Olympic football: Stuart Pearce's management - Experimental or psychotic?

On Friday evening UK viewers were given their first preview of the GB football team. Put nicely, the showing was proof that lessons need to be learnt quickly.

Excitement had been building ahead of this game with plenty of intrigue surrounding the team selection. As the line-up was announced it was difficult to tell whether this was Pearce's lineup for their opening game against Senegal on Wednesday or an experimental XI designed to assess his players.

If that was his preferred starting lineup, it seems adjustments have to be made. For a start the selection of three recognised left backs in the starting lineup made little sense with Ryan Bertrand out of position at right back and Danny Rose in a front three alongside Daniel Sturridge and Craig Bellamy.

It wasn't as if other options for these positions were unavailable with Micah Richards favouring the full back role to last nights designated central position and Scott Sinclair had been in good form with Swansea last season as a member of an attacking front three. Pearce started Rose ahead of Sinclair in England's opening under-21 championship game last summer. It didn't work out then and this was no different.

Not only this but Steven Caulker could count himself unlucky not to be handed a starting berth, which ultimately proved to be the wrong call as both James Tomkins and Micah Richards struggled immensely with the pace, power and trickery of Neymar, Hulk and Leandro.

A sign of the gulf in class between the two sides was emphasised by the two teams substitute benches, England's including the likes of Marvin Sordell, Jack Cork and Craig Dawson; Brazil's packed with talents such as Lucas Moura, Ganso and Alexandre Pato.

We can't be entirely critical of Pearce however as certain players showed they deserved their call ups, none more so than young Jack Butland. Butland has received much hype this summer but backed it up with an assured display. Neil Taylor is another able to head into The Olympics with brimming confidence after a solid performance at left back.

Ahead of The Senegal game it looks like the strongest team available to Pearce may be: GK Butland, RB Richards, CB Caulker, CB Tomkins, LB Taylor, CM Allen, CM Cleverley, CM Giggs, RW Sinclair, ST Sturridge, LW Bertrand.

Whether Pearce will have learnt his lesson, it remains to be seen. We may not be favourites for Gold but a podium finish should be a minimum target with the resources Team GB have at their disposal.

Many had advocated Pearce to be named as the England manager after Capello stepped down, but if Team GB continue with performances like last night at the Olympic Games, Psycho may just find his position as manager to the under 21's in question also.

image: © stella gonzales