Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland react angrily to claims that their players could take part in a united Great Britain football team at the 2012 Olympics. Do you think there should be a GB olympic team. Should 'arry be the manager who would you pick -would there be many welsh, irish or scottish anyway. can you name a GB team made up of ex-saints players. does anyone even care about the olympics. sorry but still a bloody 45 days to go!!!!
I think its a good idea. But, there seems to be so many problems already, I don't think it will happan.
i think if this does ever come together Gordon Strachan should be the manager. Any other suggestions?
If you can't get the other countries to get involved, why can't a GB team consist only of England players? Shame, because Bale has said he would like to play..I would like to have seen that. I like the Olympics and I like football, so I hope we can enter a team.
If GB do enter a team it will be the England U21's and managed by Stewart Pearce. The other nations will not let their players play in the team. And with good reason. I know Blatter has said that a GB team wouldn't affect the independence of Wales etc, but I wouldn't trust him further than I can throw him (and boy, would I love to throw him. Preferably off the needles).
The Taffs are happy enough for there teams to play in England, but not represent GB. Lets threaten to chuck Cardiff and Swansea out of our competitions and then see what the Taff FA say.
Strachan may as well be the manager just so we get one Scottish representative on board. I think Bale and Ramsay are the only two non-English candidates and if they want to play they should be allowed to do so.
The Olympics are supposed to be a showcase for the absolute pinnacle of "amateur" sport (yes there are many multi-millionaires through endorsements and certain prize funded events but you get the idea). What on earth does football have to do with that? Forget whether we should have a GB team, we shouldn't even have a football competition in the Olympics!
Football does not belong in the olympic arena. The world cup is the global competition for football, the olympics is a side show where second rate sides compete for a title that has no weight or presrtige in comparison with the world cup. And I'm sorry to have to say it but aligning football with beach volley ball and synchronised drowning just demeans it. The Olympics themselves should ditch all the frippery and concentrate on it's core products, which are essentially individual sports testing strength, speed, power, co-ordination, and endurance. So stop all this nonsense about a football "team GB" Oh... and make Ian Holloway the manager
Ah... a man after my own heart, well said sir! and I must have been typing my entry as you were posting this.
I agree football shouldn't be in the olympics, but its a bit arrogant to say an olympic medal in football means nothing. In South America and Africa it arguably means as much as their continental championships (a Brazil manager was once sacked because his side only won bronze in the olympics). However, football isn't the only thing that shouldn't be in the olympics. They should get rid of Tennis, Basketball, Golf and any other sport where an olympic gold isn't the greatest thing you can achieve in that sport. Or make things like football and tennis only open to truly amateur players (like boxing).
This is a strange situation - there has not been a GB team in previous olympics but as its on home soil seems important that there is one this time round. seem to be more hurdles than in the hurdle race itself. With these games being roughly the same time as the 2012 european championships in which England will hopefully qualify, who would play from an England point of view - wiltshire, carroll etc surely in contention for a euro 2012 place and risk of total burnout. other nations - south americans for example would put in a strong team- do we really need to bother with this. Beckham, Giggs etc had shown an interest to play but is the olympics the stage for retiring millionaire footballers?
The better (lol) players will be playing in Euro 2012 should England qualify for it. The competition is U23 with room for a couple of senior players also. It would likely be the England U21s, Beckham, possibly Bale and a few others from Wales or Scotland. I'm not too excited about the idea TBH. Maybe if Chamberlain was in it, I'd be vaguely interested.
Try telling Lionel Messi that the olympics are unimportant Played in them then went on to win the treble I believe I think it should be a mixed batch of players Bale, Ramsay, Collison, Bannan, Wilson, and others will be possible starters Hopefully the players will push it through As for the 2 overage players , Ryan Giggs I think has ruined his well earned right so maybe 2 players such as Darren Fletcher and Craig Bellamy or players of that quality that havent had the chance to play in a national finals
