Stephen Ireland

**Carrigaline** · 04/06/2013, 3:38 PM

Any word on where Stephen Ireland will end up?

**SkStu** · 04/06/2013, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by Carrigaline

Any word on where Stephen Ireland will end up?

on some "Whatever happened to? Where are they now?" program.

**Sullivinho** · 04/06/2013, 7:57 PM

Originally Posted by Carrigaline

Any word on where Stephen Ireland will end up?

Stovokor.

**BonnieShels** · 04/06/2013, 8:31 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

Stovokor.

A warrior? Hardly.

Based on the previous posts on this thread I would reckon it'll be Carrigstown United.

**gastric** · 14/06/2013, 7:44 AM

It looks like he will be leaving, I think going to Spain or Italy might suit his game if someone is willing to take a gamble on him. IMO, he has the ability to be a good footballer.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29343855.html

**ArdeeBhoy** · 14/06/2013, 8:31 AM

Don't you mean, 'had' the ability? Looks miserable in that photo btw.

**gastric** · 14/06/2013, 8:43 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Don't you mean, 'had' the ability? Looks miserable in that photo btw.

Not giving completely up on him yet!

**Crosby87** · 14/06/2013, 11:57 AM

Supposedly his father is saying he wants Trap to give him a call before he heads to MLS.

**tetsujin1979** · 14/06/2013, 1:06 PM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Supposedly his father is saying he wants Trap to give him a call before he heads to MLS.

Off topic, but Stephen was raised by his mother, and his mother's family. He was very much estranged from his father

**paul_oshea** · 14/06/2013, 1:11 PM

So it was obviously his maternal grandmother that died.

**Junior** · 14/06/2013, 4:13 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

So it was obviously his maternal grandmother that died.

No. Neither Granny died, he was telling porkies. Do keep up Paul.

**paul_oshea** · 14/06/2013, 4:17 PM

I know. It was a joke.

**drummerboy** · 14/06/2013, 8:41 PM

The proverbial pidgeons have come home to roost. Totally overrated footballer.

**mark12345** · 15/06/2013, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

The proverbial pidgeons have come home to roost. Totally overrated footballer.

Couldn't disagree more. He is one of the most talented footballers we have. In terms of ability he should be put down on the team sheet by Trap (if this was a perfect world) as number one or number two choice midfielder - Wes Hoolahan being the other. He has plenty left to offer and like the other lad said, a move abroad would certainly benefit his game. He wouldn't be out of place in the Bundesliga or La Liga

**drummerboy** · 15/06/2013, 12:31 PM

He is a luxury player. Has had one good season in about five. He can't defend for his life. I'll never forget his performance away in Cyprus as one of our midfielders. Shocking. The only reason he would want to play for Ireland is to get himself in the shop window. Best let him be.

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/06/2013, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

He is a luxury player. Has had one good season in about five. He can't defend for his life. I'll never forget his performance away in Cyprus as one of our midfielders. Shocking. The only reason he would want to play for Ireland is to get himself in the shop window. Best let him be.

Ah here, he was 19. And the whole team was a disaster that day and the coach even worse. And he still scored a goal. He's gone off the rails since then but he was a hugely talented player. If it was James McCarthy or Wes Hoolahan at that age and level of inexperience everybody would be talking about how it's unfair to judge such a young player.

**CraftyToePoke** · 15/06/2013, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

The proverbial pidgeons have come home to roost. Totally overrated footballer.

He has certainly made a pigs ear of matters on many fronts but I don't think he was overrated, in fact I think all the coverage he still gets is because of the depth of talent he displayed, he could have been very very special. A man a team could have been built around at a very high level was what he was looking like for a spell. That's the most frustrating bit of this downward spiral he remains on.

**mark12345** · 15/06/2013, 2:02 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

He is a luxury player. Has had one good season in about five. He can't defend for his life. I'll never forget his performance away in Cyprus as one of our midfielders. Shocking. The only reason he would want to play for Ireland is to get himself in the shop window. Best let him be.

I remember him too in Cyprus. Wasn't good. But who was? It's time to let bygones be bygones, same with Anthony Stokes and hopefully Gibson is not in the same category but him too if need be. If either of them can come in and do a job for us then good luck to them. Anything to make the squad better ......right?

We cannot afford not to turn over every stone in search of the best 11 to put on the pitch.

If Ireland comes in and doesn't cut it, then so be it. But at least give him one last look. I think he could hold the ball in the middle of the park (maybe not as good as Whelan ...ha ha) and spring out attackers, which is something we just cannot do right now (remember how many long balls we play in every game).

**drummerboy** · 15/06/2013, 5:00 PM

Sorry he has been too disrespectful to the Irish set up over the years. Yes he did show promise 5 years ago. But then again, he would never have fitted into Traps plans anyway. I would welcome Gibson back. I don't agree with his actions, but he was badly treated. As for Stokes, another player who we can do without.

**OwlsFan** · 16/06/2013, 9:23 AM

[QUOTE=drummerboy;1693101I would welcome Gibson back. I don't agree with his actions, but he was badly treated..[/QUOTE]

"Badly treated" ? I didn't realise a manager was obliged to play players failing which they are "badly treated". It makes managing a squad almost impossible if players spit the dummy because they don't get a run out. I am surprised we have any goalkeeper left in the squad after Given's 100+ caps.