Who would you have him replace? Duff or McGeady? Or would you have him come on as an impact sub? Didn't he announce that he'd be available for selection? Or was it all just smoke and mirrors?
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Who would you have him replace? Duff or McGeady? Or would you have him come on as an impact sub? Didn't he announce that he'd be available for selection? Or was it all just smoke and mirrors?
yes, its traps fault that Ireland does not / didnt want to play for us. Its also Traps fault that Ireland spewed all kinds of negatives in the media in the build up to practicaly every game for the last few seasons. Its easy for a fan to say let bygones be bygones but some of Irelands actions since granny-gate have been nasty and spiteful and that has an effect on relationships and harmony within a squad
Well I'd like Duff playing central in a midfield 3 but if we're talking about sticking with 4-4-2 then you're looking at adjusting it to narrow the midfield by drifting the wingers inside and using fullbacks for width more often. Ireland is more a wide midfielder than a winger, he could take up the same position as either Duff or McGeady but play it differently in a way that might benefit our midfield and link play more.
He's not much of an impact sub, his ideal usage would be in difficult games against a 4-5-1 when you want to congest the midfield more.
Trap would take back Ireland in a second because he's 10 times the player Hoolahan is. The only reason we play such a negative system is because Trap doesn't believe we have the players to play a more progressive game - Ireland is a player who can manage the transition to a more fluid system. If you built a team around Ireland, Hoolahan could potentially be a reserve.
The grass is always greener...
Nonsense. Stephen Ireland is the most naturally gifted footballer this country has produced since Liam Brady. If (IF) he gets his head together, he will be a world class addition to any team.
Broken arm in a cast, I'd take him back for the Germany game in a heartbeat.
Undoubtedly Ireland's got bags of talent, but his form still doesn't match his potential.
At Villa he's been patchy at best - he's looked good at times, but has not been consistent at all. Being the creative hub at a medicore team isn't an easy gig, but Hoolahan's made it stick and Ireland hasn't.
Shame he's injured though - there's a job at Villa for a creative heartbeat and Ireland's ideally placed, even if he has fluffed the audition a few times.
Could open a spot for Samir Carruthers? Although he blotted his copybook lately with this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ing-phone.html
Samir seems to be a bit down the pecking order under lambert to be honest and they will probably go for a change in formation now that albrighton and gabby ag are back. Burke is probably rated ahead of Samir in that role too if sub appearances are anything to go by also.
According to the Premier League show tonight, Ireland will be quoted in some broadsheet tomorrow as open to returning if Trap asks him to.
Because, just saying he's available for selection is too complicated. Yeesh.
I imagine he was asked the question by an Irish reporter for the 900th time and he gave the same non-committal answer that he always does because he's not bothered either way. It's about as exclusive as a prostitute.
We shouldn't underestimate how taxing the process of consideration with a view to making one's mind up, may be for Stephen. For the vast majority of people, it's an expedient enough cognitive process but he might need to clear an evening and sit alone in a dark room mulling over the various potentialities and whatnot. Furthermore, reaching a decision in advance of a certain anticipated intervention has been shown to be a leading cause of head cancer. So in this instance Stephen is also exercising sound medical judgement and doesn't deserve some of the sarcasm I fear may come his way.
Ireland was very good today
Losing 12-16 to South Africa is not very good.
In all seriousness though, from what I've seen, he's not playing any better or at any higher a level than Hoolahan. So even if what was posted above is true, I'd still take Hoolahan as he's not, well, Stephen Ireland.
All joking asunder. Maybe you can clear something up for me, because I feel like I've missed something along the way.
As far as I know, Stephen Ireland has said he'd love to be called back into the Irish squad. He said it before the Euros and also said that he understood fully that it made sense not to call him up until after the Euros (because he wasn't there all along). But the way I understand it is that the ball is in Trap's court. Ireland has made the offer and is now waiting for Trap to respond? Am I right, or has something else happened since?
P.S As far as the player himself, I think we all saw how good a display he turned in against United at the weekend. It's a shame that he (ok I know he's been the author of his own problems for a long time), Hoolahan and Andy Reid (our three most creative players) have not played much for their country at a time when they are needed.
Here are his quotes:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-setup?cc=5901Quote:
"I haven't really put much thought into playing for Ireland for a long time now because no one has approached me, but it is something I will put some serious thought into," Ireland said. "At the moment it is not an issue as there haven't been any questions from the right people.
"Yes, I would meet them half way. I have nothing against the manager. I'm not sure if he has anything against me. If there is no contact, then I'll just carry on regardless, like I have done for the last few years."