Stephen Ireland

**dr_peepee** · 05/11/2013, 6:28 PM

A golden opportunity for this clown to return with minimal furor, if he wants it.

**DannyInvincible** · 05/11/2013, 7:36 PM

More talk from Ireland as he expresses his excitement with the new appointments: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/stephe...facebook_short

STEPHEN IRELAND IS eyeing a return to the Ireland fold in the wake of the appointment of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

The Cobh native has not played for the national team since a controversial exit after a game in Slovakia during the Steve Staunton era.

Now playing for Stoke City, Ireland says he’s excited by the high-profile appointment of the pair.

“I left under bad circumstances,” he told the BBC’s Ivan Gaskell today. “This new management has excited me. We’ll have to sit down and talk. I’ve a lot to think about. We’ll have to have a sit down and talk, and see what we can do.

“It’s something that appeals to me. To return and play a few campaigns. I’d like to go back and see how it goes”

Ireland told the Stoke Sentinel that he thinks the unlikely pairing of O’Neill and Keane will be a successful one.

“Yes, I think they will work,” he said. “They are two great men who are very determined and have achieved a lot for themselves in their own careers. Roy Keane is an absolute legend in football and Martin O’Neill has done well wherever he has gone.

“I think the FAI and football in Ireland is going in the right direction because there’s a lot of good players.”

**Charlie Darwin** · 05/11/2013, 7:52 PM

“This new management has excited me.

Ireland Snubs "Out Of His Depth" King

**The Fly** · 05/11/2013, 9:18 PM

It'll not happen, but part of me hopes they agree to meet him and then not turn up.

**gastric** · 05/11/2013, 9:32 PM

At least we can be assured that Ireland will not be given the chance to play 'will I or won't I come back to play for Ireland' as I can't imagine O'Neill or Roy accepting any bullsh#t from him.

**Razors left peg** · 05/11/2013, 9:33 PM

He was on SSN earlier saying that there are no qualifiers until next September so he'll have until then to think about. I was only saying on another thread earlier that the slate should be wiped clean for everyone.... but christ the lad is some gobsh1te! I honest cant get my head around that level of stupidity

**youngirish** · 05/11/2013, 9:51 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

He was on SSN earlier saying that there are no qualifiers until next September so he'll have until then to think about. I was only saying on another thread earlier that the slate should be wiped clean for everyone.... but christ the lad is some gobsh1te! I honest cant get my head around that level of stupidity

A waste of our dwindling air and water resources and to top it all off he's managed to pass his genes on to the next generation.

**mark12345** · 06/11/2013, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

He was on SSN earlier saying that there are no qualifiers until next September so he'll have until then to think about. I was only saying on another thread earlier that the slate should be wiped clean for everyone.... but christ the lad is some gobsh1te! I honest cant get my head around that level of stupidity

I too have to issue a mea culpa. I was one who continued to advocate for him to be given another chance as I thought messages were confused during the communication-challenged Trap era. But now I can see that the only fog in this particular story resides between the ears of this bald headed egomaniac.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/11/2013, 7:48 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

He was on SSN earlier saying that there are no qualifiers until next September so he'll have until then to think about.

**dr_peepee** · 07/11/2013, 10:29 PM

Interview on F365 where he's speaking if his Stoke move and how it's. Mentions how he wants play the next 10 to 15 games for Stoke but at the back his mind there's Ireland and he wants to get together with Keane or O'Neill to have a chat.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/11/2013, 11:14 AM

Is he waiting for them to call him?

**Crosby87** · 08/11/2013, 11:23 AM

His dad says he is going to play. Just needs time to sort through all of his feather boas.

**geysir** · 08/11/2013, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Interview on F365 where he's speaking if his Stoke move and how it's. Mentions how he wants play the next 10 to 15 games for Stoke but at the back his mind there's Ireland and he wants to get together with Keane or O'Neill to have a chat.

It's good to talk.

**DannyInvincible** · 12/11/2013, 3:40 PM

'Martin O'Neill opens the door for Stephen Ireland return': http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...reland-return/

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has left the door open for an international return for Stephen Ireland.

Speaking to the media after taking his first training session with the Ireland team, O'Neill extended an olive branch to Ireland who has not played for his country since 2007 when he infamously lied about a dead grandmother.

With Roy Keane in place as the Ireland assistant manager, despite his previous falling out with the FAI, O'Neill believes anything is possible.

"If Roy can come back, it's open for anyone,” O'Neill quipped when asked. Stephen Ireland has indicated in recent times that he is ready to return to the international fold.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/11/2013, 3:44 PM

Right call. Stephen Ireland was a young, self interested, pampered egotist back in 2007. Now he's just a self interested pampered egotist.

Still the right call though.

**thischarmingman** · 13/11/2013, 4:31 AM

Absolutely. My instinctive reaction was 'No way, he can go f*%$ himself.' And yet, I get annoyed at the minority who can't get over Saipan and think Roy Keane should be regarded as a traitor forever. No reason we can't all be professional and move on.

Also, there's no law (to the best of my knowledge) that says you have to like every member of your team. If we started banning tossers there would be far fewer clubs about.

**ifk101** · 13/11/2013, 6:13 AM

Is there a genuine desire on the part of Stephen Ireland to come back? If he wants to come back, does he need to be coaxed back? Has any manager closed the door on him coming back? Our Stephen just wants the attention, his ego needs it. He's made his bed, let him lie in it.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 13/11/2013, 7:55 AM

The real question after all this time, is he good enough? I would say doubtful...

**Stuttgart88** · 13/11/2013, 8:09 AM

You must think he's really bad given how bad you think the rest are!

**ifk101** · 13/11/2013, 8:12 AM

When he decided to leave, what disappointment existed at the time was due to the expectation he would turn out to a top class player. It hasn't happened but he is arguably better than a couple of midfielders included in the squad for the Latvia Poland games. So good enough to be in the squad but less so for a starting position.