Tactical Genius Flunks WC Exam

Thomas Tuchel was appointed England manager in the hope that his tactical genius would turn the 'nearly men' of England from constantly missing out in semi-finals and finals into a team that would win a trophy for the first time in 60 years.

At his first exam against Argentina yesterday he flunked it big time.

The game was there to be won... for both teams

I was a guest presenter on NUFC Talk TV for a 'Watchalong' on the game and before KO my view was that neither team had shown any real swagger or top form in getting to the semi-final.

Would one or both teams step up their performance, or would they both carry on in the stale way of previous games?

In the first half it was stale again. Both teams seemed more intent on not losing than taking the game by the scruff of the neck and going for glory.

At half time my view was that both mangers should be telling their players they had nothing to fear from the other side. That this was a World Cup semi-final and their chance to play in the final, win it, and become legends.

That chance might not come again for many of the players who would take the field in the second half.

So, my message would have been go for it and get on the front foot, because if the oppo played the same way in the second half the game was there to be won.

And what happened? Argentina came out by far the more positive side and, in truth, England scored against the run of play. It was a goal that should have changed the game.

And it did.

But, instead of inspiring England,... it inspired Argentina and especially Messi.

Just as they had shown in their previous games when they had gone behind, Argentina brought an urgency and attacking purpose to their game.

Their players started to unleash their talent and skills on an England side that increasingly failed to come up with an answer.

That is when great managers make the difference.

Either by changing formation, bringing on the right subs, or both... great managers recognise the moment and make the tough calls, including subbing players no matter who they are. It might not always work, but the buck stops with the decisions they make.

And Tuchel made the wrong decisions. That was evident not as a reaction after we lost the game, but at the time he made those decisions.

Going to a back five with 20 minutes of normal time remaining + any stoppage time was a clear signal to Argentina that he had thrown in the towel of going for a second goal.

Hey ho, away we go, would have been, and was, the reaction of the Argie players.

It was an invitation with 'Try & Break Us Down' written all over it with bells on and Argentina gratefully accepted that invitation and from that point the result was almost inevitable.

It wasn't as if England's defence in previous games had been like a wall that couldn't be breached. It looked leaky in every game, so why did Tuchel think it could keep out gifting Messi & Co the attacking initiative for at least 20 minutes?

I could go on, but I won't.

Because at the end of the day the truth is I'm not that bothered.

England were never good enough to win the WC and, even if we had got past Argentina, barring a miracle we would have been taken apart by Spain who devoured favourites France.

My last thoughts; the competition for me showed yet again how we overhype how 'great' players are - who in truth are no better than above average,

Elliot Anderson £115M?? Seriously, putting in a few good tackles and playing accurate simple passes doesn't make you great or worth that staggering amount. He might well be a very useful player in the PL, but at WC level against elite players and teams? No.

Bellingham? Our best performer. But some ex player said his performances had made Gazza's in the 1990 WC look tame. If that isn't total overhyped BS of the first order I don't know what is. Gazza had everything Bellingham has, just far far more of it.

Stones, Guehi, James, Quansah, O'Reilly?? I wouldn't be overjoyed if we signed any of them. And they all played at the WC and three of them last night.

Kane scores goals, and nowt else. He should have been subbed when Tuchel went to a back five as Owld Harold was never going to have the legs to chase a quick pass on the break.

Surely Watkins was selected for that exact reason. So why the hell wasn't he put on??

Madueke?? He didn't play last night and should never have been anywhere near the plane. Rashford?? Toney?? Chalobah?? Mainoo?? A bench with that lot, other lightweights, and the walking wounded that Tuchel selected wouldn't scare Arbroath never mind Argentina.

And Thomas... saying you don't regret your decisions is the voice of delusion.

By going to a back five with 20 minutes + stoppage time to go you gift wrapped the incentive to win the game to Argentina. You are no better than Southgate pal.

Tuchel was hired as the tactical genius who passed tough exams with a AAA grade, not flunked them with an F in the same bottled manner of his predecessors.

The FA should get rid of Tuchel. Now.

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