[Gridiron-Gangster]

(Original post by Louis.)
It's probably going to be quite limited. Ramsey and Bale will play because they'll be 23 or under but I can't think of any other youngsters likely to make it, possibly Barry Bannan. If we assume Beckham takes one of the 3 other spots that leaves 2 open for the older guys, and I guess Bellamy, Adam and Fletcher (depending on health) would be in contention. Suppose Giggs could be in the mix if he fancies it but I doubt he'll play. Brunt and Evans possibilities if they want someone from all four nations, and with a lack of English keepers beyond Hart I suppose McGregor or Hennessey could have a shot as well.

I'm assuming everyone's going to be able to play here, although it wouldn't surprise me if the Scottish FA told their players not to.

So at best it's going to be an English/Welsh Team GB unless one of the senior spots are given to a Scot. But as I said Stuart Pearce should be selecting the team with the best possible chance of winning hence my picks for the three senior players would be David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy with Michael Owen and Charlie Adam on standby.

Giggs and Bellamy deserve the opportunity to play in a big tournament and undoubtedly Beckham's presence will have Team GB shirts flying off the shelves.

[TRS-T]

(Original post by Gridiron-Gangster)
Northern Ireland, Jonny Evans just missed the cut for under-23 so he'd be a possibly senior call up. Other than that no other decent options.

Shane Ferguson of Newcastle United.

[The Rusty Spork]

I can't believe people are seriously including Beckham as someone they want to go to the tournament. Whilst he is probably guaranteed to go and be entirely underwhelming performance-wise, people should not actually want him to go.
There are only 18 spots (I think) so I would be an absolute waste giving one to Beckham or Giggs as they won't be able to play a game every three days.

[Zerforax]

(Original post by Mess.)
I can't believe people are seriously including Beckham as someone they want to go to the tournament. Whilst he is probably guaranteed to go and be entirely underwhelming performance-wise, people should not actually want him to go.
There are only 18 spots (I think) so I would be an absolute waste giving one to Beckham or Giggs as they won't be able to play a game every three days.

Only 18 slots? That's mental..
We need a list of every player who's under 23 (or falls within the rules that they can play at the tournament).

Should then pick the senior players depending on where the is the biggest gap in the squad imo.

[Gridiron-Gangster]

(Original post by Mess.)
I can't believe people are seriously including Beckham as someone they want to go to the tournament. Whilst he is probably guaranteed to go and be entirely underwhelming performance-wise, people should not actually want him to go.
There are only 18 spots (I think) so I would be an absolute waste giving one to Beckham or Giggs as they won't be able to play a game every three days.

I totally agree with you but it's the worst kept secret in Football that he's pretty much assured a spot in Team GB and I'm sure Seb Coe, PR and Merchandising department at LOCOG would have a heart attack at the prospect of him not participating. And given that Argentina failed to qualify, the stage is all his to hog the spotlight.

[TRS-T]

Like I say.

Aaron Lennon or David Beckham?

Who do you prefer in your team?

[Gridiron-Gangster]

(Original post by TRS-T)
Like I say.

Aaron Lennon or David Beckham?

Who do you prefer in your team?

Neither?

From a commercial perspective which let's face it is going to dictate things, David Beckham. He's still a good crosser of the ball and I can picture him scoring a trademark free-kick.

I don't see him being played off the park at the Olympics but whether he'll play a full 90 minutes remains to be seen.

[Gridiron-Gangster]

Out of interest, is anyone actually going to any of the footy games? I got tickets for both the men's and women's finals at Wembley, GB Men's opening game at OT and the quarter finals and semi-finals at OT. Tempted to get tickets for GB's game in Cardiff and possibly the bronze medal match but aslong as I get to see GB play and the men's final aswell as some games in my home town of Manchester (even if it is at OT ) then I'm happy.

[TRS-T]

I haven't got tickets but I hope to go to the warm-up friendly at Villa Park.

[Gridiron-Gangster]

(Original post by TRS-T)
I haven't got tickets but I hope to go to the warm-up friendly at Villa Park.

There's still lots left for the footy including women's final and GB men's games at OT and Cardiff.

[Zerforax]

Good time to bump this thread me thinks.

Group A - Team GB, Senegal, UAE, Uruguay

We could actually field a really good team imo.

.............Welbeck.........
Bale......Henderson....AOC
.......Wilshere..Cleverly.....
Gibbs..Jones..Smalling..Walker

Can't think of a goalkeeper for some reason.

Bench to include: Sturridge, Carroll, Ramsey, Martin Kelly, another GK, leftback and another midfield player I guess.

Shame most will go to the Euros and not play a game.

[The Rusty Spork]

Uruguay are going to be taking a very strong team as they have a fairly good youth set up but the likes of Cavani, Forlan, Suarez and Muslera could be good options for their old players.

[Louis.]

(Original post by Zerforax)
Good time to bump this thread me thinks.

Group A - Team GB, Senegal, UAE, Uruguay

We could actually field a really good team imo.

.............Welbeck.........
Bale......Henderson....AOC
.......Wilshere..Cleverly.....
Gibbs..Jones..Smalling..Walker

Can't think of a goalkeeper for some reason.

Bench to include: Sturridge, Carroll, Ramsey, Martin Kelly, another GK, leftback and another midfield player I guess.

Shame most will go to the Euros and not play a game.

I think we could be pretty close to that team actually, from that side only Welbeck definitely deserves to go to the Euros, Walker might as cover I suppose but he's probably behind Richards and Johnson. Jones, Sturridge and Smalling probably would have gone if the squad was picked earlier but the first two have dropped off in form and Smalling isn't playing much football these days.

I doubt Arsenal will let Wilshere go if he's missing out on the Euros through injury, Joe Allen is a decent shout as a replacement. You've still got to add the 3 older guys to that as well.

Keeper will probably be Hennessey or whoever's keeping for Scotland these days (McGregor?).

-------------------Hennessey-----------------

-Walker------Smalling-------Jones-------Gibbs-

--------Beckham----Rodwell----Ramsey-------

----Bellamy---------Sturridge--------Bale----


Random young keeper, young CB, Taylor, Henderson, Allen, Sinclair, AOC

(23 year olds are eligible right?)

Something like that would be decent. In terms of footballing ability Beckham shouldn't but it looks like he'll end up there, probably captaining as well. I'd have put Evans in but with Smalling and Jones probably involved there's no chance that we'll let 3 of our CBs go. I'd like an experienced CB in there but it's difficult to work around Beckham, you need the keeper and Bellamy deserves it too. Can't think of many defensive minded CMs so i've gone with Rodwell, you can probably think of someone better.

I'm probably missing some really obvious ones and it's impossible to predict a team until we see the squad for the Euros, but at this stage I think that's a decent outline.

[Zerforax]

(Original post by Louis.)
I think we could be pretty close to that team actually, from that side only Welbeck definitely deserves to go to the Euros, Walker might as cover I suppose but he's probably behind Richards and Johnson. Jones, Sturridge and Smalling probably would have gone if the squad was picked earlier but the first two have dropped off in form and Smalling isn't playing much football these days.

I doubt Arsenal will let Wilshere go if he's missing out on the Euros through injury, Joe Allen is a decent shout as a replacement. You've still got to add the 3 older guys to that as well.

Keeper will probably be Hennessey or whoever's keeping for Scotland these days (McGregor?).

-------------------Hennessey-----------------

-Walker------Smalling-------Jones-------Gibbs-

--------Beckham----Rodwell----Ramsey-------

----Bellamy---------Sturridge--------Bale----


Random young keeper, young CB, Taylor, Henderson, Allen, Sinclair, AOC

(23 year olds are eligible right?)

Something like that would be decent. In terms of footballing ability Beckham shouldn't but it looks like he'll end up there, probably captaining as well. I'd have put Evans in but with Smalling and Jones probably involved there's no chance that we'll let 3 of our CBs go. I'd like an experienced CB in there but it's difficult to work around Beckham, you need the keeper and Bellamy deserves it too. Can't think of many defensive minded CMs so i've gone with Rodwell, you can probably think of someone better.

I'm probably missing some really obvious ones and it's impossible to predict a team until we see the squad for the Euros, but at this stage I think that's a decent outline.

I think it depends when your birthday is. If you turned 23 after the turn of the year (1.1.12) then you're eligible I think..

Think Rodwell is ruled out with injury. Though Joe Allen is a good shout.

Which Taylor do you mean?

18 players is actually a very small squad, essentially first team + bench only.

Gk, 2 defenders, 2 midfield players, 2 strikers/wingers as the bench options. Versertile players for the bench will be essentially imo.

[Louis.]

(Original post by Zerforax)
I think it depends when your birthday is. If you turned 23 after the turn of the year (1.1.12) then you're eligible I think..

Think Rodwell is ruled out with injury. Though Joe Allen is a good shout.

Which Taylor do you mean?

18 players is actually a very small squad, essentially first team + bench only.

Gk, 2 defenders, 2 midfield players, 2 strikers/wingers as the bench options. Versertile players for the bench will be essentially imo.

Really wouldn't surprise me if Rodwell's injured, Cleverley could come in and hope having enough passers negates the need for relatively defensive mid. Doing it properly you'd probably push Jones forward into that role, put an experienced CB alongside Smalling and drop Beckham from the squad (we've got loads of midfielders) but for various reasons that's unlikely.

Neil Taylor, the Swansea LB, he has looked solid whenever i've seen him and I think he's young enough (07/02/89).

Agreed, it's good that a lot of our players seem to be versatile. Jones/Smalling can cover RB as well as CB, Jones has CM as well, AOC can play wide or in midfield, and then Bellamy, Sinclair and Sturridge can play right across the front line if needed to.

I've been very unenthusiastic up to now but increasingly i'm thinking it'll be an interesting watch. Chance to give some young players tournament experience in what will probably be quite a high pressure situation (given we're hosting), it'll be good to see how they respond to it.

[Zerforax]

(Original post by Louis.)
Really wouldn't surprise me if Rodwell's injured, Cleverley could come in and hope having enough passers negates the need for relatively defensive mid. Doing it properly you'd probably push Jones forward into that role, put an experienced CB alongside Smalling and drop Beckham from the squad (we've got loads of midfielders) but for various reasons that's unlikely.

Neil Taylor, the Swansea LB, he has looked solid whenever i've seen him and I think he's young enough (07/02/89).

Agreed, it's good that a lot of our players seem to be versatile. Jones/Smalling can cover RB as well as CB, Jones has CM as well, AOC can play wide or in midfield, and then Bellamy, Sinclair and Sturridge can play right across the front line if needed to.

I've been very unenthusiastic up to now but increasingly i'm thinking it'll be an interesting watch. Chance to give some young players tournament experience in what will probably be quite a high pressure situation (given we're hosting), it'll be good to see how they respond to it.

Will really boil down to who is picked for the Euros. We could pick an inexperienced side (who imo aren't ready), ruin the Euros and the Olympics and come home early in both.

[Louis.]

(Original post by Zerforax)
Will really boil down to who is picked for the Euros. We could pick an inexperienced side (who imo aren't ready), ruin the Euros and the Olympics and come home early in both.

I don't think that's much of a danger anymore. If the squad was picked in October when Jones, Smalling, Walker, Cleverley, Sturridge and Welbeck were all playing regularly and playing well, and when we were expecting Wilshere to be fit, there might have been a issue. But of those it's only Walker and Welbeck who have maintained their early season form throughout the season, and it's only those two who could be legitimately disappointed to miss out. Even then Walker has a lot of competition.

It'll be the usual suspects who we take to the Euros before they're hopefully cast aside for the next qualification campaign, replaced by the core of our olympic side.

[TRS-T]

18 man squad:

3 goalkeepers
3 full backs
3 centre backs
3 centre midfielders
3 wingers
3 strikers

[The Rusty Spork]

Why would you take 3 goalkeepers

[Jim-Jam]

Really looking forward to these, Bellamy has to go, he can score and play on the wing at either side.

I'd go for:
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Walker
Kelly
Smalling
Cb ?
Gibbs
Bale
Sinclair
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ramsey
Henderson
Beckham
Bellamy
Sturridge

Then just, whoever...