The reviews have been mixed from managers too. Whilst Arsene Wenger is against it Redknapp has said that he thinks it is an opportunity that must be taken by the young players: “I think it’s a great honour for anyone to play in the Olympic games. It must be fantastic, something to look back on for years to come.”
The stance of the Welsh FA remains “unchanged” according to chief executive Jonathan Ford: “We are not for team GB.” The blunt rebuttal of the concept is enough to display the sincerity of their stance but they have stopped short of denying their players the right to take part: “Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing.”
Similar sentiments have been echoed by Wales manager Gary Speed and you begin to get the feeling that if the Welsh FA had the power to do so they would ban their players from playing. However, they don’t have the power. And instead of taking it as a depreciation of the national team I think the Welsh FA, and fans, should take it as a compliment that their two players, Bale and Ramsey, are perhaps the players that everyone is looking forward to seeing most pull on the GB shirt.
It is the only time in my life that as an English Arsenal supporter I will get the chance to support Gareth Bale and frankly I’m quite looking forward to the prospect. Team GB should be something that unites us as countries, not embitters many as it has done. The Welsh FA may be worried about their chances dampened of participation in a future international competition but as far as I can see they should just be grateful to be taking part in this one.
Written by Hamish Mackay for FootballFancast.com.
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