Stephen Ireland

[bellavistaman]

a major plus on his performance was when MOTD2 were analyzing the match after and city slick football, ireland was involved in every move, key man to them to be fair, him and petrov being overshadowed by elano.

[tetsujin1979]

Ireland's had to step into the playmaker role since Elano's been injured, he's not quite at that level yet, but the fact that Sven thinks he can do it now speaks volumes.
Hamann was suspended today, and Johnson was only just back from injury, so Ireland had to do a lot more tackling than he normally does in a game to win back the ball. As we all know from Cyprus, he can't tackle for nuts. Don't think the sending off offence was malicious, he's just not a good tackler.

[drinkfeckarse]

I think Sven summed it up perfectly to be honest. It WAS a bad tackle but almost every player has done a tackle like that at some stage. You can't defend it because both his feet were about a foot high, however to class it as foolish rather than venomous probably portrays it best.

[osarusan]

I don't see how people think it was not deliberate or not malicious.

He launched himself off the ground and slid in with studs showing. These things don't happen by accident.

That makes it both deliberate and malicious in my book.

[ifk101]

I don't see how people think it was not deliberate or not malicious.

He launched himself off the ground and slid in with studs showing. These things don't happen by accident.

That makes it both deliberate and malicious in my book.

Yeah I agree with you.

He had time to think about how is was going to tackle for the ball - it wasn't a "spur of the moment thing". It was malicious - clear intent IMO to cause injury.

[endabob1]

I was at the game and I've watched the replay on motd and I think he just lost control of the ball and lunged for it, it was a bad reckless tackle that could have caused serious injury but I don't think it was done with malicious intent.

[osarusan]

it was a bad reckless tackle that could have caused serious injury but I don't think it was done with malicious intent.

Maybe reckless is a better word than malicious, but sliding at speed with studs showing is likely to cause injury, and a player knows that when they make the tackle. Maybe he wasn't thinking "I'm gonna smash this ******", but he must have been thinking "this tackle could break his leg" - he knew what he was doing, and still did it. Call it reckless, malicious, or whatever, it was certainly dirty, stupid, dangerous and, in my eyes, a disgrace.

[EalingGreen]

I was at the game, too, and although it was the opposite side of the pitch, i remember thinking it a bad tackle at the time. Now I've seen the video for the first time, I realise it was a quite atrocious effort.

As Osarusan says, you can't call it malicious in the sense that he set out to hurt the player, but it was at least reckless i.e. Ireland didn't appear too bothered if he had hurt him, either. (A bit like no drunk driver ever intends to crash his car, but it's still a reckless thing to do to get behind the wheel when you've had a few) Which for me explains another point: someone said, as if in mitigation, "at least he didn't complain".

I think the fact he didn't complain reflected the fact that he knew he didn't have a leg to stand on*.

More generally, I was at the game with a Man City fan. He reckons Ireland is a talented enough player, but lacks the pace to be a real star. Apparently Elano is the guy who's really been running the City team in their good start to the season. They also seemingly missed Hamann yesterday, as well. Dunne was very good, as ever, I thought, but I can't say I was especially impressed by City - particularly when they couldn't beat the leaderless and mostly mediocre side that Spurs are these days. :(


* - If Young hadn't been in the air when Ireland struck, I reckon he'd have left without a leg to stand on, as well :eek:

[ken foree]

bloody awful tackle, no excuses. he had a reasonably good game until then but screwed his team with poor judgement. a little fatigue, loss of concentration, poor first touch, and then jet-li dropkick to the knees, not good.

[gee wizz]

just watched the tackle and to be fair it was a terrible attempt to win the ball after a very poor first touch but its nothing anyone of us hasn't seen in the prem league,eircom league or down the park on a sunday morning countless times before this so i wouldn't go over the top(pardon the pun) about it,the other player was o.k and no spurs players ran in ala man utd protesting about it,i'd say he will just have to take it as a hard lesson learned and maybe leave the tackling to the players who are better at it as he isn't known for being the best in that department.

[DmanDmythDledge]

More generally, I was at the game with a Man City fan. He reckons Ireland is a talented enough player, but lacks the pace to be a real star.

Apparently Elano is the guy who's really been running the City team in their good start to the season. They also seemingly missed Hamann yesterday, as well... but I can't say I was especially impressed by City - particularly when they couldn't beat the leaderless and mostly mediocre side that Spurs are these days. :(

I think his judgement may be coming from the fact that Ireland has mainly played right wing for City this season. I'd consider Ireland to be a playmaker, a position where pace isn't essential.

You answered your own question there. Elano and Hamann have been key players for them this season. Johnson too, who was playing in first game in about a month after injury.

[shanman2]

I'd sayu everyone has seen this but I'll stick it up anyway it's gas!!!
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJKkOaJW18

[eirebhoy]

As Osarusan says, you can't call it malicious in the sense that he set out to hurt the player, but it was at least reckless i.e. Ireland didn't appear too bothered if he had hurt him, either. (A bit like no drunk driver ever intends to crash his car, but it's still a reckless thing to do to get behind the wheel when you've had a few) Which for me explains another point: someone said, as if in mitigation, "at least he didn't complain".

I think the fact he didn't complain reflected the fact that he knew he didn't have a leg to stand on*.

* - If Young hadn't been in the air when Ireland struck, I reckon he'd have left without a leg to stand on, as well :eek:
With Keane's admirable walk off the pitch last week still fresh in the memory I'm not surprised Ireland did the same. While it should be expected that players don't abuse referee's, the vast majority would have in Keane's shoes, and I think he has set a good example which the FA should have at least acknowledged.


I'd consider Ireland to be a playmaker, a position where pace isn't essential.
Not only is it not essential but pretty much every playmaker I can think of lacks pace. I don't think that's coincidence. Slow players would be required to make up for their lack of pace through passing and movement. They think about the game a lot more. There are some exceptions but I wouldn't even class Kaka a playmaker at the moment. If he lacked pace he would almost certainly be though.

[EalingGreen]

With Keane's admirable walk off the pitch last week still fresh in the memory I'm not surprised Ireland did the same. While it should be expected that players don't abuse referee's, the vast majority would have in Keane's shoes, and I think he has set a good example which the FA should have at least acknowledged.


No comparison (imo) between Keane and Ireland's respective circumstances. Keane deserves credit for going off without fuss, since he was harshly treated by the referee. Whereas, Ireland going off without fuss after a clear red card which might have maimed his opponent, should be the very least you should expect.



Not only is it not essential but pretty much every playmaker I can think of lacks pace. I don't think that's coincidence. Slow players would be required to make up for their lack of pace through passing and movement. They think about the game a lot more. There are some exceptions but I wouldn't even class Kaka a playmaker at the moment. If he lacked pace he would almost certainly be though.

My original point (actually, my Man City friends) was that although Ireland's other qualities make him a very good player, he'll never be exceptionable without pace, particularly in the British game.

As regards playmakers generally, those who can reach the top without pace (e.g. Riquelme, Hoddle) are becoming rarer as the game speeds up. And it's never any harm if you do have it! One of the most outstanding attributes of one of my all-time favourites, Gazza, was his electrifying speed over the first five yards - not bad for a fat lad!

[eirebhoy]

No comparison (imo) between Keane and Ireland's respective circumstances. Keane deserves credit for going off without fuss, since he was harshly treated by the referee. Whereas, Ireland going off without fuss after a clear red card which might have maimed his opponent, should be the very least you should expect.

Agreed.


My original point (actually, my Man City friends) was that although Ireland's other qualities make him a very good player, he'll never be exceptionable without pace, particularly in the British game.
Very sad tbh and if England didn't favour big, strong, fast, athletic players so much they might actually be a top team. I agree, it's definitely a lot harder for a playmaker to succeed in Britain but it's not impossible. Maybe you need to be an exceptional talent though which is probably your point.


As regards playmakers generally, those who can reach the top without pace (e.g. Riquelme, Hoddle) are becoming rarer as the game speeds up. And it's never any harm if you do have it! One of the most outstanding attributes of one of my all-time favourites, Gazza, was his electrifying speed over the first five yards - not bad for a fat lad!
It depends how you define a playmaker. Many people regards the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka playmakers. I certainly don't. Ronaldo in particular certainly isn't. If one of those 3 players weren't involved in any goalscoring chances than you could probably say for sure that they had a bad day at the office. A playmaker could be the most influential player on the pitch whether he's involved in a goal or not. The likes of Pirlo, Xavi, Alonso, Riquelme, Deco, Juninho... The pacy Ronaldinho seems to be turning into more of a playmaker these days.

I agree with the earlier posters. I think Ireland will be a playmaker in time and therefore won't require pace, England or not.

[drinkfeckarse]

In a year or two Ireland could be sublime in La Liga or somewhere like that if he kept progressing.

[elroy]

Shocking tackle but at least the ball was there or thereabouts, as for Joey Bartons tackle at the wkd........

[livehead1]

Shocking tackle but at least the ball was there or thereabouts, as for Joey Bartons tackle at the wkd........

Isn't his brother that murderer?

[tetsujin1979]

Isn't his brother that murderer?
step brother I believe, not related by blood (if you'll excuse the horrible pun)

[Drumcondra 69er]

step brother I believe, not related by blood (if you'll excuse the horrible pun)

Half brother isn't it? Same Ma, different Da's.

[tetsujin1979]

Half brother isn't it? Same Ma, different Da's.
Sorry, you're right, half brother according to Joey Barton's wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Barton#Personal_life


Anyway, this is all well and good, but has very little to do with Stephen Ireland, back on topic I reckon City will miss him in their next three games. Elano is their main playmaker, but in the games I've seen, as soon as Elano gets on the ball, Ireland starts making runs into the inside-right channel to receive a pass, and either release the striker, or shoot himself. He was playing a similar position in the hole behind the strikers in the early part of the game against Spurs at the weekend, and Sven has commented he could play as a second striker. This could be the long term position Sven has him marked down for and I think it's something he could play well as it makes good use of his talents (passing, shooting) and removes his weaknesses (tackling and pace) from the game.

[Paddy Garcia]

I see he has been nominated for the FAI International Young Player of the Year award.

Then again, Tony Blair has also been appointed as a peace envoy for the middle east.