[Archived] Gb Olympic Squad

[Sparky Marky]

Jordan Rhodes? Grant Hanley? Barry Bannan? A bunch of others that people will slag off despite never seeing them play? Like James Forrest the Scottish Young Player of the Year? "What in the mickey mouse league etc etc". - http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4065278/Forrest-joins-FIFA-hit-team.html

Scotland certainly have good enough youngsters to make a GB Olympic squad.

What is it with Hanley? Can't anyone else see how shocking a player he is. Wigan away just proved what a dogger he is.

No pace...really shyte distribution...fairly immobile...

Its not a coincidence he played a lot last season and we shipped 2 goals a game.

[Mattyblue]

Stop mithering Salgado, now Platini has half of Europe playing in Euro2016, your boys will have their chance to shine.

[47er]

Heard an interview with Pearce today on the question of Beckham's exclusion from the squad.

He said that if anyone from the FA had told him to pick a particular player, he would have walked away.

"I don't know anyone who would work under those circumstances" ( quote as I best remember it).

WE DO!!!!

[Stuart]

Pearce is taking this all a bit too seriously.

It's not a proper football tournament and we don't even have a proper football team. It's a one-off get-together to celebrate the fact that the games are in London and we won't enter another Olympics as "GB Football team". Even if we win - which we won't - it'll be absolutely meaningless.

Pearce reckons it's not a one-man show. I think it is. I think this is ALL about Pearce's CV.

[Mattyblue]

Course it is, he'd have been gutted when Hodgson was parachuted in before the Euros, at one point he was the under 21s, national team and 'Lympics manager.

[joey_big_nose]

Pearce is taking this all a bit too seriously.

It's not a proper football tournament and we don't even have a proper football team. It's a one-off get-together to celebrate the fact that the games are in London and we won't enter another Olympics as "GB Football team". Even if we win - which we won't - it'll be absolutely meaningless.

Pearce reckons it's not a one-man show. I think it is. I think this is ALL about Pearce's CV.

I think you are the one taking this all a bit too seriously! Getting quite worked up.

Pearce picked what he feels is the best squad. The Olympics, while not being FIFA or World Cup standard is a proving ground for the next set of world talent. Argentina and Brazil put out outstanding squads at the last Olympics. Much better than what the senior England team could offer, let alone a GB Olympic squad. Italy, the Dutch and the Belgian sides included quite a few top performers also.

I think it will be a fascinating tournament which will showcase some of the next generation of talent. Spain, Uruguay and Brazil will have teams well worth watching this time round. Sure it is hardly the euros or the world cup - and that is exactly why they place the age restrictions on the tournament.

[Mattyblue]

If an Olympic Gold medal isn't the pinnacle of a particular sport, it shouldn't be there.

[M-K]

If an Olympic Gold medal isn't the pinnacle of a particular sport, it shouldn't be there.

I'd also like to add that any 'sport' decided by judges on the basis of 'artistic merit' does not belong at the Olympics.

There are some proper rubbish events stinking the place out, like diving, horse dancing, gymnastics, synchronised swimming...

Olympic football has as long as history as any other modern Olympic sport, though - it was around before the World Cup or any other big international tournament.

[the original david brent]

I think the stance of the Scottish and Northern Irish FA is absolutely pathetic. The fact of the matter is they are British, whether some of their respective populations like it or not, and so they should have allowed their players to be considered for selection.

[joey_big_nose]

I think the stance of the Scottish and Northern Irish FA is absolutely pathetic. The fact of the matter is they are British, whether some of their respective populations like it or not, and so they should have allowed their players to be considered for selection.

I think they were allowed to if they wanted?

It came down to the fact that none of the players really cut it. Bannan and McArthur could have been included, but the only midfielder they could have displaced looking at the squad is Jack Cork at Southampton. Ramsey, Sinclair, Allen etc all had great seasons.

[Al]

I'd also like to add that any 'sport' decided by judges on the basis of 'artistic merit' does not belong at the Olympics.

There are some proper rubbish events stinking the place out, like diving, horse dancing, gymnastics, synchronised swimming...

Olympic football has as long as history as any other modern Olympic sport, though - it was around before the World Cup or any other big international tournament.

Absolutely my feelings too. "First past the post" or other unchallengable way of deciding the winner is the only way. As soon as you have judges opinions the results are challengeable. Having said that a referee's decisions in football also bring human error into the equation.

[Mattyblue]

Sordell?!

[Baz]

I'd also like to add that any 'sport' decided by judges on the basis of 'artistic merit' does not belong at the Olympics.

There are some proper rubbish events stinking the place out, like diving, horse dancing, gymnastics, synchronised swimming...

Olympic football has as long as history as any other modern Olympic sport, though - it was around before the World Cup or any other big international tournament.

Horse Dancing? That's a brilliant name! I'm literally in tears after reading that.

[Stuart]

I think you are the one taking this all a bit too seriously! Getting quite worked up.

Pearce picked what he feels is the best squad. The Olympics, while not being FIFA or World Cup standard is a proving ground for the next set of world talent. Argentina and Brazil put out outstanding squads at the last Olympics. Much better than what the senior England team could offer, let alone a GB Olympic squad. Italy, the Dutch and the Belgian sides included quite a few top performers also.

I think it will be a fascinating tournament which will showcase some of the next generation of talent. Spain, Uruguay and Brazil will have teams well worth watching this time round. Sure it is hardly the euros or the world cup - and that is exactly why they place the age restrictions on the tournament.

Not worked up at all mate.

There is one big difference between team GB and the other countries you mention though.

It's not a REAL team. It's a pretend team to 'celebrate' the games being in London.

As a celebration event, it would have been right to include Beckham. Whatever people think, he's been a fantastic role model for young kids. Just compare him to some of the other degenerates in the league. He absolutely epitomises the Olympic spirit, and is the kind of guy I'd like to represent me and Great Britain.

As for Stuart Pearce, this is the wrong tournament for him if he thinks it matters in the grand scheme of British football, hell, the Scots aren't even bothered!

[Lhrover]

are the matches on tv? if so when are they on?

[Salgado Is A Hero]

are the matches on tv? if so when are they on?

I think they will be on BBC....if not, they will be available if you have sky through the red button.

Great Britain play Senegal at 8pm on 26 July, United Arab Emirates at 7:45pm on 29 July and Uruguay at 7:45pm on 1 August.

The quarter finals are all on 4 August with Britain playing at either 2:30pm or 7:30pm, the semi's at 5pm and 7:45pm on 7 August, bronze medal match at 7:45 pm on 10 August and the final at 7:45 pm on 11 August.

[Lhrover]

I think they will be on BBC....if not, they will be available if you have sky through the red button.

Great Britain play Senegal at 8pm on 26 July, United Arab Emirates at 7:45pm on 29 July and Uruguay at 7:45pm on 1 August.

The quarter finals are all on 4 August with Britain playing at either 2:30pm or 7:30pm, the semi's at 5pm and 7:45pm on 7 August, bronze medal match at 7:45 pm on 10 August and the final at 7:45 pm on 11 August.

thanks, seems that salgado really is a hero.

[joey_big_nose]

Im looking forward to the Uruguay match. Looks like there will be at least seven decent teams at the tournament - Spain, Uruguay, GB, Italy, Brazil, Sengal, Mexico. Spain and Brazil look particularly good. Shame Argentina didn't qualify....

Hmmm... so what does our best team look like?

---------------------Butland

Bertrand---Richards----Tomkins----Rose

------------Ramsey----Cleverley

----Sinclair-------Bellamy-------Giggs

--------------------Sturridge

Hmmmm.... the defence looks, Richards aside, very dodgy. But going forward we look like a very good team at this level I think. If Sturridge drops out it is a big problem, but the midfield options as a whole are decent.

If we could have called up Phil Jones, Bale and Walker I might have gone so far as to say we could win the touranment, but I don't think we will be defensively solid enough to be honest. Still it's a squad that should play attractive football. It will be a bit of a novelty, but a decent performance could be a springboard for a lot of these players to kick on in their careers.

[cn174]

Team for tonight if anyone's interested -

Steele, Bertrand, Richards, Tomkins, Taylor, Cleverley, Allen, Giggs©, Bellamy, Sturridge, Rose

Not the best team you'll ever see.

[roverandout]

is it on tv anywhere?

[92er]

is it on tv anywhere?

It's on BBC1

[roverandout]

ok thanks

[cn174]

Wonderful defending....

[cn174]

It's on BBC1

bbc got their dream team out - jonathan pearce and mark bright

[Stuart]

Pap.

I bet Mr Pearce is glad he played the "Big I Am".