Beckham left out of the Olympic squad.

[Aadam]

There is no true amateur sport at the top level in any sport, whether it be football, athletics, show jumping anything, all the top sports stars are sponsored to be able to take part just look at Paula Radcliffe as an example.

I don't understand the point. I was saying the Olympics used to have the rule that only amateur footballers could represent their country.

 

[vegster]

Well well, a victory for common sense ! Mind you, I can see Pepsi, Gillette, Sainsbury's and a few others feeling a tad pissed off their boy is not going to give them their photo opportunity on the pitch. However, I'm sure he will manage to steal some of the limelight or attention, perhaps a new tattoo or haircut or another sprog ?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

F'ing hell you must be shit at golf! have you hit under 100!!!

Poetic license I actually play off 12, but Jesus that's taken some doing.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Born with ability... Now that's a debate for another day, but I will quote a piece from an interesting website: "It is impossible to be a “born great” athlete; we become a great athlete through proper training, motivation, and through our environment. In order to reach the top, you must be dedicated and do whatever you must to reach the top. Like the old saying goes, “you can do anything you want to do if you work hard to achieve it” is very accurate in describing the effects of nurture on becoming a great athlete."

Anyway... I digress.

What rubbish. I watch my son's football team, there are some kids that if they trained from morning to night 7 days a week they would still never make a footballer.

To say you must be dedicated to reach the top is an obvious statement but some are no less dedicated but will never make it. Why? Because they lack the natural ability to be the best.

 

[albion534]

Would prefer him to scumbag Bellamy

 

[Falkor]

Three over 23 players are Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards.

It's an 18 man squad, you're allowed three players over 23. I would have thought Beckham would have been a better choice than Bellamy. I guess Pearce doesn't agree.[/QUOTE]

What do you expect from him and some people even suggested the muppet should be Englands next manager. By including Bellamy and Giggs he is just bowing to the Welsh FA and to be seen to be fair. There are a lot better players in England than those, both under and over 23..

Bale will go also as tbf his better than anyplayer we have in the England team

 

[Falkor]

I've never really paid attention towards the Football at the Olympics, there is always players you've never seen or heard off. If we're serious about winning the Gold Medal, then Beckham shouldn't have priority of being named in the squad and Pearce has made a very good decision. IMO.

What rubbish look at the teams Argentina and brazil have sent in recent olympics players ya never heard of lol nah only messi etc....

 

[W.C.]

Would prefer him to scumbag Bellamy

scumbag? You should check out some of the stuff he does off the pitch.

 

[Aadam]

What rubbish. I watch my son's football team, there are some kids that if they trained from morning to night 7 days a week they would still never make a footballer.

To say you must be dedicated to reach the top is an obvious statement but some are no less dedicated but will never make it. Why? Because they lack the natural ability to be the best.

Whilst I have not said that it is ONLY down to hard work and dedication (at least I don't think I have said that), I'm interested to know what you think 'natural ability' is and how we are born with it?

 

[W.C.]

What rubbish look at the teams Argentina and brazil have sent in recent olympics players ya never heard of lol nah only messi etc....

S American teams take it vaguely seriously.

Europe has the Euros the same summer. No contest.

 

[albion534]

scumbag? You should check out some of the stuff he does off the pitch.

Enlighten me?

Cause on the pitch he comes across as a vile player

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Enlighten me?

Gladly.

Craig Bellamy Foundation


How it started

In 2007 Wales & Liverpool football star Craig Bellamy visited a friend in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Best known for its ‘blood diamonds’ and devastating civil war, Craig saw through the country’s desperate poverty. He saw potential for a project that could offer hope.

With a car full of footballs he traveled through the country, stopping wherever he saw kids playing the game they love, to give them a ball…and join in!

Everywhere he went he saw how much passion and commitment there was for the beautiful game but he also witnessed the lack of education and poor health. Craig had an idea, to use football to inspire positive personal and social change among the children.

He wanted to build an academy of excellence to give promising players the support they would need to develop on and off the field. From the foundations of the Academy, and with UNICEF’s generous support, the CBF League was born.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Whilst I have not said that it is ONLY down to hard work and dedication (at least I don't think I have said that), I'm interested to know what you think 'natural ability' is and how we are born with it?

Turn it around what makes one player better than another if both have the same training, dedication and opportunities? It can only be one is "built" with a better body to succeed.

 

[albion534]

Gladly.

Craig Bellamy Foundation


How it started

In 2007 Wales & Liverpool football star Craig Bellamy visited a friend in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Best known for its ‘blood diamonds’ and devastating civil war, Craig saw through the country’s desperate poverty. He saw potential for a project that could offer hope.

With a car full of footballs he traveled through the country, stopping wherever he saw kids playing the game they love, to give them a ball…and join in!

Everywhere he went he saw how much passion and commitment there was for the beautiful game but he also witnessed the lack of education and poor health. Craig had an idea, to use football to inspire positive personal and social change among the children.

He wanted to build an academy of excellence to give promising players the support they would need to develop on and off the field. From the foundations of the Academy, and with UNICEF’s generous support, the CBF League was born.

Fair enough! I honestly didn't know that!

But still doesn't change how I feel about him as a player!

Hats off to the bloke though!

 

[Aadam]

Turn it around what makes one player better than another if both have the same training, dedication and opportunities? It can only be one is "built" with a better body to succeed.

Now that's interesting. Genetics determine our body structure. Does a stronger person have more chance to make it?

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Good.

The Beckham circus has f***ed up enough major tournaments for England, let's not ruin GBs only appearance.

If the Olympics is about amateurism, having u23s is about as close as you can get in football terms.

And Giggs is a good choice as an over-age squad member on football grounds* as he's one of the best current players never to have had a chance to play at the finals of a major tournament. Beckham has had plenty. Maybe more than he should have had.

* On worthwhile human being grounds he fails somewhat miserably.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Now that's interesting. Genetics determine our body structure. Does a stronger person have more chance to make it?

So are you muting that if everyone was born in the same environment and had the same desire, training etc they world all be World class in the sport they pursued, that I do doubt. A stronger person, mentally, physically or genetically?

 

[Aadam]

So are you muting that if everyone was born in the same environment and had the same desire, training etc they world all be World class in the sport they pursued, that I do doubt. A stronger person, mentally, physically or genetically?

I'm not muting anything. I was asking your opinion. I don't know enough about generics to know the answer.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I'm not muting anything. I was asking your opinion. I don't know enough about generics to know the answer.

OK sorry if I appeared somewhat abrupt but the way I see it is that you can not teach everyone to become a top class sportsperson, some have that added "bit" already. I was at school the same time as Franco Massimo (he was 2 years below me) He was far above those around and in fact played in the same school team as me. He played for BHA until an injury stopped his career. However in truth he was never going to be a "great" player, but the difference when at school was so obvious without any great desire from him (no extra training) but a pure natural ability.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

They said on the news this morning that ticket sales for the football were disappointing and LOCOG will do a "Palace" and hand out thousands of free tickets to schoolkids to give the impression the stadia are half full.