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Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

A team full of Oswalds? Ai difficult to beat those guys! If you knew anything about the Lions you know it IS still controversial. Traditions do need to start somewhere however the Lions was taken with the blessing of the respective Rugby Unions within a system which allows invitational sides. Football doesn't allow it and the respective FA's appart from England don't want it.

calum · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

So, Luke, do you support Eire being part of Team GB?

Why not extend it to Norway? Afterall, parts of Scotland have been ruled longer by the Norse than by London.

I still see rugby in Scotland as a mostly middle-class or rural thing, though i understand things are different in the other Celtic nations.

Anyway, the less 'GB' the better. Taigh na croich air.
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Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Oddball, fruitcake, got crayons up my nose again have I?

The fans are dead against it? I am a fan and I am for it. Some are for, some are against but my argument is perfectly valid so easy on the conjecture boyo. Derision is not winning an argument, it's just an attempt at bullying.

It is a perfectly valid concept to play competitive sports as GB or UK. It is the nationality it says on our passports. We manage it in the olympics, tennis and certain other sports, so why not football? I happen to think, if you go back to 1970 a GB team including:

Best, Moore, Charlton, Toshack, Law, Stiles, Bremner, Banks, Hurst et al would have beaten the world...

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

Aaah, "Boyo"? I was wondering how long before you started to show your true colours. Nothing like a bit of national stereotyping to try and prove a point when all else fails eh? What next, calling our Irish friends Mick of Paddy? Maybe I could fall back on the negative Scottish stereotypes which have been used to belittle the Scots and make them feel inferior about taking care of their own destiny.

I couldn't care less what a GB team in the 70's would have looked like, I'm not a glory hunter, otherwise I'd have given up in supporting Wrecsam years ago and would be travelling to Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge. Why stop at the UK alone, why not have a trans EU team, after all we're told that our destiny is now in the hands of the Eurocrats in Brussels and Strasbourg. I feel as European as I do British - I live in both these geographically, but my passion is towards Wales. Thankfully in the world of football there is no such thing as the UK. It just doesn't exist. The support for it amongst the fans isn't there - you may like it, but there are people that also believe that the world will come to an end because of homosexuality. They aren't typical though thankfully....

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

What's wrong with boyo? We say that in other parts too you know... Don't talk to me about 'true colours' after all your insults. The GB football team used to compete in olympics till 1972. It never impinged on the autonomy of the FAs so in my view the argument that it would now is fallacious.

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

I'm not quite sure you dignify a response, boy (is that better?) What games...? What strange band of people?

Other UEFA and FIFA members may oppose the home nations FAs because they often vote en bloc - 4 votes on the council instead of one. I can understand that. Realise that the home nations FAs are a PRIVILEGE not a right. There is no way on earth we should have them barring the fact we invented the game (interpret 'we' whatever way you want, either way it will be uncomfortable for you). The normal way of doing things in international competitions is 1 sovereign country = 1 national side. Russia and Brazil (infinitely bigger than the UK) manage. Whatever dream you aspire to Wales is not independent yet.

Added to that is the fuel it adds to separatism in their own countries, you are correct plus 3 extra candidates for tournament places every time.

NO wish for it = nonsense. Of course there is support for it. There is always reaction against change. Whatever you say about the FAs they all have very entrenched vested interests in maintaining the status quo. Better a big fish in a small pond and all that... There is no huge clamour for splitting up Team GB at the Olympics. The supporters get on and enjoy it.

I don't know what you mean about Wales losing its anonymity. It is unlikely to ever lose it. Michael Owen should have played for Wales, as should Owen Hargreaves. The fact is they, and all those with multiple eligibility wouldn't want to because they'll have a greater chance of succes with England. You will just end up with the Vinnie Joneses of this world.
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"Hath He not made us all in one island, compassed with one sea and of itself by nature indivisible?" James VI/I

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

Luke thing about what you are saying before posting it. I support Wales - a big fish in a small pond? It's f***ing tiddler in terms of football success. As I said, I'm not a glory hunter. Are you?

Michael Owen could not play for Wales - he was born in Chester to English parents. He just lived in Hawarden. Played for Welsh School Boys because Hawarden High School is in Wales. Hargreaves could play for Wales because he was born in Canada but had a British Passport (same as Matt Le Tissier and Grahame Le Saux who could choose country because they where born in the Channel Islands). He could also play for Scotland or Northern Ireland. The case was given for Wales (and very little mention of NI or Scotland) because his Mum (I think) is Welsh and he has a Welsh name.

I'd rather have the Vinny Jones's of this world pull on a Welsh shirt and play with the passion he did because of his qualifications through his grandfather than loose the Welsh footballing indepenence.

The FA's are refelecting in this case the opinions of most football fans in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. You go against that to satisfy your own glory hunting ambitions and those of the Olympic Committee and the Government and you risk further undermining football in this country.

Shagpile · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 794

Shagpile · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 794

Why not go the whole way and scrap the Italian, French, German FAs. Why not? They are all part of Europe.

Andora could remain though.

Corby Boy · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

I'd rather chew my right arm off than support a British Football Team. Most of my friends agree with this sentiment, and they are English.

Shagpile · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 794

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Luke P · Gaining a Reputation Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 218

Corby Boy · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:24 am Post subject:

Luke P.

Can't comment on Owen personally, but I know Harwarden as I live near Chester myself these days. Hawarden is not the most Welsh villages. In fact it used to be in Cheshire, England until relatively recently in history. A lot of these border villages used to be. So, from a population point of view many of the inhabitants are English rather than Welsh.

This evidenced by the sheer number of St George crosses evident during the last Euro's when England played. You even get them as far west as Rhyl.

So, you cannot make the assumption that someone from Hawarden born and bred is going to be automatically Welsh.