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

[Stu]

If Gordon and Madueke start Saturday, I’ll eat my hat.
Rubbish the pair of them but Gordon in particular, was woeful.
Barca player my arse.

They were both shit, but the shittest was Bellingham who was largely anonymous apart from running the ball out of play for a goal kick, nearly getting carded, and then behaving like a brat at the HT whistle. This is the guy who we were told is England’s lightning rod for play but I’m not sure he has that mentality.

Needs space to run into. Not the smartest player tactically, there's a reason Ancelotti played him up front.

He had space to run between defenders at various times in the first half at least but didn’t bother to move. I genuinely think he has a massive attitude problem, as if he resents not having the ball put onto his toe and instead has to put a shift in or something.

[Somniloquism]

He had space to run between defenders at various times in the first half at least but didn’t bother to move. I genuinely think he has a massive attitude problem.

TBF he also made quite a few runs but the player with the ball either didn't see him or didn't trust they could get the ball to him and turned away to pass elsewhere.

[Monty]

Bellingham's a funny one, because sometimes he looks like he can do everything, but if there isn't enough space or not enough movement ahead of him you find yourself wondering what it is he actually ever does.

[TonyD]

That was shit.
Subs too late. 
Start Watkins Rogers Saka and Rashford next game. 

[Matt C]

Bellingham's a funny one, because sometimes he looks like he can do everything, but if there isn't enough space or not enough movement ahead of him you find yourself wondering what it is he actually ever does.

Have a massive strop, it seems.

Exceptional ability but does seem to get very frustrated, very easily and it permeates a negative vibe through the team. At least for England, perhaps it’s different at Real Madrid.

[ROBBO]

Hate watching England (Although I always do) so slow and pedantic. At least Rashford was trying to get the ball into the box. Gordon was rubbish Geordies will be better off without him.

[Percy McCarthy]

Hate watching England (Although I always do) so slow and pedantic. At least Rashford was trying to get the ball into the box. Gordon was rubbish Geordies will be better off without him.

Yeah, as someone with a long-standing soft spot for Barcelona since we played them in ‘78, he’s not my idea of a Barcelona player.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Just catching up watching old man Ronnie celebrate his goals and looking at him smile, I reckon he could play a convincing Homelander.

[Rory]

I dunno, I don't follow international football.

(And I hope not to pre-empt an England win, because that would be so depressing.)

But it seems to me that every single tournament, England have a 'golden generation' awaiting glory -  only the manager is the problem. Or, maybe the players just aren't as fucking good as you think they are.

C'mon Scotland! SJM to lift the trophy!

[adrenachrome]

I reckon England will win pretty comfortably tonight. Then we'll draw 0-0 against Ghana. Smash Panama. Straightforward 2-0 win in R32. Quarter-final defeat.

Still a few games left on the nailed-on betting money train...

Good forecasting,

I wonder what the betting odds were against a 0-0 result.

I agree that England will progress beyond the group stage, but if they make it to the last 8 that I will be pleasantly surprised. 

[PaulWinch again]

I thought Konsa was ok, other than that challenge that was very lucky for the non-pen decision. I notice there’s been no mention of the fact his defending denied Ghana a good chance after James was too weak on the ball.

Actually in fairness it’s mentioned in the Granuiad player ratings.

[simboy]

The way England played was structured, get it wide, to combat the low block defending. What the game demonstrated was no “point of difference”, a flair player who can change the game by adding something. A two man pivot - Rice and Anderson - seemed cautious in the extreme, push either forward create an overload.

Squad selection is a problem, we don’t have TAA or a Foden to bring on - we have Jordan F***ing Henderson.

[manic-road]

Not sure how Bellingham was awarded player of the match, is it a fan vote?

[Hillbilly]

Watching Anderson emphasises how damn good Boubacar Kamara is and how lucky we are to have him (injuries and all).

[SamTheMouse]

Not sure how Bellingham was awarded player of the match, is it a fan vote?

Weird. He should have been sent off anyway, for covering his mouth when talking to Ayew.