Team GB

[Ebeneezer Goode]

The FA had originally ruled out entering teams but has now written to the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh associations informing the FAs of their intentions and asking if they would like to take part.

A British Olympic Association (BOA) spokesperson said: "We have received confirmation from the FA of their intention to enter into the qualification process for Rio 2016 for both men and women's tournaments."

 

[Super_horns]

Remember the fuss last time with players pulling out and nations refusing to be a part of it all?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

It won't bother the FA. It'll just mean more places for English players, assuming the U21's do well enough. Doesn't really seem fair that England can qualify Great Britain as a whole in the first place though tbh.

 

[smat]

Well Stuart Pearce is available. The most Great British man ever.

 

[mnb089mnb]

It's a case of having your cake and eating it. If England do 'qualify' surely other European nations will ask why can't they be Great Britain all of the time if it's so important to them?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I was thinking more along the lines of the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish players becoming eligible for a tournament that they didn't quality for.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Have no interest in seeing a GB team in Rio, be it all English or mixed. It was fair enough as a one off for London. But each home nation is furiously proud of their footballing independence and identity and GB feels plastic and soulless in comparison.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

waste of time.

I could fully understand it for London Olympics as hosts, but not a regular thing.....too many clubs and players would oppose it anyway

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I don't see how sending young players to this is any less worthwhile than sending them to the U21 Euros.

 

[Madejski]

Extra games that really aren't necessary.

Also the best of our young U21 players will probably be with the senior squad at the Euros the same year. The Olympic team will just be those who aren't developed properly and the three over age players will be senior squad castoffs.

Pointless before you even get into the discussion about how Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland could possibly be involved.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

It's an opportunity to get some great experience for players, whichever ones are available. Don't see the point in passing it up when we don't have to.

 

[Madejski]

That's what the U21 tournaments are for? Which are every two years anyway. No need to burn them out with lots of extra games. Better off having a full Summer to relax and prepare for the next season. No need to go overkill on tournament experience.

And the fact that the Olympics team will mostly just be the castoffs, the players who as I mentioned were just below the level required to play for England at that Summer's Euros. You're giving international experience to players who don't have international quality.

Of the 2012 Olympic squad only Sturridge and Cleverley have even played for England since, most of the rest have been nowhere near, as they aren't international quality.

 

[HarvSFC]

Let's not use England/GB as an example here, as we aren't successful as a nation. It's time we started following other countries, rather than using the cliche excuse: "Let's not tire them out with unnecesscary fixtures." Okay, so skim through the London 2012 squads and I see Suarez, Cavani, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Oscar, Neymar, Hulk, De Gea, Dave (Chelsea full back), Javi Martinez, Mata, Koke, Isco,Herrera and Alba. Two years after that tournament and I don't think you can say those players look "burnt out", because they played a few games at the Olympics. Playing in tournaments and different climates will only aid players for when World Cup tournaments come and playing in somewhere such as South America. It will certainly get rid of the excuse of our players not being used to playing in that climate.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

That's what the U21 tournaments are for? Which are every two years anyway. No need to burn them out with lots of extra games. Better off having a full Summer to relax and prepare for the next season. No need to go overkill on tournament experience.

I'm not sure there is such a thing. The Olympics certainly can't be such a burden anyway, or other countries wouldn't be sending teams whenever they can.

And the fact that the Olympics team will mostly just be the castoffs, the players who as I mentioned were just below the level required to play for England at that Summer's Euros. You're giving international experience to players who don't have international quality

Why would they be cast-offs? There were loads of U21 players that didn't go to the World Cup that will likely be part of the senior set up in the future. Kane, Berahino, Ings, Stones, Chambers, JWP, Butland etc.

Of the 2012 Olympic squad only Sturridge and Cleverley have even played for England since, most of the rest have been nowhere near, as they aren't international quality.

So you're basing your argument on a sample group of... one.

 

[Madejski]

I'm not saying that's it is a bad thing to go to the Olympics, just that it isn't necessary, it won't make a difference to the fortunes of the England team positivity or negatively..

I do hate the argument of Spain/Brazil/Uruguay/X do it, than it must be successful. Same as the FA saying 'B' teams are successful because X countries do it and do well internationally. It's just finding something that a better footballing nation does differently to England and assuming that they've found the reason why England struggle. Germany are the best team in the World currently, haven't been to any of the last 7 Olympic games with their football team... But that is only one side of the argument, the playing side.

There's also a whole different discussion about how England U21s qualify the whole of Great Britain for a tournament. And if Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland would even join in. The latter two didn't even care when it was a home olympics, so would be less interested if it were elsewhere.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I'm not saying that's it is a bad thing to go to the Olympics, just that it isn't necessary, it won't make a difference to the fortunes of the England team positivity or negatively..

I don't see how that could possibly be true. The tournament experience has to have some effect one way or another.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

The tournament will clash with the start of the Premier League won't it? If so, I can't see too many managers wanting to release their players for a couple of weeks for a tournament that is so undervalued in this country.

 

[You Orns]

I'm for it due to the simple reason that the more tournaments entered the more likely one of the teams would fluke a win, team Team GB winning a gold medal would at least be some footballing success at a level that seems higher than U21 even if in reality it is.

 

[G.B]

I'm in favour of a team G.B

 

[mistermagic]

It's more of a calendar and game issue. The olympics takes place in July, the month where footballers are supposed to train casually instead of playing international tournaments.

The olympics suck anyway.

 

[Skinner]

Fuck the Olympics, this should happen at full international level

 

[mente captus]

its in Brazil right? cant wait to meet the hosts

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

It's more of a calendar and game issue. The olympics takes place in July, the month where footballers are supposed to train casually instead of playing international tournaments.

The olympics suck anyway.

The Olympics are in August aren't they?

 

[mistermagic]

Maybe...

 

[Stevencc]

Team G.B

Krul
Krul Krul Evans Krul
Krul Krul
Krul Krul Krul
Welbeck​

 

[G.B]

Team G.B

Krul
Krul Krul Evans Krul
Krul Krul
Krul Krul Krul
Welbeck​

good effort but needs moar krul mate