Dave Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7067642.stm Backing for GB 2012 football team The British Olympic Association (BOA) is pressing ahead with plans to enter British men's and women's football teams at the 2012 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has written to the BOA confirming that the host qualifying rule will apply to all team sports in London. "We will field a team," BOA chief Simon Clegg told BBC One's Inside Sport. "And the comfort and commitment that we've now got from the IOC just reinforces that aspiration." The BOA's confident stance comes despite opposition from the Scottish (SFA), Welsh (FAW) and Northern Ireland Football Associations. They fear that involvement with a British Olympic team could threaten their separate status with the European and world football governing bodies, despite Fifa's assurances to the contrary. Gordon Smith, chief executive of the SFA, reiterated his organisation's opposition to a Great Britain team. "All the players who are registered under the association or are Scottish international players would be prohibited from playing," said Smith. "Some individuals may want to get involved, but I don't see it as an issue." But Clegg said the situation would be unfair on any Scottish or Welsh players forced to miss out. Clegg said: "I would be greatly disappointed if some of our most talented football players were deprived the opportunity of competing as part of a GB team because of politics or administrators and them being unable to act in the best interests of their athletes." Inside Sport reporter Matthew Pinsent, who spoke to Clegg and Smith, said: "In the wake of the decision in Singapore in 2005 the BOA started discussions with the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to find a way to put together a truly British team in both men's and women's competition for the Olympics. "Whilst the English and the Northern Irish have been supportive, the FA of Wales and the Scottish FA have never even attended the meetings." However, it now appears that Northern Ireland support for the initiative has waned. Under Jim Boyce's presidency, the Irish Football Association had been careful not to rule out Northern Ireland involvement in the Great Britain team but current IFA president Raymond Kennedy told BBC Sport on Monday that he would be supporting the SFA and WFA's stance. "We would not want to compromise our national identity," said the IFA president. Assuming the wankers at the SFA and FAW get on board (), and all players from England, Scotland, Wales and Norn Iron are available, who makes the starting eleven? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Gordon Richards Ferdinand Terry A.Cole SWP Gerrard Barry McFadden Bellamy Rooney Bench Owen Lampard Bale J.Cole Carson How's that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 isn't it meant to be u23s for the olympics? with like 2 over 23s? something like that. Anyway, Owen > Bellamy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 It's olympics so it's under 23's plus something like 2 who are over 23, I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Pah, fuck that shitty rule. Oh well, who plays if that rule is enforced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 It's 5 years down the line, that's a lot of maths. Players I'd expect to be involved: Bale, Richards, Walcott, Vaughan?, Some other youngsters we don't know yet, Gerrard and Rooney. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCormick Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Well apart from bellamy, i'd say that the England football team have the best 'individual' players Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 It's 5 years down the line, that's a lot of maths. Players I'd expect to be involved: Bale, Richards, Walcott, Vaughan?, Some other youngsters we don't know yet, Gerrard and Rooney. You're just trying to spoil the fun. If we did it right now, this second then?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 i was gonna do the team, but i dont know peoples ages and feel the team will be shitter than i'd hope... let me see (guessing ages - havent put any over 23s (knowingly))... Rooney Ashton Bentley Gardner Huddlestone Lennon Bale M.Richards Taylor Onuoha Gordon Noteable Benchies Downing Walcott Carson Bent fuck. We're screwed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it were to be held today: -----------------------------------Foster---------------------------------------- --Hutton------M. Richards---------------------J.Evans-------------Bale--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bentley----------S. Davis-------------------M.Johnson------------D.Fletcher-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------Walcott----------------------Rooney Realistic side, i.e there's not just a load of English players and a token Northern Irishman, Scotsman and Welshman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast Boy Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Come on guys, Mr Healy has to make the bench at least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it were to be held today: -----------------------------------Foster---------------------------------------- --Hutton------M. Richards---------------------J.Evans-------------Bale--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bentley----------S. Davis-------------------M.Johnson------------D.Fletcher-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------Walcott----------------------Rooney Realistic side, i.e there's not just a load of English players and a token Northern Irishman, Scotsman and Welshman. If it was held today then wouldn't Foster be injured? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it were to be held today: -----------------------------------Foster---------------------------------------- --Hutton------M. Richards---------------------J.Evans-------------Bale--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bentley----------S. Davis-------------------M.Johnson------------D.Fletcher-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------Walcott----------------------Rooney Realistic side, i.e there's not just a load of English players and a token Northern Irishman, Scotsman and Welshman. If it was held today then wouldn't Foster be injured? Still better than the rest, imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it were to be held today: -----------------------------------Foster---------------------------------------- --Hutton------M. Richards---------------------J.Evans-------------Bale--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bentley----------S. Davis-------------------M.Johnson------------D.Fletcher-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------Walcott----------------------Rooney Realistic side, i.e there's not just a load of English players and a token Northern Irishman, Scotsman and Welshman. If it was held today then wouldn't Foster be injured? Still better than the rest, imo. he's 24 aint he? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 He's my over 23. The other can erm, benchwarm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Bellamy Rooney Walcott Davis Brown Fletcher Bale Evans Taylor Richards Gordon 4 English 3 Scots 2 Northern Irish 2 Welsh 2 over-23s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliemort Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 No mention of the Republic of Ireland,would they not be included if Northern Ireland are? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 No mention of the Republic of Ireland,would they not be included if Northern Ireland are? No, they're not part of Great Britain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 :giggle: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Was waiting for someone to include Given Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superior Acuña Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 No mention of the Republic of Ireland,would they not be included if Northern Ireland are? No, and neither will Australia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 You have to remember the side will mainly comprise of very inexperienced players as the top players won't be leaving their clubs in the middle of August to play in the Olympics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I've just seen a 15 year old make their debut in midfield as a sub for Crystal Palace - John Bostock. For his age, he looked brilliant. Deffo a name to look out for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rebel_yell12 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it's five years down the line, picking any of the biggest names now (other than maybe Rooney) seems pointless as they will be aging out of international competitions and probably won't be likely to leave their clubs early matches for the August Olympics. Gerrard (who has had a shout on here) will be 32 in Aug 2012. Craig Bellamy (again, had a shout or two) will be 33. Rooney will be nearly 27, so at least feasible. But the eldest who would be generally eligible (23 year olds) are currently only 17/18, so it's hard to tell. Maybe Walcott? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stozo Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If it's five years down the line, picking any of the biggest names now (other than maybe Rooney) seems pointless as they will be aging out of international competitions and probably won't be likely to leave their clubs early matches for the August Olympics. Gerrard (who has had a shout on here) will be 32 in Aug 2012. Craig Bellamy (again, had a shout or two) will be 33. Rooney will be nearly 27, so at least feasible. But the eldest who would be generally eligible (23 year olds) are currently only 17/18, so it's hard to tell. Maybe Walcott? No chance that players like Rooney would play as it would clash with the start of the Premiership season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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