Great Britain Olympic Football Team 2012

Stuart Pearce has been given the task of selecting a Great British squad for the Olympic tournament.

He has to select a squad of 15 player under 23 and is allowed to pick an addition 3 players over 23 years old.

Who should he pick? And you need to remember that England are in the European Cup so their players may not be available.

Edit.. It's reported that he's already picked dad's army members Ryan Giggs and David Beckham

I know this probably isn't the answer you're looking for but I don't think the team should exist without the support of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. To be honest I don't really like the whole Olympic football system nowadays. It should be either for amateurs only or a true youth competition without any over-age players. I can't help thinking that he wasn't given much choice about "national treasure" Becks.
And don't get me started on having golf as an Olympic sport.

I agrre a team GB cannot exist without support from Scotland, N.Ireland, & Wales and lot depends if they will support (which I fear they won't). Personally speaking I think the IOC & FIFa should discuss
this ussue with the FA and maybe they could ocme to agreement that England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland could field separate teams in the competitkions but kept apart in pools, but i do think it shouild be an amateur player competition only.

(26-10-2011 13:22 )babelover48 Wrote:  I think the IOC & FIFa should discuss
this ussue with the FA and maybe they could ocme to agreement that England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland could field separate teams in the competitkions but kept apart in pools, but i do think it shouild be an amateur player competition only.

You're joking right? There are only 16 places in the Olympic football tournament (for the whole world) and you think that the UK could be given 4 of them? As I said, you're joking right?

(26-10-2011 13:22 )babelover48 Wrote:  lot depends if they will support (which I fear they won't).

They won't. And as cosmonaut says we have enough trouble keepimg the nations seperate for World Cups etc, we've no chance of doing the same for the Olympics, especially as we've always competed as Great Britain.

So is it possible that the GB team consist of mostly England players and Ryan Giggs?
That would be a shame as I could see a fair selection of young players being used from all the nations.
For example I could see Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in the final 18 players.

(26-10-2011 19:35 )Charlemagne Wrote:  So is it possible that the GB team consist of mostly England players and Ryan Giggs?
That would be a shame as I could see a fair selection of young players being used from all the nations.
For example I could see Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in the final 18 players.

The other associations have all said they don't support the team so if any Welsh Scottish or Irish players decide they want to take part they could have problems with their FAs. Giggs of course has retired from the Wales side so he won't be bothered.

I think it's a shame the nations cannot set aside the bullshit for once tournament and agree a mixed team from all the nations.

It shouldn't be split evenly between the four nations. England should not have precedent over any other.

Also agree with Rickardo about it should either the a pure youth with out over age or an amateur team.

Ideally..

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart*, Ben Amos
Defenders: Martin Kelly, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kieran Gibbs
Midfielders: Theo Walcott, Jordan Henderson, Aaron Ramsey, Tom Cleverley, Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell, Gareth Bale
Strikers: Wayne Rooney*, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge

*denotes age over 23

Never really been a fan of the Olympic football tournament to be honest. When the Olympic Games are on, I find my attention drawn more to the other events. I feel we have other tournaments and competitions dedicated to the beautiful game, that there isn't really a need for an Olympic competition.

And it won't be very good anyway without the support of the other associations that make up Britain. It won't really be Britain will it..