Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Fergie's Olympic Concerns

Who are any of us to question the knowledge of Sir Alex Ferguson? He has proved so often down the years that he is on the ball more times than not. Even his badly worded rant about referee fitness has helped improve referees fitness and ability to keep up with play whilst also employing sports psychologists and dietitians to ensure that whatever can be done to try to get the best from our officials has been considered

So when Ferguson first suggested that no young players should play in the Euro 2012 tournament in June and the Olympics in August, it was quickly swept under the carpet as a typical Fergie grumble as United themselves have a host of players expected to be involved in the Euro's. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are pushing capello into a decision while Ashley Young has become a Capello favourite and should Rooney get some leniancy from his suspension (don't hold your beath) and Cleverley and Welbeck stay fit, that's before you add Nani (Portugal), Evra (France), Gibson and possibly de Gea.

United will probably be without de Gea, Anderson, Hernandez to start with for their respective countries at London 2012. The British Olympic team will contain a few non English players. Bale and Ramsey from Wales are certainties. Not every player 23 or under will be selected for the Euro team. Scotland could be represented with B.Bannan, G.Hanley, J.Rhodes and D.Wilson. A host of potential English youngsters that probably won't be going to the Euro's are A.Smithies, B.Amos, K.Gibbs, A.Chamberlain. , M.Kelly, C.Wickham, D.Rose, J.Henderson and should he declare himself eligible E.Frimpong. To satisfy Northern Ireland I'm delegating a position or two for one out of J.Evans, O.Norwood, C.Cathcart and C.Evans.

Not every player going to the Euro's is guaranteed to play so one or two will be fresh enough to play for the British Olympic team. Ultimatley I agree with Sir Alex. No player that plays in the Euro's for 5 or 6 games, should then play in the Olympics. Young they may well be but if they have Champions League or Europa League football they will burn themselves out as we have seen so often. Stuart Pearce knows the 40-45 players in Capello's mind so he knows who else he has to work with.

With the row over which FA's would allow their players to play, and the ticket fiasco, the football has almost become a laughing stock. Get an idea of a squad together now and start planning and playing your team. Surely whoever is going to play should be meeting regularly, training, bonding the usual things a team does. It just makes it all the harder to take the Olympic football seriously.

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