Chris Downey

Now a part-time stay-at-home dad and part time Welcome & Service assistant with the National Trust @ Castle Ward. Also a Manchester United fan.

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

@MiguelDelaney Makes sense - see if there’s anything there in a dead rubber before the latter stages. He might breakdown so best to give him a runout in a match that’s already won

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

@HulkyTime @TomCruise @elonmusk Nope

[Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney]

In fairness to England, I would put this more down to Ghana.

I've been to a fair few Quieroz games at World Cups and they're all like this. An absolute trudge to break through.

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

Someday, I really miss 140 characters….

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Dan Burn spoke really well in the England World Cup media bunker today. Here’s some of the main highlights….

On Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. “World class. They're leaders of the group, playing for top clubs and at the peak of their careers. Maybe not Jude, he’s 12 or whatever! He’s got a long way to go (long career, only 22), but he's a big player for us. Jude's one of those players where you can really feel when Jude's on it. He sets the tone. If he goes flying into a tackle with three minutes gone it really gives you that energy like, ‘well Jude’s on it and I've got to raise my level’.”

On England’s strength in depth in attack. “We can change the front four or five players and we've still got top-quality players all over the pitch, especially the way we want to play, like a Premier League team, and bring that intensity. We can bring in B (Bukayo Saka). Rashy (Marcus Rashford) and Morgan Rogers.”

On Elliot Anderson, his old Newcastle United team-mate and current England colleague. “He's very composed. Nothing really seems to to faze Elliot from what I've seen from him coming through as a kid when he came back off loan at Bristol Rovers and trained for Newcastle to now starting in the World Cup. Never changes character, always wanting the ball. Plays with that intensity the manager loves. I was really so happy for him the other day because he's had a tough time in his personal life (Anderson’s mother passed away). He’s shown the quality he's got. I don't think he wanted to leave Newcastle (for Forest for PSR reasons in 2024). But would he be in the position he's in now if he'd been there (back at Newcastle)?”

On Thomas Tuchel the player-whisperer. “He can really hold a room when he speaks. Everyone listens. He's got both sides to him where you can go to the baseball (on Thursday) and he’ll throw first pitch and you can sit and chat to him. But when it comes to training he expects certain standards from the lads. If he sees something he doesn't like he calls it out. He really has that balance well.

" know people spoke that he must have given a rocket (to players at half-time against Croatia), but it was the opposite. Really it was more just saying, ‘if we don't win this game it's not the end of the world’. But he wants us to go out and perform how he knows we can. You saw the reaction after half-time. That speaks volumes of his leadership.

“You can have a relationship with the manager where you feel like you're his friend a lot of the time. He takes the mick out of me a lot so I'm quite happy with that! But also when it comes down to the football, I feel he’s very honest.”

On the influence of Tuchel’s No 2 Anthony Barry. “I was with Baz at Wigan (in 2017/18) and that was probably one of his first coaching jobs but you knew back then there was something quite special about the way he went about it when he was taking drills. You really wanted to make whatever he was doing work because of the energy he put into it.”

On set-pieces. “We're one of the best teams at doing that. Set-pieces are always a big part of football. We’ve got Arsenal lads in and the (quality) delivery you're getting off Bukayo and Declan constantly. It's something we do work a lot on.” #ENG #FIFAWorldCup

[David Squires @squires_david]

Rayan on for Raphinha, meaning it is youth against Experience down that wing.

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

@MrTomMcDermott Not ironed out in the 2nd half? No real issues…

[Tom McDermott @MrTomMcDermott]

England’s defence looks that bad even Ronaldo would score. 🫣

[Mike Morrison @MDMorrison82]

Ah shite, knew today would come.
The sun rises above my town and the lads have moved on. To the house, they’ve bestowed their colors, to me, their last 3 bottles.

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

▶️ 'All or Nothing: Manchester United', coming to Amazon Prime Video in 2027.

[Olaf Falafel @OFalafel]

You’ll need this for the rest of the tournament

[World Cup 2026 @WorldCupMedia]

The beauty of the World Cup! 🏆

[Sam McBride @SJAMcBride]

Belfast knife attack suspect Hadi Alodid was granted asylum under a fast-track application scheme introduced by two of Nigel Farage's senior colleagues. It meant he'd only to complete a Home Office questionnaire rather than attend a face-to-face interview. https://t.co/DhOJSLSv8w

[big duntles @biglunty]

We all know she had her moments but Nanna was an unforgettable woman. We’ll be holding a small memorial service for her this Friday at Kirkdale Community Centre

[Patrick Corrigan @PatrickCorrigan]

Northern Ireland does not have an ‘immigration problem’.
We have a racism problem.

[Narinder Kaur @narindertweets]

This is possibly the saddest thing I've seen in a long time..an immigrant nurse talking about fleeing her home..she saved her UNIFORM. So she could still WORK for our communities.

I'd fill this country with a thousand of this woman than one of those good for nothing thugs.
God help this poor woman.

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

@ologunagbajohnM @FabrizioRomano Manchester United agreed to a deal worth roughly £5 million with Urawa Red Diamonds, but Suzuki turned down the transfer to prioritize playing time, eventually joining Belgian side Sint-Truiden before moving to Parma. He wanted to play rather than be a back-up keeper

[Annie Eaves @AnnieEaves]

Absolutely Machiavellian from big Florentino. Wants a late election boost, speaks to his Atletico counterpart, works it all out. Offers €150m for Alvarez, always knowing it would be rejected, and in the process screws Barcelona efforts to get him for less. 10/10. No notes.

[Chris Downey @chrisdowney79]

@carras16 @OmarBerrada Go and get Shea Charles!!

[@JASPER66🇾🇪 @JonathanMcCusk3]

With all the tech à white straight line is proving problematic. 🤨🧐🙄⚽️😎

[🍀🇵🇸TimTamTom🇵🇸🍀 @oilyheel]

😂