Best team in the world if the GAA model was used?

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Thought this might be an interesting thread/topic to explore. If soccer players could only play from where they're from, which teams would dominate club football?

I did the 'Merseyside Reds FC' and struggled to find a keeper but overall the below team is not a bad one at all.

I guess an all time best of team from Merseyside would be exceptionally good.


Merseyside FC

Tony Warner

Martin Kelly - Scott Dann - Baines

Nolan - Barton

Jack Rodwell - Gerrard - Ross Barkley

Rooney - Lambert

PhlegmyMoses

Catalonia or Basque team. They have a huge captive audience.

Diabhal Beag

We'd need to amalgamate Liverpool and Manchester.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

We'd need to amalgamate Liverpool and Manchester.

Different counties (Merseyside/Cheshire and Lancashire)

Gits_bone

What do you mean the GAA model? They choose to play for the county their born in.

Diabhal Beag

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Different counties (Merseyside/Cheshire and Lancashire)

No, we'd still need to do it. Like two junior teams with little depth.

HalloweenJack

But it's not really the case anymore, is it?

Players can change counties and/or play for ones they're not from.

Off the top of my head, Tommy Walsh went from Carlow to Wicklow a few years ago. Plus, iirc, there've been non-Irish people who play GAA so this whole playing for the county you're from isn't really the case anymore.

Mushy

HalloweenJack wrote: »

But it's not really the case anymore, is it?

Players can change counties and/or play for ones they're not from.

Off the top of my head, Tommy Walsh went from Carlow to Wicklow a few years ago. Plus, iirc, there've been non-Irish people who play GAA so this whole playing for the county you're from isn't really the case anymore.

That's exceptional, it isn't like they move for money or fame. Their work will dictate it really (so money, yeah but not for playing the game), and at that not everyone will transfer. A player can't just move for the sake of it.

Omackeral

Athletic Bilbao kinda do this dont they? Have all Basque players on their team, or historically have had. The Celtic Lisbon Lions were from a 30 mile radius of the ground too I believe. And Wexford Youths started out as an all Wexford team too?

HalloweenJack

Omackeral wrote: »

Athletic Bilbao kinda do this dont they? Have all Basque players on their team, or historically have had.

Again, they've changed their rules to keep up with the modern game.

At first, it was only players from the Basque regions of Spain and France. Now, players of Basque descent (i.e. the granny rule) can play for them (Fernando Amorebieta is a Venezuelan international) or players from the historical but separate Basque-influenced region of Navarra (where Osasuna are from). Previously, the likes of Fernando Llorente or Javi Martinez would never have qualified for Athletic. Also, players who aren't Basque but were brought up in the Basque Country (like the current manager Ernesto Valverde) are also eligible.

Basically, as long as they can justify a strenuous link, they will do so.

Omackeral

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Again, they've changed their rules to keep up with the modern game.

At first, it was only players from the Basque regions of Spain and France. Now, players of Basque descent (i.e. the granny rule) can play for them (Fernando Amorebieta is a Venezuelan international) or players from the historical but separate Basque-influenced region of Navarra (where Osasuna are from). Previously, the likes of Fernando Llorente or Javi Martinez would never have qualified for Athletic. Also, players who aren't Basque but were brought up in the Basque Country (like the current manager Ernesto Valverde) are also eligible.

Basically, as long as they can justify a strenuous link, they will do so.

Like our National side!

Dirty Dingus McGee

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Again, they've changed their rules to keep up with the modern game.

At first, it was only players from the Basque regions of Spain and France. Now, players of Basque descent (i.e. the granny rule) can play for them (Fernando Amorebieta is a Venezuelan international) or players from the historical but separate Basque-influenced region of Navarra (where Osasuna are from). Previously, the likes of Fernando Llorente or Javi Martinez would never have qualified for Athletic. Also, players who aren't Basque but were brought up in the Basque Country (like the current manager Ernesto Valverde) are also eligible.

Basically, as long as they can justify a strenuous link, they will do so.

Whats a strenuous link?;)

Donnielighto

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Whats a strenuous link?;)

Takes a lot of effort to justify it.

Mushy

Donnielighto wrote: »

Takes a lot of effort to justify it.

Tenuous?

DildoFaggins

Few clubs worth a mention but if it's based on modern day Barca/Ajax would dominate easily.

Donnielighto

DildoFaggins wrote: »

Few clubs worth a mention but if it's based on modern day Barca/Ajax would dominate easily.

Is there a geological split between espanyol and barca?

Kerrigooney

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

We'd need to amalgamate Liverpool and Manchester.

And that ALWAYS ends well on Boards.