Should Britain have a united football team? [ENDS 04/07/2010]

[FlyingJesus]

The only non-English player who we could have used in recent years is Giggs.. maybe Bellamy but everyone hates him for some reason so perhaps not. The only thing this would achieve would be to flood the team with even more inexperienced potentials battling for a space, which would make things even more difficult when picking the final team. There'd probably be pressure to have representation from each nation too, so we'd be forced to play people who
1) aren't good enough,
2) haven't played at the proper level before, and
3) don't gel with the team at all.
I can't see the implementation of it as being beneficial to anyone from any of the countries involved. Needless to say, the smaller parts (in particular the Scots) already have a ridiculous jealousy/hatred of the English national side, so I don't imagine they'd want to merge even if offered. For proof of this we can come back to my earlier example of Giggs, who in his youth could have elected to play for England but instead preferred to stick with his homeland.

[AlexOC]

Shay Given. Ryan Giggs. Craig Bellamy.

Oh god please.

[FlyingJesus]

Oh I forgot about Given yeah, we could do with a keeper who knows how to catch lol

[Caution]

No, it wouldn't work. My Reg teacher has a poster like this in his room and I can't see how anyone would be for it to be honest.

[luce]

No because the scots woudln't want to be in it and the welsh and irish have produced about 3 good players who might have broken into it in recently so it would decrease the standard of their football by not giving people an international chance. Also it rules out the rivalry between the countries which is good. The England team is the best but could be improved in a few areas leaving the younger England players no chance to break in there fore i doesn't do anyone any favors.

[Swastika]

I think a couple of you fail to see that Shay Given plays for the ROI, not Northern Ireland.
Shay Given wouldn't play for a British/UK team, he'd still play for ROI.

I think this UK team is a stupid idea, what's wrong with the current system we have with the Scottish side, Welsh side, Northern Irish side and English side?

[Describe]

The only non-English player who we could have used in recent years is Giggs.. maybe Bellamy but everyone hates him for some reason so perhaps not. The only thing this would achieve would be to flood the team with even more inexperienced potentials battling for a space, which would make things even more difficult when picking the final team. There'd probably be pressure to have representation from each nation too, so we'd be forced to play people who
1) aren't good enough,
2) haven't played at the proper level before, and
3) don't gel with the team at all.
I can't see the implementation of it as being beneficial to anyone from any of the countries involved. Needless to say, the smaller parts (in particular the Scots) already have a ridiculous jealousy/hatred of the English national side, so I don't imagine they'd want to merge even if offered. For proof of this we can come back to my earlier example of Giggs, who in his youth could have elected to play for England but instead preferred to stick with his homeland.

You could use Craig Gordon in goal! He's far better than Robert Green at least!

[Black_Apalachi]

What's the point? It would just be England + Giggs. There would be fights after every match with everyone ganging up on the fans of the same nationality as whoever missed the penalty or made the dodgy save. Also I will not give the Americans the chance to call us British without it being incorrect.

And to Van Gogh and the Manc; Shay Given is Irish you mugs