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

[Villan For Life]

I think we underestimated Ghana and just what a wiley old fox their manager Queiroz is, he set them up so well and Ghana defended magnificently.

A draw was a fair result.

[AV82EC]

Is it just me or were Ghana the most boring team to watch since Steau Bucharest in the 1986 European Cup final. I’m amazed the England fans didn’t start singing Boring Boring Ghana. It was a George Graham masterclass.

It doesn’t get away from the fact England were crap though.

[Mister E]

Ghana were excellent. Sometimes, the deeply-defensive strategy works. England weren't bad.
Gordon and Madueke frustrate the hell out of me and I think Tuchel should have had Palmer available. Eze never quite delivers, IMHO, and was a questionable squad-player choice.
Last night both Rashford and Rogers should have come on a lot earlier.

[Somniloquism]

There might have been some underestimation about how well they would defend, but I would argue the wings didn't do enough when needed to turn the play. Madueke showed in one minute on the left that swapping them would have been better  and we should have been going a bit old school with proper wingers and Kane staying in the box. Of course not starting Gordon as well might have helped in that aspect.

[Somniloquism]

Ghana were excellent. Sometimes, the deeply-defensive strategy works. England weren't bad.
Gordon and Madueke frustrate the hell out of me and I think Tuchel should have had Palmer available. Eze never quite delivers, IMHO, and was a questionable squad-player choice.
Last night both Rashford and Rogers should have come on a lot earlier.

MGW over both I would have stated.

[Sexual Ealing]

That Konsa tackle - how the fuck did he get away with that?!

[Meanwood Villa]

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

100%

[Somniloquism]

Luck. I think the fact his feet didn't touch him was the saving factor. Pretty much the same could be said with Pickfords DOGSO as well, although he would have had two defenders nearby to potentially protect him from the full red if called a foul.

[Dogtanian]

Ghana did what every team should do - they played in a way they felt was their best chance of beating the team in front of them. Something we didn't really do and can't really complain about.

What we needed on the night was our world-class playmaking talent to do something... world class. Instead we got tantrums.

As I have said before, Bellingham's an ego player, and when it goes right and he can be the centre of the universe it's great, but when it's not going well that same ego just gets in the way.

I don't think the result is purely on him, but I do think it's odd that for a team everyone says has a wealth of options for the 10 role, he should have lasted 73 minutes in a game when it clearly wasn't working.

[letsshakehands]

That Konsa tackle - how the fuck did he get away with that?!

Maybe it's the claret and blue specs, but I see Konsa stretching for the ball and the attacker's knee hitting his leg, causing a big old tangle. It looks worse because he's mid air, and it certainly could've been given, but I don't get all the 'stonewall pen, two-footed line, red card' shouts doing the rounds on socials (not you I know SE). Bit of a 50/50 for me.

[brontebilly]

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

Kamara and Tielemans at their best, ideal tempo setters. England don't have that. Rice is a fine athlete but that's not his game. Anderson not really either. Henderson sitting on bench for the high fives and Wharton at home seems odd.

Why bring Toney if you wouldnt bring him on last night?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Ghana did what every team should do - they played in a way they felt was their best chance of beating the team in front of them. Something we didn't really do and can't really complain about.

What we needed on the night was our world-class playmaking talent to do something... world class. Instead we got tantrums.

As I have said before, Bellingham's an ego player, and when it goes right and he can be the centre of the universe it's great, but when it's not going well that same ego just gets in the way.

I don't think the result is purely on him, but I do think it's odd that for a team everyone says has a wealth of options for the 10 role, he should have lasted 73 minutes in a game when it clearly wasn't working.

Spot on in every way!

Why weren't changes made at half time?

[Rigadon]

You can see England will look great playing teams who are more open/'progressive', but struggle against a 'low block'.  I've used football newspeak there to great effect, I'm sure you'll all agree. 

It was a very boring game.  I might not bother again until it gets more interesting. 

[paul_e]

The problem with the team last night was that both Gordon and Bellingham need space in behind so Ghana sitting so deep took them out of the game. Madueke was better suited to it but he's just not that good.

Add to that with Kane drifting too deep and even if we did get better crosses into the box they were normally 1 attacker against 4 defenders, which is always going to be difficult.

That said the most disappointing part is that our fullbacks did absolutely nothing with all the extra space they found themselves given, Spence clearly pissed Tuchel off with it as well. Hopefully this will be a bit of a wake-up call and we'll have a much clearer of how to deal with a team that lets s have possession in front of them going forward.

[Monty]

Spence was nonetheless man of the match before a ball was kicked.