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Instant Reaction as England BATTER Wales at Wembley
15 Plays7 days ago
England brought the momentum from their smashing win in Belgrade back with them as they took on Wales at Wembley, the tie was effectively over after 10 minutes but GSPN's Michael Grahamslaw gives his thoughts on the game and the performance of Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon.
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Transcript
Introduction and Focus on International Pride
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the channel, The Daily Newcastle. Although we're not talking about Newcastle today, we are talking about international pride. As England took on Wales in the friendly match titled the Alzheimer's Society International.
England vs Wales: Historical Context and Current Dominance
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm Michael Graham, so I'll be talking about the game. But going into it, England had won seven in a row against Wales. But the visitors failed win in England since 1984. And unfortunately for the Welsh, Big Brother was watching.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ruling, once again, as England ran out easy winners.
Goalkeeper Choices: Pickford's Future and Henderson's Potential
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before we get into the game, let's take a little look at the line-up. Pickford in goal, pretty much expected. He's probably going to be there for another four five years.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It was the biggest test, the international break, so I'm not surprised. Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Dean Henderson against Latvia ah in Riga. He does need to get some game time in there, otherwise you risk having a a Rob Green incident, and we definitely don't want that ah in the US. So, yeah, limited options at goalkeeper, really.
Lineup Challenges: Injuries and Versatility in England's Squad
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's always going to be Jordan Pickford, isn't it? Limited options also at right back. Esri Conte was in that position today. Due the injuries to Tina Livramento, Rhys James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, just to name a few.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He's played there a bit over his career, but having a centre-back or right-back allows you to push into that back three with a real attacking left-back pushing forward. In this case, that was Jed Spence.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
not really too much Not really too sure how I like Jed Spence on the left-hand side, to be honest. I'm happy to be proven wrong. I just think he's a bit of an average player. But still young, got a lot of time to improve.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't mind them playing there when Tino and Hall are ah both out through injury. Centre-back pairings, well, for me, this is England's, although I think it's their third choice and their fourth choice at the moment for Tuchel, I think it's our strongest back-line pairing, personally.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's nothing against Big Dan Byrne or Esri Konsa. But Mark Gay and John Stones are two of the best ball-playing defenders that England have.
Defensive Strength: Mark Gay and John Stones' Impact
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, no, they are the two best ball-playing defenders that England have, and they're two of the best in the Premier League. I'm not going to go as far to say the world, because we're English.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't really play that style of football as well as the Spanish, for example. Yeah, that's just something we've got to come to like accept. Yeah. But the two those two are what England need when they play against the likes of Wales.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
The ability to pass out from the back. I love Dan Byrne, but passing, not really what he would stick at the top of his CV.
Midfield Dynamics: Anderson and Rice Partnership
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Two players that might stick passing at the top of their CV is the two centre midfielders, Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice. They complement each other so well.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have done over the last three games. It's very impressive. Although i think as an individual, I'm still not convinced by Elliot Anderson in England's shirt. But I do have to say he hasn't put a foot wrong in the white of England, but hasn't really played anyone of any difficulty.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So we'll see how he does in the tougher matches. I hope that he does really well. um And then on the wings, Saka made a return on the right wing.
Offensive Strategy: Gordon's Role and Early Goals
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's be honest, he's the best player in that position for England by a country mile.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the opposite side was Anthony Gordon, who hasn't been great for Newcastle this season, let's be honest, and probably is the the player in the team that's most at risk of losing his spot due to the likes of Eberrechi as a Marcus Rashford who came on today and maybe even Jack Grealish who seems to be having a bit of a career resurgence at Everton then up top wasn't Harry Kane uh it was the European Championships semi-final hero Ollie Watkins who got his chance up front uh only due to an injury by Kane unfortunately um
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, England are really lacking in that forward position when Kane's not around, isn't he? So you need Ollie Watkins to be electric, really, every chance he gets. And credit to him, he does get goals for England, although they have dried up a little bit at club level.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But going into the game, it was Anthony Gordon who had the the first chance of the game, ah in the first minute actually. It was great link-up, starting on the left-hand side for with Gordon, knocking it out to Saka on the right-hand side, in centrally to Rodgers, knocks it back to Gordon.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon about on the penalty spot. Just takes it outright to a little a little bit, beats his man, gets around his man, and then forces Carl Darlow into a a good save early on.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Former Magpie, Carl Darlow, should I say, who finally got his game at Wembley, which was what most the build-ups seemed to be about, I can't lie.
Strong Start: Watkins' Goal and VAR Concerns
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But very happy for the former Magpie.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, from the corresponding corner, so about two minutes in, England led. um It's a deep corner headed by John Stones. It's going harmlessly out of play and it's excellently kept alive by Mark Gay, who stops the ball from going out on the line.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Plays it back to Rodgers. It's a brilliant cutback as well, by the way. um There'd be some wingers that would be really happy with that. Knocks the ball back to Rodgers. Hits it first time into the bottom corner. Excellent finish. Excellent move.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
All round, great from England. ah But it didn't stop there. It was 2-0 in 10 minutes, and it was Oli Watkins who got the second. Saka with a great cross, again from a corner.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Over on the left this time, Saka with the cross. Rodgers is the one who wins it at the back post to knock it back across goal. And Oli Watkins had probably the...
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the easiest finish you would ever see. and But you've got to be there to score it. And let me tell you, if there's a lot of strikers who wouldn't be there. um I will say I'm not sure if VAR was in play.
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I don't think it was. um i think it actually would have been offside if it was, let's say, in a Premier League game. But it's safe to say two goals in 10 minutes.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
England started well. Yeah. Yeah. It actually got better, to be honest. um Yeah, it was you'd think I'd have something to talk about other than goals in the first 30 minutes, but that's pretty much it. um Gordon starts the first goal. We know for Newcastle, Alanga had a bit of trouble against Nico Williams.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon did not have that problem.
Saka's Stunning Goal and Defensive Challenges
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Gordon basically... Back to goal, about 40 yards out. um Ball comes to his feet. He just drags the ball around Nuko Williams as Niko Williams tries to press and just gets away.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had that four or five times against the Welshman. He was absolutely fantastic. And that first half, Anthony gone. Yeah. But yeah, Gordon beats his man, gets down ah get to the edge of the box, pulls it back to Anderson. Anderson tries a shot.
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's blocked. He gets the ball back. It ricochets a little bit. ah England gain control of the ball again. Sort of two or three passes on the edge of the box. Finds the way into the box towards Saga, who's pretty much on the corner. um Beats his man, jinxs his way around the fullback and just curls the ball into the top corner at to beat Carl Darlow.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
an absolutely beautiful finish, and it was textbook Bakayo Saka. I feel sorry for Carl Darlow, to be honest, because there was literally nothing he could do about any of the goals. um But yeah, it was it was a tough, tough start for him.
Wales' Tactical Struggles and Bellamy's Choices
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I will say for me, This is actually probably the reason why I don't think Craig Bellamy will end up being a top manager. um Didn't mind him as a player, great player.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could have been one of the best. Maybe attitude's what got him to where he was. For me, ah it's what held him back a little bit. And he's always had a bit of an ego and a superiority complex. ah Belgium, when they played them, think it was three games ago, they went 3-0 up against them in similar time.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know if it was because Wales managed to equalise in that game. He hadn't learned from his lessons quite clearly because there is no shame in playing that extra defender and slowing the momentum of the game early to try and get a result.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, Bellamy's selection for me got it wrong. Loud England to play their own way. dominate Wales in every way and then overwhelm them particularly on the press in England's final third.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah help The number of mistakes made by Welsh players, little slips on the ball, trying to take on players where the clear pass is available or when you do play that pass, it's a three, four yard pass and it just goes behind the player and makes it really hard for them to endure the press.
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's something Bellamy can't prepare for, I guess, when the the players aren't. playing like they are in training because they certainly weren't going to be playing like that in training um but you don't get pressed like england do in your average training game so credit to england um i think it took wales about 28 minutes to get beyond the press for the first time and even when they did england won a free kick 35 yards so so Credit to England. I think, to be honest, Wales' best chance of the half was actually from England passing it round the back. And their best chance of the half, I don't actually think a Welsh player touched the ball, ah which is it sounds harsh, but it's probably true.
Injury Scares: Watkins' Close Call
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
England pass it around the back. It's a poor first touch from Jordan Pickford. He tries to knock it forward. The ball almost rolls backward a little bit. and It gives him a really awkward second touch, but he just toe-pokes it it to pokes it should i say not too pos it um into the defender.
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it's really easy for england to break the pair press um But yeah, then came the probably the most concerning moment of the game for England. Ollie Watkins should have had his second.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think a single person at England cares if he got the goal or not. It led to the most worrying moment of the game, as I say. England brilliantly play the ball behind the Welsh line.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Elliot Arneson fires the ball across goal. It is a sitter. Watkins gets the ball, but as he's planting his foot to stop himself from going into the post, he almost slips and smashes his shin into the post.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by his reaction... think he was wearing smaller shin pads because they certainly didn't seem to cover that part of the leg uh it looked as to be honest from his reaction it looked like a leg breaker at first and i'm really really glad and that that wasn't the case uh and he's okay well by the looks of things uh that was pretty much it for the first half um not a lot happens in the second um but before we get to that we'll do our advert for the episode which is from bionic
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So for the second half, Olly Watkins went off, which is probably as expected given the incident we just mentioned.
Second Half Changes: Rashford's Impact on Tempo
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on came Marcus Rashford, who for England, I don't know about you, but I'd much rather see as a striker or an impact sub, should I say, than on that left wing.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I was very happy with that. um And to be honest, it took about six minutes for England to create another chance in there and the second half. A short corner. Shock. um It's also 100% offside.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah so But but it is it isn't given, which is mental. ah Rice passes the ball out. I can't remember off the top my head who he passes the ball to. But very quickly, it's passed straight back to Rice, who is four or five yards offside.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He finds Elliot Anderson on the edge of the box, who puts in a beautiful through ball for Morgan Rodgers, it must be said. And Rodgers thunders the ball off the bar. Should have been 4-0, really.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that was probably the best chance of the second half for both teams. Wales come into the game a lot more. um You could tell England were stuck in second gear, really.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um There's a ball that flies over from the right-hand side, um from the Welsh right-back position, all the way over the England defence, and David Brooks is actually left unmarked on the left ah side of the box.
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably a penalty spot side, but just a little to the left. And he hammers the ball straight at Jordan Pickford. And in the same move, it looked like another England injury scare as Stones went down injured.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He walked that one off, although he did come off later in the game. um But yeah, it was a second half that really lost its tempo. Job done for both sides, I guess. um Or job done for England.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mission failed probably for Wales. um Although, albeit, they did try and get into the game. They never really forced England to get out a second gear, as I say, but Chris Meppen forced Pickford into another decent save in the second half.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty much the same as the the first chance I mentioned. ah Ball comes over from the deep right-hand side. Chris Metton gets ah almost a diving header on it and forces Pickford into a good save, but it's one you'd expect so a keeper of Jordan Pickford's quality to make.
Morgan Rodgers' Performance and England's Resilience
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
As for subs, England brought on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jordan Henderson, Jarrett Bowen, Miles Lewis-Skelly, and Morgan Gibbs-White. For Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, John Stones, and Bakayo Saka.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But honestly... The only time I wrote their names down in my notes was when the substitutions happened. It was a very boring affair. Unfortunately, there was no surprise that a number of fans left early.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
i say a boring affair. Second half I'm talking about. The first half was electric. I don't think England or Wales looked like scoring at all in that second half. I think the white flag could have easily been raised and we could have just gone on to the Latvia game 45 minutes earlier.
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on a Newcastle side, Anthony Gordon did move to striker for periods of the game. Him and Rashford sort rotated in that position. Neither really had enough time or space to show what they could do.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ultimately, the game was over after about 10 minutes. England were professional. um in the second half electric and the first and now it's off to riga to face latvia uh next time out which should be to be honest an easier game than we saw at wembley uh which probably isn't possible uh well actually ask austria they'll tell you it's possible um but for this game I have to give my man of the match to Morgan Rodgers.
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Incredibly out of form in the Premier League. He was booed by some of the Villa faithful. Although what I will say is they were shut down very quickly by the vast majority of Villa fans. So credit to Villa fans for that.
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But to be booed by some of your fan base, be out of form in the Premier League for your club, to come in and do that for England, it's a great performance in the first half. Comes off about 60 minutes, but absolutely excellent from Morgan Rodgers. He's such a unique player and one that I think England will need going forward.
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But it's another win, another clean sheet for England. And it's without 10 players that you would expect to be in the squad. It's a friendly, so we can't look too much into it. And there was nothing really to note on the Newcastle United side, as pretty much everyone plays tomorrow, ah believe. So from us, it's good night.