My Potential GB Squad for 2016

Will Team GB make a return to the Olympics in 2016?

In 2012, London hosted the Olympic games for the first time since 1948. As football is an Olympic sport, we were presented with an automatic place in the tournament due to London being the hosts. You would therefore think, that means an English Olympic squad would take part, that would be wrong. The Olympic committee looked upon London 2012 as an Olympic event for Great Britain, not England, therefore meaning a Team GB squad of players from Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland would have to be assembled.

There was stern opposition from the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FA's as soon as this idea was proposed, but nevertheless went through and we witnessed the first Competitive appearance from Team GB in 52 years. I, as a Welshman, actually loved the prospect of Team GB. I had no fear that it would take away the integrity of any of the Home Nations' FA's and truly relished the opportunity to see Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy aswell as some of the English fringe players take part in a major tournament.

The issue of a Renewed Team GB has popped up again with the large possibility of one of the Home Nations' U-21 teams reaching the quarter finals of their respective tournaments (U-21 European Championships also are the European Qualifiers for the Olympics) and whilst this article may appear to be a little ahead of itself seeing as there is still a long way to go for Qualification, I have put together my ideal Team GB for the Rio 2016 Olympics, and just to clarify the rules, all players must have been born on or after January 1st 1993 with the exception of allowing 3 overage players.

Formation = 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper - Craig Gordon

I use my first overage spot on my Goalkeeper, Craig Gordon being 32. I was very tempted to pick Jack Butland, who was in the 2012 squad, but felt his lack of football would of been a weakness for the squad. Gordon was a fantastic keeper back at Hearts and showed that skill at moments in his rocky spell with Sunderland. Back into Football with Celtic after two years out, he has shown he hasn't lost a single bit of his quality and has pulled off some sensational saves for the Scottish Giants, whose defence has looked an empty shell compared to last season and having a great goalkeeper has been more important than ever for them. 2012 position - Jack Butland.

Right Back - Eric Dier

Whilst at Spurs he has stated he would prefer to start plying his trade in the centre of the defence, I feel that the ability he showed for Sporting Lisbon and Spurs at right back has been amazing and in a position where the other options either haven't been playing enough or this isn't their natural positon, I feel the prospect could step up and help limit any supply from the right. Callum Chambers was my second option but I feel he has been shaky at Arsenal and has looked a bit lacking in confidence, whilst Dier looks like he is ready for anything, even against Diego Costa and Eden Hazard in the League Cup final.

2012 position - Ryan Bertrand.

Centre Back - John Stones

Roberto Martinez has thrown this man into the starting lineup at the start of the season after the rich vein of form he showed in the latter stages of the premier league last season. This faith in the 20 year old has payed off as even though Evertons season has been far from exciting, their defending has not at all been their issue and John Stones' performances are something the Evertonians can be happy with. Preferred to Distin to partner Jagielka, he has shown he has the potential to be a future England stalwart and would not look out of place with the squad now. 2012 position - James Tomkins.

Centre Back - Ashley Williams

I am using another of my overage positions for my second Centre Back and also my captain. I think with the defence I wanted not just someone who can sit further back from Stones but is also a defined leader in his position, Williams being the captain for Wales and Swansea. He has been a key player for the Swans this season, being a true covering defender as he mops up balls into the box and clears them away, covering for the rest of his team. A team full of youngsters is bound to make errors and to have a defender like Williams, who is linked with a move to Liverpool, in the back will be essential or the young team. 2012 position - Micah Richards

Left Back -  Ben Davies

The player who most would think of here would definitely be Luke Shaw, fits the age gap and has a lot of potential to be an England great, but his move to Manchester has hindered him and his form has not impressed anyone, so he wouldn't really warrant a place here. Ben Davies however has made a move to Spurs from Swansea, and at the risk of being called Bias, is Wales' answer to Shaw, except his move has allowed him to grow more and showcase his ability. His first few appearances for Tottenham were shaky at best but he has grown into his role and many have questioned why he is playing second string to Danny Rose. Alongside Williams there is already a jelled partnership on the left and his ability to cross the ball will help with the attacks. 2012 position - Neil Taylor

Centre Mid - Will Hughes

Dipping into the Championship is no doubt a risk, but his ability he has shown not just for Derby, where he is a key player in their team at the age of just 19, but also for the U-21s's has been magnificent. For me he would be the more roaming playmaker of the two CM's and would try to create the plays from finding space around the pitch and filling in for other players. No doubt does this kid have talent but he also has a very mature look on the game and whilst I could understand why someone may use an overage spot in the centre of the park, I feel Hughes is mature enough to come into a side like this and showcase why people believe he will be a future England star on the level of Gerrard and Lampard. 2012 position - Aaron Ramsey

Centre Mid - Nathaniel Chalobah

Another Championship lad, on loan from Chelsea, Nathaniel Chalobah shocked the Championship fans with his combating displays for Watford, Middlesborough, Forest and now Reading. His main role is a defensive Box to Box, and with his stamina and strength you would have no questions why, being able to go the full 90 minutes at 100% is amazing for this lad and not only can he win the ball with some perfect tackles but he is well known for his ability to smash shots towards the goal and cause havoc in the opposition box. Burnley amazed me with the lack of football they gave him but their loss is Readings gain after they acquired the 20 year old on loan and he has already impressed the royals with one of his stunning long shots as well as his tireless performances. 2012 position - Joe Allen.

Left Wing - Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has really stepped up since the start of the new year, whilst he struggled in the first half of the season, he has reiterated his push for national team caps and has managed to go from appearing off the bench under Dalglish to a key player for Brendan Rodgers. Similar to that of the following Winger Ryan Gauld, he is unpredictable, whilst he is more keen to cut in and draw defenders away from supporting strikers he has a better scoring record than the Scot on the right and would be able to work fluidly with the player I have planned to play in the Centre role. 2012 position - Scott Sinclair.

Right Wing - Ryan Gauld
The young Scot is only our second player from North of the border, but my god does his potential ability warrant a place in this side. In 2014 he made a move to Sporting Lisbon after 2 years with Dundee United's first team, and the performances he put in there deserved him a 3 million Euro move to the Portuguese capital. Whilst questions will be asked about the lack of first team football, for their B team Gauld has impressed like he did in Dundee with threatening runs from the left where you're never sure if he will carry on out wide or leave you for dead with his quick instinct cutting in. Gauld has promise and has already been compared to Scottish Greats like Dalglish and even the Northern Irish legend George Best. 2012 position - Craig Bellamy.

Centre Attacking Mid - Gareth Bale
I don't really think there is much doubt why he is in the squad, even if he is not performing to his best in Madrid at the moment, he is still performing better than most. His ability and skill would be a cherished commodity for an Olympics squad. Accommodating him was the hardest part, his natural position on a pitch is the left side, which is currently being used by Raheem Sterling, then when playing for Madrid he is on the opposite flank, again being occupied by another one of my players. Whilst Raheem Sterling can play in the centre role, I feel he is best equipped for the wing. Bale showed his ability for Tottenham in his last season in England playing in the hole and really just running about the pitch and filling space, a role he has filled for Wales too. At times he can carry any squad on his own, which we saw in the copa del rey final last season, and at times you would need him to do the same for this team. You would have no doubts that he could though. 2012 position - Ryan Giggs

Striker - Harry Kane
If this squad does come about, Harry Kane no doubt has to go to the Olympics, even if he goes to the Euro's too. I can understand that may risk him being worn down but for me if I was being unrestricted in my choice, I wouldn't have to make any hard decisions here. As soon as the idea of this squad came into my mind, he was one of the first in. The form he has been in has been so much more than the spurts of form you saw from players like Januzaj or Wickham from last season, he has just played well, if he hasn't scored he has created the attacks, he is just a good player. Even if the goals dry up, he still plays well for the whole team, an unselfish striker that still scores... how refreshing. Whilst he has only just truly burst onto the scene of the Premier league, he has been decent with loan moves to Orient and Millwall as well as in the English youth teams and with 26 goals in all appearances this season, he is too much of a talent to leave behind. 2012 position - Daniel Sturridge

Substitute shout outs
Whilst these following five players didn't make it into my starting 11 I would say that with their performances they deserve a place in the squad too, I won't go into depth but after looking into their stats or what they could bring, these five would be my bench;
Goal Keeper - Jack Butland

Right Back - Callum Chambers
Centre Mid - James Ward-Prowse
Right Wing - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Striker - Saido Berahino

And finally the manager, this is nearly as important as the players, with young players that you would have in this squad you need a strong man manager who knows how to bring youngsters into squads and get the most out of their talent. Last time around we had the Ex-England U-21's manager Stuart Pierce, I disagreed with this choice as I felt he struggled with the U-21's anyways but I think I would go along a similar path this time around, and by that I mean Gareth Southgate. He has been doing exceptionally well with the U-21's team and if the reason that there is an Olympic football side is because the English U-21's made it to that stage then wouldn't you allow the man who got them there to take the British side over.