Poll: Beckham in Olympic footie squad - poll please

[cheets64]

IMO a resounding YES:

-He's clearly up for it, would be full of enthusiasm for the tournament
-It's not like team GB has any serious long term future so no need to worry about planning for the future, they probably won't play again for 4 years if at all.
-He's a decent player
-Lots of experience, I'm sure the predominantly young squad would benefit from having him around
-On a more cynical level, I think it would help the profile of London 2012 and like it or not I think that is important for British sport in general
-Well liked by the public I can see him geeing up the crowd for the GB games
-Won't put out any English clubs as he plays abroad

Beckham has always been living in a bubble, he left Man United in his pomp to go to Real and won one La Liga title, 28 years old and that is all he has won since leaving Man Utd (not counting any MLS ****), He loves America, enough to be noticed and **** over but not enough to be bugged. He is already some ambassador to the Olympics, doing some ceremony so odds he will be picked by the who ever picks the team.

Plus this is the first GB football team since the 1960, joke makes me sick, this whole big up GB football, Watched the olympic football but not going to bother due to "its our GB so WE MUST have GB football team" rather watch the mens GB hockey team than the football team.

 

[Shamikebab]

Tom84 defending Carrick lolololol

Sham will be in next to stick up for him!

When the **** have I done that?

 

[atpbx]

If any of the England teams were truly picked on merit, Grant Holt would be in the England squad, since he has been the second highest English goalscorer this season, behind Rooney. So I can't really see the UK team being any different.

I dont think the England Squad has been annonced yet for the Euros.

So I've still got a chance of going.

 

[FrankJH]

If you think you're ever going to see any United fan on here bar myself say anything positive about Carrick then you'll be waiting a very very very long time!

no he wont - I still have AIG shirt with his name on the back which I wear regularly and proudly

Whether people admit it or not, SAF doesnt suffer fools gladly - the fact that Carrick is still in the team after so long (apart from being name checked recently by SAF as one of his central/ most important players this season) proves he is better than most want to beleve /admit

 

[HangTime]

If any of the England teams were truly picked on merit, Grant Holt would be in the England squad, since he has been the second highest English goalscorer this season, behind Rooney. So I can't really see the UK team being any different.

Holt's minutes-per-goal is a lot worse than e.g. Defoe though (over 150 compared to under 120).

 

[Caseh]

Holt's minutes-per-goal is a lot worse than e.g. Defoe though (over 150 compared to under 120).

I'd say going on form, Rooney is really the only person that picks himself. The others are new comers/under performers/non-starters.

Edit: Completely missed out the bit where I was going to say he can go as well.

 

[G-MAN2004]

I think he deserves it more than any other player.

 

[pingwing]

Just no to Beckham, can't see him setting the tournament alight when we could use the 3 over 23's spots for players that wont go to Europe but would benefit from some vaguely decent international experience (there's spent of scots, welsh and ni-ish players who'd be worth bringing for a start).

If any of the England teams were truly picked on merit, Grant Holt would be in the England squad, since he has been the second highest English goalscorer this season, behind Rooney. So I can't really see the UK team being any different.

Meh would rather bring the champs top goal scorer Rickie Lambert and L1's top goal scorer Jordan Rhodes and see how that works out instead....

 

[Gilly]

Just no to Beckham, can't see him setting the tournament alight when we could use the 3 over 23's spots for players that wont go to Europe but would benefit from some vaguely decent international experience (there's spent of scots, welsh and ni-ish players who'd be worth bringing for a start).

Really?

Who?

 

[HangTime]

Is it fair to directly compare? (I'm not saying it isn't, but this has to be considered...)

Holt plays whole games, so goes up against defences from the start, when they're fresh, etc, whilst Defoe appears as a sub more often, no? (So is fresh, and against tired defenders, etc...)

It's something to consider, rather than jumping straight on the mins/goal stat.

I don't think it is fair to directly compare, but for other reasons (Defoe should get more chances created for him at Spurs for example)

In terms of Grant Holt playing whole games, when you look at the stats over a third of his league appearces have been off the bench, yes this is less than Defoe, but it's actually pretty rare he plays 90mins (only 14 out of 32 appearences, so he's probably 'fresh' a lot of the time too).

In terms of Defoe exploiting sub appearances against tired defenders, only 30% of his goals came from sub appearances.

 

[jamesy505]

Keep the Olympics for under 23's only. No overage players.
And considering this is a GB team, how many non-english players have made the "shortlist" of 80?

 

[AGD]

Yeah it would be great for him to be there. He's from east london so it means a lot to him and he could mentor the younger lads.

 

[RoboSprog]

No, send three overage experienced players: (Rio Ferdinand etc) with the very best young players. Just not Beckham.

 

[A2Z]

Definately yes, the guy is a ledgend.

I mean he did this a few days ago!

 

[Robbo]

I'd have him back at Man Utd.

 

[johnyccc]

I don't see why not. If most of the best English players are unavailable because of the Euros, then an ex-captain with so much experience would be an obvious choice. People might not like him or what the fact he would still be good enough says about the standard of the players left but he would be.

 

[Rizwan1]

The young squad atm is ****, there shouldnt be a debate. We need Beckham!!!

 

[jamesy505]

*Looks at location*

u mad?

It'll only be fair if ~84% of them are English .

Is the 84% based on population split? So in a squad of 22 players 18 should be English? It should be the best young players in Britain, irrespective of nationality.

 

[Azza]

In other Olympic football news...

Team GB men's football team drawn to play Senegal at Old Trafford, UAE at Wembley & Uruguay in Cardiff at London Olympics.

 

[Azza]

GB men's coach Stuart Pearce says: "I am certainly looking forward to this summer. I wouldn't dismiss anyone in the group or teams coming here. It'll be tough - that's tournament football."



On David Beckham's star quality, Pearce says: "I would like to think everyone in the squad will have star quality. I'll know a bit more about David Beckham's chances when I go to the States and see him. He's been a great ambassador but that's no guarantee he'll get in the squad. I'm picking on form and merit alone."

Form and merit... I can only name a handful of young English players who've performed well this season. He's going to have a hard job if he does it like that!