The teams can also have up to four stand-by players that can be named to the team in case of a training injury. So the squad trains and travels with 22 players. However the alternates are not officially apart of the team and wont receive a medal if the team wins one.
Sturridge is a doubt with suspected meningitis http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/03/london-2012-daniel-sturridge-team-gb
I think GB has got to go with Steele at goal. Butland might have the more longterm upside, but Steele has been the first choice keeper at Middlesbrough for the past two seasons. Butland was a GK in League Two last season. The Olympics are more about experience then upside, especially this year with the teams Spain and Brazil are bringing to London. I think having Richards at RB would probably be more effective for this team, considering one of Richards best attributes is getting up the right flank and getting involved in the offense. ========Bellamy=========Sturridge =====Giggs====Allen==Ramsey====Cleverley Taylor====Caulker========Tomkins====Richards ================Steele================ This would be an extremely experienced side with really only Tompkins and Steele not in the EPL last year. However, Tomkins had a breakout year with West Ham earning PFA Team of the Year last season in the Championship. Danny Rose might have the more upside and more talent then Neil Taylor at LB, but Rose couldn't find consistent playing time with Tottenham Hotspur last season and Taylor started almost every game for Swansea City. Plus Taylor and Caulker played on the same back line last season, so they should have the familiarity of playing together.
Tomkins can play RB, ergo you are wrong to state there is only 1 player who can play RB in the squad.
You're right about Tomkins ability to play RB, however Tomkins is more suitable to this team as CB. Craig Dawson is the weakest link on this squad and shouldn't step foot on the pitch for the entire tournament, unless there's a injury. I still don't understand Nathaniel Clyne's snub, he was great for Crystal Palace last season. I would of thought he would of been selected over either Dawson or Bertrand.
Although Bertrand's only made about 10 appearances for the chels, (albeit including one very notable one helping to win the CL final, ahead of Florent Malouda as it happens), he's also made about 150 appearances on loan to clubs including Norwich, Reading and Notts Forest and he's usually done very well at them. In honesty he's also impressed when he's appeared for us as well winning a couple of MOTM's in the process. The problem is he's got Ashley Cole in front of him and that's been not made it any easier for the kid but he's a very decent player.
Yeah, good point. Bertrand plays for one the premier teams in the world and Clyne currently only plays in the Championship. I'm sure Bertrand see just as challenging competition in training as Clyne views in his league. I guess the reason that I was surprised is because it seems both Taylor and Rose would be ahead of Bertrand on the depth chart at LB, and GB seems to be shallow at RB and CB. Which would make it hard for Tomkins to serve as a proper back-up at RB if he's needed as a starter at CB.
If he has to pull out Pearce should man up and bring Becks in for his swan song. He is an absolute shite for not doing so in the first place. If he doesn't get to go I look forward to Man U giving him his testimonial.
Beckham can only come into the squad if one of Richards, Giggs or Bellamy have to pull out. Only 3 overage players allowed
My bad, I forgot. I highly doubt any of them would back out to let him in, so it is going to have to come down to injury. What a sight it would have been for Giggs and Becks to go out together...
On second thought. _______________Sturridge_______________ Sinclair__________Ramsey___________Bellamy __________Giggs________Cleverley________ Taylor_______Caulker___Tomkins______Richards ________________Steele________________
But might be OK anyway... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18699589 Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge 'optimistic' about being fit for London 2012 Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is optimistic of being fit for London 2012 despite being treated for viral meningitis.
Is most of Britain getting behind this team like they would for their respective countries? Or is it mostly just the English with the rest looking on halfheartedly?
no one cares. however, wargalaxy does have a bit of a point. what would happen if the team were to do the totally unlikely, take the tourament by storm and bring back the gold? theres more chance of me signing for manchester united after being scouted whilst doing the dentist chair at my local this saturday, but could lead to a bit of conundrum in future, given how little the lot of us ever manage to win individualy
I still care. I'm excited to see a GB team play in the Olympics. I think it is another defacto-youth tournament where our players can get some experience at a high level. I wish we'd do it every Olympics and maybe have only English players for qualification purposes going forward.
i probably would enjoy this too, from a youth perspective, where it not for a certian s pearce, who, along with a certian d platt, have pretty much ruined my enjoyment of youth football.
of course. you dont blame the retard for accepting a post above their station. the person giving the retard the job is the one that should be locked up.
Exactly. Look, we might not have the best ingredients, but when you hire a retard picking his own ass to do the cooking, don't be surprised if it tastes like shit.