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Who would you pick for Team GB?

Graham Fisher in Editorial, General Soccer News 25 Mar 2011

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Who would make team GB?

There has been a great deal of discussion about whether or not there will be a Great Britain football team taking part in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Apparently, there is still a chance, although the football associations of each individual country, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, do appear to be unlikely to reach any amicable agreement.

Team

It is worth looking at the players and trying to work out what a current Great Britain team might look like.

The goalkeeper position would be pretty much up for grabs. The main contenders would be England’s Joe Hart and Scotland’s Craig Gordon. I would go for Gordon if only he wasn’t injured so often. He is that rare specimen of being a good Scottish goalkeeper!

The defence would definitely have an English feel to it as James Collins of Wales and Northern Ireland’s Jonny Evans probably have only a small claim. Scotland would hope that Alan Hutton would have a chance of getting the right back slot, but I think Glenn Johnson is probably the better bet.

Pains

In central defence England would provide Terry, Ferdinand, Dawson, Jagielka, Cahill, etc. The left back, although it pains me to say it, would definitely be Ashley Cole.

In midfield, Wales would put Aaron Ramsey forward with some justification and Gareth Bale would seem to be shoe-in for the team. Scotland might suggest Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher and Charlie Adam. Northern Ireland probably don’t have anyone of sufficient quality.

England midfielders would include Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, Steve Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshire.

Short

Up front Northern Ireland come up a little short again. Scotland would supply the old war-horse Kenny Miller and Wales would be represented by Craig Bellamy. England’s hopes would be pinned on Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe.

So that would be the squad of players to pick from and on paper, it looks as though a pretty decent team could be set-up out of it.

Obviously choosing a team is totally subjective and we would all have different ideas, but I’m going to pick mine and encourage you to offer your opinions.

Fit

Playing as a 4-3-3 formation, assuming everyone was fit and in form, I would go with the following;

Craig Gordon
Glenn Johnson, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole
Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshire, Steve Gerrard
Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale.

What would you change?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham Fisher


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  • bryn

    0 0

    Based on all the criteria this would be by GB and NI Olympic Football team

    Goalkeepers 2 Defenders 6 Midfield 6 Strikers 4

    3 over age picks – Bellamy, Beckham and Evans. I’d put Giggs on standby as he chose to retire from

    International Football a few years ago, whereas Beckham helped us get the tournament and he has passion for the Olympics otherwise he wouldn’t have campaigned.

    15 under 23 players ie born after 1st Jan 1989 as stated in rules.

    I tried to pick the best available players regardless of what home country they came from looking at all Full Squads and under 21 squads and tried to go for Preference of Premier League football or Old Firm and then first choice in lower leagues or Jordan Rhodes who has had a stunning season.

    And then I left out a lot of Eligible England players like Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck who I think will be in the Euro’s this year. And because it is only 18 which is less than 23 at a normal tourno, I went for some players who can play in more than one position. I left out players like Alex Smithies of Huddersfield who would have been in, but he has been injured for most of season but put in Cleverley as he is coming back from a lengthy injury and he won’t make Euro’s.

    England 9 Wales 4 Scotland 3 N.I 2

    Forward

    Jordan Rhodes – Huddersfield – Scotland –

    Andy Carroll – Liverpool – England

    Connor Wickham – Sunderland – England

    Craig Bellamy – Liverpool – Attack – Wales (overage)

    Midfield

    Barry Banaan – Aston Villa – Scotland

    Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal – Wales –

    Gareth Bale – Spurs – Wales – LM(emergency LB)

    Tom Cleverly – Man. Utd. – Midfield – England

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal – England – Winger

    David Beckham – La Galaxy – RM – England (overage)

    Defenders

    Adam Matthews – Celtic – Wales – RB

    Steven Caulker – Spurs – England – CB

    Grant Hanley – Blackburn – Scotland – CB

    Lee Hodson – Watford – N.I – RB

    Kieran Gibbs – Arsenal – England – LB

    Jonny Evans – Manchester United – N.I – Defender (overage)

    Goalkeepers

    Jason Steele – Boro- England

    Jack Butland – Birmingham – England

    4 stand by

    Jack Rodwell – Everton – England – DM

    David Healy – Rangers – N.I – Striker (overage)

    Chris Gunter – Nottm Forest – RB – Wales

    Ryan Giggs – Manchester United – LM/CM – Wales (overage)

    First XI

    GK Jason Steele

    RB Adam Matthews

    CB Steven Caulker

    CB Jonny Evans

    LB Keiran Gibbs

    RM Oxlade-Chamberlain

    DM/CM – Barry Banaan

    AM – Cleverley

    LM – Bale

    F – Bellamy

    F – Carroll

  • Mortify88

    0 0

    McGregor 31(S)
    Walker 21(E), Kelly 21(E), Evans 23(NI), Taylor 22(W)
    Forrest 20(S), Henderson 21(E), Bale 22(W)
    Chamberlain 18(E), Wylde 20(S), Ameobi 19(E)

  • zzz

    0 0

    ya..nobody realize that..they are new on the soccer thing i guess..

    but my pick is

    Hart
    Flanagan,Smalling,Jones,Robinson (both young LIV fullbacks)
    Walcott,Ramsey,D.Fletcher,Wilshere,Bale
    Rooney

    over 23 is rooney hart and fletcher

  • Dave Hunter

    0 0

    Has anyone actually realised that only three over 23s can play in the team.

  • Wevvo

    0 0

    As it falls the same year as 2012 euro’s and IF England qualify for that then I think the GB team could kiss goodbye to any of the english 1st team players being involved.. based on that my team would be as follows:

    Hennessey, (Gordon as sub)
    Walker, Smalling, Jones, Gibbs
    Lennon, D.Fletcher, Adam, Bale
    Sturridge, Zamora

    Subs: Gordon, Hutton, Shawcross, Lescott, Huddelstone, Jamie O’Hara, Matt Jarvis, Rodwell, Kevin Nolan, Bannan, Miller, Wickham, Craig Bellamy

  • adad

    0 0

    Adam could pick out carrol every time with his passing

  • Jordan, A Northern Ireland fan

    0 0

    Well in midfield you could have either Steve Davis or Paddy McCourt from N.I, though McCourt probably wouldn’t accept being called up, being a person with nationalist beliefs. Wales realistically could only have Gareth Bale or Craig Bellamy (Bellamy being unlikely) in for a Team GB shout. Kenny Miller isn’t a viable option for upfront when there are better forwards from England. As for goalkeeping duties, Joe Hart seems set to take that post unless Gordon or Allan McGregor can challenge him(again, unlikely). Unless Jonny Evans improves over the next year(as he is still relatively inexperienced), say hello to an all-English defence. So i’m expecting an English first team with all other home nation players on the bench.

  • a.m.u.a

    0 0

    why did no one choose hart?????

  • Dylan

    0 0

    Gordon
    Johnson, Dawson, Terry, Cole
    Walcott, Gerrard, Wilshere, Bale
    Rooney
    Carroll

    I’d like everyone to notice how Lamps isn’t in most of our squads and yet Gerrard is in everyone. Gerrard’s better, just saying…

  • GB best team

    0 0

    I would play like this:

    —————–Hart————————–
    Johnson—Terry—-Ferdinand——–Cole
    ——–Lampard—Wilshere—————–
    Walcott———Rooney—————-Bale
    ——————Carroll——————–

  • Zann

    0 0

    Bale as FW?!

    i would rather play him at LM….
    my squad will be like this:

    —Gordon—
    Johnson Dawson Terry A.Cole
    —Gerrard—
    —Adam Wilshere Bale—
    —Rooney—
    —Carroll—

  • Carroll + Suarez = Champions League

    0 0

    GK: Gordon
    DEF: Johnson Dawson Ferdinand Cole (Hutton is very good though, definitely a sub)
    MID: Lampard Wilshere Gerrard (Ramsey + Adam are good subs)
    ST: Walcott Crouch Bale (Rooney as sub, sorry but Crouch plays better for England)

  • Bacon

    0 0

    Ramsey? That’s crazy talk.

    The only non-English player worthy of a place in that team would be Bale.

  • Bacon

    0 0

    Ramsey? That’s crazy talk.

    The only non-English player worthy of a place in that team would be Bale.

  • Carroll + Suarez = Champions League

    0 0

    GK: Gordon
    DEF: Johnson Dawson Ferdinand Cole (Hutton is very good though, definitely a sub)
    MID: Lampard Wilshere Gerrard (Ramsey + Adam are good subs)
    ST: Walcott Crouch Bale (Rooney as sub, sorry but Crouch plays better for England)

  • Zann

    0 0

    Bale as FW?!

    i would rather play him at LM….
    my squad will be like this:

    —Gordon—
    Johnson Dawson Terry A.Cole
    —Gerrard—
    —Adam Wilshere Bale—
    —Rooney—
    —Carroll—

  • GB best team

    0 0

    I would play like this:

    —————–Hart————————–
    Johnson—Terry—-Ferdinand——–Cole
    ——–Lampard—Wilshere—————–
    Walcott———Rooney—————-Bale
    ——————Carroll——————–

  • Dylan

    0 0

    Gordon
    Johnson, Dawson, Terry, Cole
    Walcott, Gerrard, Wilshere, Bale
    Rooney
    Carroll

    I’d like everyone to notice how Lamps isn’t in most of our squads and yet Gerrard is in everyone. Gerrard’s better, just saying…

  • a.m.u.a

    0 0

    why did no one choose hart?????

  • Jordan, A Northern Ireland fan

    0 0

    Well in midfield you could have either Steve Davis or Paddy McCourt from N.I, though McCourt probably wouldn’t accept being called up, being a person with nationalist beliefs. Wales realistically could only have Gareth Bale or Craig Bellamy (Bellamy being unlikely) in for a Team GB shout. Kenny Miller isn’t a viable option for upfront when there are better forwards from England. As for goalkeeping duties, Joe Hart seems set to take that post unless Gordon or Allan McGregor can challenge him(again, unlikely). Unless Jonny Evans improves over the next year(as he is still relatively inexperienced), say hello to an all-English defence. So i’m expecting an English first team with all other home nation players on the bench.

  • adad

    0 0

    Adam could pick out carrol every time with his passing

  • Wevvo

    0 0

    As it falls the same year as 2012 euro’s and IF England qualify for that then I think the GB team could kiss goodbye to any of the english 1st team players being involved.. based on that my team would be as follows:

    Hennessey, (Gordon as sub)
    Walker, Smalling, Jones, Gibbs
    Lennon, D.Fletcher, Adam, Bale
    Sturridge, Zamora

    Subs: Gordon, Hutton, Shawcross, Lescott, Huddelstone, Jamie O’Hara, Matt Jarvis, Rodwell, Kevin Nolan, Bannan, Miller, Wickham, Craig Bellamy

  • Dave Hunter

    0 0

    Has anyone actually realised that only three over 23s can play in the team.

  • zzz

    0 0

    ya..nobody realize that..they are new on the soccer thing i guess..

    but my pick is

    Hart
    Flanagan,Smalling,Jones,Robinson (both young LIV fullbacks)
    Walcott,Ramsey,D.Fletcher,Wilshere,Bale
    Rooney

    over 23 is rooney hart and fletcher

  • Mortify88

    0 0

    McGregor 31(S)
    Walker 21(E), Kelly 21(E), Evans 23(NI), Taylor 22(W)
    Forrest 20(S), Henderson 21(E), Bale 22(W)
    Chamberlain 18(E), Wylde 20(S), Ameobi 19(E)

  • bryn

    0 0

    Based on all the criteria this would be by GB and NI Olympic Football team

    Goalkeepers 2 Defenders 6 Midfield 6 Strikers 4

    3 over age picks – Bellamy, Beckham and Evans. I’d put Giggs on standby as he chose to retire from

    International Football a few years ago, whereas Beckham helped us get the tournament and he has passion for the Olympics otherwise he wouldn’t have campaigned.

    15 under 23 players ie born after 1st Jan 1989 as stated in rules.

    I tried to pick the best available players regardless of what home country they came from looking at all Full Squads and under 21 squads and tried to go for Preference of Premier League football or Old Firm and then first choice in lower leagues or Jordan Rhodes who has had a stunning season.

    And then I left out a lot of Eligible England players like Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck who I think will be in the Euro’s this year. And because it is only 18 which is less than 23 at a normal tourno, I went for some players who can play in more than one position. I left out players like Alex Smithies of Huddersfield who would have been in, but he has been injured for most of season but put in Cleverley as he is coming back from a lengthy injury and he won’t make Euro’s.

    England 9 Wales 4 Scotland 3 N.I 2

    Forward

    Jordan Rhodes – Huddersfield – Scotland –

    Andy Carroll – Liverpool – England

    Connor Wickham – Sunderland – England

    Craig Bellamy – Liverpool – Attack – Wales (overage)

    Midfield

    Barry Banaan – Aston Villa – Scotland

    Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal – Wales –

    Gareth Bale – Spurs – Wales – LM(emergency LB)

    Tom Cleverly – Man. Utd. – Midfield – England

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal – England – Winger

    David Beckham – La Galaxy – RM – England (overage)

    Defenders

    Adam Matthews – Celtic – Wales – RB

    Steven Caulker – Spurs – England – CB

    Grant Hanley – Blackburn – Scotland – CB

    Lee Hodson – Watford – N.I – RB

    Kieran Gibbs – Arsenal – England – LB

    Jonny Evans – Manchester United – N.I – Defender (overage)

    Goalkeepers

    Jason Steele – Boro- England

    Jack Butland – Birmingham – England

    4 stand by

    Jack Rodwell – Everton – England – DM

    David Healy – Rangers – N.I – Striker (overage)

    Chris Gunter – Nottm Forest – RB – Wales

    Ryan Giggs – Manchester United – LM/CM – Wales (overage)

    First XI

    GK Jason Steele

    RB Adam Matthews

    CB Steven Caulker

    CB Jonny Evans

    LB Keiran Gibbs

    RM Oxlade-Chamberlain

    DM/CM – Barry Banaan

    AM – Cleverley

    LM – Bale

    F – Bellamy

    F – Carroll

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