Team GB want Villa stars - McLeish

[N'ZMAV]

Alex McLeish revealed up to 10 Aston Villa players have been contacted about their availability for the Great Britain Olympics side.

Villa are not revealing the names under consideration but it is understood they include likes of Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton.
McLeish said: "The Olympics is very novel for us in this country. If you grow up in somewhere like Australia it's a family's ambition for their kids to represent Australia at the Olympics.
"Football's never been that way for us in the UK. I think there have been a few players contacted, something like 10.
"I've left Sharon Barnhurst (club secretary) to deal with our players and liaise with them about what they want to do."

linky

[The Laughing Policeman]

I may be wrong, but I'm sure I heard last week that letters have been sent out to over 200 players asking if they'd be interested in playing for Great Britain in the summer.

[N'ZMAV]

Bannan, Albrighton mentioned above. Hopefully Gary Gardner too. Great experience for the younger players.

[Dave Cooper please]

Why not? At the very least it's competitive football so better than pre-season friendlies.

[Concrete John]

I'd guess Gabby and Collins were also included in that 10.

[cdbearsfan]

If they get injured, will the FA compensate us? If not, they can piss off.

[N'ZMAV]

Collins' hoof up the pitch would grace any Olympic games.

[Concrete John]

If they get injured, will the FA compensate us? If not, they can piss off.

I don't think it's really an FA thing, just that they've agreed to it.  I'd guess it's therefore the Olympic whatever that would have to compensate us, which is unusual for them as they're more used to ameteur sports, so can only imagine they'll take out some hefty insurance.

[Concrete John]

Collins' hoof up the pitch would grace any Olympic games.

Maybe they could put him in the shotput as well?

[Dave Cooper please]

If they get injured, will the FA compensate us? If not, they can piss off.

Just as likely to get injured against Peterborough in a friendly.

[The Laughing Policeman]

Isn't it supposed to be an Under 23 competition and only two over age players are permitted?
If that is the case then there'll only be one 'over age' place up for grabs because The Anointed One has already bagsed the captains arm band.

[Dave]

If that report the other day is correct, Delfouneso and Gardner have already declined the invitation.

[Summers]

It was incorrect.

And there's three over 23 player spots. And several 23 year olds count as under, due to birthdays.

[pedro25]

But the 3 spots will surely go to name players, J Cole, Owen, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs etc., not Collins and Agbonlahor.  Although I guess they must have been sounded out, otherwise I can't think how 10 of our players have been approached.  Gardner, Delfouneso, Albrighton, Bannan, Delph, Agbonlahor, Collins, Warnock, Heskey and Hutton maybe?

[Vanilla]

Not wanting to knock the prestige of the event, or the quality of AV players, but doesn't this come on the back of statements such as those by SAF that he virtually thinks it is a joke competition, and doesn't want to risk his players.

No doubt this sentiment has been echoed by other top end clubs, meaning the rest of the PL has to be scoured