otherwise so good in and out of possession. Worked so hard to get the ball back. Neco Williams tracking back. Man-for-man at England corners; Rodri pressurising Kane. Will England develop a Rodri? Ball-winner, ball-user, conductor of the orchestra. In possession: Yamal magnificent, not just the finish but so many touches, including one beautiful reverse flick to Olmo. Mikel Oyarzabal’s finish, dinked over James Trafford, was majestic. Spain. So confident. So talented.

5.Tuchel’s changes. Mixed bag. Rogers for Gordon (70). Controversial. Rogers should have come on for the quiet Bukayo Saka. James Garner for Myles Lewis-Skelly (70). Fair enough. Lewis-Skelly had run himself into the ground in midfield.
Morgan Gibbs-White for Saka (83). Fair enough, Saka not threatening enough, cut inside too often rather than go outside Cucurella. Gibbs-White was lively, bringing a threat with his dribbling and passing. Deserves his future place ahead of Cole Palmer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Kane (83), who was tiring and slipped in striking his penalty against bar. Fair enough decision, though unlike Tuchel to take off his captain. Jarrad Branthwaite for Guehi (89). Centre-back for centre-back. At 3-2 down. Why not gamble? Why not Alex Scott or Eberechi Eze? Cautious.

6.Jarell Quansah v Trent Alexander-Arnold. Kyle Walker got on the pitch before Alexander-Arnold - and Walker's retired from England. Walker was celebrated by the Wembley crowd at half-time for his long contribution to the England cause. Quansah won the race for the right-back duties, where he is playing currently for Bayer Leverkusen. Defensively sound, but lacked Alexander-Arnold’s threat in possession. Will Tuchel ever believe in Alexander-Arnold?

7.James Trafford. Blameless with Spain’s three goals. Only his second start, third cap, and the 24-year-old is very promising. England’s No 1 in waiting. But could be a considerable wait. Jordan Pickford returns for games three and four of this four-match international break. Dean Henderson injured. Trafford had no chance for Yamal’s goal. Such a quick turnover. Or for the shot from Baena, who used England defenders to mask his intentions. Or Oyarzabal dart through and dink. Spain too good. England had some good moments but some familiar failings, including Tuchel's. #ENGESP

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@FantasyPros @AndrewErickson_ @JoePisapia17 @Exploding_Heads come here for some hot NFL "he knows the club" action!

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

Rarely post this kind of thing, but this is beyond stupid

Signed up for @NFLonDAZN in Aug when living in Uganda. Now living in Kenya. Say they can't transfer my account to be based in Kenya. It's now useless - can't even login! Have to buy a new subscription! #CustomerExperience

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@damianoverton Hey Damian, sorry for the random message out of nowhere, I just moved to Nairobi and looking for some snooker tables and you're the only person talking about it on Twitter. Any chance you can point me to the best tables? And let me know if you fancy a game sometime?

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

In Minneapolis for <24hrs to see @dessadarling and @mn_orchestra tonight, as you do! Got a spare ticket too if anyone needs one!

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@dessadarling @scottsphoto @mn_orchestra @KAXE @opheliasden @thecrocodile Got 1x spare ticket for the Sat night with @mn_orchestra - Row 1, Box, level B. Coming from Kenya (long story), so don't exactly know anyone local and want it to go to a fan. Selling price = Buy me and my gf a drink before the performance!

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@PeakedInHS_FF Are you still working with the Athletic? I used to get the charts early there, but haven't seen them since the Trade Deadline one...

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@gracepotter @joey_wharton When does the Africa leg of the tour start? Asking for a friend.... 😂

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@robwalkertv @GovUganda @ntvuganda @Educ_SportsUg @LillyAjarova Coming to Jinja at all? If so, there's a few frames of snooker waiting for you :-)

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@gracepotter Can't believe no one else has suggested Jinja, Uganda yet, but if you come here you could visit the start of the Nile and go on safari. That has to count for something, right? #TheRealLionTheBeastTheBeat #NothingButTheNileWaters

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@TylerFFCreator Won both of my playoff semis by the odd point (dynasty and redraft) to reach the final in the same year. Subsequently lost both in a points adjustment (different players). Would have won both finals.

[Mark Colling @markc303]

What's more complicated?

Work place politics and office games
or
Social media algorithms and The Great Online Game?

What has a better potential outcome?

My brain is still noodling this article over

https://t.co/liu7p9ftCZ

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@MarkKersten They got LBW and BLM confused...

[MR @MarcusRashford]

Wow, just got home from training and I’m blown away with the support. It’s not over yet, let’s keep retweeting and tagging local MPs. We need to be the voice for those 200,000 children who have no choice but to skip meals today, I refuse to give up 🗣 #maketheUturn

[Piers Morgan @piersmorgan]

RT, share.. shame the BBC.
👇

[Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy]

OK, respect.

That was serious burn time from @afneil. I particularly liked (and chuckled at) the Supreme Court line.

Boris Johnson, you’ve been called out... Can we trust you even to turn up?

[Mike Buckley @mdbuckley]

Spread this video far and wide - it’s brilliant:

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@gracepotter I assume you'll be announcing the dates for the Nairobi and Kampala shows later? #longshot #AfricaWantsGrace

[Tim Myles @blueburn97]

@AndrewSparrow any idea when the rankings get updated on here? https://t.co/wroVPUjcbI