By Chris Wright
With the kit being unveiled earlier today, we thought it high time to for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.
The only rules you have to abide by are the criteria for the actual selection: All players must be aged 23 or under as of January 1st 2012 (with the exception of a maximum of three designated ‘over age’ choices) and, perhaps more importantly, actually be British – English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish.
Members of England’s Euro 2012 squad are also going to be deemed ineligible, chiefly due to the fact that they’ll be completely knackered by August. Other than that, everyone else is fair game.
For example, fancy roping in Scholesy by twisting his pale nipples until he submits and signs up? Fine by us.
Here’s Pies’ stab at a gold-winning first XI, blending a dash of vibrant youth with a teaspoon of wily experience…
That’s three Welshmen, seven English (no Scotch) and one chap from Northern Ireland – Jonny Evans, who’s experiencing a rich vein of competency at the moment as he quickly becomes United’s new Wes Brown.
Evans plays alongside Richards in the middle as we’re assuming that the Man City defender will not be on the plane to Polkraine if Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker are fit, ready and able. The central pair are flanked by Kelly and Gibbs; solid choices if fit, with underrated stopper Hennessey keeping nets in behind.
Seeing as they’ve already thrown the shirt on him, Rodwell gets the nod in the middle, playing just behind Ramsey and Poppa Beckham who, let’s face it, is without doubt going to be captaining the Team GB squad come the end of July, such is his ‘draw’.
With maximum-attack flank support from The Ox and The Chimp, Studge gets a chance to tear about in his favoured central role up top as, a) we have a sneaking suspicion he won’t be going to the Euros in lieu of Danny Welbeck and, crucially, b) we really didn’t fancy any of the other candidates.
What do you reckon folks? Reckon you could pull a better starting XI out of your derrieres? Let’s see ’em then! (You’re line-ups that is, not your derrieres)…