Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Dec 19, 2008 19:56:47 GMT
It seems that we may well have a football team in the Olympics called Team GB, don't think that Ireland Scotland or Wales seem to happy about it. As It would be just a one off team would it be OK? and does it have a great chance of success?
What would happen if it went on and got gold, would the powers that be, then press on for just one national team "Great Britain" and if it did what would your views be on that?
Can you imagine English and Scottish football fans standing side by side cheering on team Great Britain I can't really see that happening and I would be really surprised if any football fan wanted it.
What really could be the benefits? I know that when England has not been in a compitition, it has been nice to be able to support another UK team, say Ireland or dare I say even Scotland.
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jerry
TFF member
Posts: 165
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Post by jerry on Dec 19, 2008 20:19:11 GMT
If we were to play as a British (Or United Kingdom  ) team, then surely UEFA would insist that we were treated as one country as far as qualification for their club competitions were concerned? An end to Celtic and Rangers in the Champions League? Would this then lead to the formation of a "British" league? Plus of course, we currently have 4 votes on the International Football Association Board, the same as the rest of FIFA put together! Six votes are required to carry any motion, this means that it needs the approval of at least 2 of the UK members to change any of the laws of the game. I'm sure FIFA would be delighted to have us as one association thus removing these powers! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2008 20:45:25 GMT
Within the UK, plenty of sports enter a Great Britain (& Northern Ireland) team for the Olympics (and various world championships) - and separate England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales teams for the Commonwealth Games. This doesn't seem to cause any problems.
I honestly don't think FIFA or UEFA have an agenda over this. Nor, contrary to opinions north of Carlisle, do I think the government has a motive other than to enter every sport in 2012. Apparently there are plenty of opportunities to join the GB handball team!
Will the punters buy it? Well, it's the Olympics - which will be the most-hyped thing ever in this country - so the games will sell out. Whether this will be the people who normally follow England is another matter. There will be plenty of football fans - as well as the type who get excited about "Team GB" winning medals in the underwater bog-snorkelling - who'll happily buy tickets and wave the flag. I'll try to get tickets for whichever games I can because I fancy seeing what will effectively be an under-23 World Cup (plus a few overage players).
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bbcgull
Programmes Room Manager
Posts: 1,346
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Post by bbcgull on Dec 19, 2008 20:54:49 GMT
I am with you on this Barton and i shall try and get some sort of tickets for sure. Interesting to re read apost i made in TU92 regarding wikipedia listing fro the Olympic football stadiums: List as follows: not sure if is still correct though.
Wembey
Hampden Park
Millennium Stadium
Old Trafford
St. James Park
Villa Park
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merse
TFF member
Posts: 2,684
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Post by merse on Dec 20, 2008 9:47:37 GMT
 Is there anyone who can claim that in this day and age there is one Taff, Paddy or Sweatie who would be an asset to an British team? If "Team GB" has to be so politically correct, let them have a Scottish kit manager, an Irish boot boy and a Welshman to be the bookies runner.................and select the squad from the best players available. I thought the general idea was to " go for gold"...................we won't stand an earthly against the Argentinians and Brazilians if we don't pick the squad on merit!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2008 10:28:29 GMT
If "Team GB" has to be so politically correct, let them have a Scottish kit manager, an Irish boot boy and a Welshman to be the bookies runner.................and select the squad from the best players available. I thought the general idea was to " go for gold"...................we won't stand an earthly against the Argentinians and Brazilians if we don't pick the squad on merit! And that's the way to do it...just like all the other sports. You won't find swimming, athletics, rowing or cycling arguing over a four-team qualifying tournament, a "quota" system or the place of birth of the wheel-changer. It's easier for these sports, because they're got a GB-tradition (and mindset), but it's the only way for football to tackle it. 5/6 of the UK's population live in England so most British Olympic teams are English-dominated by weight of numbers alone. Some sports will be all-English, others less so according to the origin of the talent. If the GB football team is all-English - save for the star striker from Drumnadrochit - that's the way it is in Olympic sport (but, of course, in football with its' different traditions this will be noticed and contentiuos). Whatever the approach, somebody should be doing something soon. Given the tournament is likely to be for players born on or after 1 January 1989 (plus three over-age platers) it's time to look at the best 18 and 19-year-olds (wherever they're from), watch their development and get them together. |
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) team, then surely UEFA would insist that we were treated as one country as far as qualification for their club competitions were concerned?