Richards refused the offer of being "back up" for the recent European Championships, saying everything that needs to be said about his sense of patriotism, whilst Bellyache is Bellyache - loathsome.
Doesn't Pearce get it? Nobody cares about who wins Gold in the football in the Olympics. Everybody knows that football doesn't belong, just like tennis doesn't belong, or rugby, or cricket or any of the other great professional team games. The Olympics is, first and foremost, about individuals, great individuals, and the great and the good in football prioritise the World Cup, the European Championships and major club competitions. That's why they have struggled to sell tickets for the football in a nation that is football cazy!
Beckham deserves a place as a reward for all that he has done for British sport. He has been a wonderful ambassador ever since we launched the bid and he is, second perhaps only to Coe, the face of London 2012 as far as people around the world are concerned. The thought of him bending in one of his trademark free kicks would have put bums on seats and excited a TV audience without question. So what if we lost? In this case, the Corinthian ideal of "It's not the winning but the taking part that counts" should have been applied.
Just like when he appointed Parker captain, Pearce has made himself look an arse. Beckham has responded with his trademark dignity but I trust others will not hold back in expressing contempt for this mean spirited decision to knife Becks in the back!
Completely agree, HF. Pearce trying to show he's a big boy
ReplyDeleteif this is true pearce should be take a long look at himself i mean bellamy ! whats he ever done for sport
ReplyDeleteBellamy pioneered the new sPort of football golf when at Liverpool.
DeleteThis is something finally I will have to disagree with both Stani and you. Well done Pearce for doing the right thing. Beckham is not good enough and despite the paranoia he had the courage to select the best players. I don't know what go on about. Of course the Olympics is not a big PR event. It is all about winning. Therefore only the best should participate. And clearly Mr. Over-rated is not good enough. Well done Stewart!
ReplyDeletekevin in manchester writes ..
ReplyDeleteBellemay has spent half a million so of his own cash setting up a football academy in Liberia or somewhere in west Africa - I'd say that's doing a lot more for sport than most
Yes Kev, Bellemay sounds a very decent guy. What about Bellamy though? ; )
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing though Sav, the best are not participating therefore Beckham is clearly good enough to be in that 18-man squad.
ReplyDeletePeople talk about sentiment and all, but put that aside, because the guy is still good enough. If people disagree with that, were they watching England's very best at the Euros? And Beckham is worse than that? Really?
Pearce is simply trying to show that he's the big man.
Totally agree with you and HF stani but i didnt want him at the euros i wanted him in the euros
ReplyDeleteStani,
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly the point I am making. The Olympics are all about the best athletes. It is not a festival where people can enjoy themselves or a a PR event.
Now are you telling me that David Beckham is in the best 18 of England, Wales, Scotland and Northen Ireland? Now, really you can't possibly be arguing that Beckham deserves to be in the best 18 of Great Britain? And that is despite how disappointing the England players were in the Euro 2012.
If people need to have a hero, the Olympics is not the place to do that. The Ancient Greeks used to say to someone who was boasting how good he is "Here is Rhodes, now let's see your jump". Loosely translated, that the only thing that matters is what you do on the field. Nothing else.
It is against the Olympic spirit and idea to use the games to reward Beckham for services to the country. He has to be there on merit and merit alone.
Olympics you mean Fred?
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't want him at the euros either, for different reasons. Was just making a point that people go on about him being past it as if the ones that are not past it are so amazing. We saw in the euros that they're not.
No Sav, that's the thing, it is not about the best, it should be but it's not. If it was about the best then Beckham would not go, obviously. But since it's not about the best but the rest, then he's definitely of the better ones amongst them.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you talk about sentiment, but as I've said above, that should be put aside. His footballing ability is still good enough to be selected in this Olympic squad.
Don't get me wrong, If I had it my way, Olympic football would not be about professional footballers at all but amateurs, or even like HF said, I wouldn't have any Olympic football.
Well if in the UK the Olympics is not about the best, then that is the bigger issue that should concern all of us rather whether Beckham goes or not. I dare say, if that is the culture in Britain then the Olympics should not have been given to Britain in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be wilfully missing the point Sav. Let's go through the argument in small steps for you:
ReplyDelete1. Football does not belong in the Olympics.
2. The best players are not selected by any of the nations because of the age restrictions. How many of the players at the Euros will be at the Olympics exactly? They are the best players so why are they not the core of the Olympics teams?
3. So, it is a second rate competition with artificial restictions on age to try to give it some credibility. Why not then pick Beckham as a figure head?
4. The truth is, Bellamy and Giggs have been picked because they are Welsh, it has nout to do with merit. The team has to be representative of Great Britain and Bale and Ramsay apart, there are no other Welsh players worthy of inclusion even in a third rate team!
Haha yes stani i meant i wanted him at the euros not the olympics
ReplyDeleteOk HF, thank you for spelling it out for me in small sentences. Now I understand!
ReplyDeleteBut rather than say, football does not belong to the Olympics, how about arguing that there should be no age or other restrictions in selecting the teams that represent their countries?
Come on, be real. Giggs and Bellamy are ten times better than Becks and always were so. Even during Becks best time 10 years or so ago. These guys still play for the Premiership at the very top level (not a league which is roughly equivalent to the English Second Division). Moreover, they are good all round footballers rather. Not just good kickers of the ball which is the only thing Beckham ever knew how to do on the pitch. You can dream all you like, but that is the truth about Mr. PR. I think Noble has learned a few tricks from him judging from his publicity stunts.
There have to be age restrictions, otherwise FIFA would not authorise participation. They understand the threat that the Olympics might pose to the European Championships and so, under pressure from UEFA and as part of deals to increase represention of Asian and African teams at the World Cup, this artificial condition was imposed, making it a glorified U23 competition. Like I said, it is a second rate competition as a result. As a Greek, you should not want it in the Games, it's a bit like allowing a nation with a second rate economy and a Mafia style attitude to paying taxes into a European single currency!
ReplyDeleteSo Stani thinks Becks is good enough and I think the tournament is a farce so I see no harm in honouring him. Either way, he should be there rather than trying to satisfy the Welsh, which is no reason for picking players.
By the way, I would strip out most of the sports from the Olympics. It should be track, field and swimming in my book.
Oh, and trying to win Stani over to your side by reminding him of your alliance over Noble is worthy of Septic Bladder!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying being on my own on this. It is such a rare event. But now that you mention it, there are some striking similarities about the behaviour of the two players! I am sure Stani will take notice.
ReplyDeleteSurpise, surpise though, I do agree with you that the Olympics should be track and field (like in the ancient times) and possibly swimming.
It really has become a bit of circus with all these new additions like dancing and swimming and dancing (or what do they call it "synchronised swimming"?). So, we do agree on something. Finally!
Right, my turn to disagree with both of you! Hahaaa, I'm kidding :P
ReplyDeleteSav i don't want to sound rude but anybody who thinks bellamy was ever better then beckham has mental problems.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you Fred; and I like to think of myself as sane. I rather have Bellamy in my team than Beckham. That is why he is still playing at the top level of the Premier League and Beckam is playing Sunday football in America.
ReplyDelete