GB Team - Football

[goonersid]

have to agree, the Olympics are a load of shite. I did apply for tickets for the swimming though for my son, thankfully we didn't get any

[QuartzGooner]

Thanks OneBard.

Is tough on Gibbs but from an Arsenal point of view would rather he has a good pre season with us.
A trip to Nigeria where he can gulp a goodly quantity of Guiness Malta should fortify his slender frame against the travails of the forthcoming season.

[northbank123]

Out of interest why is everybody saying Richards was picked over Beckham? Richards is a player that (despite losing his place at the end) enjoyed a very successful season with Citeh and is versatile, being able to fill in at centre-half at Olympic level. Not to mention that he's the only overage defender.

Beckham is an ageing midfielder who is miles past his best and at the top level is a relic of what he was. Isn't there somebody else that fits that criteria? Surely it makes more sense to say that Beckham was ignored in favour of Giggs, a far more similar player? Or even Bellamy?

[augie]

Watched the first 60 minutes or so of this game (yes I am missing footie that much ) and Team GB were woeful I felt sorry for giggs whose legs are gone and he was badly shown up by the younger faster brazilians. As for james thompkins and danny rose........seriously these players are no better than hackney marshes level

I like to class myself as a thinking man when it comes to the game of footie especially when it comes to tactics but the system/formation that team gb (and indeed Arsenal) is badly shown up time and time again and I cannot decide why it is exposed as badly as it is Without doubt a lack of technique is the biggest factor as british footballers are made to look like pub footballers when they face decent opposition but it isnt just that as I honestly believe that british footballers (and too many AFC players) do not have the level of footie intelligence required to play this system/formation. The wide "front players" do not know whether they are supposed to be back helping in midfield or helping the striker up front so invariably the centre forward gets isolated and the widemen go awol. Every country in the world knows that the british (and Irish) players lack any decent level of technique so everybody adapts a pressure system on them forcing them to hoof the ball forward thus handing it back to the opposition in the process The brazilian players work harder closing down and are more fluid in their movement off the ball which again comes back to football intelligence.

I am firm believer that footie has no place being in the olympics but now that it is there you cant help looking at the quality of players most countries are bringing and then comparing it to the rabble that pearce has at his disposal, and you would really be fearing for them when it gets to knockout stages

[Dan_85]

I agree with augie about the lack of football intelligence. The main thing that stood out for me about Team GB tonight, and it's the same with Arsenal, is the perception (or lack of) where the ball will be played next & where the available space is. I don't proclaim to be an expert, and maybe it's easier to perceive with the view that the TV cameras give you, but I find myself yelling at the TV every time a player passes to a team mate & then stands still. "10 yards in front of you to the left! Do you not see those acres of space there?!" Fucking hell. Pass & move, pass & move, is it really that hard?!

Also, how bad was the atmosphere?! Fucking hell, there's a lack of songs to sing when England are playing but what the hell are the crowd supposed to sing when you've got players from 3 countries all playing for the same team?!

[franksav63]

Didn't watch it.... but Pearce, what a fucking miserable clueless *word censored* he is.

[TeeCee]

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[Macca]

Please don't let this be true....a mate at work heard a whisper that Beckham is lighting the torch at the opening ceremony by kicking a lit football into the main sphere !!

I will eat my own bollocks if that happens !!!

He's no elite olympian or sporting God....don't forget he let his country down and imo is just on a long list of goodish players who have believed the exageratted hype in our 'need' for a hero !!

What about Redgrave, Pinsent, Wiggens, Coe, Ainslie etc etc...

Saddest part is that some people will think this is a great idea.....

[Dan_85]

Electric atmosphere at OT...

[SurreyGooner]

snoozefest

[OneBardGooner]

Not even championship standard.

[DB10GOONER]

Please don't let this be true....a mate at work heard a whisper that Beckham is lighting the torch at the opening ceremony by kicking a lit football into the main sphere !!

I will eat my own bollocks if that happens !!!

He's no elite olympian or sporting God....don't forget he let his country down and imo is just on a long list of goodish players who have believed the exageratted hype in our 'need' for a hero !!

What about Redgrave, Pinsent, Wiggens, Coe, Ainslie etc etc...

Saddest part is that some people will think this is a great idea.....

I take your point about Beckham, mate - but what the fuck has Ainslie done but cook a few dinners?

[supergeorgegraham]

I could not last above 15 mins. It was a woeful excuse for football it means nothing at all. Why bother football is football and the Olympics is surely only about Beach Volleyball (female) these days. Jesus the Womens matches are even worse. Our Arsenal ladies are better then any Olympic team !

[rodders999]

The Senegal equaliser came from a cock up on a corner by Giggs and Ramsey. Should nerver have picked any of the Welsh just like was done with the Scots and Northern Irish, and it would have been gold medals all round

[LDB]

Please don't let this be true....a mate at work heard a whisper that Beckham is lighting the torch at the opening ceremony by kicking a lit football into the main sphere !!

I will eat my own bollocks if that happens !!!

He's no elite olympian or sporting God....don't forget he let his country down and imo is just on a long list of goodish players who have believed the exageratted hype in our 'need' for a hero !!

What about Redgrave, Pinsent, Wiggens, Coe, Ainslie etc etc...

Saddest part is that some people will think this is a great idea.....

I take your point about Beckham, mate - but what the fuck has Ainslie done but cook a few dinners?

His packet risotto is the nuts